Why Writing for Comma is Better Than Freelancing on Your Own (Kelly's Story)
A couple years ago, I had a basic idea of what I was getting into when I decided to become a freelance writer and editor: ownership of my work and my business at the (initial, at least) expense of the security of more “traditional” jobs. This seemed worth it to me. My number one value in life is my time, and maintaining a flexible schedule is paramount to me when taking on work.
I had a taste of office life working in marketing at a tech startup after graduating, and resented having to sit behind a desk writing eight hours each day — even when I completely lacked the creative and physical energy to do so. I began taking on work independently to give myself the freedom to work when and how I wanted, and quickly realized self-employment is lucrative.
Are there healthcare and retirement benefits? No, but there are also no bosses. Is there an office space I have to go to every day? Not unless I want to! Do I have to beg for a raise every year? Not when I can just raise my rates when I deem it appropriate.
For every “con” of working on my own, I immediately found a few “pros” that outweighed any sort of uncertainty I faced navigating the working world by myself. But at first, I struggled to find projects on my own.
When it rained, it poured; I’d go from zero projects one month to 10 the next. My time management skills suffered greatly. I began to question if the freelance life was as glamorous as I’d originally thought it would be and started to do some research on ways to build my business and maintain autonomy without sacrificing my bank account and, more importantly, my sanity.
The happy medium, it seemed, was working with an agency.
I found Comma Copywriters when browsing LinkedIn for organizations specializing in copywriting, and knew immediately I’d stumbled upon a great opportunity.
A Culture of Comma-unity
The primary appeal of agency culture is the feeling of being part of a team without the obligations that come with being an employee. Comma sparked my interest because it’s a hub of like-minded individuals — all writers and editors — who care about publishing clean, meaningful content.
At no stage during the hiring process was I left alone or in the dark. Everything was clearly communicated, and I was always connected to members of the Comma team. After delivering a brief sample of my writing (which I was paid for, by the way), I attended a group interview with other new writers and some members of the leadership team, where we got to chat about our values as writers and editors and meet our potential future.
Once I was officially became an independent contractor, I attended a new writer onboarding session to learn the nitty-gritty details about how Comma operates. Every time I’m added to a project, we have kickoff meetings with the client to discuss how we can best work together to ensure everyone is on the same page. Once a month, the entire Comma team has a brief Comma Catch-up, a time to mingle and have access to professional development to make sure we’re brushing up on our skills and staying in tune to the industry.
I’ve never been afraid to ask questions at Comma because of how comfortable I feel with our writers and leadership; everyone is kind, casual, and wants to make sure we all get along. The “no jerks” policy at Comma speaks volumes about the agency’s culture of camaraderie.
Moreover, the company is female-owned and has writers and clients from all over the country, and prides itself in creating an atmosphere of inclusivity and charity. Becoming a part of this community has connected me with people and organizations that are committed to doing good, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
If you’re anything like me, dawdling is one of your talents. I very literally built “killing time” into my schedule every day for when my energy is low and I need to just putz around before continuing my work.
I recognize this is an extreme luxury, but it’s also the primary reason why I wanted to avoid working a corporate job. In my mind, dawdling isn’t procrastinating — it’s mindfully regenerating energy to help you complete more work in less time later on.
Comma trusts its writers and editors. As long as we meet deadlines, we can work on our assignments when and where we want. Every month we fill out a capacity survey so our team leads can ensure we’re getting as many (or as few) projects as we’d like.
This sense of external accountability without overbearance — meeting deadlines, checking in with other editors and team leads — is the appeal of an agency. Instead of digging around for work and spending my time lining up projects or feeling oppressed by being told exactly how to dictate my time, I have more security being part of a team that prioritizes work-life balance. At Comma, the top core value literally is Freedom: LIFE FIRST!
Administration Station: Resources for Success
While ultimately your own writing business remains in your control when working with agencies like Comma, the administrative resources they can connect you with are invaluable. Recently, our team discussed the benefits of becoming an LLC with a lawyer. Comma has a designated Team Support Manager to foster team unity and advocate for each writer. We are paid twice a month and send formal invoices to our in-house accountant. Comma is nothing short of efficient.
To put it simply, an agency like Comma gives freelancers all the benefits of working with a company in addition to all the benefits of working independently. It sounds like a cliché, but it truly is the best of both worlds.
Peace of Mind Without Falling to Pieces
Comma equips me with confidence. I recognize how terrifying it is to take on work on your own, whether it be a side hustle or a replacement for a full-time job. The backing of an agency affords you peace of mind financially, handling all the nitty-gritty details of finding projects without causing you to lose faith in the security of creative jobs. I am so grateful to have Comma’s advocacy and consider partnering with this marketing agency one of the best moves I’ve made for my career.
Meet the Writer: Kelly Bergh is an editor based in Philadelphia. She holds a master’s degree in publishing and works primarily in the book world, and prides herself for somehow managing to figure out how to make reading her job. When she isn’t wordsmithing, she can be found taking and teaching yoga classes around the world.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellybergh/
Website: https://www.kellybergh.com/
Curious about how Comma could help you up-level your writing and editing game? Learn more about what it’s like to work with us on our Careers page.