What is Freelance Writing & How Does it Work?

Freelance writing has been buzzing around the internet for years, but what exactly is it, and why are so many people flocking to it? If you’ve been scouring the web trying to figure out what freelance writers actually do (and more importantly, how much they make), you’re definitely not alone.

With remote work booming and traditional employment becoming increasingly unstable, freelance writing has emerged as an attractive career path for many. According to industry data, freelance writing represents a whopping 17% of all freelancing in the US and UK markets. That’s a massive slice of the freelance pie!

In this comprehensive guide, I’ll break down everything you need to know about freelance writing – from what it actually is to how to build a thriving career that puts money in the bank. I’ve spent years working closely with thousands of freelancers on my blog and in my business, and I’ve learned firsthand what separates the struggling writers from those banking six figures.

Let’s dive in and demystify the world of freelance writing once and for all.

What is Freelance Writing? A Clear Definition

At its core, freelance writing is pretty straightforward – you’re an independent contractor who writes content for various clients on your own terms. Unlike traditional employment, you choose who you work with, what projects you take on, and often, how much you charge.

The key distinction here is that you’re running your own business. You’re not just a writer – you’re a writing business owner. This means you’re responsible for finding clients, managing relationships, handling finances, and delivering quality work consistently.

As a freelance writer, you have the freedom to work from anywhere – your kitchen table, a coffee shop, or a beachfront villa in Bali (if that’s your thing). The flexibility is unmatched, but so is the responsibility.

What Do Freelance Writers Actually Do?

Many people have this romantic notion that freelance writers spend their days sipping lattes and cranking out brilliant prose whenever inspiration strikes. The reality? It’s a bit more complex than that.

Beyond the actual writing, freelance writers typically spend time:

Prospecting for New Clients

Contrary to popular belief, clients don’t just magically appear in your inbox (at least not at first). Successful freelance writers are actively hunting for new opportunities through cold pitching, networking, job boards, and referrals.

Managing Client Relationships

This includes responding to emails, hopping on calls, clarifying expectations, and sometimes, navigating difficult conversations about revisions or payment terms.

Researching Topics

Great writers are also thorough researchers. Depending on your niche, you might spend hours learning about cryptocurrency, parenting techniques, or the latest digital marketing trends before writing a single word.

Editing and Polishing Content

Writing is rewriting. First drafts are rarely submission-ready, so you’ll spend considerable time editing, proofreading, and formatting your work to meet client specifications.

Handling Administrative Tasks

From creating invoices to chasing payments, tracking expenses for tax purposes, and updating your portfolio – the business side of freelance writing requires attention too.

Developing and Executing Marketing Strategies

Your writing skills are a product, and like any product, they need marketing. This might include updating your website, maintaining a social media presence, or creating content that showcases your expertise.

The Many Types of Freelance Writing

One beautiful thing about freelance writing is the sheer variety of work available. Unlike many careers where you’re boxed into one specific role, freelance writing offers numerous paths to explore based on your interests and strengths.

Blog and Article Writing

This is probably what most people think of when they imagine freelance writing. You create informative or entertaining articles for websites, blogs, and online publications. Topics span virtually every industry and interest imaginable, from travel and food to finance and technology.

Blog posts typically range from 800-2,500 words and often aim to educate readers, solve problems, or provide valuable insights. Many businesses use blog content to drive website traffic through search engine optimization (SEO), so familiarity with SEO principles can be a major advantage here.

Copywriting

Copywriting is the art of writing persuasive text designed to prompt action – whether that’s making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or clicking a link. As a copywriter, you might create:

Website Copy

The words that appear on a company’s website, from homepage messaging to product descriptions and about pages. Effective website copy clearly communicates value and builds trust.

Email Campaigns

Strategic sequences of emails designed to nurture leads, promote offers, or build relationships with customers. Email copy needs to be engaging enough to stand out in crowded inboxes.

Ad Copy

Concise, impactful text for digital ads, billboards, print advertisements, and other promotional materials. Every word counts when you have limited space to make an impression.

Sales Pages

Long-form persuasive content that guides readers through a carefully crafted sales argument, addressing objections and highlighting benefits before concluding with a strong call to action.

Technical Writing

If you enjoy making complex topics accessible, technical writing might be your niche. Technical writers translate specialized knowledge into clear instructions, explanations, or documentation.

This could include creating user manuals, API documentation, scientific papers, or instructional guides. While this field often requires deeper subject matter expertise, it typically pays better than generalist writing and can lead to long-term client relationships.

