Recently, I decided to retire from freelance writing gigs. Due to the proliferation and corporate overuse of generative AI, freelancing is simply not worth my time. It was a great run over the last 14 years, but it’s time to move on. What am I doing with my time to make a few ends meet if I’m not freelancing?
It’s weird to pivot after having such a long and semi-successful career as a writer for hire. I haven’t had to fill out an application to work since 2011, when I began working with the school district. And a lot has changed since then.
So, what are my plans to keep moving forward?
Ways I Am Professionally Expanding
All good things must come to an end. Freelancing was a lot of fun, and I got to experience a lot of interesting things over the years. Not to mention paying a lot of bills and getting out from under a few thumbs.
But it’s time to move on and get more out of writing for myself. Well, for the most part, anyway. I still have bills to pay, after all.
Nonetheless, I am putting more effort into building several things that may or may not pan out. Then again, they could be the greatest things I’ve ever done. Kind of cryptic, right?
So, how am I pivoting from freelancing in today’s economy?
1. Looking for a Regular Job
First of all, I’m continuously looking for a regular job. Working from home was great, but there are a lot of things kind of biting me in the butt right now because of how I managed the last 14 years.
I’ll still keep an eye out for jobs that need a writer in some capacity. However, I’m looking into a variety of industries now, hoping to find employment. I developed a lot of skills over the years outside of writing, and they could prove useful to anyone looking to hand me a paycheck.
Since I am using a lot of what I’ve done personally since 2013, I need to dial up the effort to demonstrate I know what the hell I’m doing. So, that means a lot more content on various platforms. It’s all part of my resume now.
2. Continued Blogging
Blogging doesn’t generate a great deal of revenue, especially since AI Overviews and results took over. Most blogs and websites experienced a massive dip in visitor traffic, ranging from 40 to 90% within days.
Yet, I am a writer by nature and will continue to keep blogging until the sites can no longer pay for themselves. And if I want them to continue generating some kind of revenue, I need to double down on routine publishing.
That also means incorporating more affiliate links, digital sales, merch, and more. I hate the idea of becoming so capitalist, but as I said, I have bills to pay.
3. YouTube Videos
YouTube, per topic, generates far more engagement and ad revenue than blogging. I’ve even generated a few affiliate sales by adding the links to products I use or review. So, I think YouTube is still a viable option for promoting myself as an author and blogger.
My biggest issue is that I keep forgetting to add the affiliate links to various products. I’ve fixed a lot of that nowadays, but I can only assume how much money I’ve lost over the years by not adding that damn link.
Besides, I’m starting to get members to the channel. I only make about $3.50 per month per member, but even that is more than I had before. And I have a lot of fun interacting with all of my members and subscribers.
It’s safe to say that I’ll keep making YouTube videos about writing for the foreseeable future.
4. Self-Publishing and Marketing
Do you know how many books I sell each month? As of this post, I haven’t sold a single book all year. That’s not because it’s a terrible book. I haven’t sold copies because I don’t market them.
I doubt I’ll sell 47 copies per day, which is what I need to replace a full-time income. But I won’t know that for sure until I put in some effort into marketing the titles in some fashion.
I’ve always wanted to cover marketing tactics for both the blog and YouTube channel anyway. So, the process would be worthwhile in every regard. I’d get content to share and perhaps sell a few books.
5. Doing Something with the Podcasts
I haven’t touched the actual podcast platforms in a very long time, and I think it’s time to change that. It probably takes me about an hour total to prepare and publish the live Monday night shows on Spotify, which then distributes to iHeart Radio, Pandora, and others.
Do I think I’ll become as big as Joe Rogan? That’s laughable. But I do think we could reach a wider audience and maybe make a few bucks in the process.
In fact, I’m trying to figure out the logistics to have all three of my brands as a podcast. That includes WriterSanctuary, CrossingColorado, and Colorado Plays.
6. Online Courses
I’ve been thinking about doing online courses for the longest time. Between people in my life and subscribers on YouTube, I’ve been inspired to start setting them up.
I know…right now, most people are interested in writing with AI tools. Still, I plan to help people go beyond being a prompt jockey and actually learn to be successful as a writer.
Right now, I’m working on free YouTube courses for various platforms that I use. But I plan to do more in-depth courses in the very near future. I just need to sit down and hammer out a curriculum people are willing to pay to learn.
7. Selling Merch
I will never get used to using the term, “merch.” It makes me cringe every time I say or write it. Anyway, I’m going to work on designs and ideas I’ve had for quite some time to get them up on my Fourthwall storefront.
