For some people, quitting a nine-to-five job to become a freelancer is a declaration of independence, a defiance of the mainstream, a triumph of themaverick soul. Others freelance so they won't miss the back-to-back Simpsons reruns on weekday afternoons.

If you've thought about going solo and you fall somewhere between those extremes, you might be pondering a couple of questions, such as:
1) Should I leave my comfortable office job and become a freelancer; and
2) how should I go about it?

My answers:
1) Probably, if you're already considering it; and
2) See below.

Don't Rush Into It

The 'My Way' conception of freelancing mentioned above actually rings pretty true. Working for yourself really can give you a bigger say in how your life proceeds. It might let you trade your small, expensive apartment in the ugly city for a big, cheap house in the beautiful sticks. It can also help you notice things, like the passage of time, which the daily grind can obscure.

But it's still work, and it won't automatically be more interesting than what you did in the office. If you let it, freelance work can become as tedious and demanding as any office job, and there will almost certainly be fewer picnics.

Whatever you do, don't rush into freelancing. Once you've decided to leave your nine-to-five, you'll probably find it much more bearable. Heed the Ginger Spice Rule: Don't quit your regular job unless you have total confidence in your individual skills. Ask yourself whether you might benefit from another year of full-time experience. When you freelance, your work won't be mediated by anyone else's.

Give Yourself a Cushion

As in craps and scuba diving, it's important to start with a little more thanyou think you'll need -- more money, more contacts, more confidence. Moonlight asmuch as you can before you quit. Doing so will help you build a financialcushion, gain prospective clients, and develop an idea of what your work is worth to other companies.

Building a list of potential customers is especially important. I hate advertising, from that Pepsi song to my own resume, so I made sure I had a few clients in hand before I went out on my own. Some freelancers enjoy self-promotion and recognize it, correctly, as protection against stagnation,but even most of those people get most of their work through friends of friends and colleagues of clients.

If you go into contract work without sufficient reserves of cash, contacts, or self-regard, you'll probably find yourself taking jobs you'd rather turn down.That's not a horrible prospect if you really hate your current job, but it pretty much defeats the purpose of going solo.

Some new freelancers, to their surprise, find it unsettling to feel beholden to no one. (If you think about it, 'being your own boss' has some grimpsychological implications.) In response, they take on more work than they should, or even under-bill to ingratiate themselves. They end up with several bosses instead of one. Eventually, they have to learn to accept that there's just no boss

Stay Loose

After you've made the leap, keep your original motives in mind. Faced with undivided days, you might be tempted to set a strict schedule for yourself, or even to change your clothes regularly. For me, that would sour the whole deal.

When you freelance, there's often less to distinguish the daytime from the evening, so it's important that there be more to distinguish one day from the next. Since quitting my nine-to-five, I've worked an 11-to-four, a four-to-11, a 9 a.m.-to-10 a.m. (recommended), and a 3 p.m.-to- 2 a.m. (less so).

The Freelance Lifestyle

When I left my regular job, I had two reservations about freelancing from home:first, the expected hassle of handling my own taxes and health insurance, and,second, the loss of camaraderie.

The first concern has proven groundless. After a grueling weekend learning aboutsmall-business taxes and insurance, I've found that neither issue occupies moreof my time than it ever has.

My second concern, despite the friendships I've forged among my neighborhood's squirrels and mail deliverers, turns out to have been more valid. Taking yourself out for a drink after work and silently recalling the day's mishaps somehow doesn't quite satisfy. Gossip also loses some juice.

But that's it for regrets. I can barely remember what a meeting is like, I almost never have to exchange awkward greetings with near-strangers I pass in the hall, and I make decent money working when I want and for whom. The Chairman would be proud.

About The Author. David Hayward is a freelance writer and editor living in Boise, Idaho