This year, I went through the slowest periods of freelance work I’ve experienced in my eleven years of self-employment. Projects that did come in were rushed to kick off creatively and then met with weeks of radio silence once delivered. Most of my payments were delayed 45+ days.

I share this not to complain but to let you know that if work is slow for you, too, fellow freelance creative worker, you’re *definitely* not alone.

It’s easy to look at other designers, especially those with industry accolades and large audiences, and assume they’re always raking in cash.

And hey, for some years, I really WAS raking it in! I’d love to do that again someday 😅

But after a few candid conversations with my peers, I realized it’s not just me this year. MANY freelance designers, illustrators, and artists in my circle are down bad right now (especially those of us you might not expect).

Personally, I bounce between the idea that this is somehow my fault and that this is out of my control.

“It’s because I took my foot off the gas, went to culinary school to pursue my pAsSiOn, and lost business momentum…”

“Everyone is going through stressful financial times. Just LOOK at egg prices.”

“It’s my fault sales are slow because I haven’t been as active on social media because it stresses me out now…”

“People have pandemic screen fatigue and aren’t buying as many online courses…”

It’s an impossible and unproductive game of mental ping-pong.

And I'm done playing it.

We can be critical of how our cutthroat capitalist economy requires small business owners to mine their creativity for new products, ideas, and marketing materials to *not starve*…

AND still desire to fight for our businesses and find creative ways to make a living that still feel good.