Introduction: A Newborn, Sleepless Nights & a Desperate Search for Income
I still remember those nights—rocking my baby in one arm while mindlessly scrolling through my phone with the other. It was 2 AM, and I was exhausted beyond words. My baby needed me constantly, and the idea of returning to a traditional job felt impossible. But deep down, there was this nagging feeling: I wanted to contribute financially. Not just for extra income, but for myself—to feel capable, independent, and like more than just a sleep-deprived new mom.
I had no idea where to start. I wasn’t a journalist, I had never written professionally, and I didn’t even know if people made real money from writing. But one thing I did have? A willingness to try. So, between midnight feedings and diaper changes, I started my journey into freelancing—clueless, overwhelmed, and determined to make it work.
This is my story—how I went from a mom searching “how to make money from home” at 2 AM to building a thriving freelance writing career. If you’re a parent feeling stuck, I hope this helps you take that first step. Because if I could do it in my sleep-deprived state, so can you.
Chapter 1: The Moment I Knew I Needed to Earn
It wasn’t about wanting luxury. I wasn’t dreaming of designer bags or expensive vacations. I just wanted to buy little things without hesitation—a new outfit for my baby, a surprise gift for my husband, or even a decent cup of coffee without mentally calculating our budget.
Before becoming a mom, I never thought much about financial independence. My husband was supportive, and we managed fine on one income. But after a few months of being home with a newborn, a sinking realization hit me: I had no financial control.
I remember one specific evening. We were out grocery shopping, and I saw a baby book I really wanted. It wasn’t expensive, but I hesitated. Should I ask my husband? Should I just put it in the cart? Would it be selfish when there were so many more “important” expenses? The thought bothered me all night. It wasn’t about the money—it was about the freedom to make that decision without guilt.
That night, after putting my baby to sleep, I opened Google and typed: “How to make money from home as a stay-at-home mom.”
Most of the results were unrealistic—surveys, MLM schemes, things that felt scammy. But then I saw something interesting: freelance writing.
I wasn’t a writer. At least, not professionally. But I loved words. I had always been good at expressing myself, and suddenly, I had an idea—what if I could actually get paid to write?
I had no clue how, but I was about to find out.
Chapter 2: My First (Messy) Steps into Freelance Writing
Starting felt like standing at the edge of a cliff, unsure if I’d fall or fly. I had no experience, no portfolio, and no idea where to begin. But I had something stronger—a determination fueled by late-night desperation.
Googling My Way Into Writing
After my baby fell asleep one night, I sat on my bed and searched:
“How to become a freelance writer with no experience.”
I read blog after blog, watched YouTube videos, and scribbled notes in a half-used baby journal. The advice was overwhelming, but a few things stood out:
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Create writing samples. Clients needed proof that I could write.
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Choose a niche. Parenting? Lifestyle? Anything I could write about?
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Find a platform. Upwork, Fiverr, or cold pitching? I had no clue what would work.
Writing My First Awful Samples
I started writing sample articles at 2 AM while my baby slept beside me. I had no idea what I was doing, so I copied the structure of blogs I liked. My first piece? “5 Things No One Tells You About the Newborn Phase.” Looking back, it was terrible—rambling, unstructured, and full of clichés. But I hit “publish” on a free blog site anyway.
Then, I wrote another one. And another.
Landing My First Unpaid Gig (And Why It Mattered)
A few nights later, I saw a post in a Facebook group:
“Looking for guest bloggers! No pay, but great exposure.”
I hesitated. No pay? Was it even worth it? But something inside me whispered, “Just start.” So, I applied, and they accepted my piece. Seeing my name on a website—even a small one—gave me an unexpected confidence boost.
It wasn’t money, but it was proof. Proof that I could do this.
Now, I just needed someone willing to actually pay me.
Chapter 3: The Reality of Writing with a Baby
I had read countless success stories about freelancers making thousands of dollars from home. But what none of them mentioned was how hard it is to do it with a baby attached to you 24/7.
Writing with One Hand (Literally)
In those early days, I wrote most of my articles while holding my baby in one arm. Sometimes, I balanced my laptop on my lap, rocking the stroller with my foot while typing with one hand. Other times, I’d set my baby down, only for him to wake up the second I started getting into the flow of writing.
My work hours weren’t hours at all. They were 10-minute bursts during naps, a quiet moment after feeding, or late nights when the world was asleep.
The Guilt of “Working” as a Mom
No one had warned me about the mom guilt. Every time I sat down to write, I felt like I was taking time away from my baby. Shouldn’t I just enjoy these precious months? Was I being selfish for wanting something of my own?
But then, I’d remind myself—I wasn’t doing this just for me. I wanted to contribute financially. I wanted my child to see that his mother could pursue her dreams while being present for him.
Nap-Time Hustle: My Writing Routine
To make things work, I developed a strategy:
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Nap time = writing time. No scrolling, no distractions—just writing.
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Late nights = client outreach. I sent pitches while the house was silent.
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Batching tasks. I wrote multiple articles in one sitting when I had a longer stretch of time.
Some days, it felt impossible. Some days, I wanted to quit. But then, I got an email that changed everything—my first paid gig.
