Jump For Joy

Escaping the comfort and security of your nine-to-five doesn’t have to feel like taking the plunge or jumping into the deep end. With her latest book The Big Leap, talented and accomplished letterer Martina Flor provides a launch pad for your ascent into freelance freedom and adventure. A recent release from the good people at Princeton Architectural Press, this Guide to Freelancing For Creatives provides an excellent framework to plan your transition and achieve your goals. The Berlin-based designer covers planning everything from creating a portfolio, covering expenses, thinking about the kind of work you want to do, finding the kind of clients who will appreciate your work; enabling you to do more of what you love, creating different revenue streams, accepting and rejecting work, meeting deadlines, and more. Each aspect of the transformation into being your own boss (and your own employee) is peppered with insightful perspective, real world examples, and rightfully, potential challenges. Having been in the workforce for over two decades, I’ve made the transition between a full-time job and freelancing several times over the years, and I honestly wish I’d read this beautifully designed handbook before doing so each time. It offers ideas and perspectives I’ve never even considered, and it’s a quick, enjoyable read too. I read it front to back in one sitting, but even if you tackled one chapter a day, you’d be miles ahead on the path to your goal, in just over a week. Although Martina’s work is focused on lettering, the lessons in here apply to almost any kind of creative. Flor has certainly given me some exciting concepts to explore and I think you’ll find the same is true for you too.