Ghostwriting

Ghostwriters create content that’s published under someone else’s name. This could be anything from books and articles to speeches and social media posts.

This type of writing offers good compensation but requires checking your ego at the door – you won’t get public credit for your work. However, the relationships built through ghostwriting can be incredibly valuable, and many top-earning freelance writers have at least a few ghostwriting clients in their portfolio.

Content Strategy and Creation

Some freelance writers evolve into content strategists, helping businesses plan, create, and optimize their overall content approach. This role combines writing skills with strategic thinking and often involves creating content calendars, developing brand voice guidelines, and overseeing content production.

Journalism and Feature Writing

Traditional journalism is still very much alive, with many publications seeking freelance contributors for news articles, feature stories, interviews, and investigative pieces. This style of writing typically requires strong research skills, an objective tone, and the ability to meet tight deadlines.

Social Media Content Creation

Creating engaging captions, stories, and other written content for social media platforms has become a specialized skill set. This type of writing needs to be concise, conversational, and aligned with both the brand voice and platform-specific best practices.

How Does Freelance Writing Work?

Now that we understand what freelance writing is and the various forms it can take, let’s talk about how it actually works in practice. The freelance writing process typically follows this path:

Finding Clients and Projects

This is where most freelance writers struggle, especially at first. The “feast or famine” cycle is real, and learning how to consistently find good clients is crucial for your success. Here are the main ways to find freelance writing work:

Job Boards and Freelance Platforms

Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and ProBlogger job board list freelance writing opportunities. While competition can be fierce and rates sometimes low, these platforms can help you build experience and client testimonials when you’re starting out.

Cold Pitching

This involves directly reaching out to potential clients who aren’t actively advertising for writers. You identify businesses that could benefit from your services, research their content needs, and send a personalized pitch explaining how you can help. I’ve personally used cold-emailing to build my six-figure solo business, and it remains one of the most effective methods for finding premium clients.

Networking

Building genuine relationships within your industry can lead to referrals and job opportunities. This might happen through social media, professional organizations, or local business events.

Content Marketing

Creating valuable content that showcases your expertise can attract clients to you. This might include maintaining a blog, being active on LinkedIn, or creating helpful resources for your target clients.

Using Lead Generation Services

Services like SolidGigs can save you time by curating high-quality freelance writing opportunities and delivering them directly to your inbox. This eliminates the need to sift through dozens of job boards daily and helps you focus on applying to the best opportunities.

Project Agreements and Contracts

Once you’ve found a potential client, you’ll typically go through a discussion phase to clarify the scope of work, deliverables, timeline, and compensation. This might happen through email, video calls, or a combination of both.

After reaching an agreement, it’s best practice to formalize everything in a contract. This protects both you and the client by clearly defining expectations and terms. At minimum, your contract should cover:

Scope of Work

Precisely what you’ll deliver, including word count, format, number of revisions included, and any additional services (like sourcing images or uploading to a content management system).

Timeline

Clear deadlines for both you and the client, including when drafts will be delivered and how quickly the client must provide feedback.

Compensation

How much you’ll be paid, when payment is due, and acceptable payment methods.

Rights and Ownership

Who owns the content once it’s created and what rights each party has. This is particularly important for ghostwritten work or content that might be repurposed.

Getting Paid as a Freelance Writer

Payment methods and structures vary widely in freelance writing. Here are the most common approaches:

Per-Word Rates

Many freelance writers charge by the word, with rates typically ranging from $0.05 per word for beginners to $1+ per word for specialized experts. This structure is common for article and blog post writing.

Project-Based Pricing

Charging a flat fee for completing a specific project, regardless of word count or time invested. This is common for copywriting projects like email sequences or website copy.

Hourly Rates

Some writers prefer charging by the hour, which can be beneficial for projects with uncertain scopes or those requiring extensive research and revisions.

Retainer Agreements

Ongoing arrangements where clients pay a fixed monthly fee in exchange for a predetermined amount of content or services. This provides stable income and is ideal for building a sustainable freelance business.

When it comes to actually receiving payments, technology has made this easier than ever. Using an invoicing platform like Moxie, Bonsai, FreshBooks, or even SolidGigs can help you create professional invoices, track payments, and automatically send reminders for overdue invoices.

How Much Do Freelance Writers Make?

This is probably the question you’re most curious about, right? The honest answer is: it varies dramatically.

According to industry data, freelance writers earn anywhere from $25,000 to over $115,000 annually, with the median hourly rate hovering around $24-25 per hour. But these numbers don’t tell the whole story.

