WHERE LESS IS NOT ALWAYS MORE AND NOT ALWAYS ENOUGH By Izabela Barakovska Less is more. A phrase used by creatives far and wide to highlight the fact that despite the razzle dazzle of complicated, technical design and creation, sometimes simplicity is the most powerful approach for a creative to undertake. When viewed from that lens, simplicity, minimalising and Marie-Kondo-ing your work and creative life to suit the exact needs of a client or audience, makes ‘less is more’ sound like the battle cry of empowerment for creatives of all industries. However, when it comes to the economics of freelancing, and life as a freelance creative, less is in fact, not more.
Less is the challenge of constant intra-industry comparisons, by yourself and others. I have had the great pleasure of freelance writing and creating for a few years now, and in that time, I have been stressed, challenged, frustrated, doubtful, questioned, and contested. I have also had the brilliant freedom of writing independently, on topics – people, places, stories, artworks, productions, issues, and feelings – of my choosing, that bring me tremendous amounts of joy and fulfilment.
Less is needing to justify every dollar you charge.
Writing – journalism, copywriting, academic and creative writing – appeals to me regardless of the medium, because I like telling stories. Where writing quality fiction has always been challenging for me, writing non-fiction – the untold stories of the world we live in and underestimate every day – has always been a welcome challenge I gladly undertake.
Less is needing to constantly hustle to find
There is a great power and empowerment
Less is the frustration of first figuring out how to monetise your skill. Less is being paid in exposure.
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work.
Got invited for a coffee but it wasn’t for guild elections #disappointed
