7 Brutally Honest Steps I Took to Go From ‘Unemployable’ to Full-Time Writer

Let me guess.

You’re sitting there with a browser full of tabs — “freelance writing jobs,” “how to pitch editors,” and maybe even “is it too late to become a writer at 30?”

Been there. And let me tell you: it’s not too late, but it does take work — the kind most people avoid because it’s not glamorous.

So here’s my not-so-glamorous truth:
I make a living as a writer. Fully. No side gigs, no roommates, no ramen noodle survival plans.

I bought a little house. I max out my retirement account. I work in my pajamas.
And I did it without a journalism degree, a viral blog, or rich parents.

What I did have? A bunch of rejections, a now-deleted food blog, and a stubborn refusal to give up.

So if you’re wondering how to actually pull this off, let me give it to you straight — with receipts.

Step 1: Build the Website (Even If You Have Nothing to Show)

I made my first writing website right after I got fired from waitressing.

No clients. No clue. Just a Wix template and a vague idea of what I wanted.

I slapped on a semi-decent photo, wrote “Professional Writer” in big letters, and hit publish.

That website? It now brings me inbound clients. I haven’t sent a resume in six years.

Here’s why you need one:

• It makes you Google-able.
• It lets you “fake it” professionally while you’re still learning.
• It becomes a digital home for your portfolio.

Use whatever builder makes sense for you — Wix, Google Sites, GoDaddy, Yola. You can upgrade later. For now, just get it live.

Step 2: Pick a Niche That Pays the Bills

Let’s be real.

No one is waiting to fund your heartfelt poems about your ex or your screenplay about a time-traveling goat.

When I’m not crying over my trauma memoir (yes, really), I write e-commerce content — product reviews, roundups, all that jazz.

Why? Because it pays.

Affiliate marketing is how publications make money. I get paid to write. They get paid when people click and buy. Everybody wins.

Ask yourself this:

“Who benefits financially from me writing this?”

If the answer is “no one,” you probably won’t get paid for it.

So follow the money — not your muse (at least not at first).

Step 3: Build a Portfolio Without Waiting for Permission

The biggest lie we’re sold?

“You need experience to get hired… but you need a job to get experience.”

Nah. Not in 2025.

You can build samples right now — for free. Here’s how:

• Publish on Medium (join publications to get more eyeballs)
• Contribute to BuzzFeed Community (anyone can)
• Write for HubPages or a local blog
• Create “spec work” — fake client pieces labeled clearly
• Offer friends free website copy or IG captions in exchange for portfolio credit

Don’t wait for a gatekeeper. Publish something. Anything. Then build from there.

Step 4: Pitch Like You’re on Fire

Once you’ve got a few samples, it’s time to go all-in.

Here’s your pitch strategy starter pack:

• Check your favorite sites — many list open contributor roles
• Follow editors on LinkedIn (they often post callouts)
• Sign up for job alerts:
  Indeed, The Writer’s Job, LinkedIn Jobs, Contra, Listiller

And yes, freelance sites like Upwork, Fiverr, and Contra can work if you’re strategic.

Apply fast. Follow up. Be human in your emails.

Enthusiasm > experience, most of the time.

Step 5: Say Yes, Then Figure It Out

My first “big” opportunity? They asked if I had experience in affiliate content.

I absolutely did not.

Did I say that? Of course not. I said, “I’d love to learn more.”

And then I binge-read everything I could find. Google. YouTube. Reddit threads. Templates. Whatever.

Pro tip: You don’t have to know everything — you just have to be willing to figure it out fast.

AI can help, but don’t rely on it to write your stuff. (Editors can tell. Trust me.)

As Branson said:

“Say yes. Learn later.”

It works. I’m living proof.

Step 6: Diversify or Die

The writing industry is… chaotic.

One day your favorite client is assigning five pieces a week. The next? Budget cuts.

You need multiple streams. Always.

Here’s my current mix:

• Part-time work with two steady publications
• A few freelance clients
• Medium income
• My memoir (out on submission)
• Occasional consulting gigs

I juggle a lot — but I also sleep in, set my own hours, and take beach days when I feel like it.

You don’t need a “safe job.” You need a resilient income.

Step 7: Be So Reliable It’s Boring

I’m not the best writer on the internet.

But I might be the fastest to reply, the least likely to ghost, and the most obsessive with deadlines.

Clients love that. It builds trust. It keeps your inbox full.

Want to stand out? Do this:

• Hit every deadline — early
• Respond to emails quickly
• Edit your own work like a grammar gremlin
• Make their life easier

Writing is creative, yes. But professionalism is what gets you paid.

Real Talk Wrap-Up

Anyone can say they’re a writer.

The ones who get paid? They treat it like a job before it becomes one.

No magic. Just method.

TL;DR: The 7-Step Game Plan

1. Build your website — Even if it’s empty.
2. Choose a paying niche — Follow the money.
3. Create samples now — No one’s going to hand you permission.
4. Pitch everywhere — Enthusiasm beats experience.
5. Say yes, then Google it — No excuses.
6. Stack income streams — Safety in diversity.
7. Be insanely reliable — It’s rare and priceless.

That’s the blueprint. No fluff. No fairy dust.

Now go write like your future depends on it — because it kinda does.