Being a free-lance writer is tough. It's actually quite scary, especially when you are starting out. When I began, I lucked into a columnist gig with that helped pay the bills. But even so, for a long time money was tight, and my career, as it was, was a shambles. That was particularly true when I came back from travelling and had to more or less start all over again with no fresh contacts.
Yet from the lean days, I was able to build something resembling a career. I now do better financially as a freelancer than I ever did when I had a full-time job. But that's largely because it is a full-time job for me and I treat it like one. I typically try to work 9-5, at the very least, and to keep very regular hours. And because I have no one to answer to other than myself, I don't begin to spend as much time goofing off online as I did when I had to be somewhere else 9-5.
I want to get my work done and go play outside, because I can.
In any case, since returning from Asia, I've gotten increasingly organized in nearly all aspects of my career--everything from billing to the way I order my files on my machine. One area where that's demonstratively visible is my desktop, which was a mess for years, but lately has become, I think, aesthetically pleasing. (It could be a bit bigger, but I'm quite happy with it.) I think it's kind of symbolic of my freelance career as a whole.
Not pictured: printer, the window to my right that looks out at Page Street, the folding table I set up next to my desk when I need to spread out a lot of files, and the 5.1 system that, er, surrounds me in sound.
Katerina Stoykova-Klemer, communicatrix, and 6 other people added this photo to their favorites.
dkerns 88 months ago | reply
Have you ever tried to pair your headset with Skype or iChat. If so, how'd that go? Thanks.
Mat Honan 88 months ago | reply
I've done neither. You'd be amazed at how much more widely Skype/VOIP is used in Europe than it is here. (Perhaps because you have to make more international calls?) I installed it a while back, realized I had no-one to talk to, and have never thought of it again. I think that netgear skype wifi phone may help change that. But I essentially use my mobile for all communication.
As to iChat... No, I have not. Quite frankly it would just be an extra step. But I just received a new headset yesterday that I'm going to review, and I may give it a shot with that.
zombiebite 88 months ago | reply
For some reason, I love seeing people's desk/workspace. I'll have to post mine.
NetpopJosh 59 months ago | reply
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Project Netpop, and we'd love to have this added to the group!
wefoundasolution 52 months ago | reply
Hi Mat,
I was looking for a CC image on Flickr that conveyed the concept of starting your own online business and I liked the way your workstation came out ;-) We're using the image on our site here:
wefoundasolution.com/index.php/stay-positive-start-an-onl...
there is an alt text attribution and a link back to this page!
Thank you
Andrew
communicatrix 43 months ago | reply
Thanks for sharing this lovely photo with an equally lovely license. I used it here, with gratitude!