This archived newsletter issue covering ways experienced freelance writing professionals can pay it forward was originally sent to subscribers on February 25, 2026.
I’d wager most of us with significant experience in the freelance world have had help along the way.
Maybe someone wrote a blog post that guided you. Perhaps someone answered a question of yours on a forum or via email. Maybe they gave you a bit of encouragement when you weren’t sure you were cut out for this career.
That help didn’t have to be formal to matter to us. And there are newer freelancers today who would benefit from similar help.
Practical Ways to Pay it Forward
Personally, I believe we owe it to the people who helped us to help others. That doesn’t mean you need to launch a whole website full of tutorials, or write a book for newer freelancers, or engage in any long-term mentoring.
Even little things can have a big impact. For example:
- Offer to review their portfolio.
- Refer them to prospects you can’t, or don’t want to, take on.
- Connect newer writers to other experienced colleagues who might be in a better position to help (similar background or market).
- Teach a new freelancer how to write a pitch, or review one they’ve drafted.
- Answer questions that come in via email (or offer to answer questions via a social media channel).
- Have open conversations about the realities of freelancing (how long it took to stabilize income for example, vs all the garbage info products making it sound like success should be immediate).
Avoid Alienating New Freelancers
Perhaps one of the most important things we can do is to not expect new freelance writers to be at our level yet.
- They don’t have to focus on the same types of clients we do.
- It’s OK if they’re more generalists still finding their way and where they can stand out.
- They don’t have to charge what we do right now, and it doesn’t make sense for most of them early in their career.
And, no, they’re not dragging down rates for the rest of us…
It takes very few clients to fill a freelance schedule, and if we’re that worried new under-charging writers, or even AI for that matter, are going to put us out of business, that’s a sign we need some serious self-reflection.
It’s OK to have frustrations. But it’s not OK to blame newer writers barely starting their careers.
Think back to your own early struggles, insecurities, and who helped you work past them.
Try to be that person for newer colleagues when you can. Give them a reason to do the same as they reach a better place in their careers.
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