How Freelance Writers Must Adapt To Survive The AI Writing Apocalypse

For a certain generation of writers, any mention of artificial intelligence (AI) in the context of writing brings to mind that scene in Her. You know the one: everyone is writing on their phones and/or computers, with AI-powered assistants doing all the heavy lifting for them.

It’s such a standard vision at this point that I wouldn’t blame you if you thought it was inevitable. Some people argue that we may have already reached a point where AI has surpassed its human creators in terms of literary prowess.

But that doesn’t mean humans are out of work in fact, far from it. Freelance writers still have plenty to offer clients and readers alike, as long as they’re willing to change with the times. So what can freelance writers do to adapt? Well, let’s explore!

ChatGPT AI Writing | What is a freelance writer to do?

Takeaways
Embrace AI as a complementary tool, not a replacement.
Develop expertise in niche areas to stand out from AI.
Cultivate creativity and storytelling to offer unique value.
Stay updated on AI advancements and adapt writing strategies.
Collaborate with AI to streamline research and productivity.

Table of Contents

Become The News

If you are a freelance writer, chances are that you write about other people. That is unless your specialty is writing about yourself (which I am sure there must be at least one person who does).

If this is the case and you want to adapt your skills to survive the AI Writing Apocalypse, then why not try becoming a news reporter? Or become an editor for one?

This way, when news articles start being created by artificial intelligence and not humans anymore, you can still have some job security and keep on earning income from it. The possibilities are endless: You can also become a producer, photographer, or videographer!

And if none of those jobs sound appealing enough for you or if they’re already taken then why not try writing yourself? Sure it’s more difficult than just doing copywriting for someone else but don’t underestimate yourself! If anyone can do it then so can we!

Freelancing is changing the digital workforce, and it’s essential for freelance writers to stay ahead of the curve. In this fast-evolving landscape, learning about how freelancing is changing the digital workforce can help freelance writers adapt and thrive.

Write The Stories No One Else Will

As a freelance writer, you must always be on the lookout for topics that are not covered by other writers. This can be challenging at first because it takes some research and analysis to determine whether or not such topics exist.

Do this by finding the most popular blogs in your niche and seeing if they cover any of these areas:

Topics that are difficult to find information about;

Topics that require experts who aren’t easy to find (i.e., they have their specialty); and/or

Controversial issues that may involve politics, religion, race, etc., often lead people down rabbit holes of arguing over small details instead of getting at the heart of things like why certain topics are controversial in the first place (which is what most readers want to know).

Offer Audience Development Services To Brands

What Is Audience Development?

Audience development services are a way for freelancers to offer their clients more than just writing, but an overall experience that keeps their customers engaged and loyal.

For example, if you’re a freelance writer specializing in content marketing, you might suggest working with brands to create an editorial calendar that helps them develop consistent content over time.

You could also offer to help them build out a strategy for increasing their following on social media or building relationships with influencers who can talk about their brand in a positive light.

How Do You Find Clients?

The best way to find clients is through referrals from people you know and trust and ideally those who have used your services before!

If someone hires you as a writer but has been impressed by your work ethic (or whatever else), they may be willing to put in a good word for you when it comes time for them to hire someone else. They may even get excited at the idea of sending business your way!

It all depends on how well they think things went during their last project together if they were happy with the result then there’s no reason why anyone else wouldn’t be too!

Freelancers are disrupting the world as we know it, and freelance writers must harness this power to succeed. Discover the impact of freelancers and their role in shaping the future of work by exploring Freelancers Are Disrupting the World as We Know It and how it relates to freelance writing.

Create Content That Doesn’t Yet Exist

Create content that doesn’t yet exist. As AI becomes more prevalent, the need for human writers will decrease. This means that you need to be creating content that doesn’t already exist to give yourself an edge over other freelancers.

Use AI to generate original ideas. You may be able to use artificial intelligence as a tool for brainstorming and idea generation if you want to write something new but don’t know where to start or what direction your writing should go in.

Create engaging and entertaining content for readers who are looking for something new and exciting instead of just informative articles about things they already know about that way.

When people find cool information on the Internet through Google searches or social media posts from their friends (like those annoying memes), they’ll come back again because they want more!

