I still remember sitting at my desk during maternity leave, thinking about what it would look like to not go back to my 9-to-5 and instead write full-time while raising my twins.
It felt exciting… but also a little chaotic because there wasn’t a real plan in place yet.
And if I’m being honest, I’ve seen so many new writers make that same decision too quickly and end up stressed, stuck, and underpaid.
And this is where things get real.
Life is more expensive than it’s been in years.
Grocery prices alone have climbed significantly over the past few years, and you feel it every single time you check out at the store. And for me, my pet peeve is the shrinkflation of potato chips, spaghetti sauce and even coffee. I hate it.
At the same time, the job market isn’t as stable as it used to be, which makes any big career decision feel even heavier.
I remember thinking about childcare costs (if I had to send my twins to daycare while I worked), household bills, and what it would actually take to replace a steady paycheck.
That decision wasn’t just about following a dream of being a writer. It was about making sure my family would be okay.
That’s why this matters so much.
Because choosing freelance writing without a plan doesn’t just feel risky… it is risky, especially when you have real responsibilities at home.
If you’re thinking about freelance writing, I want you to do this the smart way so you can actually build a business that pays you well, supports your life, and grows with you instead of putting you in survival mode.
So, let’s look into a realistic plan and why it’s best not to do this when you’re broke.
1. You Start Making Fear-Based Decisions
When money is tight, everything starts to feel urgent.
Not just a little urgent. Everything feels like it needs to happen right now.
So instead of thinking through your next move, you react.
- You rush your pitches because you feel like you need a “yes” today.
- You lower your rates before the client even asks (this is a BIG one many do and that includes me!)
- You say yes to projects you normally wouldn’t even consider.
And it’s subtle at first.
You might tell a client:
“I can adjust my rate if needed.”
Or you add a line in your pitch like:
“I’m open to working within your budget.”
Or your website copy starts sounding a little… safe.
A little unsure. Like you’re trying to appeal to everyone instead of clearly stating what you do and who you help.
I’ve seen this happen over and over again.
And I’ve caught myself doing it early on too.
Here’s the problem.
When you come across unsure, clients don’t see you as a specialist. They see you as someone they can negotiate with.
Someone who might not fully believe in their own value yet.
That energy shows in everything:
- The way you write your emails
- The way you present your services
- The way you respond when a client pushes back
And clients pick up on it fast.
They might not say it directly, but it affects how they treat you, what they’re willing to pay, and how seriously they take your work.
What ends up happening is this cycle:
You feel pressure → you lower your standards → you attract lower-paying clients → you feel even more pressure.
And it keeps going.
When I started, I realized pretty quickly that confidence isn’t just about mindset.
It’s about having breathing room.
When you’re not constantly thinking about how you’re going to cover groceries or bills that week, you show up differently.
You can start to take time writing thoughtful pitches and even stick to your rates without second-guessing.
That space changes everything.
Because now you’re not just trying to get work.
You’re building a business.
And that shift is what helps you land better clients, charge higher rates, and actually enjoy the work you’re doing.
2. You Default to Low-Paying Platforms
When you need money quickly, it’s easy to sign up for platforms like Upwork that promise fast work.
I get why this happens.
You want something now. Not next month. Right now.
So instead of slowing down and building a simple system to find clients, you go straight to what feels immediate.
You put off posting on LinkedIn.
You delay setting up a basic writing portfolio site. All of those feel like “later” tasks because they don’t give you instant results.
And that’s how you end up relying on platforms where the work feels accessible, but the pay rarely matches the effort.
The problem isn’t just the rates. It’s the environment those platforms create.
You’re no longer positioning yourself as a writer with a specific skill set. You’re one of many people trying to win the same job.
And then you look like a commodity writer and clients will treat you that way making you hate being a freelance writer.
Clients expect options, and when they have options, price becomes the easiest way to compare you.
So even if you start with a decent rate in mind, it slowly drops.
You adjust to stay competitive.
You accept freelance writing jobs that don’t really align with what you want to do long-term.
And before you know it, you’re busy, but you’re not moving forward.
That’s the part that can feel frustrating.
You’re working. You’re putting in effort. But it doesn’t feel like you’re building anything stable.
When I shifted away from that and focused on reaching out to clients directly, everything started to change.
Conversations felt different.
I wasn’t trying to win a bid. I was starting relationships. And that alone changed how clients responded and what they were willing to pay.
Those efforts take a little more intention at the beginning, but they build on each other.
Platforms that rely on bidding don’t really give you that same growth path. They keep your focus on the next project instead of the bigger picture.
So if you feel stuck there, it’s not a lack of effort.
It’s just the wrong system for where you want to go.
3. You Avoid Investing in Your Business
This is a big one.
I see new writers say:
“I’ll invest once I start making money.”
And I understand where that comes from. It feels safer. It feels responsible.
You don’t want to spend money when nothing is coming in yet.
But that way of thinking actually keeps you stuck longer than you realize.
Because the things you’re holding off on are usually the exact things that help you start making money in the first place.
When I got started over a decade ago, I paid for things like hosting and a few basic tools before I felt fully ready.
Not because I had extra money sitting around, but because I knew I needed to show up like a professional if I wanted to attract high-paying clients.
