Freelance Writing Coach

In this episode, we'll share a look under the hood at what it takes to plan, market, and host your own in-person gatherings (meetups, retreats, etc.) as a freelance writer, sharing our own experiences doing just that!This season is brought to you by Collective, and they're giving you your first month free! Just use code FWCP at checkout.Tax season is stressful—no doubt about it. Are you overpaying? Are you even doing it right? It's a headache, but here's the good news: you don't have to figure it all out alone. Collective is built exclusively for solopreneurs and is here to help. If you're a freelance writer, you could be leaving major savings on the table by not having an S Corp. Collective helped me make the switch last year, and they handled everything—S Corp election, bookkeeping, payroll, taxes—you name it. Now, I get to focus on what I love, without stressing over receipt tracking and tax forms.

If you're looking for ways to increase your income as a freelance writer, you should consider opportunities for upselling. In this episode, we look at a few options for additional services and add-ons you can offer clients to earn more money and become even more valuable to your clients.This season is brought to you by Collective, and they're giving you your first month free! Just use code FWCP at checkout.Tax season is stressful—no doubt about it. Are you overpaying? Are you even doing it right? It's a headache, but here's the good news: you don't have to figure it all out alone. Collective is built exclusively for solopreneurs and is here to help. If you're a freelance writer, you could be leaving major savings on the table by not having an S Corp. Collective helped me make the switch last year, and they handled everything—S Corp election, bookkeeping, payroll, taxes—you name it. Now, I get to focus on what I love, without stressing over receipt tracking and tax forms.

In this episode, we get into the career path of journalism, the education/types of training available for those wanting to get a secondary degree for it (with costs!), and some hard truths from firsthand experience doing this work. This is a great episode for anyone wanting to pursue this path!This season is brought to you by Collective, and they're giving you your first month free! Just use code FWCP at checkout.Tax season is stressful—no doubt about it. Are you overpaying? Are you even doing it right? It's a headache, but here's the good news: you don't have to figure it all out alone. Collective is built exclusively for solopreneurs and is here to help. If you're a freelance writer, you could be leaving major savings on the table by not having an S Corp. Collective helped me make the switch last year, and they handled everything—S Corp election, bookkeeping, payroll, taxes—you name it. Now, I get to focus on what I love, without stressing over receipt tracking and tax forms.

Today we're talking about freelance writers who are launching courses, templates, digital products, and more + the promotion it entails to be successful. To do this well, does a freelance writer need to think of themselves as a full-time Creator or Influencer? We discuss our different stances and experiences doing this work.This season is brought to you by Collective, and they're giving you your first month free! Just use code FWCP at checkout.Tax season is stressful—no doubt about it. Are you overpaying? Are you even doing it right? It's a headache, but here's the good news: you don't have to figure it all out alone. Collective is built exclusively for solopreneurs and is here to help. If you're a freelance writer, you could be leaving major savings on the table by not having an S Corp. Collective helped me make the switch last year, and they handled everything—S Corp election, bookkeeping, payroll, taxes—you name it. Now, I get to focus on what I love, without stressing over receipt tracking and tax forms.

Today, we want to talk about social media in an age of complicated social media. This is more about how we focus our efforts on social media when there is a lot of tumult in the space, whether it's due to political concerns or their own mental health concerns.This season is brought to you by Collective, and they're giving you your first month free! Just use code FWCP at checkout.Tax season is stressful—no doubt about it. Are you overpaying? Are you even doing it right? It's a headache, but here's the good news: you don't have to figure it all out alone. Collective is built exclusively for solopreneurs and is here to help. If you're a freelance writer, you could be leaving major savings on the table by not having an S Corp. Collective helped me make the switch last year, and they handled everything—S Corp election, bookkeeping, payroll, taxes—you name it. Now, I get to focus on what I love, without stressing over receipt tracking and tax forms.

Maybe you're at a stage in your career where you're looking to pivot away from freelancing and into something new. Emma and I are considering this ourselves! In this episode, we get into how to think about what's next for you post-freelancing, get out of your own way when it comes to limited beliefs, and take real, incremental steps toward something new.This season is brought to you by Collective, and they're giving you your first month free! Just use code FWCP at checkout.Tax season is stressful—no doubt about it. Are you overpaying? Are you even doing it right? It's a headache, but here's the good news: you don't have to figure it all out alone. Collective is built exclusively for solopreneurs and is here to help. If you're a freelance writer, you could be leaving major savings on the table by not having an S Corp. Collective helped me make the switch last year, and they handled everything—S Corp election, bookkeeping, payroll, taxes—you name it. Now, I get to focus on what I love, without stressing over receipt tracking and tax forms.

Catch up with your hosts Kaleigh and Emma and hear about what's changed for them since the last season (spoiler alert: a LOT) as well as how we're feeling about the freelance writing landscape in 2025.This season is brought to you by Collective, and they're giving you your first month free! Just use code FWCP at checkout.Tax season is stressful—no doubt about it. Are you overpaying? Are you even doing it right? It's a headache, but here's the good news: you don't have to figure it all out alone. Collective is built exclusively for solopreneurs and is here to help. If you're a freelance writer, you could be leaving major savings on the table by not having an S Corp. Collective helped me make the switch last year, and they handled everything—S Corp election, bookkeeping, payroll, taxes—you name it. Now, I get to focus on what I love, without stressing over receipt tracking and tax forms.

Most of us believe that we can build better businesses if we niche down to become a go-to writer for a particular type of asset in a specific space. Once we do this, however, it can feel hard to expand and grow. What if we want to work in another industry? What if we want to write web copy instead of longform content? In this episode, we offer advice on how to expand, broaden, and pivot your offerings.

An email newsletter is a great way to stay in touch with your audience and build your personal brand. But wait…is an email newsletter necessary? Will it actually help you market and sell your freelance services? In this episode, we share how we think about email newsletters and what we've seen from our freelance friends: the successes, downfalls, and our personal experiences

What do you say to people when they ask what you do? Does your professional identity as a freelance writer affect how you show up in the world? In this episode, we talk about how to explain what you do when you're off the clock, surrounded by people who don't “get it.” We're also covering what we're doing outside of work in 2024, what we're thinking about as freelancers and as people.

You see a post on LinkedIn calling for freelance writers with 750 comments. Is it just you… or does the market seem super saturated? What can you do when it feels harder than ever to differentiate? In this episode, we explore what we've been seeing lately and how it's affected us mentally. We offer advice on how to work around this saturation to continue to build a solid business.

The writing process consists of three steps: (1) researching and outline, (2) productive writing, and (3) editing. But are the tools we use designed for this process? Are we as efficient as we think we are? Is there room to save time and increase our creative output? We sat down with Rob Carpenter, content strategist and Head of Marketing at Butter, to talk about ways to work smarter, not harder.

Companies sometimes hire writers for short-term contract roles to help with specific projects. They might hire a writer to work with them for 30-40 hours per week for a set period, such as three months. What are the pros and cons of taking on these roles? In this episode, we share our own experiences taking on contract work and offer some things to think about if you're considering such a role.

Some freelancers suggest clients “book their day” if they want to work with them. Clients reserve a day… and work gets done. What does this look like in practice? How do freelancers successfully structure it? Are “book my day” offerings a good idea for your business? In this episode, we dig into the benefits and pitfalls of clients paying for a day.

Did you know we are really good friends? HA. We enjoy each other's company, love chatting about WHATEVER, and are catching up and giving you a picture of our holistic selves beyond the world of freelance work. We talk about Kaleigh's history as a dancer, Emma's weird modern house, and get into what's happening outside of work. For anyone who wants to get to know us better, listen in on this episode to learn what's happening outside of work.This season of Freelance Writing Coach was generously sponsored by Automatic Evergreen (yourweekly.email), B2B Writing Institute (https://b2bwritinginstitute.com/), Growthtrackers (https://supereasydigital.com/growthtrackers), and Ivy Magic (https://thativymagic.com/).

Freelance writing is really weird right now. Layoffs, the rise of generative AI, and internal chaos at a lot of companies have made many of us feel super insecure about the field. Our friends and colleagues are kinda freaked out… and maybe we are too? In this episode, we talk about what we're seeing in the world of freelance writing and what we're doing about it. This season of Freelance Writing Coach was generously sponsored by Automatic Evergreen (yourweekly.email), B2B Writing Institute (https://b2bwritinginstitute.com/), Growthtrackers (https://supereasydigital.com/growthtrackers), and Ivy Magic (https://thativymagic.com/).

We both work in B2B SaaS. So do A LOT of writers. But what even is B2B SaaS? Why does it seem like so many writers are working in this area? In this episode, we talk about how we got into B2B SaaS, explain why it's so popular, and offer some guidance on how to figure out whether it's the right niche for you. This season of Freelance Writing Coach was generously sponsored by Automatic Evergreen (yourweekly.email), B2B Writing Institute (https://b2bwritinginstitute.com/), Growthtrackers (https://supereasydigital.com/growthtrackers), and Ivy Magic (https://thativymagic.com/).

If you're creating original content, you'll likely find yourself conducting interviews. You might interview subject matter experts, customers, or your client's customers! Emma does it all the time when she writes case studies. Kaleigh does it for more journalistic assignments. In this episode, we offer advice on how to conduct a gosh darn good interview that guarantees you'll get the info you need to do your best writing.This season of Freelance Writing Coach was generously sponsored by Automatic Evergreen (yourweekly.email), B2B Writing Institute (https://b2bwritinginstitute.com/), Growthtrackers (https://supereasydigital.com/growthtrackers), and Ivy Magic (https://thativymagic.com/).

Working with an intense editor can be, well, intense. It has the potential to elevate your writing, poke helpful holes in your sentences, and take you to the next level. But it can also be really annoying. In this episode, we're discussing our experiences working with editors who've got high high high standards.This season of Freelance Writing Coach was generously sponsored by Automatic Evergreen (yourweekly.email), B2B Writing Institute (https://b2bwritinginstitute.com/), Growthtrackers (https://supereasydigital.com/growthtrackers), and Ivy Magic (https://thativymagic.com/).

What does it mean to be a REALLY GOOD writer? In this episode, we're exploring what content managers, thought leaders, and others look for when they're hiring writers. In particular, we discuss writing abilities and editorial chops.

WOOOOOOO boy. Where do we start with this one? Unless you're living on the moon, you have *feelings* about what generative AI tools mean for your business, livelihood, and craft. In this episode, we explore our thoughts and feelings on AI and offer some ideas on how we can rise to the occasion in the new world of robot writers.This season of Freelance Writing Coach was generously sponsored by Automatic Evergreen (yourweekly.email), B2B Writing Institute (https://b2bwritinginstitute.com/), Growthtrackers (https://supereasydigital.com/growthtrackers), and Ivy Magic (https://thativymagic.com/).

We've all had clients that were...awful. But what if we told you avoiding nit-picky, cheap, or boundary-crossing clients was well within your control? We believe a screening process makes the difference! Don't worry– we've made our fair share of mistakes, too. In this episode, we're explaining how we screen prospective clients to avoid bad eggs and maximize good experiences.This season of Freelance Writing Coach was generously sponsored by Automatic Evergreen (yourweekly.email), B2B Writing Institute (https://b2bwritinginstitute.com/), Growthtrackers (https://supereasydigital.com/growthtrackers), and Ivy Magic (https://thativymagic.com/).

Outsourcing frees up your time so you can focus on tasks that generate revenue and ultimately build your business. But how can you get started with outsourcing and why might hiring editors be a good place to start? In this special episode, we sat down with John Doherty, founder of EditorNinja and sponsor of this season of the Freelance Writing Coach Podcast, to discuss editing, outsourcing, and his path to offering services to freelancers.

Freelance writers benefit from great editing! After all, having a second (or third) set of eyes on a piece of writing can help you better understand its strengths and weaknesses, ultimately helping you deliver higher quality assets. But what IS editing and how do you make sure everything you turn in is sufficiently polished? In this episode, we talk about the importance of great editing, how to become a better editor, and the tools you can use to help.

