AI Created a Problem & Writers Will Fix It in 2026

I still remember the day in 2014 when I wrote my very first client email pitch (after my horrible stint with content mills).

I didn’t know it then while I was taking care of my twin babies that pitching and landing a client would end up being this successful freelance writing business.

Today, in 2026, we’re hearing everywhere that AI is going to replace jobs, especially writing and content jobs.

But, we’ve been in this AI world for a few years now and something is changing…for the better.

Companies are realizing that AI ISN’T saving them time and ISN’T making them MORE money than doing it the “old” way.

According to a recent Business Insider article, one of the hottest jobs in tech right now isn’t coding, it’s telling a compelling story with real human nuance.

Uh, that’s called freelance writing and it’s what I’ve been doing for over a decade!

And it’s no wonder we’re coming full circle. This is what Brandon Towl said about this:

So, if you’ve been thinking, “ehh, I don’t know if freelance writing is profitable when AI is everywhere,” then this article is for you!

Let’s look at some myths (and bust them), and talk about the real opportunity for freelance writers right now.

Content Writing is the New Shiny Thing

You’d think in a tech world ruled by artificial intelligence that technical coding skills would be the golden ticket to a high-paying career.

Well, that’s what I was seeing online when I heard AI could code. Even Open AI put out a video showing how easy it was to code using AI.

But Business Insider reports that companies like Netflix, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic are paying six-figure to high-six-figure salaries for roles centered around communication and storytelling, not coding.

They’re hiring people who can make sense of complex ideas and articulate them in a way that real humans value.

Why?

Because AI can generate words, but those words can become “slopaganda” — content that sounds complete but lacks real insight, clarity, or strategy.

AI is everywhere in 2026, making everything noisy and difficult for writers to land a writing job.

I found this difficult last year when so many companies adopted AI into their workflow and content strategy.

But now, a year later, those same companies are desperate for experts who can craft authentic, meaningful language that resonates with audiences….the human touch.

And that’s where you – the freelance writer – come into play.

How Did All of This AI Slopganda Happen?

When AI first started taking over the internet back in 2022, everyone predicted the same thing: writers would disappear and brands would rely on machines.

Content would effectively become automated….and you know what?

It did for a whilte.

But here’s what actually happened:

AI made mediocre writing easier and made great writing essential.

And with the recent Business Insider article proving writing is not dying and is actually exploding, the narrative has officially changed.

And here’s why.

We’re drowning in what the article calls “slopaganda.”

Slopaganda = AI slop + propaganda.

It’s so easy to create content with AI that the end result is sameness or blandness:

recycled ideas
generic advice
surface-level analysis
content written with confidence but no clarity

Everyone online can now “write,” or at least click a button and get words on a screen.

And when everyone can publish instantly, the amount of noise becomes overwhelming.

I mean, everyday on LinkedIn I see post after post about AI, probably written by AI and it gets redundant after a while.

Clients feel it and brands feel it, and users feel it too.

So the outcome isn’t that writers are becoming irrelevant.

The opposite is happening.

Great writing has become more valuable because it cuts through the noise.

Companies are finally realizing:

Writing isn’t a low-barrier skill.
Writing isn’t something “anyone can do.”
Writing isn’t a commodity.

It’s the foundation of communication and that’s a GREAT thing for us, the freelance writer or copywriter!

This is the type of content brands will pay top dollar for and what I teach in my program Writeto1k.

Effectively, when a business hires you to write a blog post they are paying you not for your stellar writing, but for what the writing WILL result in: leads/customers.

And that content builds trust in their brand making users want to associate with that brand.

That’s what happened to me with beehiiv.

I kept seeing beehiiv everywhere on YouTube and LinkedIn. I started looking into the brand and realized that they had a blog with amazing content.

I wanted to write for beehiiv and decided to pitch to them (and I landed the gig!).

They hired me because I showed them what type of writer I was and gave me a content idea that I researched and they loved it and hired me.

That’s why companies are willing to pay a premium for anyone who can take complex ideas and turn them into clear, compelling narratives.

What this Shift Means for the Freelance Writer

So now that writing is cool again, how can you take this “new” information and apply it for your freelance writing business?

