Back in the ’80s, I was raised with the expectation that once college ended, I would pick one company to work for and stay there; it was the 9-to-5, pension plan, retire-by-60 life for me, baby. So how did I end up as a freelance writer?

In the 20 *cough* years that I’ve been on this planet, society’s changed at an alarming rate: We don’t use cursive, babies are teething on iPhones, and careers have gone from mate-for-life to mix-and-match. While this lack of predictability can seem scary, it’s also a huge opportunity to create a lifestyle tailored to your tastes.

Are you a student, recent grad, stay-at-home mom, or retiree? Being a freelance writer means you get to set your own schedule and work wherever, leaving you time to spend with your family, friends, or pajama pants. Maybe you need more wiggle room in your wallet, maybe you want more traffic to your Tumblr, or maybe you just want to write about Kim Kardashian’s love life (no judgment)–the good news is, there’s a paid outlet for your interests.

For me, writing part-time was a stepping-stone to going full-time. With the published samples I added to my online portfolio, I was able to attract the attention of some pretty excellent employers. So if you’re more comfortable behind a desk, freelancing could actually be a step toward attending that company picnic.

One last thing: Despite the fast pace of modern life, it’s still pretty challenging to change career paths; if you went to school to study biology, chances are you’ll have a tough time snagging a job related to marketing. If your resume screams science but you can prove yourself as a social media maven through blog posts, articles, and how-to’s, you’re far more likely to be taken seriously in an interview scenario.

Ready to start writing? Skyword’s a great one-stop resource for finding freelance assignments, advice, encouragement, and inspiration.

Juliana Casale is a Writer Recruiter for Skyword as well as a freelance writer for Scoutmob. You can find out more about creating your own career by following her @skywriting on Twitter.