More Teaching Gigs

• Posted on Allena Tapia
• in For clients, For fellow writers, Jobs and opportunities, Personal stuff, Scheduling
• on June 26, 2011
• 3 Comments.

Anytime someone at About.com asks me about the possibility of making a true living as a freelancer (ie paying their bills, having a roof over their head), I always counsel them to look into “side work” too. Side work gives freelancers the security of a paycheck that you know is going to come, on what day, and in exactly what amount.

For me, this side work has almost always been teaching of some sort. For example, tomorrow I am starting a composition & literature course at Michigan State University. While I am super excited to be teaching high school students, I also know that this work will help tide me over until a couple of my longer-paying clients send me checks (like, late July. Sigh).

Freelance writing definitely has its advantages- don’t get me wrong. There is nothing better than practicing writing in a professional environment, meeting clients’ copy needs, and exercising my writing muscles, but the business end can be sporadic. Having occasional side work relieves some of that stress, and allows writers to carefully choose only the work that they know they will excel at!

PS- scheduling note for potential clients! I am still accepting new freelance work, despite my upcoming teaching opportunity. Email me today: GWPublications@gmail.com.