Can You Still Make Money Writing in the Age of AI?

Yesterday a longtime client emailed and asked if I would edit a blog post they generated with ChatGPT. It was fine as a rough draft, but not in their brand voice. It’s becoming a more common request. A few months ago, clients were still a little sheepish about asking. Now, most of the briefs I receive have the hallmarks of AI writing (if they don’t outright say “we made this with ChatGPT”). It’s fair to ask: Can you still make money as a freelance writer in the AI era?

The answer is yes. But it might not look the way it used to.

AI is changing everything—including how we write. From clients creating their own AI-generated content to using AI-powered editing tools on our own work, the landscape looks very different than it did even a year ago. Let’s break down what’s actually changing in the freelance writing world, which jobs are still thriving, and how to use AI to your advantage.

What’s Actually Changing for Writers in the AI Era

First, let’s be honest: entry-level writing jobs that rely on basic summaries, how-tos, or SEO filler content are being replaced by AI. It’s faster, cheaper, and—let’s face it—it’s already good enough for clients who just want to churn out posts.

That doesn’t mean human writers are obsolete. It means the bar has been raised.

AI struggles with nuance. It can’t capture voice, emotion, or brand personality without human guidance. It can’t tell a client’s story, build trust, or craft a compelling narrative from a messy Zoom call. Those things still require you, the beautiful human writer.

Writing Jobs That Still Pay (and Are Growing)

If you’ve been around a minute, you know not all writing jobs are created equal. The highest-paying freelance opportunities are the ones that go beyond basic content.

Here are some of the writing niches where skilled writers are still in high demand:

• B2B content marketing: Businesses consistently need white papers, case studies, and product explainers that feel human, not robotic.
• Brand storytelling: Personality-driven content stands out in a sea of AI sameness.
• Email sequences: Writing emails that convert requires empathy, rhythm, and strategic thinking. Bonus points if you understand consumer behavior and lead generation.
• SEO strategy-based blogs: Clients still need high-ranking blog posts—ones written with clarity, intent, and original perspective.
• Ghostwriting and thought leadership: Executives want their ideas turned into articles, books, and scripts. AI can’t interview them and shape their voice the way you can. (And many are too busy to train a system to sound like them.)
• Course and product copy: Launch funnels, sales pages, and onboarding materials are still very human-driven. You don’t need to teach a course yourself. You can provide the valuable service of writing guides and course content for others.

How Freelance Writers Are Using AI to Increase Income

I know, I know … a lot of people are big mad about AI. And there are many reasons to investigate and question ethical considerations when it comes to intellectual property and fairness regarding creative rights. I hear that frustration. But if you’re resisting AI completely, you might be working harder than you need to.

AI tools can help you save time and boost productivity in your writing business—without compromising quality. Here’s how:

• Faster first drafts: Start with a rough AI outline, then layer in your voice and research.
• Brainstorming: Get unstuck with AI-generated headline ideas or copy angles. One of my favorite prompts is: Challenge my thinking on this. What angles have I not explored yet?
• Editing and rewriting: Tools like Grammarly, Hemingway, and ChatGPT can help polish your final product.
• Content repurposing: Turn your blog posts into newsletters, LinkedIn posts, or YouTube scripts in minutes. It’s the ultimate COPE (create once, publish everywhere).

You don’t have to write faster. And you don’t have to rely on AI like a crutch. But you do need to learn how to use these tools.

3 Skills That Set You Apart (With or Without AI)

Let’s talk about what AI can’t do, and where you’ll probably always have the upper hand. Focus on building these core strengths to help future-proof your writing career:

1. Understand audience psychology
   Know what makes people click, trust, and take action. Large language models can predict words, not human behaviors.
2. Master structure and clarity
   Whether it’s AIDA, PAS, or any strategic blog format, clear structure still wins. You need to know whether AI-generated content is garbage or worth editing.
3. Adapt tone and voice across industries
   Being able to shift from playful to polished makes you flexible—and indispensable. Most organizations don’t have time to build a custom AI that matches their brand tone and voice. Your ability to fill that void is invaluable.

Can You Still Make Money Writing? Yes—If You Pivot

Don’t you love the word pivot? We’re all in the middle of The Great Pivot, imo. Freelance writers who are thriving in the age of AI are doing a few things differently:

• Letting go of low-pay churn-and-burn gigs
• Leaning into high-trust, high-skill niches
• Using AI tools for efficiency and brainstorming—not shortcuts
• Investing in their personal voice, systems, and client results

Understand your clients are going to be using AI, but they often don’t know how to get the results they want. Learn to be a trusted communications advisor. Even when they’re paying for enterprise AI software—they’ll still need your help finessing the output.

There’s never been a better time to be a strategic, thoughtful writer.

Clients need clear communication. They need brand stories. They need you—especially when you bring clarity, personality, and purpose to the page.

Taking it back to my client with the editing request—I love this shift. It feels more collaborative. I can fine-tune their drafts faster than writing from scratch, and it helps me understand their thought process and what they’re trying to accomplish. It also seems to help them understand the value of a professional writer shaping the tone of their content.

So, can you still make money writing in the age of AI? Absolutely. If you’re ready to ride the wave, the opportunities are out there—and growing.

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