A new lead comes in, you sell them on your services, and you both agree it's a great fit. YES, this is the dream! But rolling out the red carpet for a new client doesn't end after they sign your contract or proposal. What can you do with a brand new client to get the relationship off on the right foot? In this episode, we talk about how to make sure clients are well taken care of from the second they say yes. After all, this is the beginning of a client relationship that hopefully leads to more business and more referrals.

What happens when a prospective client asks you to write a trial post for free? What about an unpaid test? Are there circumstances where doing work that's unpaid makes sense or is this always a big NO? In this episode, we talk about writing tests, trial posts, and when it might make sense to write for free (or not!).

There's lots of talk about niching down by industry, but what about becoming the go-to person for a specific offering? Freelance writers see success when they're THE person for a particular thing. In this episode, we talk about our experience niching down and how you can get people to remember you as the “go-to person for writing podcast summaries,” for example.

Making efficient use of your time is essential to running a successful freelance business, but lots of freelancers waste time on tasks that have little impact on revenue or lifestyle. In this episode, we discuss how we create efficient work days. We get into how many hours we typically work, tools to help ensure efficiency and focus, and what we recommend to freelance writers on how to divide their time.

Whether it's getting paid on time, avoiding scope creep, or dealing with micromanagement, a contract is every freelance writer's best friend—as long as it's done right. These documents are a point of reference and a tool to help keep both parties on the same page around timing and deliverables (and other important stuff, like payments.)As you read, keep in mind that this is not legal advice. We strongly recommend hiring a lawyer to draft a contract template for you. It's a one-time investment that's well worth the small fee.What should you include in your contract?You want to ensure you're not leaving any loose ends in your contract, which is why being detailed works in your favor. The specifics may vary depending on your work, but some of the essentials to include in your contract are. Ownership of work: In most cases, you'll transfer the ownership of the work to the client. Once the client clears your invoice, the rights automatically transfer to them. Payment terms: You want to be paid in full and on time. You can also require the client to pay a deposit in advance. If the client fails to pay on time, you can include a late fee in your payment terms.  Contract duration: Define the time period you've agreed to do business with the client. If it's an ongoing engagement, you can enter a termination clause instead of contract duration defining the process and notice period required for terminating the contract. CancelationsProjects can get canceled. So what about the work you've already done? Do you still get paid for your work? What about your contract's dissolution? Layout a cancellation clause in your contract that answers these questions. “The last thing you want is never to get paid for your work. Having this cancellation clause laid out in a legally-binding document that would hold up in court gives you a leg to stand on.”You've probably been in a situation where a client suddenly stops responding. If the client signs a contract, you can sue them to recover the due amount. That said, suing might not always be feasible. For example, if the amount due is only $500, it's best to move on (even though it sucks.)Non-compete clauseFreelancers often work with clients in a specific industry or niche. If a client's contract has a non-compete that prohibits you from working with their competitors, that's a problem.You might consider negotiating with the client and explaining why that wouldn't be practically possible. You can offer to add a clause that requires you to keep their information confidential instead.If you'd like to accept the non-compete, set a reminder for the day it ends.“Within my project planning software, I'd get a ping once the one-year mark is up, reminding me that it's okay to pitch a specific client.”Subcontractor AgreementsLet's talk about contracts for freelancers working for you. Having freelancers sign a subcontractor agreement helps eliminate gray areas, establish rules, and set expectations.There is an overlap among the essentials, but some things differ in client and subcontractor agreements. Here are examples of things to include in your subcontractor agreement: Ownership: Can subcontractors use the work in their portfolio? In most cases, you'll want to show the work in your own portfolio and disallow the subcontractor from doing so. In instances where the client disallows you from using work in your portfolio—such as ghostwriting, the subcontractor can't use the work in their portfolio either. Workflow: Freelancers have their own processes. Yours might differ, which can lead to friction and disrupt the workflow. Adding your workflow to the contract sets the right expectations and provides freelancers with an overview of your processes. For example, you might require freelance writers to get an outline approved before moving forward with the first draft. Or you might want the option to request two rounds of edits. Payment terms: Like with clients, you should include the payment terms in your subcontractor agreement. Specify the price, invoicing date, and payment date in the contract. You might also mention penalties in cases where the work is plagiarized or subpar. Non-compete: In the case of subcontractor agreements, the non-compete clause differs a bit. You're not binding them from taking more work. Instead, you're safeguarding your relationship with a client. Suppose you've subcontracted work from one of your clients to a subcontractor. Once the subcontractor's agreement with you ends, they reach out to your client and offer a lower price. See the problem? A non-compete clause prohibits the subcontractor from working with the client for a fixed period. One year is a reasonable time frame, but the duration may vary based on your industry and type of work. Should you use contract templates?Yes, using contract templates is fine. There are many options from The Contract Shop or one of the other websites that offer freelance contractor templates. You can always customize the contract, but remember to have a lawyer review it and make sure that you've read the entire contract yourself and understood every clause. That's the only way to ensure your contract is foolproof.Final note: Remember that you can have an airtight contract and not get paid. However, a contract ensures you have a legally-accepted document to show in court when you need to recover a large amount or protect yourself in a lawsuit.This season of the podcast is brought to you by EditorNinja. Stop looking for an editor or editing content yourself. Use EditorNinja's flat rate content editing services to save yourself time and money by having all of your marketing content professionally edited. Book a free editorial assessment today to learn more.

