VOLUME 25, ISSUE 1 – JANUARY 2026
THIS MONTH’S MENU:
I. The Upside of Fewer, Better Clients
II. Sustainable Freelancing Can Look Boring from the Outside
III. Can Writing for Nonprofits be Lucrative?
I. The Upside of Fewer, Better Clients
A lot of freelance advice focuses on getting more leads, and ultimately more clients.
That approach can make sense early in a commercial writer’s career.
Over time, though, that constant push for more, more, more can create its own kind of drag. I see the same complaints and frustrations often from newer colleagues.
They feel like they spend too much time marketing, not enough time writing. They increase their client base, but not necessarily their income or billable hours.
If you’ve ever felt this way, there’s a strategic move that can help: focus on fewer, better clients.
What This Strategy Changes
When you work with fewer, but better, clients, you spend less time pitching, onboarding, and essentially starting over.
Rather than investing up-front time learning about one new client’s business after another, you get to know those fewer clients’ businesses more intimately.
You get to know their customers better.
You get more consistent work.
And because of your deeper relationships and understanding of each client’s business and goals, those projects often get quicker to complete over time.
These relationships can also lead to:
- Less back-and-forth when starting projects (you might even be brought in during the strategic phase and be a part of the planning)
- Clearer feedback loops (no wondering who’s going to weigh in or who you need approvals from)
- Fewer mid-project surprises (like the dreaded scope creep)
Better, longer-term client relationships often lead to better communication, more work for you, and fewer headaches in the process.
The next time you feel overwhelmed, thinking you need to add more clients to your roster, consider this approach instead.
See how you can build even stronger relationships with the clients you already have first.
Offer them a new service. Pitch them specific project ideas. Look for ways to make yourself an even more essential member of their team.
Turning existing clients into even better ones means you can spend less time chasing prospects while still growing your business.
II. Sustainable Freelancing Can Look Boring from the Outside (& Why That’s a Good Thing)
If you’re looking to build a more sustainable freelance business through 2026, remember boring is sometimes best.
Sustainable freelance careers often come down to simplicity.
There’s no constant scramble for new clients. The feast-famine cycle can cease to exist for you. There’s less pressure to say “yes” to everything just to keep income flowing.
To others, it might even sound… boring.
What a Stable, Sustainable Freelance Business Looks Like
When you reach this point, you stay open to new opportunities. But you don’t need to constantly chase them. You make more intentional choices. And you spend less time reacting to surprises or crises.
Sustainability in this sense can mean:
- repeat clients;
- familiar project types;
- systems that simplify your day-to-day and reduce friction rather than creating it.
These things might not look impressive from the outside. They’re not flashy. But for many freelancers, this is the start of stability and running a business that’s built to last.
How do you get there?
Build stronger client relationships. Become a master in your specialty. And build systems that help you succeed.
III. Can Writing for Nonprofits be Lucrative?
It’s not uncommon for freelance writers to dismiss the idea of working for nonprofits. They just press for discounts or want you to write for free, right?
Not exactly.
“Nonprofit” is simply a tax status. It’s not the extent of a business model or the state of the organization’s finances.
Some nonprofits really can’t afford to hire freelance professionals. Others are large, complex, well-funded organizations that routinely pay contractors professional rates.
Most fall somewhere in-between.
So, can writing for nonprofits be a lucrative specialty?
That’s what one writer asked in the most recent updated Well-Fed Writer Mailbag entry.
Check it out for Peter’s initial response, including a great tip on working with smaller branches of large nonprofits.
I’ve added some new perspective based on my years of work in the nonprofit sector and with nonprofit freelance clients.
The short answer is “yes,” writing for nonprofits can be highly profitable.
I even share one type of organization you can target if you’re looking for mission-focused work without the low-budget worries.
Read the update: Is it feasible to be a well-fed writer as a specialist writing for nonprofits?