In my experience working with thousands of freelancers, the income range is even wider. I’ve seen new writers struggling to break $1,000 monthly, while top performers consistently earn $10,000+ per month.

What accounts for this massive disparity? Several factors:

Specialization

Writers who specialize in high-value niches (like finance, healthcare, or technology) typically command higher rates than generalists.

Experience and Track Record

Established writers with impressive portfolios and measurable results for clients can charge premium rates for their proven expertise.

Client Type

Writing for large corporations or funded startups typically pays better than creating content for small businesses or individual entrepreneurs with limited budgets.

Business Skills

The highest-earning freelance writers aren’t just talented with words—they’re skilled at marketing themselves, negotiating rates, and running efficient businesses.

How to Become a Successful Freelance Writer in 2025

If you’re ready to dive into freelance writing or level up your existing practice, here’s a step-by-step roadmap to building a successful freelance writing business:

1. Identify Your Niche and Specialization

While it’s tempting to position yourself as a writer who can create “anything for anyone,” specialization is usually the faster path to premium rates and consistent work. Consider:

Industry Focus

Which sectors do you have experience in or genuine interest in learning about? Healthcare, finance, education, technology, and e-commerce are all viable options with high demand for quality content.

Content Type

Do you prefer creating long-form guides, snappy social media copy, persuasive sales pages, or technical documentation? Specializing in specific formats can help you perfect your craft and stand out.

Target Audience

Are you skilled at writing for consumers, professionals, technical experts, or C-suite executives? Different audiences require different approaches, and mastering one can be valuable.

2. Develop Your Writing Skills

This might seem obvious, but continually refining your writing abilities is essential. This includes:

Mastering Grammar and Syntax

Even a single typo can undermine your credibility. Tools like Grammarly can help, but developing a solid foundation in writing mechanics is crucial.

Understanding Format-Specific Best Practices

Each type of content follows certain conventions. Study successful examples of your chosen formats to internalize what works.

Learning SEO Fundamentals

For online content, basic knowledge of search engine optimization will make your work more valuable to clients.

Developing Research Skills

The ability to quickly find accurate information and synthesize it into original content is invaluable for freelance writers.

3. Build a Professional Portfolio

Clients want to see examples of your work before hiring you. If you’re just starting out, consider:

Creating Samples

Write pieces in your target niche and format, even if they’re not for paying clients initially.

Guest Posting

Contributing to established blogs or publications can help you build credibility and a public portfolio.

Pro Bono Work

Offering free or reduced-rate writing for non-profits or small businesses can generate portfolio pieces and testimonials.

Building a Professional Website

As soon as possible, create a simple website showcasing your portfolio, services, and contact information. This serves as your digital business card and legitimizes your operation.

4. Master Client Acquisition

The ability to consistently find clients separates struggling writers from thriving ones. Develop a multi-pronged approach:

Create a Strategic Prospecting System

Set aside regular time for finding and reaching out to potential clients. Consistency is key here – sporadic efforts lead to the feast-famine cycle.

Perfect Your Pitch

Learn to craft compelling pitches that focus on client needs rather than your own credentials. A good pitch demonstrates that you understand the client’s business and can provide specific value.

Leverage SolidGigs for Quality Leads

Services like SolidGigs can streamline your job search by delivering hand-picked freelance writing opportunities directly to your inbox, saving you hours of scouring job boards.

Build a Referral Network

Happy clients and fellow writers can be excellent sources of referrals. Nurture these relationships and don’t be shy about asking for introductions when appropriate.

5. Establish Efficient Business Systems

Working writers need streamlined processes to maximize their earning potential:

Create Templates and Workflows

Standardize your onboarding process, contract creation, invoicing, and other repeated tasks to save time and ensure consistency.

Set Up Proper Financial Management

Track income and expenses meticulously, set aside money for taxes, and consider working with an accountant who understands freelance businesses.

Implement Time Management Strategies

Protect your most productive hours for writing, batch similar administrative tasks, and learn to estimate project timelines accurately.

6. Develop Recurring Revenue Streams

One of the most common complaints I hear from freelancers is the ever-gnawing presence of the feast-famine cycle. It’s annoying. You work yourself to the bone promoting your business, then have a great month or two of steady client work – but before you know it, those projects end and you’re back where you started.

Successful freelance writers solve this problem by creating recurring revenue streams:

Retainer Agreements

Offer clients monthly packages where you provide a set amount of content in exchange for a guaranteed fee. This provides stability for both you and the client.

Subscription Services

Consider creating premium newsletter content, membership sites, or other subscription offerings that generate predictable monthly income.