Once you get going as a freelance writer, you'll have projects to manage, each with their own details, nuances, and due dates. How do you manage these projects so that you're on top of your work? How do you ensure nothing gets lost in the shuffle? In this episode, we share how we manage projects and keep track of assignments. There isn't one right way to do this! But we have lots of ideas.

Over the years we've attended many events, conferences, and retreats designed to help us improve our businesses. At the risk of sounding curmudgeonly, we're not getting much out of them these days. But that doesn't mean they don't have a place in your business. Should you go to events? If so, which ones? This season of Freelance Writing Coach is sponsored by Catch https://catch.co/benefits/health/?r=fwcpod&utm_source=fwc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=OE

Most freelance writers specialize in either copywriting or content writers. Although we consider ourselves content writers, we have experience in copy, as well. Emma's even written copy for Kaleigh! But what's the difference between copy and content… and why does it matter? This season of Freelance Writing Coach is sponsored by Catch https://catch.co/benefits/health/?r=fwcpod&utm_source=fwc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=OE

A plethora of new tools are on the market, all claiming to help you write. Are these tools a threat to our livelihoods? Or is it possible that can we use these tools to make our offerings better? Kaleigh and Emma share their experiences with the latest AI tools to help you suss out whether they're helping or hurting.

Everyone and their mom says they're a business coach, which might make you wary of hiring someone to help you grow and shape your freelance career. But we've both worked as coaches and hired them– we've seen the good and the bad and are sharing our experience with freelance writing coaching.

Freelance writing has a ton of benefits, but it's not for everyone. We've known many who've decided to hang up their freelance coats and go to a more traditional, full-time job. And many love this trade! In this episode, we share why some freelancers give it up for a regular, full-time job, as well as when you might consider this option. Spoiler: going in-house is not a failure.

Is writer's block even real? Kaleigh isn't sure. At the very least, writer's block isn't an excuse to go months and months without writing. But what happens when you're just uninspired? How can you get the words onto the page and break through…especially when you have deadlines?

We had to delay the release of this season due to personal disaster. Unfortunately, these types of disasters are part of life. When you're battling chronic health conditions, a family emergency, sudden lack of child care, or any other disaster, it can be hard to power through and focus on work. In this episode, we discuss how we navigate these disasters so they have minimal impact on our relationships and careers. This season of Freelance Writing Coach is sponsored by Catch https://catch.co/benefits/health/?r=fwcpod&utm_source=fwc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=OE

The internet is a weird place full of weird people (can we say that?). While we've met many of our closest friends, colleagues, and clients online, we also have encountered our fair share of online bullies, devil's advocates, and naysayers. As a freelancer, you're the face of the business, and whatever you say online is fair game to the internet's trolls. How can you deal with it? This season of Freelance Writing Coach is sponsored by Catch https://catch.co/benefits/health/?r=fwcpod&utm_source=fwc&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=OE

The economic landscape is a little unstable. Rising interest rates, sinking stocks... is this going to affect your freelancing career? Hmm. In this episode, we discuss our perspective on a changing market and share some strategies for recession-proofing your freelance business.

