“As a freelancer, the ability to be able to adapt to a changing professional environment is something you need to have. It is something that is never really taught when you make the decision to embark on a career as a freelance anything – generally you find out quite quickly whether or not the pace, the unpredictability is something you can put up with long term.“
For me, dealing with curveballs and unexpected roadblocks is something I’ve had to face a number of times over the years. During my 20s, I didn’t realise that these challenges were ones I didn’t necessarily need to be coming up against. Running on the fumes and playing with the idea of burnout until it hits, was something that I thought was part and parcel of working in the music industry.
“And then it did hit.”
All of a sudden I found myself in my mid-20s, without clear direction for the first time in my career and feeling like I had failed. Perhaps that was the biggest curveball of them all.
Making a conscious decision to take a step back and reevaluate what I wanted to get out of working in music: as a writer, as a music fan, repositioned my creative and professional compass. It ultimately led me to become more focused and more passionate about the projects I was saying yes to, and developing myself.
“Discovering the power in saying no though, and believing in the quality of your work; the importance of your voice as a creative, is such a weapon that I am so glad to have in my arsenal. If the work is good and you believe in it, the opportunities will continue to grow and continue to come your way.”
Dealing with the unexpected is still something I find myself having to deal with regularly in this industry, though I think that I am way better equipped to deal with it because I have recognised the importance of having a strong community around me outside of work, and also the importance of giving myself grace when things get hard.
It is something I try to tell many younger writers or aspiring creatives who are entering this industry at this particular time; in a climate where things feel more disconnected and chaotic than before, we can absorb so much of that negativity, and it isn’t healthy.
“The more people can realise that the world outside the industry continues to turn; the more people realise that we are all human at the end of the day and because of that, we need care, the more capable and resilient we will become.”
