VOLUME 24, ISSUE 9 – SEPTEMBER 2025
THIS MONTH’S MENU:
I. Are You Making Yourself too Available?
Here’s why maintaining boundaries is good for business.
II. Your Value Isn’t Measured in Minutes
GA FLCW explains how hourly billing holds you back.
III. Earn Money from “Nothing”
Add semi-passive income streams for even more freelance freedom.
I. Are You Making Yourself too Available?
Here’s why maintaining boundaries is good for business.
Early in my career, I learned being overly available to clients wasn’t sustainable.
International calls might come at any time if a client forgot time zone differences. I rushed projects when a client’s lack of planning was mistaken for an emergency. I checked messages constantly, even on days off, to avoid making others wait.
It was exhausting.
Not anymore.
I stopped giving out my direct number, with rare exceptions. Nearly all work is asynchronous. And a separate Google Voice number filters anything else to voicemail.
When I’m off, I’m off. Email doesn’t exist. The world doesn’t end.
I used to be more of a people-pleaser. Now I’ve gotten more comfortable saying “no,” protecting my personal time, and setting boundaries.
Has that hurt client relationships?
No.
Clients don’t want me distracted by unplanned calls while I work on their projects, so they understand why I won’t take theirs while working on something for someone else.
Clients appreciate having things in writing as much as I do.
Working asynchronously increases trust over time. It helps us make each other’s lives easier as we collaborate on projects.
The bottom line…
Boundaries aren’t a weakness. They don’t make you “difficult” to work with. They protect your schedule and your focus so you can be at your best when working with clients.
II. Your Value Isn’t Measured in Minutes
GA FLCW explains how hourly billing holds you back.
There’s a time and place for hourly billing. Consulting work, for example. But hourly billing doesn’t make a lot of sense for FLCW projects.
Pricing strategies are so important, especially for freelancers just starting out.
They can be bombarded with hourly-based offers in job postings. They might not know how long certain projects will take yet. Value-based pricing could be new to them.
I was thrilled to see Ed Gandia covering this very topic in a recent episode of his High-Income Business Writing podcast.
A couple of Ed’s points really stand out:
Hourly billing punishes efficiency.
When you gain more experience, you’ll often be able to complete projects faster. That goes for mastering project types or getting to know a client’s business and market better over time.
If a new writer takes 4 hours to write a press release, for example, and an experienced pro highly familiar with the client can do it in half that time, why should that experienced pro be paid less?
It doesn’t make sense.
Efficiency is a part of the value you bring to the table.
Hourly billing pits clients against freelancers.
When you bill hourly, it’s in your interest to drag a project out. It’s in the client’s interest to rush you.
This is why I’m also not a fan of per-word rates. The client can try to save money by cutting things the writer feels are important, while writers can be tempted to pad word counts to earn more.
What’s the alternative?
Project-based, value-based billing.
Want to learn more about that?
Listen to the Podcast: 15 Reasons Why Hourly Billing is Holding You Back
III. Earn Money from “Nothing”
Add semi-passive income streams for even more freelance freedom.
I have a family member who doesn’t understand what I do for a living. I’m pretty sure they think I do nothing at all. If we chat on a Friday, there’s the inevitable…
“Some of us have to work for a living.”
I built a business that allows me to enjoy four-day work weeks. And I certainly won’t apologize for that.
Perhaps my favorite interactions though are when we’re together, and a notification comes through.
“What was that?” They’re usually curious.
An ad revenue payment hit my bank account. An e-book sale went through. A job ad payment. A pre-paid invoice.
Whatever it is, there’s always some level of disbelief that I’m making money while I’m off, not directly working… doing “nothing.”
Why Consider “Passive” Income Streams?
First, let’s be clear. Outside of investments you don’t actively manage, passive income streams aren’t really passive. There’s always some level of work involved, even if only routine maintenance.
Still, I highly recommend setting up one or more of these to supplement your freelance income.
Why?
When you have routine income that doesn’t rely solely on freelance projects, it:
- makes it easier to take time off;
- keeps income flowing even if you’re ill;
- bridges gaps if you have them between client projects;
- can help you build a broader brand;
- fully un-caps your income potential.
There’s less stress over finding your next client or pushing through rough patches when semi-passive income streams keep money coming in.
Examples to Consider:
What might count as a passive or semi-passive income stream that would make sense for a FLCW to start?
- Publish a book or e-book (like TWFW 3rd Ed.).
- Launch an online course (like Well-Fed Craft).
- Promote affiliate programs.
- Accept direct advertising or sponsorships (for a website, blog, podcast, YouTube channel, etc.)
- Other digital products (templates, worksheets, etc., especially if they might appeal to your target freelance clients)
It’s always a good idea to diversify your income. You’re probably already doing this by diversifying your client roster. You wouldn’t rely on a single freelance client. Would you?
Think of semi-passive income streams as things you can build during slower times to increase income (and even attract more clients) over the long-term.
Do you have a FLCW success story or quick tip you’d like to share in a future newsletter? Email your story to epub@wellfedwriter.com, and it could be featured in the EPUB.