Writing in any professional capacity and earning a living from it is a big deal. But if you are starting out or considering a career choice, you might be debating between staff writing and freelance writing. Is there a better choice? Spoiler alert: it’s not as cut-and-dry as you might think! Let’s dive into the details to help you decide what is best for your needs.

Choosing between a staff and freelance position

Last time, I talked about the differences between the two types of jobs. But let’s get a bit more into the nitty-gritty details when it comes to daily life and the potential of a long-term career as a writer.

• Staff writing jobs keep you as classic as it gets: Some people really like the predictability and dependability of a classic 9-5 job with benefits, etc. Staff positions are fantastic for that and still give you the freedom to write for your chosen career. This also helps you scale the classic corporate ladder, make social connections, and so on. There’s certainly a lot to be said for that.

• Freelance positions are easy to scale and/or rebrand down the road: For those that want to change things up later in your career cycle, freelancing gives you the best control. For example, some will start doing the “grunt work” in their earlier years, then graduate to long-term clients and eventually transition to managing and/or consulting. When you are out on your own, you can do whatever you want with your brand.

• Staff writing jobs give you great references: One of the main perks of staff writing positions is that you still do the “wine and dine” element. From the water cooler to expensed lunches, staff writers can still do all of the different reference gathering, name-dropping, and networking that they want to. This is also great for those who are open to being head-hunted.

• Freelance positions keep you in control of every element of your business: While some may find all of the hat-wearing to be overwhelming as a freelancer, others may find it invigorating. If you’ve ever wanted to own your own business and have total control over every element of it, freelance writing positions are the perfect match.

Writing at a professional level is a big choice

The important thing to remember is that what is best for one person is not best for another. So, use this as a guide to help give you an idea of what is best for you as a professional writer. As I was writing this blog post, I was surprised by just how much both career paths appealed to me. Since I started as a freelance writer almost 9 years ago, I’ve always assumed that this was the best match for me. I never thought that a staff writer position would be better for my lifestyle, but now I’m not so sure…

What about you? What would be best for your preferences? Were there pros or cons that surprised you? Share away