Some time ago I did a post (that remains popular today) on where my freelance clients came from. I read a piece this week on Salon that discloses where one writer’s income is sourced. This made me take a look back on the past year.
In the previous link to the article, the writer reveals/confesses/discloses that she is ‘sponsored’ by her husband. I often wonder what it would be like to write if all your other basic needs were met and provided by someone else. Would it change the type of writing, the tone, the stories?
I decided to breakdown the past year of my income. Where did it come from? Here it is:
- Consults – Less than 1%
- Freelance Journalism – Less than 1%
- Poetry – Less than 1%
- Teaching/Workshops – 1.3%
- Clients – 98.5%
Other fun facts:
- My highest paying client accounts for 36% of my annual income.
- My entire income in 2010 was only 16% of my annual income in 2014.
- My writing income has only gone up annually since I started freelancing in 2009.
And where did my clients come from last year? I always thought referrals were a big source, but turns out last year it was not the case:
- 8 clients were recurring from prior years
- 4 found me through search
- 3 found me through LinkedIn
- 2 were referrals
- 1 from a workshop
Write Naked 
What sort of work do you do for your clients?
Most of my work for clients is writing web content and blog posts, but I also ghostwrite articles, create newsletters, and write resumes.
Thanks for the link to the Salon piece. I’ve pitched there only one, but would love the byline and pay, so I should keep trying. I also loved Ann’s honesty, and I agree. There are all sorts of different paths writers take for success.
And since we are coming clean, here’s how I can afford writing only what I want (and why):
– I teach ESL as a freelancer. I have classes and private students.
– I live with my parents. I help with groceries, but I don’t pay rent (it’s their apartment, and they also consider it to be mine, a sentiment I don’t disagree with.
Here’s why:
To get my own apartment and/or working only as a writer would mean I’d have to take a regular classes (as in work the whole day) and/or take on writing clients in areas I detest.
I’m also a fiction writer, with several different projects. My other gig allows me time for the fiction-spending (courses, e-books, professional coverage…) etc. Living with my folks allows me to save money, even during months I don’t make so much. The idea is to get to my dream income and career my way. And I’m doing quite alright in terms of progress.
So there, total hybrid. I’ve already sold three articles just on my “work style”. The one I quoted you for Freelance Writers Online, one in Make a Living Writing and a reprint of the Make a Living Writing one in Funds for Writers. So… 🙂
(Damn, this was a long comment. Sorry! :))
Wow! Yes, it would be great to credit a byline at Salon. I love your full disclosure! 🙂 You must be saving a fortune on rent right now. Very smart move. Teaching is a great way to get paid and stay focused, plus you meet so many people–it will benefit your writing too. Sell more articles! Pitch me again soon, I’m still backed up with queries in my inbox, but I hope to respond in the next few weeks.
Will do, thanks
🙂