This episode needs a disclaimer which is that we are not lawyers. However, someone told us to get business insurance so we looked into it. In this episode, we discuss business insurance. One of us has it and one of us doesn't. The person who doesn't was unlikely convinced by this episode. Basically, talk to an insurance agent. But if you're looking for a brief overview of what two experienced freelancers know about business insurance, listen in.

Both of us have done our fair share of speaking gigs throughout our freelance careers. Speaking is a great way to share your authority and meet new people. At some point in your business, you may want to start booking speaking gigs so you can share your knowledge with the world. In this episode, we discuss how to start small and what to keep in mind as you embrace speaking. Emma also shares a comedic and bizarre tip for getting people into your talks.

Kaleigh got a new L-shaped desk. Emma's is vintage. Kaleigh works in an office. Emma works in the corner of her bedroom (thanks California real estate + COVID). In this episode, we're sharing our freelance desk and office setups. You're going to hear about a zen-like place and a corner of chaos. By the end of this episode, you'll want one of our desks and not the other's… ;-)

WE ARE GETTING REAL ABOUT WHAT WE CHARGE FOR CERTAIN ASSETS. In this episode we share what we think are reasonable rates for blog articles, case studies, websites, and more. We thought we'd be able to share numbers WITHOUT explaining the nuance but couldn't really do that. There is always nuance when it comes to pricing. If you're wondering if you're totally off base with your rates, give this a listen.

Neither of us are LinkedIn masters, but we've seen freelancers get massive amounts of value from the platform. In this episode, we discuss how we approach LinkedIn and how we've seen others leverage it. We call out Michal Eisikowitz and Leah Neaderthal who are both doing awesome things with the platform. If you're interested in how freelance writers are using LinkedIn, give this one a listen.

Some freelancers work with one or two longterm clients while others do a series of one-offs. It can depend on the type of work you do, but it can also depend on what you like and what matters to you. In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of longterm clients, retainers, and one-off projects. There's no perfect mix, but there's probably a right(ish) mix for you.

Are your clients texting you in the middle of the night? Do they expect instant responses on Slack? Do they want you to deliver a draft within 24 hours or hop on a call right now? AHHHH. You became a freelancer so you wouldn't be beholden to a boss, but it feels like your clients are owning you. We know the feeling, and it's one that can be solved with good boundaries. In this episode, we cover everything client boundaries. We discuss how to create them and uphold them so you can take back control of your business (and your life!).

A listener asked us how we juggle the daily demands of our lives and careers: how do we eat nutritious meals? How do we make sure we get outside every day? How do we make the most of the flexibility that freelancing has to offer? Well, it's a work in progress for both of us. We're far from perfect, but we have been freelancing for a long time and have some ideas. In this episode, Emma confesses to just how long she went without renewing her car's registration. This episode references the “Wheel of Life” exercise which can be found at this link: https://storiesby.us/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Wheel-of-Life-Reflection-Exercise-1.pdf

There's nothing wrong with starting your freelance career on Upwork, Fiverr, or another platform. In fact, we know many successful freelance who did (and still do!) gain a lot from these marketplaces. But what do you lose when you continue to rely on these platforms to get work? Freelancers often tell us they want to get “off platform” but aren't sure where to start. In this episode, we discuss the pros and cons of these platforms, why it might make sense to get off, and some strategies on how to move away from them.

Both of us write about fairly technical topics we once knew nothing about. But now, we're experts. In this episode, we talk about our strategies for understanding a topic when we're out of our league. This will be particularly helpful for those who write about topics they haven't encountered before. 

Some freelancers have a staunch “no negotiation” rule, while others are willing to wiggle on their prices depending on the client and project. In this episode, we discuss our own approaches to negotiation. Warning: neither of us is a good negotiator– we would not get a good deal on a car.