by Rachel Smith
18 October 2017
Hi! This will be my first Christmas as a freelancer in Australia, and I’ve read a few things saying it can be a quiet and scary time for freelancers, as lots of editors go on holidays. Is this true, and are there strategies to prevent a Xmas slow patch? Or can it be a boom time? Jess
It’s a funny one, Jess. I’ve had really busy Christmas periods where I was run off my feet simply because everyone else was away, editors were on a skeleton staff, and they basically THREW work at me. Similarly, I’ve had slow festive periods which dragged on into February and left me completely freaked out, because there was zero money coming in.
I do think it’s a great question to be asking NOW, though – because chances are you’re planning for any time you want to take off, and thinking about the work you can slot in around that. It’s crucial to do this so you’re not coming back from holidays and building everything up again – which could mean you’re stuck waiting for two months or more for money to start rolling in again. So what can you do? Here are some suggestions:
Of course, there are exceptions; I’m already sorting out work for Jan and Feb. But it’s not a great time to be desperately scouting around for gigs because so many decision-makers are away, which is why you want to start locking in commissions for those months NOW if you can.
Ask about pull-up issues and what they’re doing. A lot of print mags combine Dec/Jan into one issue and try to put it to bed before the Christmas break which can mean the weeks before Xmas are flipping mental for freelancers. Offer help, see which sections they’re desperate for, pitch like a mofo and see if you can lock in commissions to get in before the Xmas break. This might mean working double-time before the Xmas break, but it’ll guarantee you a few weeks’ break AND ensure you’ll keep the money flowing in.
They will often still need content throughout the silly season, although it may be vastly reduced as so many people are on holidays and not really checking their favourite sites like they normally would. However, could there be ways you can help – perhaps with some lighter listicle pieces? Help them repurpose older content to use over the break? Do round-ups of their best articles over the year on different topics to keep that link-juice flowing?
And make sure you let them know you might be more available in Jan/Feb to take on work – it could well mean you land some projects you weren’t expecting that they’re keen to get off their desk, especially if they’re desperate for help and down a few staff members who are still away.
Enforced quiet time is sometimes a good thing because you finally get a chance to do those things you might have put to one side through the year. Like updating your website with all your latest articles. Scheduling months ahead with your social media posts. Updating your pitch tracker and logging the piles of receipts on your desk or in the bottom of your bag. Doing essential back-ups, updating your software, streamlining your files and archiving those you don’t need. Planning ahead with pitches and new editors/clients you want to approach. When things kick off again, you’ll be so glad you’re starting the year organised and ready to go.
Do you find Xmas a slow time generally, or is it one of your busiest times as a freelancer? Jess would love to hear from other List members about this one.
