The life of an Australian arts freelancer may seem glamorous from the outside, but the reality is far more challenging and chaotic. This anonymous diary entry from a 46¾-year-old arts writer reveals the daily struggles, financial pressures, and existential crises that define the freelance creative industry in Australia.
The day begins at 7:30 AM with an overwhelming sense of dread before the alarm even sounds – a feeling described as "the wheel can't be spun fast enough to avert disaster." After scanning depressing news about genocide, environmental disasters, and political chaos, the freelancer seeks comfort in Instagram's "timeline cleanse" featuring fluffy kittens, film stars, and fashion content. A small victory comes in the form of solving Wordle in just three attempts.
By 8:15 AM, dressed in the same worn hoodie and sweatpants pulled from the bedroom floor for the third consecutive day, the freelancer faces their desk to find 150 new emails. Among the chaos, they discover a missed opportunity – an invitation to a dance salon in Singapore that had been languishing in junk mail until it was too late. This prompts the suspicion that "gremlins are working against me."
The morning brings a series of professional obligations that highlight the industry's challenges. An opening night ticket is offered for an eight-hour abstract show deconstructing Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure," featuring a reality TV star from "Married at First Sight" wearing a trash bag on a minimalist set. When no plus-one is offered, the freelancer politely requests a guest, explaining that debriefing is "a legit part of the process" and that industry perks help "make the humiliation bearable" given the meager pay.
Another assignment involves reviewing a superhero franchise film – the "892nd entry in a never-ending, but fully flagging" series. Despite hopes that this one won't be "a mess of weightless CGI, mindless McGuffins and stakes so low," the three-and-a-half-hour runtime scheduled for 7:30 PM across town on a Wednesday night, with reviews due by 7 AM the next morning, exemplifies the demanding schedule freelancers face.
The workday continues with multiple deadlines competing for attention like "the Iron Man competition – the triathlon, not the Marvel one." Distractions abound, from frequent flyer offers to real estate listings for properties requiring deposits far beyond reach, and lengthy articles about "post-industrial bees." These interruptions lead to forgotten tasks and the need for tea breaks while staring out at birds and "the weird neighbor shouting at clouds."
Breakfast consists of "a stale cookie and a slice of plastic cheese," setting what the writer calls "a new record for fueling the brain before it grumbles into slow death shutdown." The freelancer finds solace in a WhatsApp support group with other freelancers, described as "a necessary lifeline for work-from-home connection" and a reminder that "we are all up against it."
The day's first major task involves reviewing a contemporary dance work staged "on a sinking ship in the harbor" – a potential metaphor that becomes literal when the freelancer wonders if water at their ankles is metaphorical or actual flooding in their "decaying apartment." After crafting a beautiful 500-word introduction that fails to mention the show's name, they delete it and start over.
Midday brings devastating news that "almost every boundary-pushing, non-mainstage creative company" has been defunded for the next four years, described as "business as usual." Despite this, a prestigious international celebrity interview opportunity arises, though it requires a 4 AM wake-up call due to time zone differences – a sacrifice deemed worthwhile for the "dream ticket" that will generate significant readership.
The afternoon involves deciphering a "dodgy transcription" of an interview with a performance art clown who creates balloon sculptures, comparing the task to translating "the Rosetta stone." The challenge of condensing a 10,000-word transcript into an 800-word article while maintaining "artistic integrity" showcases the editorial skills required in freelance arts writing.
Financial pressures emerge as the freelancer checks their "terminal" bank account and drafts emails requesting payment for three-month-old invoices. The contrast between time invested and compensation received highlights a fundamental industry problem where "my time, so very often, is not money." An unrecognized phone call – possibly from the tax office – goes unanswered as they check for "terrifying government emails."
Evening brings additional commitments, including a screening of a "long-lost Czech stop-animation about anthropomorphic rabbits who foment a social uprising," followed by a radio interview about how "mushroom poisoning can offer a new perspective on arts funding." The technical challenges of broadcasting from a home internet connection in a "blackspot study" add another layer of complexity.
The 14-hour workday concludes with just $300 invoiced, yet the freelancer maintains their love for the job. However, the discovery that the celebrity interview has been moved to 4 AM the next morning means preparation work must begin immediately, extending an already exhausting day.
This candid account reveals the precarious nature of freelance arts journalism in Australia, where professionals juggle multiple deadlines, navigate funding cuts, deal with technical challenges, and struggle with financial instability while maintaining their passion for arts coverage. The diary serves as both a humorous and sobering look at the realities facing creative industry freelancers, highlighting the need for better support systems and fair compensation in the arts sector.
