40 Writer (Freelance)
Being a Professional Writer. Is It the Right Career For You?
On this episode of the Unboxing Careers Podcast, Greg Zakowicz unboxes a career of a professional freelance writer with Jason Brick.
Guest: Jason Brick is a martial artist, freelance journalist, nerd, father, and husband. He has contributed over 3,000 articles and short stories to print magazines and online sites, and has ghost-written more than 20 books and ebooks for corporate and private events. His book and podcast, Safest Family on the Block help connect parents worldwide with information they need to protect their families from all sources of danger. He lives in Oregon.
Connect with Jason:
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What It Really Takes to Be a Professional Writer
Many people imagine professional writing as glamorous — novels published, bylines in top magazines, books adapted into movies. But for most working writers, the reality is far more diverse, practical, and grounded. Jason Brick, a full-time writer who’s been freelancing for over 15 years, offers an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what the career truly demands.
The Many Shapes of a Writing Career
Jason Brick doesn’t write just one kind of content — he writes everything people will pay him to write. From ghostwritten business books to tabletop role-playing game modules to blog posts for small businesses, his work is wide-ranging. That variety has allowed him to build a sustainable freelance career that supports his family while giving him full control over his time.
He got his start writing ad copy for the martial arts school he once ran, contributing columns to his local paper, and landing articles in Black Belt magazine. These small but steady writing opportunities eventually snowballed into full-time freelance work.
Jason’s writing experience includes:
Ghostwriting nonfiction books for business clients
Crafting blog and website content for companies
Writing modules and lore for tabletop RPGs
Producing magazine articles across multiple industries
How to Become a Professional Writer
Interestingly, Jason didn’t jump straight into writing after college. He studied psychology and spent years working in martial arts and private security. In his mid-30s, after realizing that his evening-and-weekend work schedule was keeping him from being present as a parent, he sold his school and pivoted to writing full-time. He already had a modest portfolio, and his communication skills (paired with years of writing his own business content) gave him a head start.
This unconventional path reinforces an important idea: you don’t have to major in English or get published young to become a professional writer. What matters is developing your voice, finding markets that need your skills, and building a portfolio — even if that starts with blog posts for a restaurant down the street.
Key lessons from Jason’s career shift:
Life experience can fuel your writing and give you subject matter expertise
Portfolios built through personal or side projects are still valid
It’s never too late to pivot toward writing if the skills are there
Writing as a Profession, Not a Passion Project
Many people treat writing as a calling or an artistic pursuit. And while it can be those things, Jason urges writers to also think of it as a trade—a skill that, like plumbing or carpentry, can pay the bills if approached professionally. He uses the term “blue collar creative” to describe the working-class mindset writers need to adopt if they want to make a living at it.
Most clients don’t care if you’re the next Hemingway. They care whether you can turn in clean copy on time, take feedback without getting precious, and make their brand look good. For aspiring writers, that means understanding how to take direction, meet deadlines, and revise without ego.
To build a career, writers must:
View writing as client service, not personal expression
Detach emotionally from work-for-hire content
Be open to feedback and iteration, even when it's tough to hear
Building a Career Without Burning Out
Jason’s current schedule is intentionally structured around when his brain works best. He writes in two focused chunks: one in the morning, after a workout and coffee, and one in the afternoon before his kid gets home from school. Admin tasks, emails, and light edits happen in the slower hours of the day.
In the early years, he often juggled 10 small assignments a day — 500–600 words each for content mills or marketing agencies. Today, most of his work is book-length projects or industry-specific publications. But regardless of project size, the key is time discipline and understanding your natural rhythm.
Jason’s routine emphasizes:
Writing during peak mental hours (usually 9am–1pm)
Keeping admin tasks separate from creative time
Always spending part of the week looking for new clients
Can You Be a Writer If You’re Just “Pretty Good” at Writing?
Yes. Jason is blunt about this. You don’t need to be a genius wordsmith to be successful. What you do need is the ability to consistently produce good (not perfect) content, manage your time, and work with clients effectively. A lot of strong writers fail at freelancing because they struggle with deadlines, revisions, or client relationships. Meanwhile, someone who’s simply “solid” but reliable can thrive.
He’s also candid about how AI is shaking up the lower end of the market—but that’s not necessarily bad news. Jason has already been hired to “clean up” AI-generated content in areas where he has deep subject matter expertise. Writers who can edit, verify facts, and improve clarity will find plenty of opportunities as businesses realize the limitations of AI.
