Hello, Medium community! It’s your friendly writer here.

I realize I haven’t been as active lately, primarily sharing album reviews. However, this merely indicates that I’m exploring other corners of the internet! You can find me on my blog, my Instagram, where I post daily album reviews, and other exciting ventures—details to follow.

February marks the seventh month of my freelancing journey. The title mentions six for a catchier effect, as I initially conceived this idea during that time.

What have I learned? What experiences have shaped me? What tips would I offer to budding freelancers? Keep reading to find out!

Clients, Clients, Clients — Did I Just Get Fired? In recent months, I’ve had a variety of clients. Some were one-time projects, while others developed into long-term partnerships.

What was the experience like? How much did I earn? What types of projects did I undertake? I’m thrilled you asked.

Client #1 My first client was an SEO content ghostwriting agency that hired freelancers to produce content for various companies.

This role provided me with daily tasks and an abundance of work, which was fantastic. I juggled this job for about five months. The initial pay rate was $10 CAD per 1,000 words.

I know, not much. But I managed to write around 3,000 words daily, often while pursuing other gigs. Eventually, the pay rate increased to $15 USD per 1,000 words, approximately $20 CAD, which motivated me to return after a brief hiatus.

I consistently wrote for them from September to December and resumed in January after the pay hike. I produced numerous articles that significantly enhanced my understanding of SEO. My writing, particularly for informational content and blog posts, has seen substantial improvement since joining them.

I did eventually get let go, but that’s a tale for later.

Client #2 Another client was based in Australia, where I was tasked with creating long-form informational pieces, like "How to Fix Your Samsung TV" and "What to Do When Your TV Volume Doesn’t Increase." I penned a few articles for them, earning around $27 CAD or $19 USD per 1,000 words.

Unfortunately, my engagement didn’t last as long as expected because they ghosted me, and I’m still unsure of what transpired.

Etc. I also collaborated with a few clients to write YouTube scripts at various rates over the past couple of months. Most contracts were one-off jobs I took on between other assignments, earning between $30 and $50 per script. Many were trial projects that didn’t evolve into long-term relationships. However, I gained valuable experience in scriptwriting, which quickly became my preferred content type!

From December until recently in February, I faced a tough dry spell. After being let go (I promise to explain that shortly), I struggled to secure new gigs. I wrote several test articles and scripts before finally landing my dream job (more on that soon).

Overall, my average pay rate rose from $10 CAD per 1,000 words to around $40-45 CAD, which I consider quite an achievement.

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: I got fired.

The Firing. I Am So Embarrassed! Yes, I was let go.

But why? Well, it’s actually somewhat amusing.

This particular client had a team of writers, and we communicated via a Skype group chat where our “boss” assigned daily tasks and we could chat while working. It was a pretty relaxed environment.

One day, about a month before my termination, our boss warned in the group chat that any AI-generated content misrepresented as written by hand would lead to penalties, including non-payment and potential dismissal. This is quite common nowadays; unless explicitly requested, clients generally don’t want AI content.

I didn’t think much of it since I don’t use AI, so I felt secure, right?

Wrong.

Approximately a month later, I submitted an article just as I would any other day, without a second thought. But this time, something was different.

I received a message from the boss stating that I had submitted AI-generated content and would not be compensated, along with being removed from the group chat and no longer receiving work. Ouch.

But why did they think I used AI?

Let me explain how this happened so you can avoid my mistake…

AI Content and How I’ve Changed My Work My content was flagged as AI-written by a separate AI tool that evaluates text and estimates the percentage of human authorship.

My work was marked down, and based on my experiments, I suspect it was rated between 40% to 80% as AI-generated, even though I authored it myself.

But why did this occur?

Because my writing quality was subpar.

Short sentences, similar punctuation, and repetitive wording, along with using Grammarly, can make your writing appear AI-generated. Essentially, my writing was too generic and bordered on formulaic.

Since that incident, I’ve researched and identified areas in my writing that could be perceived as AI-like, and I’ve actively sought to improve. So, not all was lost.

Rejection — How to Handle Being Fired Naturally, I felt utterly crushed after being let go.

