July 1, 2026
(This is a guest post from freelancer Jenn Sinrich. Read more freelance writer guest posts here.)
About the author: Jenn Sinrich is an experienced writer, digital and social editor and content strategist in Boston, Massachusetts. She’s written for several publications including SELF, Women’s Health, Martha Stewart Weddings, Reader’s Digest, PureWow, and many more. Check out her portfolio and follow her on Instagram.
1. How did you get started freelancing and exploring side hustles?
I started freelancing right out of college. In fact, I was still in college when I started freelancing for money and used my internship connections to get work. I stopped freelancing on the side once I started my first job so that I could focus solely on my work, however, I picked it back up a few years later when I felt like I could better balance my bandwidth. I started freelancing truly out of passion for different topics than I was covering in my day job. I was working in the parenting and pregnancy sphere as an early 20-something. I wanted to write about the things I was experiencing in my day-to-day in the areas of beauty, love, relationships and more. (Here’s how to start a side hustle while working full time.)
2. How do some of the freelance rates you earned while starting out compare to now?
Freelance rates varied greatly then and still do today. What has changed drastically is my willingness to accept a low-paying gig. Now I have firm rates and do not waiver on them. When I first started out as a freelance writer, I was willing to write for any publication that was willing to pay me just so I could gain the experience even I knew I needed to demand more money.
3. When did you determine that you wanted to freelance full time and how did the idea that come about?
I was in a job I wasn’t happy with—it was in the marketing industry. I decided to try freelancing as a side hustle out but it ended up fueling a desire in me to run home and let my creative spirit run wild.
4. How did you transition from freelancing on the side to doing this full time?
I started amping up my time spent freelancing on the side until I started pulling in enough money to support myself solely on that income. That’s when it dawned on me that I could really do this thing for a living. It took about a year of solid freelancing on the side to build enough income so that I could pay my bills (rent included) and actually save each month. I decided to quit that job I wasn’t happy in almost three years ago and it was the best decision I’ve ever made.
5. What are your favorite parts of being a full-time freelancer?
You have so much more creative freedom and independence as a freelancer. I loved the mentorship I got from working under an editor, but it made it so I didn’t have the final say in what I worked on or what I wrote. I wanted total creative freedom to write what I wanted to write and when I wanted to write it!
6. What are the most challenging parts of freelancing full time?
You never get “time off” when you are a freelancer. In this business, you can try your best to arrange your deadlines so that you have days off, but it’s almost impossible to travel for a full week without checking your email and staying in constant contact with your editors who are trying to reach you. That can put pressure on your lifestyle and outside relationships too. (Learn how to side hustle as a freelancer without losing your mind.)
7. What would you advise others who are exploring freelance side hustles and want to make the leap to full-time freelancing from home?
You have to be willing to work really, really hard to set yourself up. It will get easier, but it takes a lot of hard work. Stick with it and you will see the fruits of your labor pay off eventually.
8. What advice would you share with freelancers who plan to work from home doing side hustles that you think is important to your success?
Your ability to do this weighs heavily on your personality and work style. I love working from home and am way more productive as a freelancer than when I work in an office environment or at a cafe. I’ve tried working at Starbucks and all I do is weigh whether or not I can get one more article in before I want to go home. (These freelance writing tips will help you get more work done in less time.)
9. Is there anything else that you think has been the key to your success as a freelancer and making this work?
Network, network, network. Do this with other writers, journalists, publicists, you name it. Be open to learning as much as you can from others, whether they’re doing something right or wrong. (Look to this freelancer FAQ for answers to all of your questions.)
Ready to make the leap to full-time freelance writing? My online freelance writing course can help you reach your goals.
How long does it typically take to transition from a side hustle to full-time freelance writing?
Most freelancers need six to 12 months of consistent side income before making the leap to full-time freelance. Freelance writer Jenn Sinrich built her freelance income side hustle gig up for about a year while working full time, until it reliably covered her rent and savings, before quitting her job.
How much side income should you have before quitting your day job to freelance?
A common benchmark is replacing 70 to 100% of your current take-home pay for at least two to three consecutive months, plus a cash buffer of three to six months of expenses. This protects against the income gaps common in early full-time freelancing.
Do you need a niche to freelance full-time?
Not at the start, but a niche accelerates how clients find you and your ability to ask fo a higher freelance rate. Freelancers who specialize in one or two topic areas can command higher rates faster than generalists, since editors pay a premium for subject-matter expertise.
What’s the biggest mindset shift between side-hustle freelancing and full-time freelancing?
Treating freelancing as a business rather than gig work takes some time for most freelancers. That means setting minimum rates, tracking invoices and deadlines like a small business owner, and turning down low-paying freelance work.
How do freelance writers protect their time off without losing clients?
By setting clear availability windows in client contracts, batching deadlines before planned time off, and communicating an out-of-office response in advance. Full-time freelancers rarely get true “off” days, so boundaries have to be built in rather than assumed.
Is networking really necessary if you’re a strong writer?
Yes, most consistent freelance work comes from referrals and relationships, not cold pitching alone. Building relationships with fellow writers, editors, and publicists creates a referral pipeline that keeps work flowing even during slow pitching months.
Tags: freelance course, freelance rates, freelance writer, freelance writing, freelance writing course, freelance writing tips, freelancing, guest post, side hustle, six figure income, six-figure freelancer, successful freelancers
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