Recently, I lost my final freelancing client to generative AI slop. Well, it was actually a long time coming. I had a feeling the company was going to shift in this direction back in 2023. Slowly but surely, my job was diminished for a myriad of “cost” reasons. And all of this got me thinking, maybe I’m done with freelancing.
Most of my experience centers around copywriting and blogging for business clients. And a lot of businesses nowadays are more focused on the cheap, quick, and easy, despite the content looking like unemotional garbage or using outdated information that is clearly incorrect.
Then, you can see the damage AI Overviews has made to business websites. More than half of searchers looking on Google for answers don’t visit the sites where the information is pulled. No visitors means no sales funnels, upsells, or even ad revenue.
Anyway, I’ve been made obsolete, save for the few businesses and schools that are very anti-AI in general. But there are too many freelancers like me on the market, and the jobs are getting sparse.
It’s an oversaturation of skilled professionals for not enough open jobs.
Why I Don’t Jump On the AI Bandwagon
I’ve spent the better part of 20 years honing my skills and learning all I can about AP Style English, SEO, and various topics. I love writing about everything from animals to travel. Why would I want to toss aside all of that progression? I know some AI bros don’t care about self-improvement, but I do.
I love being a writer. I’ve created everything from tech manuals for network equipment to a dark western set in 1874 Atlantic City. It’s a passion that is therapeutic, and I am happiest at my keyboard writing about virtually anything. Why the hell would I let a bot take away from the very thing I love doing?
Why are people so intent on using AI to replace the very things most people love? Bots were supposed to take the mundane tasks off our shoulders so we could enjoy our passions, not turn us into complacent, lazy asses who think we’re artists because we described something in a prompt.
Learn a freakin’ skill.
Now, there are some aspects of AI that I don’t mind using, such as data analysis and number crunching. I don’t see a problem with assistive AI products to an extent. It’s when content is taken from actual skilled creators that it devalues the human experience.
Instead of learning and growing as a person, too many people are content to type in a prompt to make them feel better about themselves. And then they call us “gatekeepers.” That’s probably the dumbest argument I’ve ever heard, to be honest. I’m not stopping you from growing as a person, but you’re certainly OK with giving away your sense of humanity for the sake of thinking you’re a creator.
You didn’t make shit…the AI did. You’re just the sap typing in prompts to have the machine create something for you. That’s like calling yourself a cook when you customize a pizza from the Domino’s website.
What’s the Plan, Man?
It’s been a long time since I didn’t have work lined up. I’ve been writing full-time since 2013, and before that, I was a network technician for the school district. Before that, I ran my own computer repair shop and eBay store.
It’s a different world today, and the things I used to do are no longer valid. It kind of sucks when you can’t follow your passion and have to figure out what to do next. I’m getting older, and learning something from scratch is less than ideal. Not because I don’t want to learn, but because I have to settle for pay that is far lower than what I used to make.
That’s the way the world works, unfortunately. It’s not the first time I’ve gone from making decent money to far less than poverty wages. This time, though, I’m in a far better headspace.
So, now that I’m somewhat unemployed, what’s the plan moving forward?
Looking for New Opportunities
What do I want to be when I grow up? I’ll have to give it some thought, really. I’ve been writing professionally for 14 years and never had to think about what I can do outside of that. But I am always open-minded to various opportunities.
Believe it or not, I was a pretty good cook back in the day. And as odd as it may sound to those who know me, I kind of miss being out in public. Maybe I should buy one of those food trucks and set it up for pasta and Italian dishes (my specialty).
I suppose what I miss most is owning my own business. In 2008, I took $67 and turned it into a six-figure income with the Iliff Computer Center. While I doubt I can do the same thing today, mostly because of technological advancements, I do miss running the show.
Hell, I had a great time running the liquor store in Iliff. Well, kind of. I still had a lot of…stressful…things to deal with. But I enjoyed the actual management process of it all.
In any case, I am open to trying new things and getting a paycheck. I am a 4.0 undergraduate student, and I want to make sure I can still manage college and pay the bills.
Doubling Down On My Own Content
While looking for a regular job, I’m going to double down on my own content. It’s been a long time coming, as I often spent more time worrying about clients and such, as opposed to my own platforms. It was quite stupid, now that I look back on the last decade and a half.
