The Writers' Den

Writing for Fun & Money is Back This Summer in Grey County, Ontario

Miranda Miller — Tue, 13 May 2025 21:03:32 GMT

Hey writers,

It’s been a minute, but for good reason. I’ve been heads-down over here at The Writers’ Den, planning something that’s been a long time coming. And now, I’m thrilled to finally share it with you:

🎉 Writing for Fun & Money is back this July — and this time, it’s a 3-week kickstart.

That’s right. What started as a one-day workshop is now a more immersive experience designed for aspiring and early-career writers who are ready to stop spinning their wheels and start taking real steps forward.

This small-group program includes two live virtual sessions, guided writing assignments, and a full-day in-person workshop on Sunday, July 13 at Rocklands Market in Berkeley, Ontario — right in the heart of Grey County.

There are only 12 spots open to keep things personal, collaborative, and high-impact.

We’ll cover the creative and business sides of writing, from building your routine and beating blocks to pitching editors, landing clients, and getting paid.

It’s hands-on, honest, and rooted in what I’ve learned really works in over 20 years writing for fun… and money. 😉

If you’re local to Southern Ontario and have been looking for a writing community to help you sharpen your skills, get published, or start earning — this is your moment.

Learn More & Claim Your Seat

And for those of you who aren’t in the area, hang tight! We’ll be launching virtual-only workshops this fall so you can join the fun from wherever you are.

Stay tuned. We’ve got good things coming.

~ Miranda

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You’re Closer Than You Think to Your First Freelance Client

Miranda Miller — Mon, 05 May 2025 17:15:00 GMT

If you’ve been circling around the idea of freelancing—reading posts, bookmarking gigs, researching niches—but not actually pitching anyone yet… this one’s for you.

Let’s talk about the power of starting smaller.

Start With One Real Connection

There’s a powerful shift that happens when you stop chasing “traffic” and start focusing on relationships. This week, we’re talking about that shift: why it matters, and how it sets the stage for real, sustainable progress as a freelance writer.

When we imagine building a writing business, it’s easy to get distracted by big numbers… 10k followers, viral posts, website traffic, inboxes full of client inquiries.

But the truth is, you don’t need a lot of people to make a freelance writing career work. You need the right people, and you need a system that helps you serve them well.

This is why I encourage you to start smaller. Instead of obsessing over visibility, focus on becoming valuable to just one person this week. That might mean sending one pitch, connecting with one potential client on LinkedIn, or simply asking for feedback on a sample.

Your goal isn’t to “go big.” Your goal is to build what Brian Clark calls a Minimum Viable Audience. It’s that small group of people who trust you, value what you create, and help shape what comes next.

→ Recommended Reading: The Magic of the Minimum-Viable-Audience Milestone by Brian Clark

🔒 Keep reading with a paid subscription:

The “one-client portfolio” strategy to build trust fast, even without a full website
5 small things you can do this week to actually move the needle
3 must-have elements for a client-winning portfolio

[Upgrade now to unlock the full archive and weekly premium content →]

Mastering the “Revenue Per Hour” Rule for Writers

Miranda Miller — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 17:07:51 GMT

What you charge per hour doesn’t matter. What you earn per hour does.

Admin. Revisions. Email tag. Waiting on feedback. Scope creep. All of it eats into your actual income—even if your rate looks good on paper.

Here’s the fix: Start tracking Revenue Per Hour for every client and every project. Ruthlessly.

→ Low RPH? Raise your rate, tighten your process, or cut it altogether.

→ High RPH? Double down. Optimize it. Turn it into a repeatable offer. Upsell strategically.

Smart freelancers don’t just work more. They work better. If a gig doesn’t earn like your best one, ask yourself why it’s still on your calendar.

If you’ve never calculated your true hourly earnings, you might be surprised—and not always in a good way.

Inside the paywalled section, you’ll get:

✔ A dead-simple formula to calculate your Revenue Per Hour
✔ The exact questions to ask when your RPH is too low
✔ A ready-to-use tracking template to monitor profitability across clients

🔒 Subscribers, let’s get into how to calculate, track, and optimize your Revenue Per Hour, so every project earns like your best one.

