It feels like it wasn’t too long ago that I was marvelling at how it was already July. Well, the month went by in a haze of busyness, and it’s now almost August, and I almost forgot that August also marks my 4th year of freelancing.
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Yes, in a couple of days, I’ll officially have been at it for four (4) years! 🎉
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To be honest, though, things have never felt as uncertain as they are now.
How long will everything last?
Clients can come and go—but then again, when has this statement never been true? 😂 The issue is that replacing clients who leave, or adding new clients to the current roster, feels harder than before.
Based on my industry observations and unscientific feelingsâ„¢, it seems there are fewer clients publicly looking for freelance writers. Instead, more hirers appear to be sourcing talent via word-of-mouth referrals within their network.
I’m fortunate to still have a full schedule, but it sometimes feels that everything can go away at any time. I get nervous when contract renewal comes up or when clients change their content strategy, because I can’t help but think: what if they don’t need me anymore?
But a lot of the time, when I hold my breath and wait for the outcome…things turn out fine. The client sends over the new contract. Or, they share their new strategy, and it doesn’t involve letting me go. My fears are unfounded. For now, anyway.
Still in the right place
I’m not resting on my laurels, though. I’ll keep delivering the best work I can, to give clients a reason to continue engaging me. I’ll also keep exploring opportunities to grow my revenue stream.
And all in all, despite the uncertainties with freelancing, I think I’m still in the right place.
Last week, I chatted with a marketer who had been told, just two days before, that her full-time role had been made redundant. She’s going to take a career break for a number of months. After that, she’s thinking it might be time to explore fractional and freelancing work. In particular, she’s drawn to the flexibility of the job.
She wouldn’t be the only one. I value being able to arrange my work to match my schedule. To choose who I work with. To pursue opportunities that interest me even if they don’t fit my usual shtick.
Work has been hectic, but once this period ends (soon…!), I’m going to take a breather and celebrate reaching four. Here’s to hopefully many more. 💪
More freelancer news
Happening tomorrow: VICPA Creatives’ Night
Kind of last minute, but I’ll be attending VICPA Creatives’ Night tomorrow evening, so come say hi if you’ll be there too!
VICPA stands for Visual, Audio, Creative Content Professionals Association, and it’s NTUC’s association for self-employed creatives (including freelancers) who work in all the areas mentioned in the association’s name. E.g. photographers, videographers, production crew and writers.
Creatives’ Night is VICPA’s annual gathering for members to network, hang out and discuss issues relevant to creatives. And yes, there will be food.
Details:
- Date and time: 31 Jul 2026, 6.30pm to 9.30pm
- Location: The TreeTop at *SCAPE​
- Admission fee: Free for VICPA members and $30 for non-members. If you aren’t a member, you can sign up for membership to have the admission fee waived.
​More info and registration link on this page.​
This post was first published in my email newsletter on 30 Jul 2026. If you liked it, sign up for my newsletter here:
