The Lessons I Learned in 2025 About Freelancing

 

2025 has been some kind of year for freelancing. January was one of the largest payments I've ever received throughout my years of freelancing. It was also the most uncertain. I lost a major source of writing income and had to pivot quickly and drastically.

I'll save you the details, as I've finally learned to accept and move on, but it taught me important lessons. Ones I accidentally forgot.

• Never rely on one source of income.

I've been freelancing for about 10 or so years. Along the way, I've discovered one thing: freelance gigs can dry up quickly. You'd figure I would have learned that and remembered that by now. But you can get complacent when freelance work stays consistent, as it did for me in 2024.

In fact, I had gotten so used to having a single source of my freelance income that I turned down a couple of gigs last year. They were lower paying, so I had my reasons. 

Then January 2025 came around, and my big freelance gig dried up. I was scrambling to replace it. Fortunately, and only because of God, I found another opportunity.

But I was reminded: never be so complacent about a single source of freelance work that you are left floundering when it disappears.

You don't want to say "yes" to every opportunity, but be careful if you only say yes to one source of income. That's when it gets into the dangerous territory of putting all your eggs in one basket.

• Listen to what other freelancers are experiencing.

I should never have been surprised I lost my writing opportunity. Throughout 2024, the signs were there. I was flooded with work from my single source of income. Yet, other writers were talking about losing their gigs. Layoffs were happening in my niche. Editors I worked with lost their jobs. 

I still didn't think I'd be affected. I was still getting writing assignments. Why should I worry? I thought I was in a good place and thankful to the Lord for it.

I wish I had paid attention. My advice is to avoid being overly confident, especially when people in your field are affected. No, there's no reason to have constant anxiety that you might lose your gig (which I remind myself of constantly), but keep striving. 

Make new connections. Keep learning. Figure out ways you can bring opportunities to you. Practice cold-pitching editors with your ideas. Discover a service you can offer others. Don't wait for assignments. 

• Try to avoid burning bridges.

I wish I could say I've never burned a bridge with someone. That I've always left things on a professional high note with every working relationship. Sadly, that is not the case.

I accidentally burned a bridge in 2024. You see, I was trying to diversify my income (sort of) but didn't want to cut back on what was bringing me in the most money. So, I tried to do it all.

Well, as you'd expect, I was stressing myself out too much. I had to back out of the project. Unfortunately, I had already backed out once before (and they had given me a second chance).

This year, I reached out to them again. Although I had showcased a significant lack of self-awareness of what I could handle, I had been on good terms with them before. I thought my prior good work record would be enough to make up for my flub-ups. Well, it wasn't. I got the stock answer that they weren't hiring right now.

That could be true, but I can't help but think I burned a bridge. I didn't mean to and wish I had been more aware of what I could take on without stressing myself out.

With that said, whenever possible: try not to burn a bridge. As a freelancer, I'd rather say no to a project early than say yes and ruin a professional relationship because I mess up on the work product or fail to provide.

This year some lessons have been learned. I continuously work on that ever-elusive work-life balance. Hopefully, by sharing my wisdom, you can avoid some of the mistakes I've made this past year.

Nicole Pyles is a freelance writer who has pivoted back to public relations to make up for a writing gig she lost in 2025. She also pitches people as guests for podcasts, because why not? Follow her not-so-active blog at https://worldofmyimagination.com.

Interview with Sudha Balagopal: Fall 2024 Flash Fiction Contest Third Place Winner

Sudha’s Bio: Sudha Balagopal is an Indian-American writer whose work straddles continents and cultures. Her stories have appeared in Smokelong, swamp pink and Vast Chasm among other journals. Most recently, her novella-in-flash, Nose Ornaments was published by Ad Hoc Fiction, UK. She has had stories included in Best Microfiction, Best Small Fictions and the Wigleaf Top 50. 

If you haven't done so already, check out Sudha's award-winning story "Where I Come From..." and then return here for a chat with the author. 

WOW: Congratulations on placing third in the Fall 2024 Flash Fiction Contest! What excited you most about writing this story? 

Sudha: This story was born in an online poetry workshop. I don't write poetry, but I find that poetry workshops offer great fodder for my stories. The instructor prompted us to think of where we come from, to start writing from those very words and voila the story came to me. I marvel at this ignition of an idea from just a few words. And that's what excited me about the story, how a prompt took me back to my younger years, to a time and place that nests within me but hadn't found expression. 

WOW: What a great idea to use poetry as inspiration for flash fiction! What did you learn about yourself or your writing while crafting this piece? 

Sudha: I learned I remember more than I believe. I learned I carry images in my brain from long, long ago. I learned, yet again, that relationships are complex. I learned, in terms of craft, that I can use the title as my first line, that I can repeat the concept in every paragraph. I learned I can zigzag through a sweep of time in a few short paragraphs. 

WOW: I love that phrase and idea of being able to “zigzag through a sweep of time.” Please tell us more about your recently published novella-in-flash, Nose Ornaments. 

Sudha: Nose Ornaments was a runner up in the Bath 2024 novella-in-flash contest. Because the book is a novella-in-flash, each chapter is flash length, under one thousand words. The book started as just one story which took root when I heard family stories about women who were expected to pierce their nostrils before they could get married. The thing that struck me is that while women mostly acquiesced, this wasn't a matter of choice. Of course, all this happened a long time ago and customs have since changed and today, girls have their noses pierced because they want to. 

After that first story was published, I stayed with the character in the story, Lakshmi, and built some chapters around this strong woman who forged her own path in life under hostile conditions. When I felt Lakshmi had surmounted her challenges, I shifted the focus to her daughter Savi and illustrated her trials and tribulations and finally arrived at Savi's daughter, Mini, a woman of our current times, whose life is far different from that of her grandmother's. 

The book is segmented into three parts reflecting societal changes over the decades. The arrangement evolved quite naturally. The segments are interlinked, for they are three women from the same family, but the challenges they encounter are hugely different because times change and with it, society. 

WOW: Thank you so much for sharing that! That sounds like an exciting project, and I find it fascinating to learn more about the lesser-known genre of novella-in-flash. What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it? 

Sudha: I'm reading Stone Diaries by Carol Shields who was a brilliant Canadian-American writer. I chose this book since I'd read her book Larry's Party decades ago and it left an imprint on my mind. I'm loving Stone Diaries, a Pulitzer winner, and deeply admire Shield's ability to delve deep into her characters. 

WOW: If you could give your younger self one piece of writing advice, what would it be and why? 

Sudha: I'd tell my younger self good writing takes time. Don't be in a hurry to finish a story. Instead, dwell, let the story marinate, allow it to develop the way it should. And, finally, understand that writing is really re-writing. 

WOW: Excellent advice! Thank you so much for sharing your story and your thoughtful responses with us. Happy writing! 

Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt, founder and editor-in-chief of Sport Stories Press, which publishes sports books by, for, and about sportswomen and amateur athletes and offers developmental editing and ghostwriting services to partially fund the press. Connect on Twitter @greenmachine459.