Review: Creative Inc.

I’m a freelancer for more than two years now, and July marks the second anniversary of me striking out on my own. Prior to this I was a regional architecture and design magazine editor (and helped start the magazine, no less). I had a steady paycheck, a platform where I was rather established and also fun colleagues who were fun to work with.

I started Pikaland two years ago after I found that I loved illustration more than architecture. I traded in concrete and steel for ink and paper, and have never looked back since. Starting the journey into freelancing was terrifying, although it was personally satisfying. Not only was I running Pikaland, but I was also a freelance writer, juggling stories and features with magazines and newspapers to make ends meet, with the odd copywriting job in between.

I read (actually, devoured) a lot of books that helped me out when I was starting out. Books like My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire by Michelle Goodman, and Craft, Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco tuned me into how I can actually pull the whole thing off. Of both books, I found that Michelle Goodman’s book was more relevant (only because Craft Inc. didn’t really apply to what I was doing — I was offering a service rather than a finished product). Goodman’s book was my bible – dog eared and worn, I still flip through it to find nuggets of information that’s useful.

Title: Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business
Paperback: 184 pages

I found that more and more illustration commissions has come my way instead of writing assignments; which led me to order a copy of Creative, Inc.: The Ultimate Guide to Running a Successful Freelance Business, the latest book from Meg Mateo Ilasco in collaboration with Joy Deangdeelert Cho (of Oh Joy!)

While My So-Called Freelance Life deals with freelance professionals across all spectrums, Creative, Inc. is geared towards creative types – illustrators, designers, photographers, stylists, etc. Like its predecessor, Craft Inc; Creative Inc. also includes interviews, but this time with various artists on making a living the freelance way.

I love the book – the paper, the straightforward writing, the color palette, the illustrations throughout and also the rounded edges of the pages. Although I had already been freelancing for a couple of years, I read the whole book from cover to cover anyway. The interviews were very insightful, and I like the variety of freelancers profiled: sole proprietors, partners, a husband-and-wife team, agents, and even accountants share their experience about freelancing.

Easy to read with different topics dedicated to the art of freelancing in each chapter, the book is systematic without being boring. What I was really pleased with was that towards the end, the book deals with the question of what if?: advice for situations like when to cut your losses, and when to expand are very timely, and it’s something that you’ll need to factor in when you’re a freelancer who’s been in the market for quite some time.

All in all, Creative, Inc. is a good reference book for any creative freelancer out there who’s looking to cover all bases in making sure that they continue to grow their business, year in and year out.

As for me, I can’t imagine life in a 9-5 office, having gone freelance. The hours are crazy and the income is even crazier. But the best thing about being able to set your own hours is the responsibility. Knowing that you and you alone are responsible for bringing home the bacon, and that if you fail it’s your fault, and that if you do make it, it’s all on you. I liken it to living on a roller coaster – only this time my eyes have to be wide open to anticipate the thrills and also having the flexibility to cushion the curves freelance life dishes out.

Not everyone is cut out for freelancing. Sure, it’s tougher than staying put in a job that you don’t like; but if you can afford to, trade in your job security and give it a go — I believe that everyone should try out freelancing at least once in their life. Trying it out will allow you to live out your dream – and then you can decide whether it’s truly something that you’d like to pursue. The experience is worth it, and life’s too short to stay shackled to someone else’s dream while you daydream about yours.

Now may be the time to live it instead.

Get your copy of Creative Inc. over here!

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Also, if you’re an artist who needs that extra push in the right direction, check out our new lineup of Fall classes for the Pikaland Artist Bootcamp!

Happy weekend everyone, and I’ll see you back here on Monday!