The grass is green on neither side! The grass is green only when it is nurtured. Whether it is a 9-5 job or a freelancing job at your own time, each has its misconceptions. I’ve been writing as a freelancer for over two years now, and I have found myself in many strange, interesting and sometimes amusing situations…
Unlike the pictures we see online, if you think we all sit at the window of Starbucks with nimble fingers typing away in between sips of coffee, gazing outside the window romanticizing life, you might want to look inside our room where we’re typing away insanely trying our best to get everything done in time. Don’t be surprised if you find the keyboard on fire.
There are days when we are friends with time too until this happens- Just when we finish typing that really good post in Google sheet, the electricity decides to snort at us and poof! It vanishes. Why does the computer act up at the wrong time and make noises like it needs an exorcism performed, I will never understand. My theory so far- Maybe there is someone watching us from the other dimension and decided to play tricks out of boredom. Yes, that ought to be it.
The most called contact in my phone is definitely the ‘Wifi Bhaiya’ who, am surprised hasn’t blocked me yet. When the internet connection is fine though, you will see that we have some excellent Google search skills. We can find anything on the internet but oddly enough deciding which lipstick to wear when we step out is easier than finding the perfect theme for our blog. Sigh.
Stationery stores love me. Ah, the number of notebooks and pens they have, I can never have enough of them. I don’t know when I may use that sharpener that has a pig snout but I need to buy it. (In my defense, it has a curly tail too) But what do we do with all those notebooks? The great ideas often come at the wrong times- when we’re in the shower, when we’re not having anything to write in nearby. (Read first line of paragraph again.)
Another thing we are good at is that we are masters of ‘jugaad’. If you find us in strange corners, we might be trying to capture the perfect picture. Many times, our room is our studio. Best pics become great insta posts, worst pics can tell a funny story. ‘Sab chalta hai’. (Everything works)
Freelancing doesn’t seem like a very hard thing to comprehend, why is it then that nobody understands what we do? Parents think we play Super Mario on our laptop all day, friends think we get paid to drink chai and click photos of our desk, the little brother thinks we’re a booger, not a blogger- although I think that one is not unintentional, the housekeeping didi “bangs” at the room door repeatedly just to ask which phenyl to use, pink or yellow (Pink Lizol smells good, pink I say) despite the numerous times we tell her not to scream while we’re working; the rest of the world? Well, they ask us what we do for a living after we tell them we’re a freelancer.
Speaking of jugaad a.k.a, innovation, when meetings involve Skype calls where we show potato.. er.. face only, we can put on some lipstick, a great top and wear those Shaun the Sheep comfy pajamas and mouse slippers instead of formal pants: Meh, we’ll still rock!
Being a freelancer sometimes is a test of patience. We need it, with clients who think the Arial font used is not Arial enough and the blue heading isn’t blue enough. Pftt. The notifications are endless; we hear them even in our sleep at times. To-do lists never get over, even when the daily planner does. On busy days, we sleep when social media sleeps. (never)
All said and done, the space around where we work makes us feel like we are taking over the world. One click of the publish button and the world gets to read something new and amazing, one click of the send button and someone thinks we’re a life saver.
In between messages such as ‘Zinda ho ya chal base?’ (Are you still alive or dead) brings us from blogosphere to earth with a silly grin. This post is dedicated to all the freelancers out there; I know you can relate to most of it! And to the ones who don’t understand what we freelancers do, “kuch kuch hota hai, tum nahi samjhoge.” (Things happen, you won’t understand)
As I finish this post, housekeeping didi is at my door again, this time with Thor’s hammer.
OK, Bye.
I win at life by creating
I am taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa
The Literary Affair 
“Don’t be surprised if you find the keyboard on fire.” happens most of the times because the cogs of the brain start turning at the 12th hour! Electricity poof and battery died out is another thing I am always scared of. Ur blog made me laugh, grin at places and have an outside look of what I live through every second day. Is blog ko padh ke Kuch Kuch hoga hai and it can’t be expressed any further. 🤗
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Yes, 12th hour is when our creative juices start flowing, pata nahi kyun. Maybe the adrenaline rush is exciting. Am so glad you could relate.
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Wow..that’s an awesome stuff. Ingenuity at its best. Short of words to comment but most of it is so relatable.
Straight from the heart !
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then the goal is achieved 🙂
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This was brilliant Leha! Made me laugh and nod in understanding. We’re the rockstars really 😄
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Thanks Suchita. We are!
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O my God! This is so relatable 😆 nobody understands what we do. Amazed to see how brilliantly you described a freelancer’s life humorously. And the moment when we have to tell not to scream because we are working. Superb👌
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Humor is a great defense mechanism ;P So glad it was relatable!
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So true. And completely relatable. Ditto on inspiration striking in the oddest of places and circumstances.
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Always!
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Only who has faced it knows it. Can’t agree more to how we creative people are perceived.
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Hear! hear!
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Amazing riveting read. Very insightful and entertaining.
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Am glad you liked it ;P
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Relatable post… Freelancing is considered a relaxed job by the 9-5 office goers, yes, and they all need to read this!
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Haha, can be a frenzy at times
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I wish this post has more superior button than like to press on, I just loved it the way u portray the ”zindagi of freelancer” , throughout the reading I was grinning😄 ,best part in between msz ”zinda ho ya chal base” so relevant, your post reflects your talent of wittiness too. Loved it!
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This is a huge compliment, you made my day better. Thanks Archana
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This was superb, Leha. Best parts? Stationery, jugaad, kuch kuch hota hai, tum nahi samjhoge! 😅😂😂😂 you’re awesome babes!
