Starting a freelance writing business offers the holy grail for single parents: the ability to earn a living without sacrificing precious moments with your children. Unlike a traditional 9-to-5 that demands your presence in a specific chair at a specific time, freelancing allows you to build your work around your life, rather than squeezing your life around your work.
However, the path isn’t without its hurdles; it requires discipline, creativity, and a relentless guard over your time. You don’t need an expensive degree or a fancy home office to get started. With a laptop, a reliable internet connection, and a strategic approach to time management, you can build a sustainable income stream that grows alongside your family.
Carve Out Your “Hidden” Work Hours
As a single parent, you likely don’t have large, uninterrupted blocks of time. Instead of waiting for a perfect eight-hour window, you must learn to work in the margins of your day. This might mean waking up an hour before the kids, utilizing nap times, or working for two hours after they go to bed. These “sprints” of focused work can be surprisingly productive if you know exactly what you need to do before you sit down.
To make this work, ruthlessly prioritize your tasks. When you only have 45 minutes, you shouldn’t waste 20 of them scrolling through social media or checking emails. precise planning is your best friend; use tools like Trello or a simple notebook to list your top three tasks for the next work session. This ensures that the moment you have quiet time, you can immediately dive into deep work.
Build a “Good Enough” Portfolio Quickly
You do not need paid client work to start a portfolio. Many aspiring writers get stuck in the “chicken and egg” phase, believing they can’t get hired without experience. The truth is, clients just want to see that you can write. Create your own samples based on the niche you want to enter. If you want to write about parenting, draft three articles on toddler nutrition or sleep training; if you want to write for tech, review a new app.
Host these samples on a free platform like Medium, LinkedIn, or a simple Google Drive folder. You don’t need to spend weeks building a complex website right away. The goal is to have a shareable link that proves your competence. Once you have 3-5 solid pieces, you are ready to start pitching. Perfection is the enemy of progress here; get your samples done so you can start finding paying work.
Master the Art of Remote Client Hunting
Since you likely can’t attend evening networking mixers or travel for conferences, your client acquisition strategy must be digital-first. LinkedIn is your most powerful tool for this. Optimize your profile to clearly state what you do (e.g., “Freelance Writer for SaaS Companies”) rather than a generic title like “Aspiring Writer.” Connect with marketing managers and editors in your chosen industry and engage with their content meaningfully.
In addition to LinkedIn, use job boards specifically designed for remote work, such as ProBlogger, Upwork, or specialized newsletters. When applying, focus on value, not your personal situation. Clients don’t need to know you are a single parent; they just need to know you will hit deadlines. Frame your pitch around how you can solve their content problems and save them time, which makes hiring you an easy decision.
Set Strict Boundaries from Day One
One of the biggest traps for freelance single parents is the expectation of 24/7 availability. Because you work from home, clients (and family members) may assume you are always free. You must train your clients on how to treat you. Clearly state your “office hours” or response times in your contracts. For example, let them know you respond to emails between 9 AM and 2 PM, or that you require 24 hours to turn around edits.
Protecting your mental health is just as important as protecting your work time. When you are with your children, be fully present and step away from the screens. If you allow work stress to bleed into family time, you lose the primary benefit of this career path. burning out helps no one, so treat your rest and family time with the same seriousness as a client deadline.
