How much — or how little — could you earn and still be able to live above your “survival” threshold?
Who’s depending on you, and are you able to meet their needs? Could you make it work even if your income stuck you below the poverty line?
These are questions few people really need to answer, let alone consider. But not long ago, these weren’t just hypothetical questions I pondered. They were my life, day in and day out, for three years. Freelance blogging and editing became the answer to all of those questions. That, and a steely determination not to fail.
Today I’m sharing the ins and outs of what I did in my first three years of serious freelancing. Let me just say right here that my path from dabbler to successful freelance blogger and editor was not smooth. I had the skills to do the actual work of writing and editing, but I lacked skills in pretty much every other area necessary to get my business off the ground.
My story is not about a quick rise to the top. I never broke $4,000 in a single month, and I won’t tell you about how easy-peasy it was to become a successful freelancer. Because for me, it wasn’t easy. I made a lot of mistakes, learned most of my lessons the slow way, and wasted a lot of time.
That said, I did go from know-nothing beginner to being a paid blogger and editor capable of supporting my little family, with few resources and very little time to make it happen. Here’s how I did it.
Beginner freelancing, in high gear
After reading enough blogs and connecting with enough people to know that “making a real income online” using my writing and editing skills was possible, I wanted in. I’d dabbled and tinkered in freelance work since 2010, doing odd jobs here and there for friends’ companies, but I didn’t get serious about freelancing until 2012.
And it got really serious.
The turning point: In the final weeks of 2011, I watched my then-husband move out of our bedroom just before our first (and only) child was born. Jobless, newly spouseless, and with a baby in my arms, I was staring down my personal worst-case scenario.
I’d always wanted to be an at-home mom, and I wasn’t about to give up on that dream right when I was getting started. With no debt, a bootstrapped standard of living, and a low-rent apartment on my family’s property, I made the leap from Colorado to North Carolina and got serious about freelancing. I didn’t know much, but I did know I could figure it out along the way.
In 2012, I earned $8400
That year was pretty rocky and I didn’t work a full 12 months. It was probably more like 9 months, between the newborn haze and a cross-country move.
Because I’d already been dabbling in writing and editing online, I had some idea of what I could do to earn money. I evaluated the skills I already had and decided to commit to editing: I had a journalism degree, editing experience, and a network of freelance editors who mostly worked with academics. I also looked for writing opportunities, though I lacked focus and had no idea how to make real money.
As a newly minted Freelance Editor, I updated my website and started looking for work. And by “looking for work,” I mean “treading water until something came along because I had no idea how to find work.”
Editing commanded higher rates than the random virtual assistant work I was doing at $15/hr, but I had a hard time finding editing clients and quite honestly, I didn’t enjoy the work. A lot of my gigs came from referrals (past clients and friends-of-friends), and while the referral work was a huge relief, I felt like I was getting nowhere fast.
The baby kept me busy so much of the time (and the divorce was such an enormous drain) that I had very little mental energy to work up any kind of effective business analysis or strategy, which meant no significant progress. If I hadn’t been so distracted by motherhood and grief, I would have been really frustrated.
What I did wrong
I tried to force myself into a mold I didn’t fit. The only freelancers I “knew” were academic editors who’d been doing it for 20 years or more, and I felt like an outsider. Having their model be the only model for success that I saw meant I had blinders on to everyone and everything else out there.
I was also so focused on making my editing business work that I completely missed the whole “don’t write for pennies” thing, which would bite me in the butt later on.
What I did right
I knew there had to be something beyond $15/hour pay rates, and in my limited spare time I started sniffing out other opportunities. I also plugged into an in-person social network and developed some great friendships (including one with the guy I now call my husband). While these friends weren’t necessarily helpful in a business sense, they were a critical source of emotional support and stability when I felt like I was drowning in my life.
How you can avoid my mistakes
Don’t weld yourself to a specific brand or concept, even if it’s the only thing you can think of right now. Listen to your intuition: if your current income feels uncomfortably low, there’s a reason and there’s an alternative. Chase that hunch. And in the meantime, go easy on yourself — this is a really hard time but you’ll get through it.
