Freelancers are like superheroes.  Fair enough…we may not have super strength, we may not be able to fly, and we may not be capable of teleportation or invisibility. I could go on and on… But there is one superpower we do possess.  Our time.

Hey, you.  And when I say ‘you’ — I mean it in the way of greeting you as a lone wolf who has arrived at the party solo. I do not intend to lump you in with the rest of the crowd.  I mean, let's be honest here — we’re freelancers for goodness sakes.  We always roll solo.

You know what I love the most about being a copywriter?  Yes, I love the words. Yes, I love the creativity and imagination.  Yes, I love some of the exciting projects I get to be a part of.  And yes, I love it when my work is published and it’s there for the whole world to see — although I secretly dread it too. I also love that I dread it…it reminds me that I care.  I love all of these things that come with the job. But you know what? — none of them come close to what I really love the most.  The solitude.

Hey there mi familia, how the hell are ya? It’s been a while.  Just shy of 2 months ago…I was in a pretty different mindset and this last Freelancer Club piece came pouring out of me.  I was pissed, I was done, I was over it. I had an axe to grind with the bullsh*t us highly-skilled, hardworking freelancers deal with on a daily basis from the snobbery in society that looks down upon us from its ivory-tower. Like a loyal boxing coach, I stood proudly by the freelancer’s corner for yet another fight.  Actually, oh contraire…I put the gloves on and entered the ring myself. This was my fight, and I felt indomitable.

In the world of advertising, we are often surrounded by faceless bodies trying to sell us the hottest new thing. But have you ever stopped to consider the people behind the pictures? While you’d be forgiven for thinking that body part modelling is only for people with pretty feet, well-manicured nails or a face for radio; in reality, there is a wide range of opportunities available for any body part that you’re feeling particularly proud of. If your eyes are the perfect shape for winged eyeliner or you can do a hair flick worthy of a L’Oréal commercial, you’ll likely be snapped up by the beauty industry for their latest advertising campaigns in an instant. From bald heads and belly buttons to eyelashes and earlobes; if you can pose with it, you can model with it.

I’m currently writing this on a stunning Saturday afternoon at a local beer garden — like a true, stereotypical freelancer. Where I go, my laptop comes with me. I'm practically married to it. It simply comes with the territory.  The sun is shining, the birds chirping, the music playing, Mums and Dads keeping their kids in check while discussing mortgages and refinancing of their homes in the current market — all of it, completely out their control and in the hands of the government, banks, and corporate interests. Sure, it's a friendly affair and they are enjoying their 48 hour break from being accountable to their bosses, but there is a certain aura of concern surrounding them. It's as if they are not in control of their own destinies — and they know it.

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a freelancer working at home in a heatwave must be in want of air conditioning. But alas, the majority of us in the UK do not have that luxury.  Temperatures in the UK have reached 40 degrees and do not seem to be dropping any time soon. Since these extreme temperatures will soon be commonplace in this country thanks to climate change, it’s important to know how to avoid heatstroke while you try to complete your to-do list.

Creative Network 101. While independence is what inspires many freelance creatives to pursue a self-employed career, having a supportive, creative network of fellow like-minded freelancers is essential. However, for freelancers, forming those types of tribes, communities, and connections can be difficult. Welcome to the awkward-free way of networking.