If I had taken myself as seriously as I did my professional writing career, there’s a good chance I wouldn’t be stressed out about money at the moment. Let this be a lesson to you: always bet on yourself before clients.
It’s a very late start, but I think I can pull in a few bucks from the blogs and YouTube channels. I’ve already made a little bit through affiliate marketing, and I could probably bring in more if I put in the same effort I had when building one of my clients’ websites.
We went from 20,000 visits per month to nearly 1 million in less than a year. If only I had those kinds of numbers.
Of course, things are different nowadays thanks to AI and AI Overviews. However, I am still relatively confident that I can bring in enough to pay a bill or two each month. This is especially true since I’ve started seriously considering creating courses, which my YouTube audience is still asking for today.
Exploring Anthropology Further
This last term in school made me realize just how much I enjoy anthropology and archaeology in general. So, I’ve decided to get a bachelor’s in anthropology after I finish one for Creative Writing.
Let’s see AI dig a damn hole in the desert!
Yes, I am aware that this means I’ll be in school for the rest of my life, considering that I also want a PhD in both. But that’s OK, as long as I can keep affording to do so. I am an academic, and I love learning.
While I am working towards my degrees, I’ve decided to start a new blog regarding anthropology. I’m going to maintain it the same way I did with WriterSanctuary in the beginning: a log of everything I learn to help others follow the same path.
I doubt I’ll create a YouTube channel for anthropology, though. I have so much I would love to build right now that a new YouTube channel might be impossible at the moment.
Need to Market My Books Better
I don’t sell a lot of copies of my books because I suck when it comes to marketing. No one will buy the book if they don’t know it exists. And I keep scheduling marketing time throughout the week, but never see it through.
In fact, I haven’t attended or looked up book events in Denver at all. Last year, I sold more books through in-person events than online, which is to say less than 10.
Part of why I haven’t bothered to attend events is that everything has been so chaotic lately. I’m not just talking about losing clients and my house, either. A lot of health issues have been addressed, and it just feels like the world is on fire in general.
Anyway, I really need to start marketing the books. I know I won’t instantly become a best-selling author, but maybe I can earn a few bucks each month to pay yet another bill. Hell, at this rate, I’d be tickled to make enough money each month to buy some coffee.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the cash at the moment to invest in ads. So, I’ll have to see what I can do for free. But the way social media sites are designed, the over-proliferation of AI, and so many things up in the air at the moment, it’s going to be an uphill battle, I’m afraid.
Still Open to Writing for Clients
I’m not completely retiring from freelancing. I will still entertain offers from clients who don’t want stolen AI content. I’m just not going to go out of my way to email or market myself to companies as a writer.
If I see something posted on sites like Indeed or Handshake about writing, I’ll apply. But I’m not going to bend over backwards to find clients who don’t want to pay people a livable wage.
I’ve applied to a few jobs that were looking for content creators, including experience with video production. So, they’re out there. I’m just not going to be too focused on freelance writing. At this point, I would rather flip burgers – until an AI robot takes that job as well.
Still a Home Healthcare Provider
I do have a bit of money coming in as a home healthcare provider for my wife. She has a slew of comorbid conditions and needs a lot of assistance. It pays a few things here and there, so at least we’re not completely drowning in debt.
But the water is getting pretty damn deep.
Welcome to ‘murica, where we pay people less-than-poverty wages to keep other people alive and well. Where we would rather dump money into services and data centers that are literally harming local populations so someone can pretend to be an author using AI.
Where we mark up life-saving medications by thousands of percent because people will either pay for it or die.
Yep, it’s a nice little corner of hell we’ve carved out for ourselves, isn’t it?
On to the Next
It was a great era, to be sure. I’ve met some great people, worked with some amazing clients, and had a lot of good times. I don’t know how the next few months will unfold, let alone the rest of my life. But I can say one thing for sure: I’ll still be a writer and content creator regardless of what happens.
Yes, it’s a bit sad when your life gets dismantled so quickly. But that doesn’t mean change isn’t a bad thing. Who knows? I could become a world-renowned archaeologist in 10 years. Or even a best-selling novelist. There are still plenty of opportunities where human skill is prominent.
The trick is not to dwell on the negative and look for the positive in shifting career paths. Do the best you can with what you have available.