In 2013, I earned $11,500
This is the year I lost ground, without realizing it. Like the previous year, I didn’t get in a full year of work; it was more like 10 months thanks to some health issues. Almost all of my work came from friends and referrals, because I still didn’t know how to market myself.
The big shift I made in 2013 was away from academic editing. The rigors, the dramatic clients, the deadlines that couldn’t be adjusted despite the fact that my manuscripts would come to me days late… it was no longer worth the hassle. I did want to keep with “regular” editing for authors and other clients, though, because that’s work I really like.
Despite being clueless about marketing and finding clients, I was branching out and becoming more comfortable with the concept of slightly higher rates. I picked up a new writing client, I did some copywriting and other work for a couple of local attorneys, and I worked on web copy and product descriptions for an ecommerce site. I also ran their blog, which taught me about SEO, marketing strategies, connecting with established blogs and pitching posts, etc.
I was also finally finding some good advice about running this business that I claimed to be running (but was actually running me into the ground).
What I did wrong
I was still pricing everything by the hour, using a low hourly rate. The blogging gigs were a valuable training ground in solidifying my ability to work with keywords and write for the web, but they ended up working out to about 3 cents per word. Ouch.
What I did right
I let go of academic editing, and that freed me up to explore alternative opportunities, like working for small businesses and drafting recommendation letters. I also listened to the mounting internal frustration over being unable to charge higher rates for what I was doing, and I took a hard look at the earning potential that blogging offered when compared to everything else I was doing. That examination led to a new (and necessary) turning point.
How you can avoid my mistakes
Find the people who are making a living as freelance writers and bloggers, and see what they’re doing that you aren’t doing. It’s time to start doing things that scale, and editing rates don’t scale. Focus on what you like and go for it, because a piecemeal career is not a real career.
In 2014, I earned $20,000
I had more substantial expenses this year, but even with those factored in, I was no longer living below the poverty line — a huge accomplishment. And again, I ended up taking some time off in the middle of the year, this time to recover from a dog attack. (It’s surprisingly hard to write well when you’ve got painkillers and traumatic flashbacks taking over your brain.)
But let’s start at the beginning. When 2014 dawned, I was looking (once again) at pivoting and starting over. The biggest change in my business was that I decided to focus on writing and editing for blogs.
No more hourly rates for writing projects. No more working without bylines. Definitely no more pretending I wanted to do academic editing.
Time to scale up and move into project-based pricing that offered much better than the equivalent of $30/hr. I’d done a little bit of freelance blogging, but I was basically starting a portfolio from scratch.
The early weeks of the year were spent laying the groundwork for this pivot, in between my existing obligations. I updated my website. I reached out to bloggers I admired (including Sophie), plugged into a couple of freelancer networks, and began applying for every gig I could find in my chosen niche.
In the first three months of 2014, I began prioritizing the business aspects of my business, and valuing my time. I developed a rate sheet and began saying no to clients whose rates were below my floor. I also looked for places in my niche to land paid clips with a byline, even if it was $25 for a post, and then I used those clips to keep pitching and landing better gigs.
And I began looking for mentors, which ended up being the biggest step toward what felt like freelance blogging success for me. With their advice, I began to understand my real potential and — importantly — see how I could go about achieving something similar.
This was also the first time I really began to focus on an efficient, effective workflow. I didn’t have any childcare, and my son wasn’t going to start preschool until September. I had to make decisions every day about how best to spend my very limited working time. There was a constant struggle between working and mothering, and it wasn’t always easy to navigate.
All in all, I figured some things out this year, and the numbers showed it:
- My income for January was around $1000 (which took into account one week with no internet access).
- My income for December was nearly $3400, including some time off for my wedding, the holidays, and a move.
One logistical thing that moved the needle was having my son enrol in a half-day preschool program, but I also did a lot of growing in 2014, and it showed.
What I did wrong
Unlike many freelancers, I had everything on the line with very little in the way of a safety net. Because of that, I got stuck in the cycle of having no time to find good clients because I was using all my time writing for low-paying clients just to be able to buy groceries. I also spent too much time reading about how to do this or that to level up my business, and not enough time actually doing the work required to level up.
What I did right
While I did stay in a low-paying range for too long, I didn’t take any more pennies-per-word gigs, even when I felt desperate for the money. I kept clawing at the next level whenever I had time to come up for air, and about mid-year I started getting some traction.
