What to do when the phone stops ringing
Your guide to making the most out of slow-moving freelance period
So, you’re rushed off your feet; editors are chasing you for copy and you’re burning the midnight oil (and wine, let’s be honest) on a nightly basis. Your parents are upset that you missed Sunday lunch, your friends aren’t impressed with your absence at after work drinks and your boyfriend has got the hump with your constant screen-induced exhaustion. The rush of satisfaction you feel when you run your hands over the ink of your by-line is quickly extinguished by the pressure of your next deadline. So, secretly, it comes as a relief when work dries up for a day or so.
You finally have five minutes to yourself and you’re able to take a hiatus from your keyboard surfing. Sure, that’s nice for a while – but what do you do when the phone stops ringing? A slow-moving freelance period can be disheartening at the best of times, but when your days of freedom start adding-up to weeks, it’s time you got going.
When you’re a freelancer, sometimes slow-moving periods just can’t be helped. Granted, if you shut yourself in your apartment for weeks and switch off all electronic devices, you’re kind of asking to be cut out of the work loop, but if not, the fact is that you’ll just have to suck it up. I know you’ve secretly spent hours checking your router’s connection when your inbox has remained suspiciously idle, but no matter how long you fiddle with those wires, it’s often the case that the work isn’t landing in your mailbox anymore – now it’s up to you to find it!
So, how can you make the most of your down-time?
Work on your baby
Okay, I don’t mean that literally, but everyone’s got that one idea which has been bubbling away at the back of their mind since the beginning of time. Instead of keeping it on the back burner, now’s your time to work on it! Invest your downtime in your long-time project and it could end up being your best project yet!
Say yes
Here are a couple of facts about freelancing: down-time never coincides with holidays and work is like busses – you wait all week and two come along at once. So, the best tactic is to plan holidays and just deal with the deadline stresses which surround them (it’ll be worth it when you feel the sand between your toes) and, more importantly, just say yes to any work that comes your way – within reason!
Go surfing
If you’re lucky enough to live on a boulevard in LA, then you can take this tip literally. If you’re a UK resident, I wouldn’t recommend it, unless you’re a fan of pneumonia. Anyway, what I’m talking about it browsing the internet. You can learn a lot from dedicating a few hours to reading other people’s work. It’s not cheating to take a look at what works well and emulate it – it’s just plain using your initiative!
Go through your CV or portfolio with a fine toothed comb
Most of us get into the habit of just adding our latest achievement to the top of our CV, but when was the last time you thoroughly read through your resume? I’ll bet there’s a few sections right down the page which have been left to grow dusty. Do your prospective employers really care what you got in your SATs anymore? Have you had more notable achievements since helping to run the sweet stand at the school fete? Is that hefty chunk on your work experience at the local salon where you spent two weeks sweeping up hair really going to improve your chances of getting hired? Thought not. Maybe hit delete?
Learn something new
If you’ve got a little time to spare, why not improve your skillset by taking a course in something new and exciting? Employers love something a little off-the-wall and if you’re a writer, experiences like this are just what you need to inspire your next project. If your slow-moving period means things in your purse are a little stretched, not to worry. There are hundreds of companies, charities and other organisations which offer free courses aimed at improving employability – go grab them – they’re there for the taking!
By making the most of your quiet time and staying positive, you’ll be back wishing you weren’t busy before you know it!
