The term was first coined by Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832) in his well-known historical romance Ivanhoe to describe a “medieval mercenary warrior.” Officially recognized as a verb in 1903 by the Oxford English Dictionary, in today’s parlance it is used as a noun, as in: freelancer or freelance worker, a person who pursues a profession without a long-term commitment to any one employer.
Freelancing is especially common in the fields of journalism and other forms of writing, computer programming and graphic design, consulting, and many other professional and creative services. The Internet has opened up many freelance opportunities, expanding markets and helping to build it into one of the largest economic segments for many economies.
Freelance practices vary greatly. Some work with written contracts, while others may perform work based on verbal agreements and some freelancers may provide written estimates of work and request deposits from clients.
Payment for freelance work also varies greatly. Freelancers may charge by the day or hour, or on a per-project basis. Instead of a flat rate or fee, some consultants have adopted a value-based pricing method based on the perceived value of the results to the client. By custom, payment arrangements may be upfront, percentage upfront, or upon completion. For more complex projects, a contract may set a payment schedule based on milestones or outcomes.
Freelancers generally enjoy a greater variety of assignments than in regular employment, and almost always have more freedom to choose their work schedule. The experience also allows the opportunity to build up a portfolio of work and cultivate a network of clients in hopes of obtaining a permanent position.
A major drawback is the uncertainty of work — and thus income — and lack of company benefits such as health insurance or retirement pay.
Another drawback is that freelancers often must handle contracts, legal issues, accounting, marketing, and other business functions by themselves. If they do choose to pay for professional services, they can sometimes turn into a significant out-of-pocket expense. Working hours can extend beyond the standard working day and working week.
From a cultural standpoint, freelancing is viewed as either above or below the social system. In keeping with Scott’s original coinage, Americans and most Europeans view freelancing as a socially elevated occupation. However, many Asian countries have a low regard for freelancers, often associating the practice with personal failure (an inability to find work with a major employer) and even criminality.
Fortunately for me, all of my work has been in North America and Europe where freelance is looked upon as honorable. I’ve been at it long enough that I can be a bit more selective…I’ve earned the grey hair. If it’s an interesting project, I’ll probably run with it.
When the economy heads south, corporations lay off their in-house writers and technical writers. The downside for those of us who are already freelancers is that these suddenly become freelancers, too. The upside is that they don’t know how to hustle and find work. The downside is that most learn quickly. The upside is that most return to their companies when the economy improves. The downside is that they have driven down prices until the market demand picks up.
To remain a freelancer you need to constantly develop contacts and keep in touch with everybody without becoming a pest.
