These days, you don’t have to look far to find online ads that promise to teach you how to make money as a freelance writer overnight. You know the ones. They generally feature a writer perched atop a scenic mountain or lounging on a beach with their laptop in tow.

But have you ever wondered what it really takes to launch a lucrative freelance writing career? We decided to find out by interviewing a writer who has actually done it. In a recent Work from Anywhere segment, we sat down with Miranda Marquit, a financial wellness expert, podcaster, and freelance writer with two decades of experience.

How to Make Money as a Freelance Writer: Miranda Marquit's Six-Figure Success Story

In 2005, Miranda Marquit found herself with a toddler, a Ph. D. pursuing husband, and a master’s degree in journalism. But while she loved to write, the thought of chasing down hard-hitting leads between play dates came with its own set of challenges.

That’s when she decided to hop online and start investigating how to make money as a freelance writer from home. It wasn’t long before the applications she submitted began pulling in her first clients.

Within six months, she realized that writing online content held the potential to become more than a side hustle. Cut to nearly two decades later and Miranda Marquit is now an established freelance writer who regularly pulls in anywhere from $10k to $12k/month.

Throughout the following sections, we’ll explore the great advice she shared with us and potential freelance writers everywhere.

Work Your Way Up

Part of what’s so refreshing about Miranda’s story is that she’s the first to acknowledge that building a freelance writing career isn’t an overnight process. Just like any other successful business owner, she started from the bottom and worked her way up.

“I think it’s important that people understand that this is something I built over time,” Miranda says. “Even though right now it’s really cushy, there were definitely years in there where it was a lot of work.”

Looking back, Miranda now admits that not all of her earliest jobs paid as much as they probably should have. But don't be discouraged if you find yourself in a similar boat.

Getting started as a freelancer can often feel like taking on a new entry-level position. But even if the pay isn't spectacular at first, never underestimate the power of laying your groundwork by building a solid reputation.

“There was a time period where I was doing client work 50 hours per week to ramp everything up,” Miranda reflects. But rest assured that her early schedule didn't last forever.

What does her work-life balance look like today? “I try not to do more than 2 or three hours a day, so we’re looking at 10 – 15 a week worth of client work,” she reveals.

Not a bad upgrade!

Show Off Your Writing Skills

When you become a freelance writer, the internet becomes your place of business. That’s why it’s important to establish a strong online presence that showcases what you have to offer.

Start with a blog that features samples of your best work. While there’s no need for it to be anything fancy, it should include a nice collection of pieces that show off your range.

But what if you’re just getting started? Even if you haven’t been published by a client, the odds are that you’ve produced more sample pieces than you may think.

You might consider using any blog posts, mock articles, or even research papers you’ve written. Publishing pieces on platforms like Medium or Substack can also be a great way to show that you have what it takes to connect with your audience.

Submit, Submit, Submit

One aspect of freelancing that will take some getting used to is that finding your next job will always be a part of your job. This is particularly true in the beginning before you’ve built a steady stream of recurring clients.

As Miranda puts it, “Just like any other entrepreneurship or self-employment venture, you’re going to have to put in a lot of upfront effort and work before you start seeing results.”

That’s where the importance of knowing where to seek out work comes in. Start by checking out LinkedIn, which can be an excellent place to find clients who are interested in hiring remote freelance writers.

Not only is it free, but you can also use it to set up alerts for new jobs that match searches like “freelance writer” or “content writer.” LinkedIn also offers a built-in opportunity to network with more experienced freelance writers who may just be kind enough to give you advice based on their own experience.

If you’re looking for more advice than the average LinkedIn pal is likely to provide, you can also cut right to the chase by signing up for Miranda’s Beginner Freelance Writing Course. Created by Miranda and two of her fellow freelance writers, it offers a complete guide to creating a portfolio, finding clients, and everything else you need to know to get started.

They also offer intermediate and advanced courses that will walk you through making the shift to a full-time freelance writing career!

Carve Out Focus Time

Now let’s take a moment to address the actual writing part of a freelance writing career! While it’s certainly possible to work from your favorite mountaintop or exotic locale, plenty of freelance writers settle for a good old-fashioned home office.

For many remote workers, this means setting up shop in the same area where their families live, work, and play. There are times when this can prove convenient. There are others when it can mean balancing deadlines with a screaming infant, noisy spouse, or dog who insists it's time for his 38th potty break of the day.

You’ll quickly discover the importance of carving out a few reliable hours throughout the week when you can work without being interrupted. For Miranda, that meant dropping off her young son at daycare or preschool two days a week.

For four golden hours each Tuesday and Thursday, she knew she’d be able to get into the zone and complete her deepest, most important work. Take a look at your schedule and see where you can schedule a few quiet hours of your own.

Whether it means heading to the library or your favorite coffee shop, a little interrupted focus can go a long way.

Set Reasonable Goals

Few small business owners set up shop expecting to become millionaires overnight. One of the easiest ways to tank your freelance writing career is to expect to go from zero to Pulitzer right out of the gate.

Instead, try to set reasonable goals and milestones to shoot for over time. So, what type of goals should you expect to achieve in your first year?

If you're willing to put in the time needed to apply for jobs and spend 10–15 hours a week writing, then Miranda advises aiming to hit between $1,000 and $1,500/ month in your first 4 to 6 months. But, as she reminds us, each writer’s results can vary depending on many factors.

How much you’re able to earn in your first few months can depend on everything from your current skill set to market conditions. If you’re looking to speed things along a bit, she advises focusing on a specific niche.

Not sure which to choose? As the old adage goes, “Write what you know.” For example, if you’re a nurse, you might consider writing healthcare content rather than attempting to break into the exotic car market. Unless you also happen to have grown up in a car shop tuning up Lambos and Ferraris. You get the picture.

Focus on the Future

While becoming a freelance writer isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme, it can be a path to a lucrative career. Today, Miranda enjoys the freedom of earning a six-figure income on her own schedule.

While she still spends 2 to 3 hours a day writing, she also enjoys plenty of time to work on her other passion projects and volunteer in her community. As she puts it, freelance writing “basically subsidizes everything else I want to do with my life.”

The more early work you put into building a solid reputation, the more freedom you’ll ultimately enjoy to design your own lifestyle and income.

Final Thoughts on How to Make Money as a Freelance Writer

If you’re ready to take the first step toward launching your own freelance career, then be sure to check out Miranda’s Beginner Freelance Writing Course! You’ll get the inside scoop on everything you need to know about how to make money as a freelance writer, direct from a seasoned expert.

Are you interested in how to make money as a freelance writer? What do you think of the advice from Miranda Marquit?

Please let us know in the comments below.