I’m also working out the pricing for certain products that will help me donate to a variety of causes I support.
But like the books, no one is going to buy anything unless they know it exists. So, that means some kind of marketing, whether it’s on the blog or YouTube channel. In any case, I’m looking forward to putting my ideas on gear, such as notebooks, totes, and Hawaiian shirts (obviously).
8. Continued Education
Not only am I working toward a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing, but I am also working toward a degree in anthropology. I also want to work towards master’s degrees as well as PhDs.
I feel that this path will help me with all of the other projects, as the courses would solidify what I can offer to audiences. Plus, I’d like to be a professor at some point, and that’s going to take a great deal of education.
In fact, I’ve already been incorporating the last couple of semesters into blog posts and videos. The way I see it, college is a great opportunity for factual and real content over the next two decades.
Why I Didn’t Do This Sooner
Over the years, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to make something more of all my side quests. And given the nature of my chaotic life, I’m somewhat impressed that I achieved a few things.
However, it wasn’t merely chaos that derailed my efforts. Don’t get me wrong, it is quite unbelievable, some of the things I handle on a day-to-day basis. Yet, I wasted a lot of time myself.
Mental health is a vital component of existence, and mine hasn’t always been a shining example of awesomeness. In fact, I still struggle with a few things, especially lately.
Something else to consider is how I was perfectly content with the status quo. I didn’t feel I had to go above and beyond since my bills were paid and I had a little bit of extra cash each month. I’ve never been one to center on making bucket loads of money for fancy stuff.
Unfortunately, this frame of mind is what got me in the predicament I am in, currently.
So, if there are points of advice I can give anyone looking to become a creator, self-published author, blogger, or writer, it’s:
- Prioritize yourself
You won’t get very far if your head isn’t in the game. Mental health is crucial to your success. - Prioritize your projects
It’s easy to get sucked into procrastinating your work. Prioritize the things you want to accomplish. - Commit appropriate time
Not everyone can commit a lot of time to projects, but it’s important that you give them adequate time to develop. - Don’t bank on instant success
It could take months if not years for some projects to take off. Don’t expect an instant windfall of cash. - Don’t be afraid to learn
Building any one of the above requires a great deal of knowledge. Learn and grow yourself as well as your brand. - Have faith in yourself and what you’re building
Don’t just create something because it’s trending. Have faith in what you’re doing and what you’re trying to create. - Don’t be content with the status quo
Continue to evolve with your projects and become better than you were yesterday. Being content stifles the journey. - Evolve and improve as you go
Things change, and you need to adapt to stay ahead. Self-improvement is also part of a successful journey. - Don’t get complacent
When you’re complacent, it’s easy to ignore signs that things are shifting. Keep your head on a swivel.
Will I Ever Return to Freelancing?
Given the nature of the corporate love affair with generative AI, I doubt I will make a return to freelancing. Under the guise of being “efficient,” I feel that AI’s overuse takes away from someone who spent years honing his or her skills.
It’s just not the same world it was 14 years ago. Corporate greed is becoming unrelenting, moreso than it ever was. So, I’ll let the bottom feeders pretend to be writers while businesses benefit from the soulless dribble coming from chat prompts. I’m moving on with my life.
I’ll be one of the last people standing on this hill for literacy, education, and hard work. I am a writer, and I’ll be damned if I am going to use a tool that takes away from the very thing I love doing.
Of course, it’s sad to see a once-thriving industry get decimated for the sake of convenience and speed. And I have my reservations about where LLMs are going from here. But I will die happy knowing that I didn’t sacrifice my principles for some company that only focuses on yearly profit growth over humanity.
But that’s something that has been happening for decades.
Always In Motion, the Future Is…
The world is in constant technological evolution. Despite AI taking over all of the fun parts of creation, I believe that we can still enjoy writing, self-publishing, and even blogging. While success may be more difficult today, there is something to be said about the human element.
So, I will continue to advocate for the education, development, and creativity of people over bots. Although the future is constantly shifting, it doesn’t mean we have to give up our morals and ethics. In reality, we need to hold on to them more strongly now than ever.
When you have to pivot to a different job or industry, don’t dwell on the losses you perceive. Be glad that you had that opportunity and find something else that piques your interest.
Will I be successful in the above plans? That remains to be seen. Mostly, it’ll come down to how well I market them all. Regardless, I’m going to give it my best shot and see what becomes of it.
If anything, I am a very curious individual, and I love trying something just to see if I can do it.
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