I used some creative strategies for landing clients, some of which turned into great gigs I still have. I also built an awesome network of freelance blogging compatriots who provide valuable feedback, support, and even gig referrals.
And if I ever felt guilty for working too much while my son was awake, I pulled back on work and focused on being a present mother. That’s why I was sacrificing so much in the first place, after all.
How you can avoid my mistakes
Don’t listen to the fear. Everything will be OK. Don’t waste time “learning” — get the tools you need to learn, and then learn by doing. Absorb as much as you possibly can from your clients’ expertise. Take up any offer for help that comes your way. And go on a cash budget sooner — it relieves the money worries quite a bit.
Making It Work, Your Way
That’s a broad-strokes view of how I survived three years working from home as a freelance writer and editor, with my sweet baby at home with me.
My life looks very different now, with the addition of a husband and another baby due any day now. But some things never change: my career continues to develop, setbacks continue to crop up, and my vision for my business is still too big for the time allotted to making it happen.
Your story probably doesn’t look very much like mine, but if there’s one universal lesson I’d like to drive home to you, it’s to know your “why.”
When you know why you want to be a freelance blogger, and you have a fierce commitment to that reason, you’ll be ready to accept the sacrifices. My goal was never “big money” or replacing a full-time salary — it was being able to stay home with my baby. Keep your reason top of mind and lean on it when you feel discouraged.
You can do this. Believe it.
Now make it happen!
I can so relate to this. I built my business while I was on disability. I made all the mistakes you talked about. I did eventually get it off the ground.
Great job, Hillary! I found it really hard to get much traction in the world of “pull all-nighters! Every hour of every day is spent building my business!” I wish I’d heard from more people who were doing it against the odds.
Ashley, I find this very inspirational. I’ve always been reluctant to dive into my own story like this because, like you, I didn’t have a quick rise to the top. However, I do like the angle of looking at it realistically. Not all of us will break $4,000 in 6 months (it took me almost 5 years to do so!), but the fact that you’re meeting your goals and supporting your family while being a stay-at-home mom is inspiration itself.
Thanks, Alicia! There was a big part of me that didn’t really want to “go here” — but I’m glad I’m not alone 🙂
Thanks very much for this blog Ashley. I can really relate to so many aspects of your professional journey. It’s really inspiring to hear how you worked hard, learned your lessons and got where you wanted in the end. I’ve been freelancing for almost 2 and a half years and am in the process of doing the same. Good luck for the future and all the best! Anna
Thanks, Anna! Same to you!
Hi Ashley, thank you so much for sharing your story. It’s great to hear from someone who’s fought through what some would think were impossible circumstances and come out the other side. Incredibly inspiring, and a powerful reminder that there are no excuses. Thank you, and all the best with your freelancing future.
Thanks so much for your kind words (and the shares), Daniel. One of the things I told myself over and over was, “You’re a single mom trying to stay at home and raise a baby. It’s not going to be easy. You chose this, now OWN it.” Reminds me of what you said about there being no excuses.
This is an inspiring article — thank you! 🙂
thanks!
This is awesome and inspiring as someone who feels like the income needle will never move up! I’ve been doing this for three years now as well and haven’t done quite that well, although I broke 5 figures last year. Congrats on baby #2!
Thanks!! Congrats on breaking 5 figures! That’s awesome! I remember when I did that… holy cow. Made it seem so much more real.
Out of all the “Make $100k as a Freelancer” posts that I’ve seen, this is by far the most inspiring. You’re giving a real-life picture of someone who has real issues, real setbacks, and real goals, all at the same time. I love it, and I’m so glad I know you. 🙂 Have a wonderful time with your soon-to-be new family member!
Thanks, Bree! I hate all those 6-figure posts 🙂
I agree with Bree!
I have read articles that promise big dreams to get more traffic and readers. Your honest story is far more inspirational than any of the ‘big bang’ theories 😉
Thank you so much, Ashley #HUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSs
Kitto
Thanks, Kitto!!
Loved the post, Ashley! As the father of two autistic boys, I understand the “not having the energy” you were talking about. But I do have a wonderful wife to help out. I have changed my focus from “I have to learn” to “How can I get some billing”, so I am looking forward to the changes to come.
