How I Went From Zero to $4,000 per Month In Less Than 6 Months as a Freelance Writer - Single Moms Income (2024)

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Do you like your job?

No seriously, do you really like it?

(If you do, this post could still be for you too, so stick around for a minute.)

I felt so guilty that I wasn’t in love with my former career as a financial advisor. It was basically the first real career I had out of college (not my first job per say, but first declarence of “this is what I’m going to be when I grow up!”).

Then we decided that my husband was going to stay at home with our growing family after baby number two was born. I thought I was pretty much stuck. The money was good, I worked close to home and I liked my clients, but there was also a fair amount that I didn’t care for.

So I tried to fall in love with it by enrolling in the CFP (Certified Financial Planner) program and further ingraining myself in my work. But it didn’t work. So then I did what any other sane person would do and turned to Google!

Leaving Work Behind

My search led me to Tom Ewer’s site, Leaving Work Behind. I soaked up as much as I could of Tom’s personal story of leaving work behind to become a successful freelance writer and for the first time, considered non-fiction writing for the web as a viable option for me too. It was exciting!

I’m not one to do things halfway, so I dove in headfirst. Within in two months, I had taken a course, built my website and gotten both my first unpaid gig (writing for The Huffington Post) and my first paid gig writing WordPress theme descriptions of all things (if you knew me, you’d know that this is kind of funny, as I barely knew what WP was at this point!).

My first paycheck came, followed by my second and third client. Once I got that ball rolling, it just kept building – so much so, that I was able to put in my notice at work and make plans to sell my practice.

Behind The Numbers

I started looking into freelance writing about a year ago – April 15, 2014 to be exact (can’t forget tax day!). Being such a numbers nerd, I started tracking my income (and expenses) from day one. Here’s EXACTLY what it looked like as I got started:

  • April-June, 2014: -$205
  • July, 2014: $805
  • August, 2014: $1,540
  • September, 2014: $2,280
  • October, 2014: $3,480
  • November, 2014: $4,155
  • December, 2014: $4,252
  • January, 2015: $5,080
  • February, 2015: $5,272
  • March, 2015: $6,595

If you click on March, 2015, you’ll see my latest income report. I started publically sharing income reports, because I was so intrigued by other’s and they motivated me so much! It was also a great way to stay accountable to my goals and hopefully encourage my peers at the same time.

By the way, I hustled on the side of my full-time job for all of 2014. It wasn’t until Christmas, 2014 that I became a full-time freelancer. Now, this is what I do!

I’m Not Just a Writer

By reading my income reports, you’ll notice that I get paid for more than freelance writing. Writing is how I got my start and will always be a big part of my business – in fact I recently took on a few new clients, so it should take on a larger part of my income again soon!

In addition to writing, I serve as a VA (virtual assistant) to two large webpreneurs (or web-based business owners), coach newbie freelance writers (and other freelancers) and do a small amount of consulting with my former office.

I set out to build a diversified business from the beginning and remain open to new opportunities. Doing so keeps my work fresh and interesting and allows me to connect with and learn from so many other people further along the path than I. It’s been an awesome part of building a successful web-based business.

Interested in Pursuing Freelance Writing?

Another thing that I did virtually from day one (in addition to tracking my income and expenses) was to track my progress and what I was learning. You know that definition of insanity? Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? Yeah, that wasn’t for me.

I found that when I looked back on my notes from my first six months as a freelance writer, that I had a blueprint of sorts that could help other aspiring writers launch their own freelance business by following in my footsteps. So I wrote a course! Crazy, huh?

It’s called 30 Days or Less to Freelance Writing Success and it’s a self-paced email course that can be taken in as little as a few days, to as long as a few months if you wanted. It’s geared towards newer freelance writers that want to launch a successful freelancing business inside of a month.

Each lesson is succinct and actionable, encouraging you to implement what you’ve learned immediately. I’ve done the work and learned the hard way, so that you can follow my journey and get similar results.

Are you ready? At $47 it’s a steal – I wanted to price it so that virtually anyone could take it without breaking the bank. A new career doesn’t have to require betting the farm – I started mine with less than $200 and you can too!

So, tell me – are you really in love with your current job?

About the Author:

Gina Horkey is a writer for hire, with a background in personal finance. She also offers coaching services and really enjoys helping other freelancers gear up to quit their day jobs and take their side hustles full-time. Please stop by Horkey HandBook and say hello and download a free copy of 8 Tips to Start Your Freelance Career off on the Right Foot!

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How I Went From Zero to $4,000 per Month In Less Than 6 Months as a Freelance Writer - Single Moms Income (2024)

FAQs

What is the average income of a Freelance Writer? ›

As of May 13, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Freelance Writer in the United States is $23.27 an hour.

