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Original poster

Desperate situation

26 replies

Ginnyaletranger78 · 14/01/2025 11:40

I'm on my own with a small child. Abroad.
Several years ago, I had a great career as a freelance writer, translator, editor and language teacher. I left the big city to bring my child up in the countryside. Everything was fine for several years.

Now, I'm really, really struggling. I'm in panic mode. I'm excellent at what I do, but AI is taking all the work or I'm competing with people on Upwork for 10% of what I used to earn. I worry constantly. I'm anxious. I'm living hand to mouth. I spend all day sending off applications and doing tests for free. At best, this gets me added to a database, sometimes the odd job.

I've written and translated best-selling and prize-winning novels. And now I'm rationing food. I don't want to ask for government help. I'm here on a residency permit because of Brexit. I'm so scared they won't renew it. I have a mortgage. My child was born here. I've been here half my life. It's all gone tits-up. Any other freelance creative types out there with some advice?

I feel like such a failure and I can't seem to pick myself up.

OP posts:
TSnewbie · 14/01/2025 11:46

From what you've written, I would be worried too, but I'd also see there a good reason to motivate yourself to diversify. You have to pick yourself up. If you were able to acquire all these skills before, you are able to learn more. I can indeed see that there is not much future in some of the areas you specialised in, so you have to branch out in new areas. The advantage of your current specialisations is that you can continue these part time, whenever there is demand. But try to think of a further part time/(future full time?) job that interest you. As you already have experience with teaching, this seems perhaps an obvious area. But do you have any other interests? In the area where you are now: what seems to be in demand? And there is no shame in taking a completely different job to get you over this period of thinking/retraining.