You know how last month I wrote about how I exceeded my income and only pitched three articles? Well, this month has been crazily similar. Except this month my income more than doubled. Without any pitches at all. When I was starting out as a freelance writer, having this kind of month seemed impossible to me. But here I am, proof that it is possible to have a month where you make great money without having to send a single pitch.
August – my biggest month … ever
In terms of feature articles for magazines and newspapers, this month I:
Pitched: 0
Commissions from pitches or query letters: 0
Rejections: 0
Offers: 10 (where the editor approached me with a commission)
In terms of feature articles for corporate and B2B clients: (I don’t pitch these)
Offers: 19 (It’s worth noting that 14 of these were a batch of articles between 400 – 500 words)
Overall number of articles filed: 20
Lowlights of August
I had a definite lowlight in August and it was with an editor that I have written for previously.
Without getting into the particulars, this editor had asked me to do some groundwork on a story for them for a “potential commission”. I hadn’t heard from them for a few weeks after I sent through my initial groundwork so I followed up.
The editor replied, thanking me for following up and told that the story was “done and dusted”.
I must admit I was pretty surprised. Shocked even.
Yes, it was only a “potential” commission, but in my experience (and I’ve only had this happen a couple of times before) when editors ask me to do some initial legwork for a story, it has always resulted in a commission.
I probably would have put this down to a misunderstanding, except I’ve heard from other writers that this has happened to them with the same editor.
Thanks to the lovely Rachel Smith who runs Rachel’s List, I had an impromptu support meeting (via Facebook messenger) with several experienced editors and writers who helped me craft my reply.
In the end, the editor apologised and I also apologised for not being clearer about my expectations about doing the initial research for them.
The editor invited me to pitch again and said they’d look forward to hearing from me, but so far I haven’t pitched.
Highlights of August
Happily, I had loads of highlights in April.
Rachel’s List masterclass
I presented at the third Rachel’s List masterclass in Sydney where three editors (consumer, digital and custom publishing) spoke about what makes them love freelance writers and commission them time and again (and what puts a freelancer in their bad books).
I’m not sure if I was meant to, but I found myself taking copious amounts of notes while listening to these three wonderful presenters before my session. Rachel is working on making the video from the day available, so I’d really recommend checking the Tool Kit to see when it’s ready.
Some fab famil offers
When you read this it’s likely that I’ll be on an island in the Philippines. I received an offer from an editor I write frachelslist.com.au/toolkitor to go on a famil to explore some of the islands in the region so of course I said yes (my only hesitation was the 4am flight!).
Another editor I met on a famil also got in touch to ask if I’d like to go on a press trip for her.
So I’m feeling incredibly lucky that two editors have come to me with offers of famils. I know when you starting out and trying to break into travel writing it can feel like you’re never going to get an offer to go on a fam trip, but trust me, it will happen. It just takes time (and the building of relationships).
Ongoing work
One of my corporate clients (who I’ve written for for nearly three years) got in touch earlier in August to ask if I’d like to take on regular work for them.
Even though I have consistently written for them, I’ve never had a formal agreement about how many articles I would write for them each month.
And to be honest, even though loads of people say that the key to being a successful freelance writer is having recurring income, I’ve never had any recurrent income. And as weird as it may be, I don’t mind the challenge of starting each month at $0.
But I really love this corporate client – they’re great to work with, it’s interesting work and they pay well (and on time), so I was really flattered that they had come to me with this offer of regular work.
It’ll end up being over $2K worth of work each month recurring, so maybe it will be nice after all to start the month with a guaranteed amount.
Sponsored content
In case you needed any reality check about just how long it can take for your letters of introduction to come to fruition, you might be interested to know that for four years or so I’ve been touching base with a potential client who is in charge of sponsored content for a particular organisation.
Last week the head of content got in touch with me to tell me that the potential client (that I’d been keeping in touch with) had recommended me for three pieces of content. Each paying $1/word. And, she said, there would be plenty more.
So don’t lose heart if your LOIs and checking in with people doesn’t seem to get you anywhere. These things can take time. Lots of time.
My website and course
Yes, can you believe it? My website and course are in highlights not lowlights! My website is very nearly done and that means once it’s done I can start my first intake of my course, which teaches freelance writers how to master the skills, habits and strategies they need to earn a great living from writing. Stay tuned!