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Hahaha. I had to push in kuch kuch hota hai somewhere. Srk fan jo hu.. Thanks Rashi😄
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Creative juices flowing Leha. I was grinning ear to ear while reading this.
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It’s the best read this morning. I can relate to every word. Like the whole world I am right here because I am in the same boat. It’s so wonderful to read what happens in our lives is always time pass for others, it may even look like I am online 24×7 but I am always struggling for posting that one perfect blog .. all in all I am even saving this comment parallely on my notes cos battery might die, my son can push the screen away, husband can fight over the zero couple time.. while I can just swipe the screen cos an idea for post pooped up . 🤓🔫
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This comment made my morning! Thanks Urvashi. Only another freelancer can understand😊
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While I am not a freelancer myself, I have a number of friends who are freelancers and so I can surely understand your thoughts on how life is out there.
All I can say is that just keep holding on and I am sure as your blog title says that you are a writer and that is what your life is. If you are passionate and love something, then sky is the limit.
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Thanks 😃 yes sky is the only limit!
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Story of every other writer
But we have all our battles to fight
Writing is the perfect weapon
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True, writing creates magic
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Story of every writer
But we have our own battles to fight
And writing is the perfect weapon
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Hey Leha, my bai shouts at the door when I am recording the 100th time and it was about to be the perfect one!
Such a good and real post. Koi nahi samjega ki hum kya kar rahe hai.
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Thanks Geethica. They will never 🤣 in fact they do it louder when you tell them not to
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Hands down , your post is my best read in this campaign till date. Every word resonates with me. Every scenario is what I struggle with daily. Oh Leha, I am sharing your post with my family and friends right away. Finally they will know what it feels like to be a solopreneur.
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Sonia, such a wonderful comment from an amazing writer like you 😍 You made me smile. I am so glad it resonates with you.
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Wonderful to know you a little more and I must add that I was smiling throughout nodding more than a couple of times. And girl you have company when it comes to colour pens and notebooks. I am a horder though. I just can use some of the pretty ones I have.
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Hahaha, I am a hoarder too Gunjan, welcome to the club 🙂
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Awesome post, I love the confidence in your language. And creative style of writing.
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Am happy you enjoyed it 🙂
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Loved your post to bits and was nodding all through with a big smile on my face. Quiet relatable. I also got to know you a little more with this post. #MyFriendAlexa #ShubhraReads
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Haha , I am so glad Shubhra
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Loved reading your post Leha.. it is so relatable. I was smiling throughout 🙂
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Thanks Simrit 🙂
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The blogosphere pretty much gave me a second family… People whose thoughts matched with my own more than the people at my work even. That alone is something I am blessed to have 🙂
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That is so true. Finding a community is a blessing
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Hi fi from a fellow freelancer! I laughed to my hearts content in agreement as I read your post. Thanks for representing a lot of freelancers toiling away in our makeshift offices.
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Glad it made you smile 🙂
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Wah maza aa gya pad ke….. I m not doing freelancing work but i could samjho your emotions….. Good one…. Btw can you share the places where I also can start freelance content creation?
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Thank you, you could try LinkedIn, Upwork, Fiverr
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Thanks
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What an honest post without frills. Loved your style of writing Leha:)
#MyFriendAlexa
#AditiReads
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Thanks Aditi, came from the heart 🙂
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Lovely post, make me smile ,make me grin ,it look like you are living my life
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Glad it was relatable 🙂
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I was nodding at every paragraph Leha. You literally wrote mere Mann ki Baat in this post. All freelance writers can relate to this. And yes, that big question that you are a freelance. So what do you exactly do for your living. Bas wise hi ho data hai types looks..I am still figuring out how to explain those people about what do I do.
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Haha, wo nahi samjhenge 😛 Glad you could relate
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So true. People think that we grab a cup of coffee at a coffee outlet and write whole day there and we get paid for that. The reality is something only we know. How much they pay for writing a post and sharing it on social media. In that money, we can’t afford even a cup of coffee in today’s time. So connecting and relatable post.
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Hahaha! Woh nahi samjhenge
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I’m all smiling, ear to ear reading your post. You have a flair for writing which is delightful and there’s something about your writing that’s so refreshing.
I loved it where you say that “Grass is greener on neither side unless it’s nurtured.” Thanks for sharing this. #MyFriendAlexa #CloudandSunshineReads
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That means a lot, thank you:)
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Loved it to the core. Every thought of yours in this post is Bang On. The world is yet to come in terms with what we all have taken as our profession. Every day we work hard to make our mark in this virtual world and then come back in the real world to strive among the people around us who think that ‘Khitpit’ is all we do sitting in front of our computer. Sometimes I feel we are nothing less than warriors.
At that point of time, as you rightly said, one feels like saying ‘Kuch Kuch hota hai tum nahi samjhoge’
Brilliant post
#readbypreetispanorama for #MyFriendAlexa
PS: I am a stationery lover too. Can’t keep my hands off those beautiful diaries, colourful folders, beautiful pens and quirky tidbits.
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Haha. That’s right, the world hasn’t come to terms yet! Glad you stopped by
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Experience written always has its natural essence 🙂
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True dear
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I can totally relate to you as I am a freelance writer too since 2012 and I have gone through all the mentioned phases.
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Story of every writer and very nicely articulated. Thanks for sharing ..
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Indeed it’s our story 😊
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Yayyy!!! Bang on post, Leha. How beautifully you have described a freelancer’s life, so so relatable.
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