Contracts Aren’t Just for Big Writing Jobs

Miranda Miller — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 12:49:29 GMT

You don’t need a $5,000 project to justify a contract. You just need a client, and a clear understanding of what you’re getting paid to do.

Too many writers skip contracts on small gigs and end up chasing invoices or stuck in “just one more thing” territory. A contract isn’t about being difficult. It’s about setting expectations.

It doesn’t have to be fancy. But it does need to exist.

Inside: the exact one-pager I use for small projects, plus a clause bank you can copy, paste, and customize for your next client.

What a Contract Really Does for You

Contracts aren’t just for going to court. That’s the last resort. Most of the time, it’s not even worth the hassle. A solid contract is there to prevent conflict, not fight it after the fact.

Think of it less like legal armor and more like a project map. A good contract:

Sets expectations early
Clarifies deadlines and deliverables
Defines payment terms and timelines
Prevents awkward “I thought this was included” moments

It keeps you and the client on the same page… literally. It’s a working document that helps you collaborate better, not just cover your butt.

Even for a $200 blog post, a contract sends a message: “This is a professional relationship. Let’s do this right.”

Recommended reading: How to Get Paid More for the Same Work

Watch for Red Flags, and Let Your Contract Handle Them

Some clients will resist signing anything. That’s a red flag.

If they’re sketchy about expectations or flaky on timelines now, imagine what happens without something in writing. A contract makes those issues surface early, before you're deep into the work.

Need help spotting risky clients?

Read: 🚩 Avoiding Red Flags in Freelance Writing

🔒 Full subscribers: Read on for the 10 freelance contract must-haves I use in every agreement and my exact one-page template for small gigs—plus what to do if a client won’t sign.

5 Simple Shifts That Instantly Improve Your Writing

Miranda Miller — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 13:05:12 GMT

You’re sitting at your desk, trying to write something that sounds clear and confident… only it doesn’t.

It’s vague. Or clunky. Or slow.

You’re second-guessing every sentence, rewriting the intro for the tenth time, wondering if this thing you’re working on is even worth finishing. You keep fiddling with words, hoping something magically unlocks the flow.

Sound familiar?

Here’s what I want you to know: that’s not a talent problem. It’s a tools problem.

Often, the reason your writing feels off isn’t because you’re not good enough. It’s because you’re missing a structure, a technique, or a clear next move.

Great writing doesn’t come from inspiration alone. It comes from small, repeatable decisions that help you write faster, sharper, and with more clarity and control.

If your writing feels flat, clunky, or like it’s taking way too long, try one of these five shifts. They’re practical. They’re quick. And they work.

1. Stop Getting Hung Up On Your Intro

Writers can spend way too long polishing the opening paragraph before they know what the piece is really about. That’s how you burn an hour rewriting the same two sentences.

Instead: skip the intro and start writing where the energy is.

Once you know what you’re trying to say, the intro will be easier to write — and probably a whole lot stronger.

Learn more:

2. Use Strong Verbs to Write with Authority

If your writing feels vague or weak, your verbs are probably to blame.

Passive constructions like “It was decided,” or “The changes were implemented,” suck the energy out of your sentences. They bury the subject and blur the meaning.

Strong writing puts the action — and the reader — front and center.

Swap “The report was written by the team” for “The team wrote the report.”
Swap “There was a discussion about pricing” for “We discussed pricing.”

Simple shift. Massive difference.

Learn more:

3. Write Faster by Thinking in Ideas, Not Sentences

A lot of writers slow themselves down by trying to write one perfect sentence at a time.

Stop doing that.

Start by getting your ideas down first—bullet points, phrases, questions, whatever gets you moving. Then shape it into sentences later.

This one shift alone can cut your writing time in half.

Keep reading:

4. Cut the Fluff and Get to the Point

Clarity beats cleverness every time. But a lot of writers (especially newer ones) fall into the trap of trying to sound smart.

