Invisible Costs, Unexamined Skills

I once had an assignment for a publication. It involved a lot of pre-work, also known as pre-reporting. I reached out to prospective sources to ask if I could interview them for an article I was writing. I did research to check the merits of my story. All of this occurred while doing the usual freelance work of pitching the idea and discussing contract terms. After I submitted my article, I calculated that I made $2/hour on this assignment. I included the hours spent on pre-work in my calculation. The invisible emotional labor that never appears on an invoice.

This hourly rate made me question how I spent my time and what the project cost me in the future. The amount earned, especially after deducting 30% for taxes, was enough to cover a few work-related subscriptions, but not enough to allocate toward future financial independence (aka retirement).

I was paid 30 days after submitting my invoice.

The experience made me reflect on how pre-work is a lot like freelance teaching. Experience design, like pre-work, happens before a contract is signed. You may have had similar experiences.

My experience prompted me to reflect on the skills I have.

Which skills am I not using?

Which can be applied in an adjacent line of work that aligns with my values and interests in environmental learning?