We've all seen so much "end of the world" on this and other subreddits lately so I thought I'd chime in with a useful humblebrag.
In March I left my full-time content writing job (couldn't stand the return-to-office) to go back to freelancing. No clients booked, no plans other than to start browsing UpWork.
By the end of April I was booked up with work and had hit my day rate goal of $500. I write two blogs every weekday and handle whatever edits they want from previous work, if there are any.
Today I saw a comment on r/ChatGPT ostensibly from a writer with about as much experience as me (five years) who also left their job and claimed to have sent out 200 applications without a single word back. That's absurd. My clients explicitly hire me off the strength of a few pieces in my portfolio they probably skimmed through. If you can't do the same then your body of work isn't good enough. Simple as that.
I have more work than I can handle. I could very well be making more money if I actually knew how to prospect on LinkedIn or network online or in-person. But I don't and that's okay, for now.
Don't get bogged down in doubt. There are plenty of clients out there looking for high-quality work, and if you can provide it you'll be able to make money today, and tomorrow. Next month? Next year? Who knows. ChatGPT has another update coming out next week and maybe it'll be the one that drives away at least one of my clients. That's freelancing for ya.
Until then, keep producing the kind of work that we all claim only humans can create. Hone your style. It really all comes down to being a stellar writer.
I'd like to say there's more to it than that but when all my client-finding boils down to "scroll through UpWork and only apply to jobs that are offering >$50/hr," I honestly can't say it's about anything more than git gud.
And I mean gud. I have a bachelor's degree in English, previous in-house and agency experience, and a strong portfolio. Since I'm a writer, I know how to write a good UpWork pitch too. I meet deadlines and stay in communication. It's really not more complicated than that. Just. Write. Well.
What Writing freelance jobs can I do?
There are so many different writing jobs you could look into. Technical writing, grant writing, copy writing, ghost writing (memoirs, books, etc.) all with different difficulty to get into and stability (a lot of my friends with MFAs do technical writing since they can make a steady salary and get benefits instead of freelancing as a 1099).
More on reddit.comHow to Start Freelancing as a Writer with No Professional Experience?
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- Freelance Product Owner ($112,891)
- It Freelance ($99,230)
- Marketing Freelance ($67,990)
- Freelance Digital Marketing ($52,948)
- Freelance Nail Tech ($43,139)
What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Freelance Writer Jobs?
- Kentville, NS ($75,679)
- Whitehorse, YT ($75,197)
- Carcross, YT ($75,153)
- Haines Junction, YT ($74,897)
- North Cowichan, BC ($74,676)
- Duncan, BC ($74,389)
- Oak Bay, BC ($74,254)
- Jewett, TX ($74,113)
- Victoria, BC ($73,939)
- Inverness, CA ($73,396)
How much does a Freelance Writer make?
As of Oct 2, 2025, the average hourly pay for a Freelance Writer in the United States is $23.27 an hour.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing hourly wages as high as $32.93 and as low as $7.45, the majority of Freelance Writer wages currently range between $20.43 (25th percentile) to $26.20 (75th percentile) across the United States. The average pay range for a Freelance Writer varies greatly (by as much as 5), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.