1. Storytelling Is Everything Now

A business isn’t going to hire you to produce content that sounds like everything else online. When beehiiv hired me, they game me topics that were popular and that meant they were written about thousands of times online.

For example, there are about 800 blog posts about how to write an email subject line. Well beehiiv wanted me to write about it.

Luckily, they provided a detailed content brief with the subtopics and points to mentioned.

Now, I could’ve just written the post and only mention those talking points, but beehiiv didn’t hire me to do that.

They expected my expertise and craft of storytelling (because that’s how I “sold” them of my writing).

And so, I was able to use my experience to help me write this post. I shared a story about how I receive up to 100 emails a day and I don’t have the time to read every single one of them.

Now this piece of content is unique and memorable.

Clients want story, clarity, and lived experience (what I provided for beehiiv).

Start weaving short anecdotes, examples, or observations into your writing. It’s okay to be personal as many businesses value first hand accounts and stories.

This is what separates human writers from AI output.

2. You’re More Than a Writer (And Let Clients Know This)

For me, I’m still toying with this idea. I WANT to be seen as ONLY a writer because I don’t want to be responsible for a client’s SEO strategy, editing or overall content plan.

But, with AI everywhere, you do need to stand out and one way to do that is by leveling up your skills.

Clients may see you are a communicator, strategist, and problem solver. And you can learn these skills by deep diving into a company that hires you. Get to know their brand, messanging and products.

To announce this change, update your website, your LinkedIn headline, and your pitches.

Clients pay more for writers who understand messaging and brand voice.

3. Show Your Process and How You Cut Through Slopaganda

One thing you can do to attract client is to share your process on writing a client piece.

Share this in a LinkedIn post and engage with the comments.

This positions you as the expert because you’re sharing how you turn those ideas into a sharp and clear article for your clients.

Share before-and-after samples, explain your outlining method, or talk about how you elevate AI drafts into publish-ready work on LinkedIn.

4. Build a Personal Brand to Strengthen Trust

I talk about branding in my Writeto1k course because it’s an important part to building a thriving and successful freelance writing business.

I mean, I’m still writing for clients a decade later and that’s thanks to a brand that I’ve built.

Your brand isn’t only the colors in your logo or the website theme you use, but it’s how you deal with late invoices, how flexible you’re working with clients, what you share on social media, and your overall vibe and personality.

You want your “online” presence to be memorable to a client and that starts with your brand. Of course, your style of writing plays into your brand but you need more to support it.

You need proof, presence, and personality across every platform you show up on.

All of this makes you memorable in a crowded industry.

6. Offer Services that Align with Communication Roles

The Business Insider article shows companies are paying top dollar for skilled communicators. You can mirror that value by offering:

Thought leadership writing
Messaging guides
Brand voice development
Executive ghostwriting
Content strategy
Email sequences and nurture flows

Pick one or two skills from this list and learn all that you can about it.

Then you might apply it to your own business.

For example, for email sequences, you can set up your own email list and create a welcome series to learn more about sequences.

All of these skills will align closely with the highest-paid communication jobs in tech and help you earn more money writing.

7. It’s Time to Raise Your Rates

If you’re learning new skills, that means you’re adding more value to your writing, right?

Well, then you need to raise your freelance writing rates.

This shift means you’re not competing with AI.

You are competing with every brand’s need to stand out.

And that means you can position yourself to attract top tier clients. I often change my LinkedIn title to see what types of clients I can attract. Sometimes I add:

AEO/GEO
Copywriting
B2B
Content writer

These terms can hit differently depending on what type of business needs a qualified writer.

8. Use AI as a Tool, Not a Competitor

Some of my Writeto1k course student don’t want to use AI or even compete with AI.

And some of them quit freelance writing all together. It’s important (no, crucial), that you learn and adapt AI into your workflow.

Not only does it increase your efficiently, but also your productivity and typing speed (well, at least I type faster because AI gives me a direction or ideas).

Be proud that you say on your writer website copy or LinkedIn profile you use AI and understand how to use it for your content writing business.

This will reassure clients that they’re hiring a writer who understands modern tools, but still leads with judgment and creativity.