They reach for big words, long sentences, and abstract phrasing, hoping it’ll make the writing feel more professional or impressive.

Instead, it just makes it harder to read. The writing feels distant. Slow. Overworked.

And here’s the kicker: it actually slows you down too. When you overcomplicate your sentences, you spend twice as long editing. You start second-guessing every paragraph. You forget what you were trying to say in the first place.

Want stronger writing? Start by cutting the fluff. Say what you mean. Make every word earn its place.

Simple is not the same as boring. It’s clear. It’s confident. It works.

Learn more:

5. Let Structure Support Your Creativity

Writing doesn’t have to start with a blank page and a stroke of brilliance. That’s a myth (and a trap).

When your brain is foggy and the words aren’t coming, the best thing you can do is lean on structure.

Use a framework. Make a quick outline. Give yourself a shape to write into, even if it’s messy. You can always move things around later.

Structure doesn’t limit your creativity. It unlocks it.

Learn more:

Pick one shift. Just one.

Apply it to something you’re working on… an email, a draft, a pitch, a caption. Watch how much smoother the process of writing gets. Which one will it be? Will you focus on outlines to guide you, or try to catch yourself when you’re labouring too long over a single sentence so you can redirect?

You don’t need perfect conditions for writing. You just need tools you can rely on to work for you when writing gets hard.

I hope this gives you a few more for your writing toolbox.

Miranda

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Your Writing Deserves to Be Taken Seriously, Even If You’re the Only One Doing It Right Now

Miranda Miller — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 13:44:44 GMT

A million things are pulling at your attention right now: clients, kids, Slack pings, groceries, emails, dishes, and deadlines.

Even your most well-meaning friends or family can accidentally chip away at your creative time with a casual, “Can’t you just do it later?”

Guess what? Those things will always be there. Real life isn’t going anywhere. It’s frustrating, but it’s not your fault.

The truth is, many people will dismiss your writing time… not because they don’t care about you, but because they don’t understand what it takes to build something creative, consistent, and real without a guaranteed outcome.

They’ll take it more seriously once there’s a paycheque. A byline. A book launch.

But right now? You might be the only one protecting that time. And that’s okay.

Here’s what I want you to remember:

It is 100% valid to say no to coffee because you’re excited to finish that essay.
It’s okay to ask your partner to feed the kids because you blocked off this hour to write.
It’s okay to let the laundry sit unfolded because you're in the middle of a draft that finally feels like it's going somewhere.
It’s okay to close your inbox, put your phone on Do Not Disturb, and let a text go unanswered for an hour because this writing time is yours.

It’s not selfish. It’s not silly. And it’s not optional if this matters to you. No one else has to understand it, but they need to accept and respect it.

Now, I’m not saying you should shuck all responsibilities aside and retreat into a writer’s cave. But if your writing is always the thing that gets bumped, paused, or canceled (by others or by you), it’s time to stand up for it. Because if you don’t, no one else will.

If you’re carving out time to write — before work, between meetings, after the kids go to bed — let’s be clear:

That work is valid. It’s real. And it deserves your respect.

Not someday. Not “when it’s published.” Not “when someone pays you for it.”

Right now. Before anyone else sees it. Before there’s proof it will “go anywhere.”

You don’t need a client to make your writing legitimate.

You don’t need a book deal to justify your creative time.

You don’t need someone else's permission to treat this like it matters, because it already does.

If you’re writing consistently, you’re building a body of work. When you’re learning, experimenting, and practicing, you’re growing your skills. Every time you show up, even when you’re tired or uncertain — you’re doing the thing. You’re a writer. You’re writing.

The only difference between an “aspiring” writer and a working one is that one of them decided to stop waiting and took themselves seriously.

So here’s your reminder: Don’t wait for external validation to act like your writing matters.

Start treating your time, your practice, and your ideas with the same respect you’d give a paying client or a firm deadline. Because when you take it seriously, other people start to as well.

