Can single parents make a living working online freelance writing & blogging

I don’t know how many single parents read this blog, but I tend to blog what I know, so this week, we’re going to look at something I know a lot about, making a living freelancing as a single parent.

You can look online and find hundreds of articles about how to make a million freelance writing, but in reality, I think the outlook is bleaker than people say. From most of the many writers and bloggers I talk to (not just single parents) money is short or just about on target vs. overflowing. If you’re a single parent the odds are way harder for you to make it as a successful freelance online writer or blogger.

As a single parent you’ve got:

• Kids, dinner, chores, etc., but all on your own vs. split in some nice way.
• A limited availability of long hours.
• No partner’s health insurance plan.
• No partner’s help should something fall through.
• Limited ability to take on a PT job doing something else should you have a bad writing income month.
• No back up.
• Limited ability to attend press events you’re invited to and you can’t just pop off to interview a good source at any old time.
• Lots of stress.
• Did I mention LOTS of stress?

Any writer can have the above issues sure. However, the writers I personally know who tend to make bank can work around the clock to make it happen. Many of them have insurance through their partners, and help and support for their goals. Or they’re single and have the ability to work day jobs and cultivate their writing career at night. Got kids? You can’t work around the clock unless you ignore said kids. As a single parent you’re on your own, and it’s tough. To make it as a freelance writer, who actually makes money (decent money) you have to give a lot, maybe 90-100% before you’re established enough to cut back, and single parents just plain don’t have that to give.

So is it all this bad if you’re a single parent? OR can you actually make decent money, reach your goals, and limit stress (at least some) while freelance writing?

Maybe. Maybe not. Many writers who aren’t single parents can’t cut it. My first thought would be to do something else. Something with normal hours and benefits. But I didn’t do that, so I’m not really one to lecture. If you still want to make it as a single parent and a freelance online writer and blogger stay tuned because I’ve got some tips coming up this week.

Are you a single parent and also a freelancer or a single parent thinking about freelancing? Let me know in the comments.