A resource I’d recommend
Do you know about Anna Codrea-Rado? She is, quite simply a gun London-based freelance journalist who writes about culture, technology and work for the New York Times, Guardian, Wired, Vice, NY Magazine and others.
Anna’s the founder of FJ&Co, a platform for freelance journalists that gives them tools, resources and community support so they can make a sustainable self-employed living. And if she wasn’t busy enough, she also co-hosts a weekly podcast, Is This Working, which looks at the impact of modern work on our lives.
And (yes, there’s another and) Anna also has a really wonderful newsletter called The Professional Freelancer ( she was even kind enough to feature me a few issues back).
Members of the newsletter (membership is £9 a month or £90 a year) get her weekly Friday newsletter, plus at least two additional emails a month which are currently a mix of interviews with editors and superstar freelancers and in-depth guides to freelancing.
Anna launched her membership newsletter in May and so far members have received a four-part guide to pitching and Q&As with Jessica Reed (the features editor at the Guardian US), Amelia Tait (an award-winning culture writer in the UK) and Harriet Minter (a journalist, broadcaster and public speaker).
It’s such a wonderful resources, but even more than that, Anna realised that her favourite part of her freelance business was writing her newsletter and so she introduced the membership option. She wanted to spend more time making resources for the freelance community but needed that to be sustainable.
It just goes to show how many ways there are to diversify your income as a freelance writer.
So check out Anna’s newsletter, membership options and her platform – she is doing amazing things.
My income for August
As usual, I set my income target for $5000 for August.
I came in way over that, having had $18,679 worth of work commissioned.
This is my biggest month ever.
I invoiced for $18,452.
***
Apart from my new recurring work, I’ve got nothing on the cards for September, and am away until 8th September. Who knows what the next month will hold?!
How was your August? What were your highlights and lowlights?
16 thoughts on “August – my biggest month ever”
Hi Lindy,
When you say you don’t ever pitch articles for B2B or corporate clients, do you mean that these clients always come to you on their own? Or are these relationships you’ve already built because of LOI’s and such?
Hi Leah,
Yes, that’s right. That’s B2B/corporate clients coming to me because I’ve built relationships with them.
Whoaaa congrats Lindy on an amazing August! Hope you’ll have a splendid September 😉
Thank you Rafidah! It was totally unexpected. Hope you have a great September too.
Well done you! Glad you had a great month and you enjoy your famils. Thanks so much for all the information you offer to others – I really appreciate it, as I’m sure many others do too. I had a good month too – my first major piece published, plus a smaller one and a near miss on a famil (not quite so good) but getting my confidence up. Christine
Whooooaaa!!!! Lindy!!! That’s incredible!! Way to put yourself out there!! Congrats!!
Hi Lindy,
I have been following your blog for about 2 years now and I still get excited when I see your new post turn up on my inbox.
The information and experiences you share are gold. It’s wonderful to get a peak into the business and relationship sides of freelancing.
Hi Vicki,
Thanks so much for your comment – I’m so glad that you’re enjoying my blog. That means a lot to me.
Thank you Janine, it was quite the surprise!
Hi Christine,
Thank you so much for your kind words. Well done on your great month, having your first major piece published is such an achievement and even though it was a near miss on a famil, I’m sure it won’t be long before it’s a hit. Confidence plays such an important part in freelancing, and it sounds like yours is building. Keep us posted.
Well done, Lindy. And well deserved. You work smart and it pays off. Looking forward to hearing more about your course. Karla
Thank you Karla!
We absolutely loved having you at the masterclass and so did all who attended – your session was hugely valuable. Thanks heaps for making the trip. I’m glad you found it so useful that you took notes too. I did as well! 🙂 Hoping the video masterclasses will be up today or tomorrow.
And yay for the recurring income 🙂 Always nice to have!
Thanks Rach! Well done on getting the video content ready so quickly. I’m always so impressed by your efficiency!
And yes, it’s funny having recurring income – but I’m sure going to appreciate it in the leaner months.
Amazing! So inspiring to read this post, to know an incredible income month like this is possible! Well done and thanks for sharing Lindy!
Thank you Elesha!