From working 9 to 5 to working when you want

A spring freelance workshop, co-sponsored by the Club and the Society of Professional Journalists, will offer advice and insight on how to transition into freelancing and keep the assignments coming. The event, to be held May 8 from 1 to 5 p.m. in the Zenger Room, will have two panels.

In the first panel, three freelancers will describe how and why they switched from traditional, 9-5 jobs to full-time freelancing. Panelists are Katherine Reynolds Lewis, who went from a news service job to a freelance practice specializing in work, parenting and education; Emily Paulsen, who went from hospital public relations to freelancing on health and medical issues; and Scott Sowers, who went from working for a government agency to freelancing on the topics of architecture, design and energy. The session will be moderated by Tam Harbert, chair of the NPC Freelance Committee and a full-time freelancer covering technology and business.

In the second panel, two freelancers and a business development coach will discuss ways to keep the business coming. Panelists are Arnesa Howell, a writer, editor, communications consultant and educator; Whitney Pipkin, a writer covering food, farms and the environment; and Pete Smith, a consultant who helps professional service providers increase their client base. The panel will be moderated by Stephenie Overman, member of the NPC Freelance Committee, co-coordinator of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Washington freelance group, and a full-time freelancer covering workplace and health issues.

The event is free for NPC and SPJ members, $10 for non-members. You can register here http://www.press.org/events/spring-freelance-workshop-0#tickets. For more information, contact Tam Harbert at [email protected] or Stephenie Overman at [email protected].