And so, my challenge to you is this:

This week, block off one chunk of time — 15 minutes, an hour, whatever you can manage — and protect it like it’s a meeting with your most important client.

Don’t apologize for it. Don’t move it. Don’t downplay it.

You’re not “just writing.”

Even if no one else sees it yet, you do. And that’s enough.

Miranda

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Fun Writing Challenge: The Magic Object Monologue

Miranda Miller — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 12:36:27 GMT

Welcome to Friday Fun in the Writers’ Den, your weekly permission slip to write something weird, pointless, and wildly entertaining.

When writing becomes your job, it’s easy to forget it used to be fun.

Client deadlines. Edits. Pitches. Content calendars. Book drafts you’re behind on.
Even when you love writing, the mental load of always producing something useful, polished, or profitable can wear you down.

That’s why exercises like this matter.

They give your brain space to wander without consequence. They remind you that writing doesn’t always need a purpose to be worth doing. And sometimes, the most unexpected ideas — the voice that feels most like you — only show up when no one’s watching and nothing’s at stake.

So! On Fridays, we’re write for the joy of it. No rules. No revisions. Just 15 minutes of pure, creative nonsense.

Today’s challenge is short, strange, and surprisingly good for sharpening your voice.

This Week’s Challenge: The Magic Object Monologue

Pick an ordinary object around you right now. Could be your coffee mug. Your lamp. Your phone charger. Your sad, overworked keyboard.

Now give it a voice, and let it speak.

But not just any voice. This object has something to say:

It’s giving a TED Talk.
It’s testifying in court.
It’s being interviewed on a podcast.
It’s reading a dramatic excerpt from its memoir.

The only rule? It takes itself very seriously.

Examples, if you need a push:

🪑 “They call me ergonomic, but no one asks me what I need.”
☕ “You pour your burnout into me, and I deliver caffeine like a coward’s spell.”
🔌 “I was left behind during the move. I’ve seen things… hotel rooms, airports, rental cars. I’m not just a charger. I’m a survivor.”

🕒 Set a timer for 10–15 minutes.

Don’t overthink it. Don’t edit. Just write. Make it petty. Make it poetic. Make it a full-blown manifesto.

The goal isn’t brilliance; it’s freedom.

And who knows? That strange little voice might show you something new about your own.

Miranda

P.S. Drop your monologue in the comments if you dare.

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5 Lessons That Supercharged My Freelance Writing Income

Miranda Miller — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 12:37:23 GMT

There’s a big difference between being a freelance writer and running a writing …

Writers: Don’t Sleep on Tax Write-Offs

Miranda Miller — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:38:02 GMT

You’re running a business (even if it doesn’t always feel like it). And businesses have expenses. The more you understand what’s deductible, the more profit you keep in your pocket.

Yet too many freelance writers don’t treat write-offs seriously until tax time (aka too late). That’s money gone forever.

So here’s your reminder: if you can write it off, you should know about it.

Even if you don’t hire an accountant right now, invest in one consultation. Especially if you’re doing your own bookkeeping, planning travel, or working across borders (like I do), you need to know the rules.

They can vary wildly by location, by business structure, and even by the kind of writing you do.

What Writers Can (and Can’t) Write Off — and Why It Matters

Let’s get one thing out of the way: I’m not an accountant. I’m a working writer who runs two businesses—one in Canada, one in Estonia—and this is what I’ve learned through lived experience, hard-won knowledge, and more receipts than I care to admit. With that said…

Every dollar you spend on your business that qualifies as a write-off reduces your taxable income. That means you’re not paying tax on money you never actually kept. If you made $60,000 but had $10,000 in legitimate business expenses, you’re only taxed on $50,000. That’s real savings—often thousands of dollars.

Recommended reading: How to Get Paid More for the Same Work

But you don’t get to claim expenses you didn’t track. And you definitely don’t get retroactive refunds for write-offs you didn’t know about. That’s why it pays to learn this now, and not when you’re already scrambling.

