Courtesy of Ana Julia Gomes
- Ana Julia Gomes, a prop master in Berlin, supplements her income with freelance gigs and blogging.
- Gomes turned to Fiverr and Upwork for graphic design and web design work during the writer's strike.
- Now, her side blog, The Check Stand, monetizes gift ideas and earns her a sustainable income.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Ana Julia Gomes, a 37-year-old prop master and set dresser based in Berlin. The following has been edited for length and clarity.