Read on Twitter
I spoke to a journalism class today about freelancing, and one of the students asked me a question that I want to answer publicly because I think people need to hear it.
The question was, if we freelance, we're entering a market where there are already established freelancers who editors would give assignments to, so is there even room for us? What does that look like?
First of all, I want to say, this question comes from a place of scarcity mindset -- the idea that there aren't enough seats at the table for the rest of us. I think it's common for a lot of folks to have this scarcity brain while they're starting out.
*And* I also want to say, that there's a seat for you, too. There's a seat for you if you produce good work. Good editors will always be on the lookout for good freelance writers - it is literally their job - whether you've been in this industry, 1, 10, or 30 years.
Do the work. Do the good work. Do the good work even if you have to take on work outside of journalism; this doesn't diminish your good work. File clean copy. File on time. Be communicative with your editor, and view them as your teammate. The rest will come.
