Let’s get one thing sorted out right away: I love being a freelance writer. There’s something so satisfying about working with clients to create compelling, professional content that will combine my skills with their goals. That being said, especially in modern times, relying solely on freelance writing gigs for income can be challenging. So, to help out other freelancers, I wanted to dive into why you should diversify your income, and I’ll also talk a bit about how to do that.

Why should you diversify your income streams as a professional writer?

Five years ago, the idea of trying to earn money other than through freelancing wouldn’t ever be something I considered. Not only did I feel comfortable with what I was earning, but I also didn’t think that the bubble could burst. As I talked about in my post on how AI has changed freelancing, the world of freelancing is facing long-term changes with these recent developments. This has forced me to learn about the importance of diversified income streams! Let’s dive in on the “whys” of it.

• You won’t panic if your queue goes down: The worst feeling in the world is when the queue goes quiet suddenly or it goes quiet for multiple days or weeks at a time. If you’ve got more than one income stream, it can help quiet that panic. It just means more energy is spent on Stream B rather than Stream A, right?

• It helps you meet different kinds of clients: Similar to how corporate jobs introduce you to different people than, say, customer service jobs, unique writing jobs can also do the same thing! You’ll meet fresh customers, co-workers, and other kinds of allies who can widen your social and educational circle in the best kind of way. It’s great for freshening up your perspective, too, on who you like to work with, for, and why.

• You’ll learn new skills and figure out your professional boundaries. Lastly, trying a different income stream can really help you get a feel for where your skillset lies and also where those boundaries are. We professional writers often get so comfortable in our niches that it’s easy to forget there’s a whole world out there. Understanding our own professional limits helps us appreciate what’s inside them and enjoy more confidence when branching out.

This doesn’t mean you have to take non-writing jobs

For some reason, many feel they have to take on other types of jobs when freelance writing jobs go dormant. But this isn’t necessarily the case! It’s all about what matters most to you and what gives you that peace of mind. There are so many taboo and difficult topics in the world of professional freelancers. I talk about quite a few of them, including income, in my book. If you are struggling and feel alone, then please consider checking that out for the support and encouragement that you deserve.

But that’s enough for me. What do you think? Is finding multiple sources of writing income a good idea? Do you disagree entirely? Share below!