Thanks for such an honest and inspirational post.
Thanks, Chris! It’s really easy to get stuck feeling like you “don’t know enough” when really, all you need to know to get started is just a little bit. Plug in at the forum any time you need advice or feedback!
I relate to your story of slow growth over years. I am growing, but working on maintaining so I don’t get overwhelmed. I love how you shared what you did right and what you did wrong each year. It adds to the details that I found incredibly useful in your article. Thank you for sharing your story!
Yes, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. I’m more likely to be overwhelmed by what I want to do but simply don’t have time to pull off — but that overwhelmed feeling can come from so many places! Do what you can handle and keep looking back to see what’s working and what’s not.
At last! A realistic post about breaking into freelance writing, from someone who has faced real life obstacles. Of course we all want a six-figure income within six months, but deep down we all know it’s a bit too good to be true for the vast majority of us. Thank you for inspiring me to believe that making a reasonable living from writing is a realistic possibility.
Oh it’s totally realistic! I’m glad to know this encourages you!
Hi Ashley,
A few others have said it before me, but it’s so refreshing to read a realistic take on being a freelance blogger that feels achievable – although I’m not saying I’d turn down £100k either…
I recognise some of the lack of marketing issues that you struggled with – having relied far too much on word of mouth myself (which is good in itself but always better to mix it up a bit).
Thanks for the inspiration – you have made me determined to get in touch with a few of those on my ‘hit list’ today!
Go get ’em, Heather 🙂
I love this! Thank you so much for sharing it. There is a lot of great insight you have given us. 🙂
Thank you!!
I needed a break myself from all those “be making $100,000 a year within 6 months” posts; my main problem with self-help is that most of it reads like a follow-these-steps-to-this-result instruction manual, and the struggle doesn’t really come through. Your post is a welcome exception.
While I won’t say I unequivocally “hate” the super-inspirational types who are all guaranteed-success-if-you-just-find-the-key-point, I number myself with the vulnerable-to-perfectionism demographic that needs an occasional reminder that there’s more to making the most of life than doing all you can and getting it right every time.
Yes! It’s easy to get stuck there. I spent way too much time wondering how to level up and reading about how to level up, and not nearly enough time actually trying to. It’s a trap! 🙂
This was a great article to read, Ashley. Thank you for writing it!
I’m new to freelance writing and have been trying to establish a business while staying home with a three and four-year-old. I work during naptimes and occasionally at night (when I’m not too tired). It’s nice to hear from someone who’s doing the same thing, and for the same reason. I don’t WANT to go to work, despite everyone subtly or not-so-subtly telling me I should. Yeah, I know the pay would be more stable, but I want this for my life. Even all the hard stuff, I guess. 🙂 Thanks again for the affirmation.
It’s so tough! I did the same thing — and most of the time, I had at least 2 hours of naps built into the day (he was a great napper…not always great at night, but great with naps). Knowing how much you want this makes the hard stuff… not necessarily less hard, but more easy to put up with. Get in touch (or visit me at parent-preneur.com) if you ever get stuck!
I just bookmarked your site! It’s like you’re talking to me. 🙂 I followed you on Twitter too. I’m @MightyGrl.
Ashley, you’re so sweet for sharing this story.
I’ve also come to the conclusion that I have to create my own success formula and implement my own systems instead of focusing too heavily on what’s worked for others. Once I made this shift in focus, I started getting gigs. It’s only been a few so far, but I’m building my portfolio, and I’m hopeful that life will eventually turn around for me.
Thanks for being genuine and realistic.
Keep plugging away and paying attention, and it’ll pay off 🙂
Openness and honest in the blog/marketing world. It’s available, and you are proof.
Thanks so much, Ashley, for this caring post! This is amazing. Someday you’ll be making those six figure, maybe, and we will know how it was in the good ol’ days, and we will be even more inspired, if possible.
I have spent so much on courses, on equipment, on blog sites, and even on Internet service, that it’s hard to imagine ever arriving at a profit. But you did count those when you listed your numbers, right?
