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Horse racing and erotica: How I survived the fickle world of freelance writing

Media | The Guardian · Gabrielle Drolet · last updated

Gabrielle Drolet had always dreamed of being a writer. But when disability closed down most of her opportunities, a strange career began.

When people ask what I do for a living, I’m faced with two choices: either I can lie or I can bore them with the truth, which is too complicated to explain succinctly. While those around me have normal, definable jobs – accountant, journalist, engineer – my work requires headings and subheadings to get it across properly: a map of overlapping gigs and contracts.

“What do you do?” It’s a simple question, and one that often gets asked on first dates. No matter how much I pare down my reply, it’s always long-winded.

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