Michelle Goodman
Freelance journalist + author of "My So-Called Freelance Life" and "The Anti 9-to-5 Guide"

• http://www.anti9to5guide.com

I fled the cube in 1992 to become a freelance writer and have yet to look back. In 2006, I decided to cram as much detail as I could about flexible, boss-free, and otherwise nontraditional careers into a book: The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube, which Seal Press published in 2007. In 2008, I wrote (and Seal Press published) the "sequel," My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire.

I write a weekly career column for ABCNews.com[more]>

I fled the cube in 1992 to become a freelance writer and have yet to look back. In 2006, I decided to cram as much detail as I could about flexible, boss-free, and otherwise nontraditional careers into a book: The Anti 9-to-5 Guide: Practical Career Advice for Women Who Think Outside the Cube, which Seal Press published in 2007. In 2008, I wrote (and Seal Press published) the "sequel," My So-Called Freelance Life: How to Survive and Thrive as a Creative Professional for Hire.

I write a weekly career column for ABCNews.com and a blog called Nine to Thrive for NWjobs.com. My reported pieces and essays about alternative careers, human mating rituals, and other pop culture phenom have graced such media outlets as CNN.com, Salon, BUST, Bitch, The Bark, Seattle Times, Yahoo! HotJobs, PayScale.com, and several anthologies.

A frequent speaker on the freelance writing life, I've sat on panels and given talks at events sponsored by Mediabistro, Biznik, Seattle Women's Commission, the University of Washington, and more. I also teach classes through the Editorial Freelancers Association and Richard Hugo House in an effort to help aspiring cubicle expats avoid the same mistakes I made early in my own solo career.

In my former 9-to-5 existence, I worked as a community newspaper reporter and bureau chief, a New York book publicist, a high-tech book editor, and a Microsoft web community editor. I live in Seattle with my four-legged office manager, Buddy.

• 
  From Dana Neuts

  Given on Sun Mar 8, 2009.

  I attended a freelancer event that Michelle was participating in and moderating. Her easy-going communication style and knowledge of the...[more]

  I attended a freelancer event that Michelle was participating in and moderating. Her easy-going communication style and knowledge of the freelance world was infinitely interesting and valuable. She is a great speaker and so approachable. Two thumbs up!   [less]
• 
  From Pierre Leonard

  Given on Thu Apr 3, 2008.

  I've been a freelancer for years before creating my current company and reading Michelle's book was a bit like...[more]

  I've been a freelancer for years before creating my current company and reading Michelle's book was a bit like reading my own story...

  There are lots of very useful information and I do think the book deserves a place on the bookshelf of anyone who considers leaving the infamous "cubicle" forever.   [less]