There’s a difference between someone who says they’re a freelance writer and someone who looks like they run a freelance writing business.
Clients notice that.
They look at your website and they read how you position yourself.
They decide very quickly if you feel established or if you feel like a beginner who’s still figuring things out.
And when you don’t invest at all, it shows.
So you end up working harder just to get the same results.
What shifted for me was realizing that small, strategic investments weren’t expenses. They were part of building momentum.
For me, that looked like:
- Paying for hosting so I could have a real website instead of relying on random links
- Choosing a writing niche so my messaging felt clear and specific
- Using simple tools or lead sources so I wasn’t guessing where to find clients
None of that was complicated, but it made everything else easier.
That’s the difference in how a business owner thinks.
Instead of asking, “Can I afford this?” the question becomes, “Will this help me grow faster or land better clients?”
And when the answer is yes, you stop hesitating as much.
You start building with intention instead of waiting until everything feels perfect.
4. You End Up Accepting Difficult Clients
Low-paying freelance writing jobs often come with higher demands.
Not always. But often enough that you start to notice the pattern.
- They message late at night and expect a quick reply.
- They ask for revision after revision without clear direction.
- They don’t fully explain what they want… but still expect you to get it exactly right.
- This is the client’s first start up and has doesn’t have a content team in place
And when you need the money, it’s harder to walk away.
I remember I had a difficult client early in my freelance writin career.
At the time, I just wanted work.
I wasn’t thinking about fit. I wasn’t thinking about long-term potential. I was thinking, this pays, so I’ll take it so I can add another item to my portfolio.
Every time I submitted topics, they were rejected.
Not once or twice. Almost every time.
So I’d go back, rewrite them, try again, and hope this round would be “the one.” Eventually, an editor would approve something, and I’d finally feel a bit of relief but it could take weeks before I start writing for this client.
But then came the draft.
When I submitted the article, it came back covered in edits. And I mean… almost every sentence was changed. Not small tweaks. Full rewrites.
At that point, it didn’t even feel like my writing anymore.
And that’s when it started to click for me.
It wasn’t just that the work was challenging.
It was that the expectations weren’t clear, the process wasn’t collaborative, and I was constantly trying to guess what they wanted instead of actually doing my best work.
But I kept going.
Because I felt like I had to.
Looking back, that experience taught me a lot. Not just about writing, but about clients.
When you’re in a position where you need the income, you’re more likely to tolerate things you normally wouldn’t. You convince yourself it’s part of the process. You tell yourself it’s temporary.
Sometimes it is.
But sometimes it becomes a pattern.
When you have even a small financial cushion, everything shifts.
You can pause before saying yes to a writing gig that may not be in your wheelhouse or you can ask better question to qualify potential clients.
And most importantly, you can ask yourself:
“Is this client actually a good fit?”
When you do, you’ll have better writing jobs that fit your personality and writing.
What I’d Do Instead If I Were Starting Today
If I were starting over, I wouldn’t rush to quit everything and instead, build this step by step.
Here’s what that would look like:
1. Keep Some Form of Income
This could be a part-time job or your current role. As long as you have income coming you can start planning this new chapter.
You might have to “moonlight” as a freelance writer while you work full-time.
Of course this is easier said than done. If you have a full-time job then you need to set time to start your freelance writing business.
This might mean waking up earlier and focussing your tasks like cold pitching on the weekends.
2. Choose a Clear Writing Niche
Instead of trying to write for everyone, focus on one area.
This helps your pitches stand out and makes it easier for clients to trust your expertise.
You can pick a niche to two you’re not familiar with as long as you are comfortable researching about it.
This is what I did when I chose digital marketing/SaaS as a writing niche.
I had originally chosen natural parenting and mental health but found it hard to find clients so then I started researching how to optimize my website and how to get in front of potential clients and loved researching about “digital marketing” tactics!
3. Set Up a Simple Writer Website
You don’t need nothing complicated.
Just a few pages like a service page, some writing samples and a way for clients to find you (i.e. X, email)
This positions you as a business owner right away.
It’s easier nowadays to get started and you don’t need a paid theme either. WordPress.org has thousands of free themes to use and customize so you can create a nice looking writer website!
4. Focus on Outreach
Outreach means putting yourself out there and I know for some of your, that makes you anxious.
I know the feeling, but what helps for me is to remember that I can ‘edit’ what I do online and that seems to help me overcome my anxiety.
When you’re ready, spend time sending cold emails, engaging on LinkedIn and connecting with potential clients on social media.
This might take a half hour each day or you can spend one hour a week.
As long as you are consistent, you’ll probably land some client work this way.
5. Give Yourself a Timeline
It’s a good idea to give yourself a timeline or goal when you start pitching and outreach.
This gives you some motivation and a way to stay accountable.
So, for example, you make goals around creating consistent freelance income or to replace your current income.
In my Writeto1k program, I have a pitching planner for you and many guides and workbooks too!
You Don’t Need a Lot of Money, But You Need a Plan
You don’t need to be in a perfect financial situation to start freelance writing.
I wasn’t.
But I did go in with a clear goal and a willingness to put in consistent work.
That made all the difference.
If you’re serious about making this work, focus on a business plan that helps you with marketing, outreach and consistency.
Let me know in the comments!
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