🔒 Full subscribers: Keep reading for a breakdown of common write-offs, real-world examples, and how I handle this across my Canadian and EU writing and content businesses.

Writing is a Solo Sport, But You Don't Have to Go It Alone

Miranda Miller — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 11:50:38 GMT

WordShop 2025 in Owen Sound, Ontario.

This weekend, I gave a talk at WordShop 2025 in Owen Sound on Writing for Money—how to build multiple income streams, productize your services, and treat your writing like a business.

But what I enjoyed most wasn’t what happened during my session. It was what happened around it.

Lunch conversations where writers shared what they’re working on and what they want to do next. An open mic session where some shared works in progress. A group closing session that left everyone feeling seen and motivated. Honest stories about juggling creativity with paying the bills.

No gatekeeping. No ego. Just smart, generous people doing the work and figuring it out together.

That’s the power of community.

Not just a critique group (though those have value, too). But a place where you can talk about the real stuff: burnout, boundaries, money, momentum. Where you don’t have to explain why you do this. You’re just understood.

Writing is deeply personal, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it in isolation.
Too much time alone at the desk can lead to overthinking, self-doubt, and creative paralysis.

Connection pulls you out of your own head and puts you back in motion.

Even one good conversation with another writer can shift your energy. Remind you you’re not alone. Spark a new idea. Validate your rates. Get you unstuck.

Your Challenge: Reach out to one writer this week. Comment on their post. DM them. Meet up for a walk or a coffee if you’re local. Ask what they’re working on. Share something you’ve learned. Just connect.

Get away from your screen for a minute. Step outside your bubble. Because writing may be a solo sport, but the writers who stay in it have people in their corner.

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Outlines as a Cure for Blank Page Panic

Miranda Miller — Tue, 08 Apr 2025 12:36:56 GMT

Writer’s block doesn’t come from lack of talent. But it can kick in when you're trying to move fast before you know where you want to go.

I almost never free-write without some kind of outline. I know some writers thrive in the chaos of a blank page, but I’m not one of them. I need a shape. A direction. Even a loose one.

A rough structure makes the whole thing less overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be detailed. It just needs to show me where this is going and give me an idea of what I want to see in each section.

And yes, it’s flexible. You can move things around. Toss stuff out.

But you need something to start shaping the idea, or you’ll sit there forever, waiting to feel “ready.”

Try This Today:

Skip the intro. Start with 3–5 bullet points for the body — the main moves you think you want to make.
Under each point, add a quick note: what’s the takeaway? Why does this part matter?
That’s your first draft outline. That’s momentum. Now write the part that feels easiest.
Let the structure evolve as the piece takes shape, but don’t start without it.

Structure isn’t the opposite of creativity. It’s what clears the path for it.

🔒 Full subscribers: Keep reading for three go-to outline frameworks I use across blog posts, client content, and my own writing. Adapt them to fit your voice and your goals, and add these to your toolkit.

Why “Write Every Day” Is Bad Advice (For Most Writers)

Miranda Miller — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:53:46 GMT

You’ve probably heard it a hundred times: “If you want to be a real writer, you have to write every day.”

The thing is, that advice doesn’t work for most people. Trying to force it can do more harm than good.

You’re not lazy. You’re not undisciplined. You’re trying to write in the cracks of a busy, full life, and beating yourself up for not hitting a completely arbitrary goal isn't helping your writing. It’s just building shame.

Let’s call it what it is: productivity cosplay.

The Problem With “Daily Writing” Dogma

Writing every single day might work for full-time authors, students, or those in specific seasons of life. But for freelance writers, parents, people with day jobs, health issues, or simply shifting priorities? It’s neither realistic nor necessary.

Yet when we miss a day (or three), we start spiraling:

“I’ve lost momentum.”
“I’ll never be consistent.”
“Real writers wouldn’t miss a day.”

None of that is true.

Consistency doesn't mean perfection. It means showing up often enough to keep moving forward—on your own terms.