I do not have your ground zero to work in; I stayed at home and realize the total importance of it, but my baby is 25, now, My “why” will build upon that and my main interruptions are the grandchild birthdays I (of course) must attend. Still, it is amazing how four other obligations can instantly climb onto any “inviolable” date. Shaking my head…
I have one question before I pop over and join your everything: Near the end of this essay you used a phrase I am not sure I understand, “go on a cash budget”. Thanks in advance for enlightening this granny, so I can pursue my WHY. And sooner!
My interpretation of cash budget is that you’re only buying things in cash, so you’re not using a credit card. Typically, people spend less when the cash is in their hand than when they’re paying with card.
You can do it, Katharine. Alicia’s basically got it — a cash budget means you pay for things with cash instead of credit or debit. At the first of the month, you determine how much money you have that month to spend on everything, and you divide it out into envelopes for each category (groceries, fuel for the car, whatever). Only use cash for the whole month, and when it’s gone, it’s gone — no more spending. There are some exceptions — for example, I didn’t pay my rent and utilities in actual cash. But anything that involves walking into a store or shop gets paid in cash (and when I bought something online, I pulled the equivalent amount out of the envelope and put it in the “back to the bank” envelope). If you do an internet or Pinterest search for “cash budget” or “envelope budget” or “envelope system” you’ll find lots of information.
Thank you so much for this article. It was so refreshing to hear that I am not the only one who struggles with discouraging moments, and low or non paying clients. My husband is such. Success at what he does, and since I’ve become a stay at home mom, I’ve wavered in my writing and even loss confidence. I am looking for some mentors to learn how to take my blog to the next level. Any suggestions would be awesome
Don’t be discouraged, My’Isha — just get clear on what your #1 priority is and what you need to make that happen. If your priority is to be at home with your kids and you need $1000/month to make that happen, then you’ve got your goal. Your next step is to figure out how to make that $1000/month in such a way that you won’t feel like a failure as a mother. It’s certainly challenging, but it’s also certainly doable to be successful as both parent and business owner. My #1 suggestion is to spend your work time ONLY doing things that will move your business forward. This might mean writing a post, it might mean pitching a new client, it might mean reaching out to a mentor. But every brick you lay needs to be laid on your own house’s foundation, if that makes sense. There are lots of places online where you can plug in and find mentors — the BAFB forums are a great resource, and I’ve got a facebook group for work-at-home parents, if that’s of interest to you.
Ashley,
Thank you so much for sharing this! TBH, it is one of the most helpful posts on freelance blogging that I’ve ever read. I say this because firstly, you’re transparent about the money you made your first few years, and it’s not $100,000!!! I’m a new FT freelance blogger (less than 6 months in) and my income’s been basically survival-level only thus far. Hearing that other bloggers also started with low incomes, sometimes even for the first few years, reassures me that I’m not a total failure! 😛 And secondly, I love that you reiterated the importance of “knowing your why.” I often get so caught up in worrying about not making enough money, not getting good clients, and all of the other anxious “what ifs” instead of reminding myself WHY I became a freelance blogger. Like you, it wasn’t to make tons of cash…rather, it was to free myself from the unfulfilling 9-5 cycle of jobs and bosses I felt beholden to, and live life on my terms. So, thanks again very much for calling upon me to remember this and regain perspective 🙂
~Sarah
You’re welcome — thanks for the kind words!
Wow Ashley,
Lovely piece. You are amazing. You should be very proud of what you have achieved.
You are a great role model for your children and other young mothers. Congratulations.
Robyn 🙂
Very inspiring, thanks for sharing, Ashley. I tinker quite a bit with doing online blogging full time…but I’m so green at it and, frankly, sort of gutless. I’m also afraid of doing what you mentioned you’d done: dedicating myself to a niche where I don’t really fit because I need to make money. I want to write what I’m passionate about and I just get scared that I’ll get poor and sidetracked! So stuff like this helps. It’s a bold move to do this stuff full time and I really admire you for it.
P.S. Like your profile pic 😉
Super relatable; I also struggle with time restraints.
As a homeschooling mother of three, it’s very difficult to find the time to make enough changes and get the business off the ground sooner.
The time restraints stem from my why: I want both my husband and I to be able t spend more time with my children, so it doesn’t make much sense to spend all my time away from them building the business.
It’s nice to hear from someone with a somewhat similar experience.
You’ve inspired me to keep at it.