start & scale your freelancing career
tips, guides, and resources to grow
What you'll
learn in the academy
- Basic steps for laying a foundation for freelance writing
- How to land your first client and get paid for writing
- Tips for scaling your business and taking it full time
- Scripts for pitching prospective clients
Testimonials
You can become a better writer
Below are additional freelance writing resources that I personally recommend to help you grow and scale your freelance writing.
Grammarly
write better
One of my absolute favorite tools is Grammarly. I have it as a Chrome plugin, and it helps me stay on top of my writing. It's like having an editor available for me all the time. Grammarly works well with WordPress, as well as in Google Docs and other sites. It will catch common usage errors, spelling and grammar issues and even make smart suggestions to improve your writing.
Hemingway
pithy, active writing
Get rid of passive voice and overburdened sentences. If you want to write actively and get straight to the point in a powerful way, the Hemingway App is the way to go. It's available as an online tool, but you can also get the desktop app. I've thought seriously about just using it for my writing in general, mainly because of how awesome it is at forcing you to think about your sentences — and use every word to advantage
Asana
project management made easy
If you want to keep track of projects and deadlines, Asana is a great choice. I use it regularly. The fact that you can switch between list and calendar, and even track invoicing, is great. You can also use Asan to collaborate on projects and work with your virtual assistants (if you have them).
Are you a blogger looking to create the best content?
Two course recommendations for you
Enhance Your content
I love this course from my friend Ashley Barnett. This course takes you through the ins and outs of helping you create better content for your blog.
How to turn your blog into a business
My friend Larry Ludwig built a successful blog and sold it for seven figures. While you might not end up with a seven-figure blog, you can still make money with it.
The Freelance Blog
a collection of guest posts, guides, and helpful freelancing tips
Freelance Writing
Is It Time to Change My Freelance Business Model?
I make a solid living now, but if I don't change my freelance business model, the good times may not last. Several years ago, I had a rather disappointing moment of self-realization. I was rejected out of hand for an opportunity because I don't drive enough monthly pageviews to any given site. My first response was
How to Start Freelance Writing — And Make Money Doing It
If you're ready for the freedom and flexibility that comes with a freelance writing career, now is the time to get that ball rolling. Here's my guide on how to start freelance writing. I love my freelance lifestyle. There's a lot of freedom and flexibility here. As a result, people routinely ask me how to
How to Set Freelance Writing Rates — A Guide
As a freelance writer, you're probably trying to figure out the best way to set rates. Here's how to set freelance writing rates. Trying to figure out how to set freelance writing rates is one of the most difficult aspects of doing this thing. It's the wild west out there. Pretty much you get what
Pro Blogging
5 Realities of High Paying Freelance Gigs
If you're looking in the wrong places, you'll have a hard time finding high paying freelance gigs. One of the most common questions I receive has to do with finding high paying freelance gigs. When I presented on the subject of getting and keeping high paying freelance gigs at FinCon15, one of my slides dealt
Just What is a High Paying Freelance Gig, Anyway?
We all want to land a high paying freelance gig or two (or three). But how do you know if that gig is truly worth your time and effort? At FinCon15, I offered a short presentation on how to get paid more for freelance writing. Many writers are interested in this topic because many of
Want a Higher Freelance Rate? Ask For It
If you aren’t getting something you want, don’t assume you just can’t have it. You can ask for a higher freelance rate. Even though I’ve been freelancing for more than 10 years, it’s still difficult for me to ask for a higher freelance rate. Over time, I’ve become better at getting paid more, but I
Writing Tips
[Video] Online Freelance Writing Tidbits: Does It Make Sense to Accept a Lower Writing Rate?
Setting your writing rate is one of the toughest parts of freelancing. Do you really want to accept a lower fee? Freelance professionals are regularly told to stick to their guns and get paid what they're worth. It's also common for freelance writers to look for high-paying gigs. Once you've worked so hard to charge
How I Organize My Articles, Sources, and Due Dates
Need to keep track of sources, stories and due dates? Here's how I organize articles for clients. Over the course of the last two years, I've shifted into writing that bears a resemblance to traditional journalism. Many of my clients want an authoritative voice, and they expect me to incorporate expert sources into the content
How Do You Afford to Live as a Writer?
Can you really live as a writer? Is there really a way to make writing pay the bills? My good friend Luke Landes shared an interesting piece from Salon by Ann Bauer on his Facebook wall the other day. The piece takes a look at how many writers are “sponsored” in some way. The author of the
Productivity
How to Batch Your Writing — And Improve Your Productivity
I'm constantly asked about how I manage my productivity. By learning how to batch your writing, it's possible to take your freelance business to a new level. Over the years, I've tried just about every productivity trick in the book. I mean, I've been freelancing since 2005 — it's my 15th anniversary of working online
What Should You Do When You Miss a Deadline?
At some point you’ll miss a deadline. Here’s how to handle the situation. Recently, I’ve become the world’s flakiest freelancer. I’ve had a lot going on in my life the last two years. From two cross-country moves to a divorce to becoming more involved in my community to the fact that my son is a
5 Strategies to Help You Improve Your Writing Focus
Staying on task can be hard for many freelancers. Here are some strategies that can help you improve your writing focus. I love working from home as a freelancer, but sometimes the fact that you're home — and have plenty of other things vying for your time — can be a drawback. It's easy to