Whether you start with content mills or look for private clients, you can make a living as a freelance writer. That also depends on where you live, the number of clients you accumulate, and how much you write.
In the United States, the average salary for a freelance writer can range between $34,685 to $56,576 per year.
I personally know several who bring in six figures and who have started their own writing businesses. I was able to quit the school district and write full-time in 2013 using nothing more than Textbroker, WriterAccess, and Fiverr.
It is very possible to earn a living today as a freelance writer. It’s a bit more difficult thanks to the advent and use of AI-generated content. But there are still plenty of clients who would rather pay a human than use a bot.
7 Things That Help Becoming a Freelance Writer
- Motivation – Working from home is hard, especially if you’re easily sidetracked.
- Willingness to Learn – I promise, you don’t know everything about writing, especially for clients.
- Distraction-free Workstation – Fewer distractions means greater focus. You’ll make more money.
- Professional Mindset – Keep yourself in the right frame of mind as a professional.
- Patience – It’s unlikely you’ll start making money immediately.
- People Skills – Interacting with all levels of clients is key to more work.
- Full-time Job (optional) – Before you start making money from freelancing, you still need income.
Being a professional writer is easy to get into, but not the easiest to maintain. Keep in mind that you’ll be writing content all day, every day, for as long as you want to get paid. Not everyone can maintain that level of commitment and often bite off more than they can chew.
The hardest part is sifting through the scams and shady clients. No one will ever ask you for money if the service is legit.
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