I’ve been lucky to have clients who have treated me like a valued colleague even when I have not been a full-time part of their teams. They’ve been quick to pay, reasonable with deadlines, good communicators, and, in general, just plain fun people to work with. I have yet to meet a client I want to gracefully axe from my list.
And yet I find myself, even in these times, faced with a dilemma—or is it a dilemma? My work is moving in many directions. I’m an editor, a copy editor, a writer, a managing editor, a reference librarian, and a market researcher. I am all of these and more. And I enjoy all of them. There are benefits to being diversified—there are always incoming projects, both short-term and long-term, large and small; there’s little chance of becoming bored; the revenue stream is steady; and the opportunity to learn new skills is nearly always available. The dilemma is that I wonder if I’m too diversified. Is that possible in economic times like these?
Is there greater value in finding a niche? Or does finding a niche create the possibility of landing in very dry times? Do I let go of some clients and keep only others? Or do I just stop trolling for new clients and hold on dearly to those who have been valuable to me throughout the years?
Those are my quandaries and I’ve decided to take my dilemma “by the horns,” so to speak, and get the advice of a mentor. This is my first step in working with a mentor—a mentor I found through the Editorial Freelancers Association. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Freelance Matters 