Recommended reading - Writing Through Chaos: How to Stay Focused When Life Isn’t

Your Challenge:

Stop chasing streaks. Instead, define what consistency looks like for you.

Maybe that’s writing three times a week.
Maybe it’s 1,000 words a week, no matter how you get there.
Maybe it’s batching client work on Mondays and leaving Fridays for your own stuff.

The “every day” rule isn’t sacred. The only rule is: keep writing in a way that doesn’t burn you out.

🔒 Full subscribers: Read on to learn how to build a custom writing rhythm that actually works for your brain and your life. Plus, we’ll talk about how to bounce back fast when you fall off track.

Friday Fun Writing Challenge: Write an Absurd Obituary

Miranda Miller — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:38:39 GMT

Friday Fun in the Writers’ Den are here to remind you: writing doesn’t always have to be productive. Sometimes, it should just be playful.

Taking 15 minutes to write something absurd, silly, and completely unserious can actually sharpen your tone, flex your creativity, and reconnect you with the part of writing that’s just… fun.

No deadlines. No clients. No SEO briefs. Just you, your imagination, and the weirdest corners of your brain.

🎯 This week’s challenge: Write an obituary for something completely ridiculous.

It could be a person, an animal, an object, a concept, or a cultural moment. The only rule? Keep the tone dead serious while letting the details spiral into full-blown nonsense.

Some ideas to get you rolling:

🖇️ Kevin, the last living USB drive. Survived by his cousins, Cloud Storage and Bluetooth.

🕊️ Barbara, the pigeon who knew too much. Her surveillance work will not be forgotten.

🧦 Left Sock, who mysteriously vanished after a routine wash cycle. Suspected foul play.

💡 The concept of "quiet quitting," tragically overused into oblivion by late 2023.

Your obituary should include:

A heartfelt intro
Some “life highlights” or accomplishments
A legacy, surviving “relatives,” or cause of death
One weirdly specific fact

Feel free to toss in a quote, a community tribute, or a funeral detail that makes no sense but sounds deeply meaningful.

Set a timer for 15 minutes. Let the nonsense flow.

And remember: the silliest writing often unlocks the sharpest voice.

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Productized Writing Services: Making Money While You Sleep (Kind Of)

Miranda Miller — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:32:43 GMT

If every project feels like you're starting from scratch, it’s time to think about productizing.

Productized services are pre-defined writing offers with a fixed scope, timeline, and price. Instead of quoting from scratch every time, you say: This is what I offer. Here’s what it includes. Here’s what it costs. Simple. Scalable. Sanity-saving.

Think:

Website Copy in a Week
Thought Leadership Pack: 4 Ghostwritten LinkedIn Posts
Case Study Intensive: Strategy, Interview, and Delivery in 5 Days

The magic is in the repeatability. You get faster, the quality goes up, and the profit margins widen. Clients love it because they know exactly what they’re getting.

Why This Model Works So Well

Custom projects are chaos factories. The scope shifts. The client doesn’t know what they want. You spend more time quoting and clarifying than writing.

Productized offers eliminate that. You define the outcome, set the boundaries, and charge for the value—not the time. That’s how you shift from being a writer-for-hire to being a service provider with an offer that sells itself.

Recommended reading: Writers, Stop Giving Away Strategic Value for Free

Bonus: When you productize, you can eventually delegate parts of the process. Research. Admin. Even some writing. That’s how you start building a business, not just doing a job.

🔒 Ready to create your own productized writing service? Full subscribers, read on to learn how to design, price, and sell repeatable offers that clients love—and that don’t burn you out.

Ghostwriting: Big Money, Zero Spotlight (And That's Not a Bad Thing)

Miranda Miller — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 18:04:30 GMT

If you’re a strong writer who doesn’t crave the spotlight, ghostwriting might be your dream gig.

From business books and LinkedIn posts to CEO op-eds and memoirs, ghostwriters are the invisible force behind a lot of published content.

And while you won’t get a byline, you will get something better: premium rates, deep client relationships, and the chance to write work that actually gets seen—all without having to “build your own brand.”

