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Freelance Writer

Gig Economy & Side Hustles

You write for a living but spend most of your time chasing invoices, refreshing your email, and questioning every career choice that led here.

Salary Range

Low

$15k

Median

$45k

High

$100k

10-Year Growth

average

0

Education

English degree optional — thick skin mandatory

Environment

indoor

Tools & Technical Skills

  • SEO writing
  • Content management systems (WordPress)
  • Research & fact-checking
  • AP/Chicago style guides
  • Copyediting & proofreading
  • Pitch writing & query letters

People & Mindset Skills

  • Self-discipline
  • Deadline management
  • Adaptability to different voices
  • Thick skin for feedback
  • Networking

What you'll actually do

  • 01Write 2,000 words about a topic you knew nothing about until this morning's Google deep-dive
  • 02Chase down payment for an article you submitted three weeks ago to a client who 'just needs to review it'
  • 03Rewrite a perfectly good paragraph because the client's CEO's nephew had 'a few thoughts'
  • 04Apply to 10 writing gigs, hear back from 1, and get ghosted by the other 9
  • 05Stare at a blank document for 45 minutes before the words finally start flowing at 11 PM
  • 06Explain to family that yes, writing is a real job, and no, you can't just write a bestseller whenever you want