6 Secrets to Becoming a Six-Figure Freelance Writer
A reporter recently reached out to interview me and asked: why do people on the Internet always want to know how much freelancers make?
The fascination isn’t just about being nosy and wanting to know how much money someone is earning (although, that might be part of it!) Early in my own career as a freelance writer, I remember I was dying to understand what’s possible? Can I live a happy life above the poverty line as a writer?
You might laugh, but anyone with ambitions to build a life around the written word asks themselves that.
And, I’m happy to report that the life you’ve been dreaming of? It’s possible to put pen to paper and build it, one letter at a time.
So, let’s break down my six secrets to becoming a six-figure freelance writer:
Secret #1: What Gets Measured, Gets Managed
I’ve written pieces on this blog before about how I hit $30,000+ months (recently, I just topped $44k!) and I didn’t just hit these numbers out of nowhere. I saw my income really increase when I started tracking my projects, clients, outreach efforts, and yes — keeping spreadsheets of how much money I was pitching and quoting, and what percentage of that I actually landed. Now, I’m a spreadsheet/database queen, and I’m proud of it!
I’ll be sharing my Notion Templates for these soon, but in the meantime, just open up your favorite spreadsheet app and start tracking your income goals — and how close or far away you are from them.
I know it can be painful at times to look at these spreadsheets, especially if you’re just starting out. It can be discouraging to count up your projects and estimate earnings when they don’t seem like they’re going to cover all your bills.
But you still have to measure what you have coming in — and understand what you’re spending, too.
Your burn rate represents your “runway” at any given time. If you’re spending more than what you’re earning, your “burn rate” shows what you’re burning, and how quickly you’re eating into your savings each month.
The goal is to get your burn rate to zero as quickly as possible so you can get into the green. This is key, and something I really dig into with my one-on-one coaching clients. I help freelancers focus on “green light” priorities that get them to a sustainable freelance business, fast — so they can worry less, and then start to have some fun innovating on their offerings and how they approach their work.
Once you’re in the green, you can invest in the things that make you a better writer. You can spend more time reading books, traveling, going to conferences related to your niche. I loved going to NFT NYC and meeting fellow web3 folks, and I’m headed to NFT London next month where I’m giving a talk on Web3 Storytelling!
But you can’t do anything without being profitable, so manage your resources carefully as you grow.
Secret #2: You’re Only as Good as Your Energy Management
Time management is a myth.
You need to be aware of how you spend your time. But you can’t manage it if you don’t begin by managing your energy first.
Don’t believe me? Think about running a half marathon. When I used to run these, I thought my training was all about time management: I would follow a schedule, set aside time, and just run the miles leading up to the race.
But the human body doesn’t operate like a machine. You get tired, you miss a day. The energy to run the first 3-4 miles on the early weeks of training is a lot different than eventually building up to running a half. Even on race day you have to be super mindful of how you’re expending energy on the first few miles compared to the last!
Your work life is no different: you have to manage your energy depending on how you’re feeling that day. Sometimes it makes sense to push through, sometimes you need a break. If you push your body and mind to exhaustion every day, you’re going to hit a breaking point and get injured — in the case of freelancing, the mental injury here is being burned out!
If you sprint on an assignment with a tight deadline, try and give yourself the next day off to recover, even if it’s in the middle of your week. Pace yourself, as freelancing is more of a marathon than anything else, and you’re the one that sets the pace.
Secret #3: Invest in Your Health and Fitness
When I lived alone, I would often get Thistle, a salad delivery subscription, to drop salads off at my door twice a week. It was pricey, but worth it: I hated cooking then, but I still wanted to eat healthy (and not just order takeout!). Nowadays, my partner and I cook together, but back then the salad delivery service helped me save so much time and helped protect my health.
Imperfect Foods was another time-saver: I could get affordable produce and pantry staples delivered each week (and help fight food waste!)
When it comes to fitness, my partner Kyle and I work out with a personal trainer over Zoom twice a week, we go on daily walks and get about 10k steps per day, and I try and squeeze in pilates or yoga and cardio on the other days. Having a personal trainer and paying for the occasional workout class helped me stay consistent, but you can also just get a subscription to Alo Moves or Obe (or any other fitness streaming app!) to get your workouts in.
Paying a little extra to help enforce a healthy habit is worth it in my book. As someone healing a chronic illness, there was a time where I didn’t do this. (And, let me assure you, my medication now costs a lot more than a bag of organic groceries or some salad delivery!)
Get healthy now so you can live a fuller, happier life doing what you love.
Secret #4: Commit to Timelines, Not Deadlines
This is my biggest secret.
I do my very best to never set exact deadlines: instead, I provide timelines.
Most freelance writers (myself included!) can get psyched out by a calendar cluttered by deadlines. Procrastination and overwhelm can creep up, fast.
So don’t say this:
I can have this whitepaper draft to you by November 19th and rewrites by December 1st.
Instead, say this:
I can deliver this whitepaper to you within 7-10 business days, with each rewrite taking anywhere between 2-5 business days depending on your notes.
It gives you the flexibility to move your schedule around for last-minute projects or life things, and also gives you the opportunity to deliver your work earlier than your client anticipated. (Always a nice surprise!)
And if your clients insist on a deadline, I recommend charging a rush fee (especially if it’s a quick turnaround) to accommodate a faster-paced workweek.
Secret #5: Follow Your Joy, and Don’t Be Afraid to Change Your Niche
I’ve written in many different niches — and still do! — although my main focus these days is web3 and tech copywriting and storytelling.
I shift my workload and primary niche to follow my interest. It was a bit scary at first when I switched my primary niche from blogs to memoir ghostwriting, but I ended up loving the work.
When I got burned out on memoirs, I switched my focus to tech copywriting and storytelling, which helped me reverse my burnout. Now, I take on select memoirs on occasion as well.
You do your best work when you’re writing from a place of joy. That’s your superpower, so honor it!
Secret #6: Build a Team of Experts
It’s no secret that I don’t do this alone: I have a team of experts who support me. I work with a lawyer who formulates my contracts, an awesome accountant/business manager who handles my bookkeeping and taxes. I work with proofreaders and researchers when needed, and I’m not afraid to ask for help.
Who is your team of experts? What support can you build around you so that you can deliver higher-quality work to your clients?
Coming Soon: My New Book!
I’m in the middle of revising my new book that spills all my secrets of how I grew my six-figure freelancing career. This is a book I’ve been writing (and rewriting!) all year with the help of my talented partner and sometimes-editor Kyle (who is an amazing writer in his own right, and his scripted podcast is coming out soon!)
So keep checking back and be sure to follow me on Twitter for more :)