Contrary to what you might hear, you don’t need a personal brand to get great writing gigs. In fact, ghostwriting is tailor-made for writers who don’t want to spend their time marketing themselves.

You can stay off the content treadmill and still build a lucrative, stable career.

Why Ghostwriting Pays So Well

Ghostwriting is high-trust work. Clients aren’t just hiring your writing, they’re handing over their voice, ideas, and reputation. That’s why the pay tends to be higher. If you can nail tone, organize complex thoughts, and write like someone else thinks, you become indispensable.

Bonus: once you’ve worked with one high-level client, you’ll often get referred quietly to others in their network. Ghostwriting gigs tend to multiply through whispers, not job boards.

But It’s Not for Everyone

You have to be okay being invisible. You won’t get the byline. You won’t get public credit. You might even be under an NDA. If you’re building a name in journalism or publishing, this might feel frustrating. But if your goal is strong income and long-term client relationships, ghostwriting can be a dream.

This path also requires a thick skin and flexible ego. You’re not writing to impress you—you’re channeling them. That takes humility, sharp listening skills, and zero attachment to style.

🔒 Ready to get your foot in the door—and negotiate like a pro? Full subscribers, read on for tips to break in, deliver killer ghostwriting work, and set premium rates without flinching.

Writing Success Takes Time, and You Are Well On Your Way

Miranda Miller — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 13:12:42 GMT

If you’ve been telling yourself, “I should be further along in my writing career by now,” stop right there.

That voice in your head—the one comparing you to other writers, measuring your progress against someone else’s highlight reel—isn’t helping you.

It’s lying to you.

It’s easy to feel like everyone else is landing book deals, stacking bylines, or going viral on LinkedIn while you’re still figuring things out. But in reality, comparison is a lie, and timelines are made up.

Most real writing progress is invisible. Drafts that go nowhere. Skills that sharpen quietly. Confidence that builds with each rep. That’s not falling behind. It’s the foundational work that drives writing success.

I can’t even count the drafts and projects I once wrote off as total failures. But every misstep, every rejection… that’s where the real growth happens. Not in the wins, but in what we learn when it all went wrong.

Don’t confuse quiet progress with failure. You might not be seeing results yet, but that doesn’t mean you’re not growing.

🔒 Full subscribers: Read on and let’s dig deeper into how to track meaningful progress, recognize your quiet wins, and define success on your own terms.

Your Friday Fun Writing Challenge: Write a Fake Wikipedia Entry

Miranda Miller — Fri, 28 Mar 2025 13:27:35 GMT

Fun Fridays in the Writers’ Den are all about reminding ourselves that writing can be weird, joyful, and totally unserious. These little creative detours aren’t just amusing but keep your brain flexible and your voice sharp.

Today’s challenge is simple: lie like a professional—but make it sound official.

Your mission: pick a completely ridiculous, made-up concept—an imaginary creature, invention, tradition, or conspiracy theory—and write a Wikipedia-style entry for it.

It should read like a real article: dry tone, serious formatting, and all the false authority you can muster.

Your entry should include:

A straight-faced intro
Some "historical" context
A weirdly specific detail or two
Optional citations to imaginary sources

🔥 Need inspiration? Try one of these:

The Sock Goblin: A household creature first documented in 1872. It thrives in dryers and subsists entirely on left socks and spite.
Emotional Support Cactus: Popularized in the early 2010s, believed to absorb negative energy through passive-aggressive spikes.
The Great Pudding Tax Revolt: A little-known 18th-century rebellion in Northern England sparked by overregulation of custard-based desserts.
The Time-Traveling Pigeon Theory: A fringe belief that pigeons are government-issued time messengers sent to correct historical errors.

Set a timer for 15 minutes and go all in. Keep the tone straight, the details ridiculous, and have as much fun as possible.

Bonus points if your entry has [citation needed] in just the right spot.

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Writing for Agencies: A Hidden Goldmine

Miranda Miller — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 13:16:50 GMT

If you're looking for steady, well-scoped writing work, agencies can be just the ticket.