What helps “good enough” writers thrive:
Strong time management and self-discipline
Ability to communicate with clients clearly and calmly
Flexibility to revise and take direction without ego
What Surprises New Writers the Most
One of the biggest surprises for new writers, Jason says, is how much of the job isn’t writing. Freelancers must also know how to:
Pitch clients and market themselves
Manage deadlines, invoices, and taxes
Build relationships and nurture referrals
Handle rejection and criticism constructively
Another challenge is learning how to handle feedback. Being told to revise something isn’t a failure, it’s part of the job. Jason suggests that anyone considering writing professionally should first learn to fail and improve at something, whether it’s music, athletics, or a hobby, so that feedback feels natural rather than personal.
To build emotional resilience:
Practice receiving feedback in other areas of life (sports, music, hobbies)
Develop a mindset that separates your identity from your work
See revision as a collaboration, not a correction
How to Overcome Writer’s Block
Jason doesn’t believe in writer’s block. He believes in fear, burnout, and procrastination — but not in the mythical state of “not being able to write.” His advice? Sit down and do the work, even when it’s hard. You’re a professional, not an artist waiting for inspiration.
To stay productive, Jason recommends:
Switching locations or working on a different project to change your mental state
Using “@@” as a placeholder when stuck, then returning later
Leaving a sentence unfinished to give yourself an easy starting point the next day
These techniques help maintain momentum and minimize creative paralysis.
Pay Rates of a Professional Writer
Freelance rates vary widely, but Jason shares a baseline: 10–20 cents per word is common for solid professional work. That means a 1,200-word article could earn you $120–$240, depending on the client. He recommends always charging per project, not per hour, so that your speed and efficiency work in your favor, not against you.
Writers just starting out might take lower-paying gigs, but the goal is to move up the chain and specialize.
Keys to building income as a writer:
Charge per project to reward efficiency
Aim for recurring work from high-quality clients
Consider niches (e.g., ghostwriting, technical writing) where rates are higher
Final Advice for Aspiring Writers
Jason’s closing advice to students and aspiring writers is direct: submit before you feel ready. Don’t wait for permission or perfection. Whether it’s a college paper, a hobby magazine, or a national outlet—send your work out. The worst you’ll get is silence. But if someone replies with actual feedback, that’s gold.
He also suggests building a reliable support system, ideally including someone who will give unvarnished feedback, like a trusted friend or even an honest ex.
Actionable advice for new writers:
Submit to real publications early and often
Aim higher than you think you're qualified for—there’s no downside
Treat feedback as training, not rejection
What Jason Loves About Writing
Jason’s favorite projects are those that connect to his passions: parenting, safety, and martial arts. His book Safest Family on the Block reflects that blend of personal history and practical knowledge.
He’s also a longtime fan of tabletop gaming, and getting paid to write for an industry he loves has been deeply satisfying, even if the pay is lower.
What he enjoys:
Helping people through safety-focused content
Writing about games and hobbies he genuinely loves
Flexibility to spend time with his family every day
What he avoids (when he can):
Writing personal finance or productivity articles
Projects where his name doesn’t align with the brand or message
In Summary: A Career as a Professional Writer
Being a professional writer isn’t about waiting for your big break — it’s about getting your reps in, delivering good work consistently, and treating writing like a craft. Whether you’re editing AI drafts, writing game manuals, or ghostwriting memoirs, there’s a career to be made from words—if you’re willing to treat it like a job.
To make it work:
Don’t wait to be “ready.” Start submitting now
Take your ego out of the process
Show up like a pro, even when it’s hard
Want to become a writer? Stop dreaming about it and just start writing.
Writing Resources
Carol Tice’s Freelance Writers Den – For people starting out in freelance writing
20 Books to 50K – A self-publishing community and resource
Larry Brooks – For those serious about traditional novel publishing
Takeaways For Those Interested in a Career as a Writer
I write what people will pay me to write.
Submit early. Submit before you think you're ready.
Writer's block doesn't exist, procrastination exists.
The skills that will make you successful are your people skills.
The most rewarding part is when I hear somebody tell me that an article I wrote helped them.
If you're a B2B plus writer, you'll be fine.
You can make a comfortable living as a freelance writer.
The competition in the writing field is ferocious.
Interested in similar careers? Check out these episodes:
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