Chapter 4: My First Paid Gig – And the Confidence Boost I Needed
I still remember the moment I saw the email. I had just rocked my baby to sleep, and as I quietly picked up my phone, there it was—a reply to one of my cold pitches.
“We’d love to have you write for us. Our budget is $20 per article. Let me know if you’re interested!”
Twenty dollars. It wasn’t life-changing money, but to me, it felt like winning the lottery. Someone was willing to pay me to write.
How I Landed My First Paying Client
I had sent out dozens of pitches before this. Most were ignored. Some got polite rejections. But one thing I had learned from my midnight research was this: clients don’t care about your experience—they care about what you can do for them.
So, instead of saying, “I’m a new writer,” I wrote:
“I’d love to write an engaging article for your website. Here’s a sample of my work [link]. Let me know if you’d like to discuss further!”
I didn’t over-explain. I didn’t apologize for being new. I just showed them what I could do.
Writing That $20 Article Like It Was Worth $200
I worked on that article during naps, late at night, and in between diaper changes. I proofread it 10 times before sending it in. A few days later, they responded:
“Great work! We’d love to order another one.”
That was it. The moment I realized I could actually do this.
Why That Small Win Meant Everything
It wasn’t just about the money. It was about what that $20 represented:
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Proof that my work had value.
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Confidence to pitch more clients.
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Hope that I could turn this into something bigger.
That first gig set everything in motion. And I was just getting started.
Chapter 5: Scaling Up – From Side Hustle to Real Income
Earning $20 for an article felt amazing at first. But soon, I realized a hard truth—writing one article at a time for low pay wasn’t sustainable.
If I wanted to turn this into a real income, I needed a strategy.
Raising My Rates Without Feeling Guilty
At first, I was terrified to charge more. What if clients rejected me? What if I wasn’t “good enough” to ask for higher rates? But I reminded myself: I was running a business, not a charity.
So, after a few successful projects, I made a bold decision—I doubled my rate. The next time a client asked for a quote, instead of saying $20, I said $40.
And guess what? They said yes.
Finding Better Clients (and Saying No to Bad Ones)
Not all clients are worth working with. Some want cheap work, endless revisions, and unrealistic deadlines. At first, I said yes to everything out of fear. But soon, I realized that saying no to low-paying work opened space for better opportunities.
I focused on:
✅ Clients who valued quality over cheap rates.
✅ Websites and businesses that paid fairly.
✅ Long-term contracts instead of one-off jobs.
Expanding Beyond One Platform
Instead of relying on a single site, I started looking for work in
Chapter 6: The Challenges & Burnout Moments
Freelancing with a baby wasn’t just about earning money—it was about survival some days. The late nights, the constant juggle, and the feeling that I was always one missed deadline away from losing a client started to take a toll.
The Late-Night Burnout
There were nights when my baby wouldn’t sleep, and I had a deadline looming. I’d be rocking him at 3 AM, mentally writing the article in my head, knowing I had to sit at my laptop the moment he finally dozed off.
Some nights, I’d break down in tears—exhausted, overwhelmed, and questioning why I was even doing this.
The Moments I Almost Quit
There were days when I felt like I was failing at everything.
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My house was a mess.
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I barely had time for myself.
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Some clients disappeared without paying.
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I felt guilty when my baby needed me, but I had work to do.
I wondered if it was even worth it. Maybe I should just give up and try again when my child was older.
What Kept Me Going
But then, something small would happen—a new client would accept my pitch, a payment would hit my account, or I’d get positive feedback on my work. Those little wins reminded me: I was building something for myself.
I also set new rules for myself:
✅ No working during baby’s playtime – I didn’t want to miss those moments.
✅ Realistic deadlines – No more saying yes to everything.
✅ Charging what I was worth – Because I wasn’t working this hard for peanuts.
Freelancing wasn’t easy, but neither was motherhood. And if I could handle both? I knew I could handle anything.
Conclusion: Where I Am Now & Advice for New Moms
Looking back, I’m amazed at how far I’ve come. What started as a desperate Google search at 2 AM has turned into a real career—one that gives me the freedom to work from home, be present for my child, and contribute financially.
It wasn’t easy. I had no formal writing experience, no mentor, and no clear roadmap. I built this career in
piece by piece—during nap times, in the middle of the night, and between diaper changes.
But here’s what I’ve learned: you don’t need the perfect setup to start. You don’t need years of experience, a fancy home office, or uninterrupted work hours. What you do need is persistence, patience, and the courage to take that first step.
If You’re a Mom Thinking About Freelancing, Here’s My Advice:
✅ Start messy. Your first few projects won’t be perfect, and that’s okay.
✅ Use the time you have. Even if it’s just 30 minutes a day, it adds up.
✅ Charge what you’re worth. Don’t settle for pennies—your time is valuable.
✅ Don’t let mom guilt stop you. You can be a great mom and chase your dreams.
Freelancing gave me more than just an income—it gave me confidence, purpose, and the ability to shape my own future.
So if you’re sitting there, exhausted but hopeful, wondering if you can do this too—you can. Start small, stay consistent, and one day, you’ll look back and realize you built something incredible.
