Hi again, writer friends,
Sam and I have been very social this week. A friend’s 50th birthday party over the weekend, then an event at the House of Lords, followed by drinks with editors of mine in London. The last time I remember being this excited about going to a gathering of journalists was when we were invited to a Time magazine party in Delhi, three months after my son was born.
It was especially nice meeting people I’ve been working with for several months and putting faces and personalities to names.
November was a strange month—I was ill almost continuously for four weeks, but all the pitching from the previous month paid off and I hit $12k in commissions received. I’ve had higher income months before, but through a mix of business and freelancing. This was exclusively freelancing, and I’m very proud of having hit this milestone so soon into my return to journalism. I’d love to hit $27k in the coming year, like Jennifer Goforth Gregory, who is a true inspiration. However, given that at least half the stories I write each month require 2-3 interviews and frequent in-person visits to the people and places I’m writing about, my per-piece rate would need to be a lot higher before I can get there. I’m working on it.
Oh, and I’m starting a new round of coaching in January. It’ll be six weeks and I’m specifically looking to work with freelancers who want to grow their incomes and find new clients in the new year. After a gap of several years, I started freelancing again in May with zero clients. By July, I was making $5,000; in September, I crossed $7,000; this month I brought in over $12,000. While I can’t guarantee results, I’ve helped thousands of writers get published in dream publications and grow their incomes—fast. I currently have four slots available for my January intake. If you’re interested in working with me, hit reply on this email and I’ll send you details.
I’ve never prioritized income over satisfaction when it comes to the work I do, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that having a regular, sustainable income as a freelancer is the key to unlocking opportunities, chasing stories you love, and being able to take risks without worrying about survival.
Freelancing is a business. And I never forget to treat it like one.
Cheers,
Natasha