There’s so much advice for new freelance writers these days. “Build your social media presence”, “Charge clients high fees to show your value”, “Choose a niche right away or you’ll struggle to find work”.
Many new freelancers wind up spinning their wheels or hopping from one thing to the next without ever actually growing their business. It’s hard to know exactly what to do in the beginning.
The Full-Time Freelancer Journey series is your guide to the world of freelancing. The stories you read here will help you build your freelance writing business and quit your 9-5.
Following in the footsteps of freelancers who came before you can help you reach success sooner. Reading their stories, learning from their journeys and following their advice will give you an edge other new freelancers don’t have.
Recently I met Cody Churchill. Cody is a genuine freelancer who keeps it real. He gave me solid advice for starting from day 0 to becoming a full-time freelancer with a thriving business.
Are you a full-time freelancer? If so, how long have you been doing it?
I am a full time freelancer. I started making money as a part time freelancer in September of 2020 and one year later in September of 2021, I was able to transition to full time.
What sort of writing do you do?
Well I spent most of my time writing blogs and white papers when I was starting out. It takes a little while to find the projects you’re most passionate about.
So for a long time I said yes to every project that came my way from presentations to website copy.
I learned I had a knack for writing long form copy so I started focusing more on those projects. Now I spend most of my time helping authors share their stories with the world as a ghostwriter.
How did you get into ghostwriting?
Shortly after I started writing full time an owner of a ghostwriting agency asked me to help with a few projects. I was kind of intimidated by the prospect of writing an entire book but I decided to try it anyway.
I’m so happy I took the plunge because I might have never discovered my passion for writing books.
I’ve helped write over 20 different books. I help authors by writing the entire manuscript from scratch, editing their work and even coaching them on how to write better content.
Helping authors publish their work is such a rewarding experience. Seeing an idea transform into a tangible book is incredible.
How much money do ghostwriters make?
It really depends on where you live and your experience level. Some ghostwriters charge $1,000 for a book while top-tier agencies charge as much as $300,000. For most freelancers a reasonable ghostwriting fee sits in the $10,000-$12,000 range.
Can you tell me a little bit more about your freelance writing journey?
I started my freelance writing journey back in June of 2020. I went a few months without getting paid to write. Back then I started writing articles on medium [1] to keep myself busy.
Since I wasn’t making enough money yet I decided to use that time to improve my writing for paying clients that would come down the line.
In my first few posts on medium I talked about making a very basic website, and profiles on Upwork and LinkedIn.
I made my first move toward paid work by leveraging my connections on Facebook. I reached out to pretty much anyone I knew who had a business to offer my writing services.
I was able to help a few people there with blog posts, editing and website content. The first time someone paid one of my invoices I had to do a double take. Even after doing the work, I still couldn’t believe someone would pay me to write for them.
Nothing beats that feeling. It was a total game changer for me and inspired me to keep going.
After that I decided to try Upwork and that’s when things really changed for me. I started out by sending five to eight proposals everyday.
I kept my hourly rate very low in the beginning (around $15/hr) so I could rack up as many clients as possible. After completing a few projects at that rate I was able to get good reviews from my clients.
This social proof helped me begin raising my rates. I couldn’t believe how quickly I was able to match my “would be” psychologist salary.
What helped me the most was pitching a ton and consistently raising my rates. By the time I found ghostwriting I was already pulling in $2-$3k every month on Upwork.
Right now, the bulk of what I do is help draft books. I also do some project management for a couple of ghostwriting agencies.
Other than that I’ve been taking on a couple of random projects like YouTube video scripts or anything interesting that comes my way. I’m going through a pretty major rebrand right now so I’m focusing on building my client base up again.
Would you recommend Upwork for new freelance writers?
I would! But like everything in life there are pros and cons.
Upwork pros:
Upwork cons:
How can new writers find high paying clients on Upwork?
Lay down your pride for the first few jobs and charge a lower rate than you’re used to. Knock the project out of the park anyway. This will help you get stellar reviews.
Accept that your conversion rate will be low in the beginning. Be persistent. Stand out from the crowd by writing really good proposals. Use the US only category on Upwork to command higher fees.
The most important thing to remember is you WILL get there. Don’t give up!
I went from charging $15/hr to $60/hr on Upwork in a matter of months. Can you think of any other job that will let you do that? I tell people all the time that there isn’t anything special about me. You can do it too.
What are your tips for having successful interviews with Upwork clients?
I always try to get on a phone or video call with a potential client. Putting a face with your name can help you stand out by building the client’s confidence in you.
Using this one technique increased my conversion rate by over 70%. If you’re nervous about the call, start it with small talk.
Ask where they’re from, talk about the weather, culture, anything to keep the conversation flowing.
Make sure you have a good background for the video calls too. A simple backdrop can turn any room into a video conference suite!
Oh and before I forget, avoid lying to the client at all costs. So, if they ask if you’ve worked on a certain type of project before and you haven’t, be honest. Clients can tell when you’re faking it.
I’ve won several projects I wasn’t qualified for just by saying “I haven’t done that before but I’m willing to learn.”
How important is a social media presence for new writers?
Social media isn’t very important in the beginning. You have two types of marketing as a freelancer.
There’s outbound marketing and inbound marketing. Outbound marketing involves going to your clients and offering your services. Think google ads, cold-calling and cold-emailing.
Inbound marketing on the other hand is when clients come to you. It includes your website and social media profiles.
It takes several hours to build your website and social media profiles and you’ll spend hours every week maintaining it. That’s time you could be using working with new clients.
So in the beginning I’d recommend you make a very basic website and social media profile. For example, I had the same website for my first three years as a freelancer and just recently decided to change it.
Focus on your outbound marketing in the beginning and make the transition to more inbound marketing later in your business.
Any other advice for new freelancers?
I think every writer struggles with writer’s block at some point. Deadlines kill my creativity and can make writer’s block even worse. My method for avoiding it is by separating my outline days from my writing days.
So if I have a deadline for Wednesday, I’ll write out a detailed outline on Monday and then stop. The magic happens over night because I’m still turning the topic over in my head.
So by the time I sit down to write on Tuesday, I’ll usually have fresh ideas to add to my outline and writing flows MUCH easier.
I use the pomodoro method to keep me productive when I write. So I set my timer for 25 or 50 minute intervals of working time and then I’ll take a 5-10 minute break.
It doesn’t matter what you do during your break as long as you step away from your work. I’ll usually grab something to drink, take a lap around the house or even go for a walk outside.
Once your break is over, you’ll come back to your work refreshed.
The last thing I want everyone who’s new to freelancing or thinking about trying it to know is this…
If freelancing is for you, no matter when you start you will always wish you did it sooner. So many people get stuck in the “one day” trap. “One day I’ll start my business”, “one day I’ll write that book”, “one day I’ll quit my day job”.
End the “one day” cycle and start TODAY. If you read this interview and decide to go make an Upwork profile or website today I’ll have done my job. Stay consistent and you will get there. Start now.
There you have it freelancers! A roadmap you can use to go from $0 to a full-time freelancer with a thriving writing business.
Here’s a quick recap:
“I tell people all the time that there isn’t anything special about me. You can do it too.”
You can reach your dreams of leaving the 9-5 life and becoming a full-time freelancer. There is no better time than right now. Start today!
Yours for freelance writing success,
Brandon Davis
Want to connect with Cody? Use these links to find him:
You can find the resources referenced in the interview at the end of this post.
Want to see more content like this?
Sign up for my mailing list below to get marketing insights, productivity hacks and copywriting tips sent to your email weekly.