Thread by @karenkho

I worry posting some of my freelance rates will expose how many times I was underpaid and should have negotiated harder instead of just saying yes again so I could just focus on doing the work and earning the money

the reality is after my fellowship was done at CJR, I had a corporate writing client, an unexpectedly large tax return from the Canadian government, lower-than-NYC rent by staying with my family in Toronto, and some savings I exhausted paying off my credit card

At one point, I had something like $90 in my bank account. I had to plead with a bank manager to let me cash and convert some USD cheques/checks, because they are normally held for 30 days at BMO. I have not contributed much to my long-term savings in five years.

The fact that I "earned" enough writing to pay my bills and take a trip with my mother in September to Alberta and while avoiding debt should not feel like a miracle, but I also had family support, two subletters, and no student loans.

AND YET I know specifically how I was underpaid compared to other freelancers. I am a media reporter and I know lots of people. This was not hard for me to find out, but was crushing every single time.

Freelancing the past six months was in some ways really fun (Lots of time with Noodle, my mother and travelling a lot). Negotiating, wondering when I would see a check in the mailbox and figuring out another invoicing system on top of deadlines and writing great pitches is hard.

I feel really lucky I have done enough work that editors reach out to me, that many of my pitches get responses (though I still get rejected a lot), and I know enough people to send my ideas to the right people. But I also work hard and hustle in a way that feels exhausting.

To review: I was full-time freelance Q3 + Q4 out of necessity because of my visa situation (which I have now, thank goodness). I don't know if I can keep doing it. I earn enough for now, but that is because I am very lucky. I did some big features but also many smaller things.

Tea: journalism places that pay the most are print, but you have to ask for more, because editors would prefer to pay you less. Sometimes I was paid more because I bundled in photos. No one paid me to be on TV or do press and social media for my work. I budgeted for that too.

If you are a student asking a freelancer to help you with an assignment or an event and you do not pay them anything (including transportation), that freelancer has to calculate how much they win or lose by participating.

Do not tell a freelancer "I would like to pick your brain" because that implies a painful experience where we are only expected to give pay rates/intel/advice. Many of us cannot afford to do that simply for a cup of coffee.

Worth mentioning: This year I paid more than $6,100 USD for my visa petition. My lawyers are incredible people. But I can't write that off on my taxes, even if I write about the process for an outlet.

Other places that pay well that I have had some experience with or knowledge of: travel magazines and websites, alumni magazines, editorial content for brands, editorial content for startups and tech companies.

More tea: I was paid $300 to do my big GQ profile on BD Wong. I easily put in 20-25 hours in writing alone. But they paid for Rev.com transcription, @knguyen is a top-level, incredible editor, and it got me on the radar of TIME. gq.com/story/bd-wong-…

It should not feel like I am burning bridges by revealing how much I was paid for so many things this year, but my brain is screaming that is what I would be doing and that sucks. Also, I started turning down things that simply offered me too little.

Also worth mentioning: I worked pretty much every day during that trip to Alberta, and always have to bring my computer and other gear with me, because being a freelancer is like permanently being on-call.

Freelancers take not-great rates (which vary widely) because:
-they want the byline in that publication
-they want the experience of writing about a new subject
-they want to work with a specific editor
-they've already been rejected at better-paying places
-they need the money

If you are a college or university asking a freelancer to talk to students, please think about how much time they can afford. They are great opportunities to practice and refine presentation skills (great for pitching conferences!), but can also take up huge amounts of time.

It's also worth mentioning how much support I received from my mother and my boyfriend, who both literally cooked me meals and helped me with logistical stuff so I could focus on finishing assignments. I also took over my sister's office for five months.

This thread is way too long but I could not freelance without friends like @carvellwallace, @elongreen, @sarahw and @rachsyme who all very kindly gave me advice and encouragement when I was the most confused and worried about how to do things.

The biggest break of my career paid me $2500 USD plus expenses (flew me last-minute to LA!). It also happened because TIME was hiring more freelancers and I was finishing my fellowship at CJR. I was terrified of screwing it up the entire time. INTL COVER time.com/longform/crazy…

I learned this from @amandamull and then from my own experience: trying to freelance part-time while doing another full-time job requires all kinds of time management, planning and is only doable in short bursts, otherwise you are on track to burn out.