By January, this job had become my primary source of income. Most of my other projects were slow or non-existent, so I relied on this gig for my school savings.

Having that abruptly taken from me was devastating, particularly since it was my fault. I felt worthless, I cried, and writing seemed unappealing—I clearly wasn’t cut out for it.

However, that pity party lasted only a few hours before I resolved to move on. I needed a break; after all, I had been working tirelessly for six months.

So, I took a few days off, reapplied for gigs on Upwork, and tried again.

What should you do when faced with rejection or job loss? Comfort yourself, lift your spirits, and keep pushing forward. It’s not a reflection on your worth; you are still a valuable writer. Keep writing.

Now, let’s shift gears to more exciting topics—my blogs, social media content, a YouTube channel, and a full-time gig? Keep reading!

Personal Content Writing and How to Start Your Own Blog At the outset of my freelancing career, I wrote for my own WordPress blog, eth’s world.

I maintained that blog and contributed to Medium during my first few months, which significantly helped me build credibility, refine my skills, and create a portfolio for potential clients. I highly recommend utilizing platforms like Medium and WordPress to display your abilities online, especially when starting out.

However, I eventually abandoned both in October. I was inundated with work and simply didn’t have time for my own projects, which was enjoyable until it wasn’t.

Eventually, the work dried up. I found little to do in November and December, and my interest in my blog waned. I craved something fresh.

So, what did I do? Of course, I launched eth’s world version two!

Starting a Blog — The Do’s and Don’ts My first blog was rather chaotic. I lacked a custom domain, SEO tools, and my content was scattered.

This time around, I approached things differently.

I crafted the site to mirror my personal style and preferences. I used Bluehost to host my site and incorporated SEO tools (along with tips I’d learned) to optimize my homepage. I recommend following this approach if you can afford it.

My first blog focused on music reviews. This time, I aimed to write about a wide array of topics. This new blog would truly represent my world.

Now, I have Medium (which I’m gradually reviving), my blog, and my Instagram account. I share music reviews on Instagram now, which has been a fantastic way to learn about social media writing and account management.

So... it’s been seven months.

What’s next?

I Got a Huge New Job! What I'm Doing Now Currently, I feel more confident than ever.

As mentioned, I manage my social media accounts, blogs, and more. However, I had recently been seeking a full-time position because I needed financial support for school.

One day, I applied for a major role creating YouTube scripts, earning $50 USD per script, with expectations of 3–5 scripts daily.

Oh my goodness.

This was monumental.

I calculated my potential earnings after taxes, conversion rates, and factoring in weekends off.

I could be financially secure at 18! (Okay, maybe an exaggeration, but still a significant amount of money.)

I applied and even spent six dollars on Upwork connects to elevate my proposal. The wait for a response was nerve-wracking.

Then, the reply came.

They wanted me to complete a test script. I told myself this was my final shot at landing a new gig. I was currently writing for a travel blog, earning meager pay. After facing numerous rejections on top of being fired, I was exhausted from trying so hard without results.

I poured my heart and soul into that script and submitted it. And...

I got the job.

Oh my goodness, I landed the job.

What Now? I’m starting my dream job on Monday, and I couldn't be happier with how everything is unfolding.

I also have all the personal blogging projects mentioned earlier to keep me busy, and this new position will open up numerous opportunities. I’m incredibly excited and proud of my progress over these seven months.

But also...

I’m embarking on a new project...

A YouTube channel!

Yes! I’ve always had a passion for video creation, and I adore video editing and motion graphics. When I noticed a lack of lifestyle content from freelancers and young online professionals, I knew I had to contribute.

So that’s what’s keeping me occupied. I plan to film videos about my job, blogging, music, books, and everything in between.

I’ve never felt happier in my life. It seems I’m finally pursuing everything I’ve always aspired to do.

And that’s my journey through the first six (or seven) months as a freelance writer. If you’re a writer reading this thinking, “this will never be me,” lift your spirits! You can absolutely achieve this. There’s a job out there for you; you just need to keep writing.

That’s all from me for today. Catch you on my other platforms!

Until next time, Ethan