Passive Income Opportunities

Look for ways to leverage your expertise through digital products, courses, books, or affiliate marketing to supplement your client work.

7. Scale and Evolve Your Business

As your freelance writing business grows, consider strategic ways to increase your impact and income:

Raise Your Rates Strategically

Regularly review and increase your pricing as your skills and demand for your services grow. One freelancer I worked with started by charging double what he made at his day job, then doubled that rate, then doubled it again – eventually making eight times per hour what he made at his desk job.

Explore Team Expansion

Consider bringing on subcontractors, virtual assistants, or other support to handle tasks that don’t require your unique expertise, allowing you to focus on high-value activities.

Develop Additional Service Offerings

Add complementary services like content strategy, SEO consulting, or editing to increase your value to clients and command higher fees.

Common Challenges for Freelance Writers (And How to Overcome Them)

The freelance writing journey isn’t without obstacles. Here are some common challenges and practical solutions:

Inconsistent Income

The unpredictable nature of freelance income can cause significant stress, especially when transitioning from steady employment.

Solution:

Build a financial buffer of at least 3-6 months of expenses before going full-time, establish multiple income streams, and actively market your services even when busy with current projects.

Isolation and Loneliness

Working independently can be isolating, particularly if you’re accustomed to a busy office environment.

Solution:

Join writer communities and networking groups (online or in-person), consider working from coworking spaces occasionally, and maintain social connections outside of work.

Managing Difficult Clients

Every freelancer eventually encounters challenging clients with unclear expectations, excessive revision requests, or payment issues.

Solution:

Establish clear contracts and boundaries from the outset, learn to recognize red flags during initial conversations, and don’t be afraid to professionally end relationships that become consistently problematic.

Maintaining Creativity Under Pressure

Consistently producing quality content on deadline can be mentally taxing, especially when juggling multiple projects.

Solution:

Develop routines that support your creative process, take breaks to avoid burnout, and curate a collection of inspiration sources you can turn to when feeling stuck.

Is Freelance Writing Right for You?

Freelance writing offers incredible freedom and opportunity, but it’s not the right fit for everyone. Consider these questions before diving in:

Are you self-motivated?

Without a boss or structured environment, you’ll need internal drive to establish routines and meet deadlines.

Can you handle financial uncertainty?

Especially in the beginning, income fluctuations are normal. Does this cause you overwhelming anxiety?

Do you have the discipline to market yourself consistently?

Even the most talented writers struggle if they can’t effectively find and secure clients.

Are you comfortable with constructive criticism?

Client feedback and revision requests are part of the process. Can you separate your personal worth from reactions to your work?

Do you genuinely enjoy writing?

This might seem obvious, but some people are attracted to the freelance lifestyle without considering whether they’ll enjoy spending most days writing.

The Bottom Line: Freelance Writing in 2025 and Beyond

Despite occasional claims that AI will replace writers, the demand for high-quality, authentic content continues to grow. Businesses are discovering that genuinely connecting with audiences requires human creativity, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking – all areas where skilled writers excel.

Freelance writing offers a uniquely accessible path to self-employment with minimal startup costs and maximum flexibility. Whether you’re looking to supplement your income, replace a full-time job, or build a scalable content business, the opportunities are vast for those willing to invest in developing both their craft and their business acumen.

The difference between struggling freelance writers and those earning six figures often comes down to mindset and approach. The high-earners consistently:

Treat writing as a business, not just a creative outlet

View themselves as service providers solving specific problems for clients

Invest in continuous skill development

Focus on building systems that support consistent client acquisition

Leverage tools like SolidGigs to streamline their processes

Regularly evaluate and adjust their business strategies

Whether you’re just starting your freelance writing journey or looking to level up an existing practice, remember that persistence is key. Every successful writer started somewhere, and with the right approach, you can build a freelance writing career that provides both financial stability and personal fulfillment.

Ready to take the next step? Consider signing up for SolidGigs to get hand-picked freelance writing opportunities delivered straight to your inbox, saving you hours of searching and letting you focus on what you do best – writing.

Have questions about freelance writing or building a sustainable freelance business? Drop them in the comments below, and I’ll do my best to help!

One more thing...

You didn't start freelancing to spend hours every week searching through job boards. You started freelancing to do more work you enjoy! Here at SolidGigs, we want to help you spend less time hunting and more time doing work you love.

Our team of "Gig Hunters"—together with the power of A.I.—sends you high-quality leads every weekday on autopilot. You can learn more or sign up here. Happy Freelancing!