How to build a freelance writing business in 5 hours a week

The anti-hustle promise

Have you ever heard the phrase, “We all have the same 24 hours in a day?”

I usually hear it from people who are definitely not living my life.

I take care of our home, our kids (and yes, the husband), work part-time, help aging parents, and in the cracks of the day try to conquer a mountain of laundry that somehow never gets smaller. It’s impressive, honestly.

So, when I read freelance advice that casually assumes I have endless time, boundless energy, and the ability to work uninterrupted for six hours straight, I have questions. Mostly: who is this advice for?

Because it’s not for me. And maybe not for you either.

If your time and energy are finite and very valuable, but you still want to pursue freelancing, I want you to hear this clearly. It is possible.

The thing you have to remember is simple, but powerful. Consistency beats intensity every single time.

If you can devote five focused hours a week to the right things, you can build a real, sustainable freelance writing business. Let me show you how.

First, let’s redefine what “building a business” actually means

Confession time. Please do not tell my husband I admitted this.

I’m very good at staying busy with work that feels productive but doesn’t actually move the needle.

Especially the fun stuff. Design tweaks. Rearranging my logo. Playing with fonts like this is my full-time job.

When you only have five hours a week, you cannot afford to spend them there.

Here is what does not count as business building:

• Perfecting your website

• Endless logo or brand tweaking

• Consuming advice instead of acting on it

  
  

And here is what actually moves the needle:

• Visibility

• Relationships

• Writing. Writing. And more writing.

Will five hours a week make you viral or the go-to writer in your niche overnight? Probably not. But it will get you visible, experienced, and trusted. And those three things compound faster than you think.

The 5-hour weekly framework

The secret to making this work is attaching it to a routine you already have. That is what turns this from “one more thing” into a habit.

Maybe it’s during your morning coffee. Maybe it’s after dinner while the kids are doing homework.

Maybe it’s once everyone is finally asleep and the house is quiet.

This isn’t about exact hours. It’s about intention.

Here’s how to use your five hours.

Hours 1 and 2: Do one thing that makes you visible

Visibility is everything. It’s how clients find you and how they decide whether or not they trust you.

Pick one platform. Just one. LinkedIn, a blog, a newsletter, whatever makes the most sense for you.

Then show up there consistently.

That might look like:

• Sharing a short lesson from a client project

• Posting an insight about writing or strategy

• Publishing a blog or article regularly

You don’t need to be loud. You don’t need to be everywhere. You just need to be findable.

Consistency, again, here matters more than perfection.

Hour 3: Nurture relationships (not cold pitches)

Good news. You don’t have to cold pitch. And honestly, most of us are relieved about that.

Client relationships grow from being remembered, not from being pushy.

Use this hour to:

• Check in with a former client

• Comment thoughtfully on a peer’s post or article

• Reply to DMs or emails you’ve put off

These small touches position you as thoughtful and professional. Those are the people who get referrals. Not the ones sliding into inboxes with “just circling back” energy.

Hour 4: Strengthen the business backbone

Yes, admin matters. No, it doesn’t have to take over your life.

Pick one or two small tasks you can complete in an hour:

• Update portfolio samples

• Clean up your inbox

• Schedule your work on a calendar

• Send an offer or invoice

• Improve an onboarding email

You’re not trying to fix everything. You are trying to finish something. Crossing things off builds confidence, and confidence makes everything else easier.

Hour 5: Learn, reflect, or write

This is your flexible hour.

Maybe you use it to learn a new skill or read industry work. Maybe you use it to finish something you didn’t get to earlier in the week. Maybe you use it to create something new that boosts your visibility.

And when the hour is over, you’re done.

Close the laptop. Walk away.

Burnout kills consistency, and consistency is the entire point.

Small hours, real momentum

Let’s bring this back to the beginning.

You don’t need unlimited time to build a legitimate freelance writing business. You need focus, intention, and a plan that fits your actual life.

Try this five-hour framework for one month. Not someday. This week.

And if you want help getting started, or want tools that make this whole thing easier and less overwhelming, check out the Pajama Writer. Find all the resources for writers who are juggling real lives and still want to build something meaningful. You don’t have to do this alone. You can do it in pajamas. Preferably with coffee.