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Making a decent living as a writer is more realistic than you think. There’s no degree or corporate experience required. All that’s needed is the willingness to learn and put yourself out there.
Alice Lemee went from making $15 an hour as a music intern to making $200K as a freelance ghostwriter – all self-taught! 👻 For those who aren’t familiar with ghostwriting, it’s when a writer creates content under someone else’s name or brand. It’s a popular in-demand service for folks like CEOs, online creators, celebrities, and other professionals that need writing done for them.
Starting with a love of journaling at age six, Alice didn’t initially think writing could be a viable career. But discovering Medium in 2020 opened her eyes to the world of professional freelancing.
Now she shares her expertise online through Substack, LinkedIn, and her content coaching services while continuing to build a lucrative creative career on her own terms.
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From Music Intern to Freelance Ghostwriter
2020 was a year full of career pivots for many, including Alice. While she loved working for a record label, she craved remote freedom and creative control. Corporate writing jobs weren’t taking her seriously and weeks of rejection left her frustrated.
“Fine. If no one will teach me, I’ll teach myself,” she recalled. Alice invested $1,500 per month in a freelance writing coach, posted blogs on Medium, and shared insights on Twitter. “Within three months I had secured 2-3 clients and was earning $5,000 a month.”
Pro tip: Download our FREE Market Research Guide to help determine how much to charge as a new writer.
What Is Freelance Writing Really Like Compared to a 9-to-5?
While 9-to-5 jobs come with many challenges, so does working for yourself as a freelancer. A huge part of freelance writing is building your personal brand to attract new clients and expand your income streams. There’s a constant stream of posts to write and content to create.
“The work is never over. I almost envy those who have an office. Once they leave, their job is done. I am constantly in work mode,” Alice said. “That said, my situation is still great. I work about 25-40 hours a week and can take days off last minute if I need to.”
We recommend these free courses and guides for beginner freelance writers:
How to Land Your First Clients and Turn Them Into Retainers
Alice found her first clients through cold emailing. Cold emailing is when you reach out to potential clients and send them a pitch that shows how your writing can solve a problem for them.
She didn’t just email them to ask for work, though. She analyzed their content strategy and provided thoughtful suggestions for improvements, such as article title ideas that would drive more revenue to their products.
She emphasizes the “freelancer trifecta” for client retention: producing stellar work, being easy to work with, and staying reliable. “If you want a retainer? Hit on all three,” she said. “Be pleasant. Over-communicate. When you say you’ll deliver the draft on Friday, deliver it on Thursday. Clients will never want to let you go.”
What Are the Hidden Costs of Freelancing (Taxes, Healthcare, Time)?
The first year of freelancing is the hardest and the most expensive. You’re building your reputation from scratch and need to gain as much experience as possible, even if that means taking every project you can get, no matter the pay. Then there’s taxes and healthcare costs that add up.
“Taxes rocked me,” Alice said in regards to her self-employment taxes. Taxes and healthcare are different for freelancers versus W-2 employees. Freelancers have a 15.3% self-employment tax to pay, which consists of Social Security and Medicare taxes. W-2 employees also pay this tax, but only half at 7.65% because their employer pays the other half.
Healthcare coverage costs could vary depending on your health needs. Alice found coverage on the New York State of Health Marketplace for $400 a month.
“I am very lucky in the sense that I am young, healthy, ‘knocks wood’, and do not rely on any medication. That means I can get by with a pretty basic healthcare plan.”
To find coverage available in your state, check the Heatlhcare.gov website or browse our recommended partners below for affordable plan options.
How Freelance Writers Can Diversify Their Income Streams
Alice has two types of income streams. She provides her ghostwriting services for one and coaching for the other. Her ghostwriting services consist of writing newsletters, social media posts on LinkedIn and Twitter, and the occasional copywriting audits and case studies.
For her second income stream, she coaches professionals on how to increase their “creator gravity" (being magnetic online) through a clear, differentiated purpose, high-quality content, and aligned energy.”
She recommends that if you want to take on new projects, to start with the clients you already have. “The fact that you’re already familiar with their team and business model is an advantage,” she said, “and you’d save them from spending the time trying to hire someone new.”
Will AI Replace Freelance Writers? Alice’s Take on AI
Alice says that “AI will never drive the writer fully into extinction.”
And we agree - the majority of people don’t want to read books written by AI or follow AI creators online. They want to connect with real people, not code that has no human experience.
Alice says that for ghostwriters to stand out and survive AI, they’ll have to have a unique voice, know how to use personal stories, and be willing to do what AI can’t. They also need to have a few AI skills of their own.
“AI is useful when I need to get up to speed with a topic I’m unfamiliar with. I read through a lot of scientific journals for a client in the medical field, but the medical jargon can be a doozy,” she said. “ChatGPT helps me simplify complicated topics. I also like to ask it if it can find me obscure research or fun facts about a topic, which I can use in an attention-grabbing introduction.”
Recommended courses to learn AI skills:
- Google AI Essentials
- Generative AI for Digital Marketing
- AI for Business: Branding, Creative Content, and Marketing Specialization
Practical Tips for Newbies
Alice’s top tips for new freelance writers? Don’t wait for someone to hire you first. She suggests launching something like a Substack or creating content on LinkedIn to showcase your writing skills (similar to how she first showcased her writing on Medium).
When you start pitching your services to clients, focus on what you can do for them to help them grow rather than talking about where you’ve been. Also, don’t try to offer too many services. This can confuse clients and derail the conversation.
“Instead of being a ‘chef,’ where you have a menu with 56 different options, be a doctor,” she said. “Listen to their problem and then “diagnose” them a solution (e.g. 2-3 services where you’re a pro).”
Even with the rise of AI, there’s a ton of opportunity for new freelance writers. As long as you’re focused on the client’s needs and how you can stand out, you’re golden.
To learn more about Alice and her work, connect with her on Substack, LinkedIn, or her website.
This article is a part of our “Meet Your Neighbor” series, where we highlight real career paths and real paychecks from across the country.
Read more from the series:
- From Professional Baseball Player to Software Tester
- How This Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant Makes $300K a Year Without Going to Medical School
If this helps you land a higher-paying job or a successful career pivot, let us know! Send us an email ➡️ hello@salarytransparentstreet.com
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