Life as a Creative is so stinkin’ unpredictable that I made a decision that I’ve been putting off for about as long as I can. I don’t see any miracles peeking around the corner, so I bit the bullet and officially retired.

Not that I’m quitting. I’m just calling in my chips. I applied for Social Security and one of my two pensions earlier than I wanted to (the itsy bitsy WB $68/month one; the other one, the Motion Picture Industry pension, has to wait until I can apply for it in January 2016, but that’s only seven months away) but two years later than I could have. This way I’ll have adequate (not exorbitant, but adequate) predictable income every month and my basic necessities will be covered. I feel ten year younger already!

This doesn’t mean I’m retiring as a copywriter. In fact, it frees me in lots of ways:

•  I won’t have to analyze beforehand as to whether a project is going to be enough to keep my head above water: I can just accept it and do it if it resonates with me in a significant way, whether or not the client can swing a hefty, professional-copywriter-size payment.
• I can offer to write for less up front by making contracted arrangements to get ” a piece of the action” (say 10% or more; some copywriters demand 50% of the income that happens as a result of what they write PLUS a huge payment up front) as the money (ROI) comes in. There will be clients who will prefer working this way because I’ll be taking the risk right along with them; I’ll have skin in the game.  Clients will probably love knowing that I have enough faith in what I create that I’m willing to prosper after my stuff proves its mettle.
• I can focus on creating a lot more often than on lead generation.  Right now, lead generation (looking for and applying for projects) takes the lion’s share of my time. (If I get five one-day jobs a month, I’ll be fine. If I don’t, I’ll be okay. If I get significantly more than five, I’ll be delighted.
• I can invest more time speaking and teaching at ridiculously affordable prices.
• I can invest more time touting my own books, e-books and other offerings.
• I can write more books and e-books.
• I can actually imagine taking a vacation every year…something I haven’t done even once since 2004!  It’s time! And if I play my cards right I might even be able to make them working vacations (cruises and tourist destinations often offer special discounts or freebies to writers who have agreements with travel magazines to write about our adventures…)

YES! It’s going to be great!