What is the salary of a Freelance Writer per month? ›

The average salary for Freelance Writer is ₹21,525 per month in the India. The average additional cash compensation for a Freelance Writer in the India is ₹1,525, with a range from ₹513 - ₹19,500. Salaries estimates are based on 174 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Freelance Writer employees in India.

What is a good hourly rate for a Freelance Writer? ›

Here's a breakdown to help you gauge your per-hour rate based on your experience level: Entry Level — $15 to $30 per hour. Intermediate — $35 to $60 per hour. Experienced — $65 to $100 per hour.

How much do freelancers make per month? ›

What Is the Average Freelance Salary by State
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$200,000$16,666
75th Percentile$128,500$10,708
Average$99,230$8,269
25th Percentile$50,500$4,208

Can I make $1000 a month freelance writing? ›

If you're serious about making a career change, there's no faster way to make money online than freelance writing. The best part is that if you do it right, you can blow past the $1K a month mark in no time. Freelance writing offers much, much greater earning potential.

What type of freelance writing pays the most? ›

Freelance Writing Gigs With Great Pay: 50 Niches to Explore
  • Advertorials.
  • Annual reports.
  • Articles for top consumer magazines*
  • Branding/slogans.
  • Brochures.
  • Book ghostwriting*
  • Brand journalism*
  • Business plans/confidential information memorandums.

How quickly can you make money freelance writing? ›

If need to make money writing fast, it's hard to make the leap to the pro client level, where payments might take 30-90 days to arrive. Lots of writers tell me they'd love to get off the content mills, but that they couldn't survive a month or two without that skimpy mill paycheck that comes promptly each week.

Is there a demand for freelance writers? ›

Freelancer.com's quarterly report on jobs posted in its marketplace found that the jobs related to writing, content creation and marketing "were the fastest growing freelance jobs by percentage growth" in the third quarter of 2023.

Can I make a living as a freelance writer? ›

Freelance writing is the most viable way to make a good living as a writer—and, arguably, the only way that will work for most people. In this model, you work for many different clients, publishing on multiple platforms. It means you can't get fired, since there are multiple people seeking out your work.

How to make $100 an hour? ›

Jobs that pay over $100 an hour
  1. Freelance photographer. ...
  2. Life coach. ...
  3. Underwater welder. ...
  4. Interior designer. ...
  5. Political speechwriter. ...
  6. Massage therapist. ...
  7. Tattoo artist. ...
  8. Commercial pilot.
Apr 18, 2024

How much does a beginner writer make? ›

Average Salary for Writers. Most writers are self-employed, and their experience directly impacts their salary. An entry-level writer with less than one year of experience can earn an average compensation of $50,215. As they gain more experience (1-4 years) are expected to earn an average of $52,945.

Is $100 an hour good? ›

California ranks number 27 out of 50 states nationwide for $100 An Hour job salaries. To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for $100 An Hour jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

What is the best freelance job for beginners? ›

Freelance Jobs for Beginners
  1. Freelance Writer. With the expansion of the World Wide Web, opportunities for freelance writers have also grown exponentially. ...
  2. Blogger. ...
  3. Editor/Proofreader. ...
  4. Transcriptionist. ...
  5. Online Teacher. ...
  6. Graphic Designer. ...
  7. Virtual Assistant (VA) ...
  8. Photographer.
Dec 16, 2023

How to earn $10,000 per month? ›

Now, let's explore 27 different ways to make $10,000 a month in more detail.
  1. Affiliate Marketing. Affiliate marketing is a popular method to make money online. ...
  2. Proofreading. ...
  3. Bookkeeping. ...
  4. Virtual Assistant. ...
  5. Freelance Writer. ...
  6. Blogging. ...
  7. Social Media Management. ...
  8. Open a Shopify Store.
Feb 11, 2024

Which skill is in demand in freelancing? ›

Most In-Demand Freelance Skills are Data Science, Data Analytics, Cyber Security, SEO etc. The top 3 Soft Skills required for freelancers are Communication, Time Management and Adaptability.

Can you make decent money as a freelance writer? ›

If you build a solid relationship with a client, you can make a steady income from regular blog writing. If you're serious about making money as a writer through blogging, you should consider starting your own blog to practice your writing skills and showcase your work.

Can you live off of freelance writing? ›

Making a living as a writer

Can you make a living as a freelance writer? The short answer is, yes, you can.

Is freelance writing a good career? ›

It allows you to explore your creativity, set your own hours, and potentially earn a rewarding income. However, be prepared to face challenges such as income fluctuations and client management. With dedication, perseverance, and a love for writing, freelance writing can lead to a fulfilling and prosperous career.

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