The 80/20 Rule for Freelance Writers: Focus on What Pays

Too many freelance writers spend too much time on work that barely pays. Are you one of them? Let’s fix that.

Not all writing tasks bring equal returns. Some projects, clients, and marketing efforts drive most of your income, while others are complete turkeys that drain your time for little reward.

This is where the 80/20 rule (also known as the Pareto Principle) comes in:
🔹 80% of your income likely comes from 20% of your work.
🔹 The other 80%? It’s busywork that doesn’t move the needle.

How does this knowing this help? Identifying and focusing on the high-value 20% will help you work smarter, earn more, and avoid burnout.

The key to earning more (without working 24/7) is identifying and doubling down on your most profitable efforts—and being willing to cut out what doesn’t pay.

Here’s how to apply the 80/20 rule to your freelance business:

1. Identify Your Most Profitable Work

Not all projects or clients are equal. Some pay well and respect your expertise; others haggle over rates and request endless revisions.

💡 Look at your last 6–12 months of income. What type of writing brings in the most money? Which clients are easiest to work with? Prioritize similar projects and clients moving forward.

2. Cut Out Low-Value Work

If you’re spending hours on tasks that don’t contribute to your bottom line, it’s time to reassess.

🚨 Common time-wasters:
❌ Underpriced projects that drain your energy
❌ Low-budget job boards filled with cheap clients
❌ Unpaid “test articles” with no guaranteed work
❌ Spending too much time perfecting low-paying pieces

Instead, focus on tasks that bring in consistent, well-paid work, like direct client outreach, referrals, and premium content creation.

Stop wasting time on work that doesn’t pay enough. Want to streamline your workload and increase your earnings? Let’s go deeper.

🔒 Full subscribers, here’s how to take action: