An Intro to Freelance 101

One of my goals for 2016 is to publish a new book. I actually have 3 separate ideas, including an update to Responsive Design with WordPress. However, there is a book that I have wanted to put out for over 6 years, with a first draft already done. Originally called The Student Freelancer, it covers a lot about how to get started as a freelancer, from to setting up your business to pricing. It also covers how to make the most out of freelancing throughout school. I’ve decided to rename it Freelance 101 and release it this year.

The focus of the book will remain pretty much the same. I freelanced from high school through college and full time for 2 years. I still do it a bit on the side, but only as time and projects permit. That gives be almost 14 year of freelancing experience that I would hate to see to go to waste. Similarly, when I started freelancing I didn’t have the resources there are today; I’d like to add to the great list.

As I write and update it, I’ll be posting excerts here on my blog and on the site as it gets built out. My hope is the it will encourage more people to try their hand at working for themselves, at least part time. I also hope it serves as a resource for people who are currently getting started and need the right push.

Below is the first excerpt, from the original draft of the book. It’s basically my story, which you may have heard in a talk I’ve given. If you like it, you can subscribe for updates. My plan is to release it on my website and Amazon for around $8/copy.

An excerpt from Freelance 101:

Why?

Why, surprisingly, is not a question I get a lot when it comes to what I do. Many people don’t ask my why I started freelancing, why I do it, or why I want to keep doing it. I think that’s because the people who meet me see how happy it makes me. The why is written all over my face. But you don’t know me, and well, I don’t need to plaster my face all over this book. So I will answer the whys for you: Why I started freelancing, why I still freelance, and most importantly, why I wrote this book.

Why Did You Start Freelancing?

Ever since I was a young boy I wanted to have my own business. Hell, at yard sales I’d try to turn profit on my used toys (though my parents did pay for them in the first place). I ran a small time business in high school making mix CDs for my schoolmates, and did computer repairs on the side, pulling in $50-100/week. To a 13-14 year old, that’s some good cashflow. But the real reason I started freelancing was a bit of divine intervention.

I wanted to learn how to develop websites, but in 2002 I hadn’t taken much initiative; I needed a push in that direction. That push came when someone from my parish asked me if I could make them a website. I was going to say no until I heard, “We’ll pay you.” You’ll pay me? Sure. I can make a website.

So I made my parish their first website- a process I truely enjoyed. It was a way to flex my creative and technical muscles, and all the while I was getting paid to do it. I remember saying to my friends that I couldn’t believe people were willing to pay me for something I enjoyed doing. How could I not start freelancing when I was getting money to practice a hobby of mine?

Why Do You Still Freelance?

This is simple: I still love developing websites. I love choosing different projects to work on, and I love working directly with people to help them with a crucial part of their business.

Why Did You Write This Book?

When I was starting out, I had a few people I could talk to but I didn’t have anyone that went through the same things I was going through. I got all kinds of advice on web development, accounting, law, and other business related things, but people couldn’t tell me the ins and outs of freelancing as a student, and I truely feel there is a difference between that and freelancing after school.

There is the balancing act between your business, school, and extra curriculars, there is dealing with the fact that maybe people may be put off by your age, and there is the fact that there are a lot of things out there that can benefit you as being both a student and a freelancer. I wrote this book to help people who want to take the same plunge that I took when I was 15 years old.

Now you’re probably asking yourself, “why?” Why become a freelancer? Why do it as a student? Well hopefully I will tackle those questions in this book.