Co-working online was a complete mystery to me. I signed up for one a few weeks ago because I thought I might meet some cool people. And that I did. However, the unexpected happened when the host, Sophie Cross, said ‘see you in 45 minutes.’ Everyone just got their heads down, looked kind of busy, but with their cameras left on. I thought, I may as well do a bit of work then. As it turned out, that was exactly what I was meant to do. Work! I got more done in those 45 minutes than I’d done all week.

Once time was up, we went into breakout rooms for ‘water cooler’ chat. This was making perfect sense. Work, gossip, repeat. Just like in an office. I can hear you all laughing. Quite rightly so. I ended up with 90 minutes of solid work completed, and 15 new connections on LinkedIn. Top morning. Co-working is definitely the way forward.

I messaged Sophie after, and thanked her. Sophie is moving to Margate in the near future, the town where I was born. Small world. She asked me for a photo for an upcoming issue of the Freelancer Magazine. Then I discovered an in real life (IRL) Freelancer Magazine event in Bradford on the 14th May. Photo submitted, and signed up for the IRL session.

Chatting to big names in this industry is really refreshing. So many are welcoming with open arms, and engage with me, no problem at all. I struggled to even speak to my line manager to organise an appraisal in my last job, such was the chaos. 14th May came around very quickly and I was so excited to meet more big hitters in the copywriting world. I was also now in the Freelancer Magazine - a section called #FreelanceLifeOnTheGrid with my Instagram handle advertised.

I drove to The Assembly in Bradford, the event venue, and the road outside it was closed. Without any idea of how to find a way round to the parking, I headed to a nearby multi-storey. The entrance was closed. A man in a van told me to just go through the exit because, and I quote, ‘no one gives a shit, and they’re tearing it down soon.’ As long as it was open for the next 5 hours, it would be fine. Perfectly fine. I didn’t want to take any chances so I paid the £1.50 charge.

I only had to press the buzzer at The Assembly ten times before I got an answer. Those celebrities, what are they like? The man who answered was in charge of the building. Fancy sending him. Poor bloke. On entering the office space, it was quite clear that I was the only one there. The man told me where the tea and coffee making facilities were, and location of the toilets, while clinging onto the hope that others would show up. I think he felt a bit sorry for me, as I did for him.

Two grainy coffees and a WiFi password later, and I was on my Mac, pretending to work. After half an hour, Penny Brazier (the host) walked in. ‘You’re keen’, she said. Turned out I’d mis-read the advert and was an hour early. Still, I'd made a socially awkward friendship with a man who wouldn’t be able to help me in any way, shape or form, for the rest of my life. I knew where to go for a wee when the fiercely diuretic coffees kicked in. His job was done.

Co-workers started to drip-feed through. Talking to strangers has become the way of getting noticed, and is the number one piece of advice I’m given as a new freelancer. Small groups then formed and I was in a group of one, looking a bit lost.

Then this voice called me over. ‘Where do you stand on the side effects of male contraception? My husband has just had a vasectomy and he’s sat at home with a bag of frozen brussel sprouts in his lap.’ It was from this moment, I realised I’d found my people.

Connections, laughter, pizza and Back to the Future quotes followed. This was a bit of me alright. The first time I’d truly been ‘me’ around other copywriters. I was even brave enough to show the famous copywriter, Jo Watson, my website introduction. Hanging on every word she said, I made the changes she suggested and it transformed into, well, me. Self-deprecation, funny but charming, showing I can do a good job for somebody through good old relationship building.

The worst part was that I had to leave early. My gutters were blocked and a man was coming to the house to clear them. Euphemism or not, I had to go home. That was also assuming my car wasn’t under the rubble of a former car park.

I can’t say that any more than five minutes of co-working was completed. However, if networking and having fun on the job counts, we did that for the five hours I was there. I left with my head held high, and a re-kindled fire in my belly to make this work.

I did say in my last post that I’d write about lunch. Pizza, chips and a coke for £4.99. There you go. And this highlights reel is really cool.