The Most Important Thing I’ve Learned About Successful Freelancing

Here’s what helped me earn a six-figure income as a writer

Photo by Christina Morillo from Pexels

When I swapped my full-time office job for part-time freelance writing in 2014, I had a simple goal: earn a couple hundred bucks a month to offset the diaper and baby food expenses I’d incurred as a stay-at-home mom. As my kids got older and my free time increased, I slowly built a portfolio of writing samples I could use to sell other ideas to higher-paying publications. My income increased a little each year, and in 2019, I hit a financial milestone, earning a six-figure income for the first time in my life.

I’m just as surprised as you are, and the frustrating truth is, I didn’t have a step-by-step formula. My record year was ultimately born out of desperation (and a little bit of trial and error). My financial responsibilities had ballooned beyond baby gear, and I felt growing pressure to pay off debt and save for my kids’ future. But my husband’s income was fixed, and our budget was as pared down as it could be (OK, except for my DoorDash habit). The only realistic solution was for me, the freelancer, to find a way to make more money.

I learned how to work smarter as I went. At first, I just pitched more article ideas to publications that paid more. The problem was, those…