Marketing, PR, and SEO firms often bring in freelance writers to support their client load. Once you’re in, you’ll typically work with an account manager who handles client communication, rounds of feedback, and project logistics.

That means fewer emails, less negotiation, and more time to write.

Bonus: You get exposed to a wide range of industries and writing formats, from thought leadership to web copy to technical case studies. It's like a writing bootcamp that pays well.

You might write a thought leadership piece for a fintech CEO on Monday and brand messaging for a wellness startup by Friday. The learning curve can be steep, but so is the growth potential.

So why isn’t everyone writing for agencies? Well, if you’re good, they’ll keep handing you work. Top-performing freelancers often get overloaded because they’re easy to rely on. That’s great—until it isn’t. Burnout is real in this space.

Set clear boundaries, define your scope of work, and don’t be afraid to say “no” when needed. Consistency doesn’t mean saying yes to everything.

Think of it this way… agencies aren’t just hiring talent. They’re building their bench. If you become one of their go-to writers, they’ll keep calling you up to bat. But being “good” isn’t enough.

🔒 Ready to become the writer agencies fight to keep on their roster? Full subscribers, read on and learn how to stand out, get rehired, and turn one-off gigs into steady, high-value agency relationships.

Writers: Stop Giving Away Strategic Value for Free

Miranda Miller — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:16:38 GMT

You know that 30-minute kickoff call where you help a client figure out what to write, who it’s for, and how to position it?

That spreadsheet where you outlined the entire blog calendar?

That SEO guidance you casually slipped into your last draft?

Not every writer does that.

That’s what sets you apart. But if you’re not naming it, framing it, or charging for it, clients will never know, and they definitely won’t value it enough to pay you accordingly.

As freelance writers, we want to be helpful. We want to deliver results. And sometimes, that means going above and beyond without even realizing it.

But over time, that generosity turns into scope creep.

We start offering strategic input on messaging, positioning, SEO, content direction, and more, without ever getting paid for it. We answer follow-up questions, revise content based on vague goals, or reshape drafts to match what should have been clarified in a strategy phase that never existed.

Recommended reading: How to Find Writing Clients Who Actually Have a Budget

This doesn’t mean you need to nickel-and-dime your clients. It means you need to recognize the full value you bring, and make sure you’re being paid for all of it.

Chances are, you’re doing way more than putting words on a page. You're helping clients shape their message, reach their audience, and build content that drives results.

That’s strategy. And it has value.

🔒 Full subscribers: Keep reading to learn how to identify the strategic work you’re already doing, package it properly, and start charging for the full value you bring.

Don’t Worry About the Perfect Intro; Start Where the Energy Is

Miranda Miller — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:14:09 GMT

How many writing sessions have you wasted staring at the blinking cursor — typing and erasing, typing and erasing — trying to craft the perfect first sentence?

Don’t let yourself get hung up on those first few sentences. Your intro doesn’t need to be perfect; it just needs to get you moving.

This is true whether you’re writing a blog post or article, a whitepaper or essay, or even a full-length novel.

Some of the strongest hooks I’ve written came after the rest of the piece was drafted. Why? Because by then, I actually knew what I wanted to say. I had clarity, examples, and the tone down. I knew exactly what value the piece was bringing the reader. I wasn’t guessing anymore.

Trying to write a brilliant intro before you know where the piece is going is like trying to deliver a punchline before you know the joke.

Here’s What to Do Instead:

Jot down a placeholder intro. One messy paragraph with the gist of what you think you're writing about.
Jump into the body. Explore the idea. Write fast and loose.
Let the writing show you what it’s really about.
Once you’ve got a full draft, come back and write the hook your content deserves.

When you let yourself write through the piece before perfecting the start, your intro ends up sharper, more aligned, and way more compelling.

🔒 Full subscribers: Keep reading for a step-by-step process to write intros that actually match the power of your ideas. Learn how to identify your true hook, align it with your content, and open with clarity and confidence.