Build A Foundation In Data Science

Data science is a broad field that includes many different skills. It can take years to master all the various components of data science, but you don’t have to be a master of everything to benefit from it as a writer.

Even if you’re not interested in becoming a data scientist yourself, it’s still helpful for writers to understand some of the ways that these skills will improve their freelance business. Here are just some of the ways that data science can make your life as a freelancer easier:

Data scientists have developed algorithms that help them make predictions about events based on historical data this means they’re able to predict what will happen next with greater accuracy than humans could do alone (or at least humans who aren’t mathematicians).

These algorithms are useful because they allow websites and apps like Facebook or YouTube to suggest things for you based on what other people like (e.g., if I watch lots of videos about cooking or hiking gear then maybe those would be good suggestions for me).

This kind of personalization makes using social media more fun and less tedious!

Write Copy For AI-First Businesses

AI-first businesses need writers who can write copy that a machine can understand. They also need writers who know how to create content that is useful to the user.

AI-first businesses are looking for writers who have a technical understanding of what it takes to make AI work, as well as an understanding of how humans behave online and what they want from their digital experiences.

To prepare yourself for this new role, start by learning everything you can about machine learning and natural language processing (NLP). Read up on deep learning techniques like convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and recurrent neural networks (RNNs).

Learn about the different types of algorithms used in building these systems: classification problems versus regression problems;

Conditional random fields versus support vector machines; logistic regression versus linear discriminant analysis; k-means clustering versus hierarchical clustering.

Then practice writing copy using those same methods and be sure to check back with your client often so they can help you make sure your results are useful!

Freelance work is redefining the way we work, and freelance writers are at the forefront of this revolution. To understand the dynamics of this new era, delve into How Freelance Work Is Redefining the Way We Work and its implications for freelance writers.

Be A Subject Matter Expert In Your Niche Or Vertical

Being a subject matter expert in your niche or vertical is something you’ll have to work at, but it’s also the easiest way to make big bucks as a writer. You can become an authority by building up your portfolio, going to industry conferences, and establishing yourself as an expert in your field.

To do this, you must:

Read everything about your niche that you can find on the internet and in magazines (and even books).

Try to get familiar with what everyone else is writing about so that you know their angle and don’t accidentally copy off them when pitching ideas! This will also help prevent burnout if/when things slow down.

Push The Boundaries Of Short-Form Writing

Short-form writing is the future. If you haven’t already started writing short stories, blog posts, and tweets as part of your freelance career, it’s time to start.

The short-form content market is currently more lucrative than ever. Readers are increasingly drawn toward quick reads: they’re time-poor and want information that is easy to digest and shareable on social media.

Writing in this style will put you ahead of the curve when AI takes over the world of long-form journalism.

Writing for platforms like Twitter or Facebook can also help you build an audience for your longer pieces.

Social media users tend to follow writers whose work they enjoy, so if people come across something interesting in their feed then chances are they’ll keep tabs on what else you have to say down the track (and possibly link back to one of your longer articles).

Building a brand on social media also helps when pitching new projects: by having a large following already established.

This means that clients will be more likely to buy into any ideas or projects that involve working with someone who has built up an audience themselves through regular posting of original content online which brings me neatly to my next point…

Specialize In Translating Technical Jargon For The Layperson

You can also specialize in translating technical jargon for the layperson. While it may seem obvious, many people don’t realize just how important it is to have a writer who understands the subject matter and can explain complex ideas in simple terms.

If you’re an expert in one field, such as health or finance, and have been able to translate technical information into something more relatable for your readers, you’ll be able to build a loyal audience around this specialty.

Become An Expert In Multimedia Content Creation

Multimedia content is content that uses more than one medium to communicate information. It can include text, images, video, and audio (or a combination of these). This type of content can be used to convey information, explain a process, or tell a story.

As AI becomes smarter and more capable of producing high-quality writing on demand and therefore cheaper than ever before you’ll need to find ways to differentiate yourself from the competition and prove why you’re worth hiring over automated software.

One way to do this is by becoming an expert in creating multimedia content for your clients.

Diversify Your Skills By Becoming A Designer

While you may be a writer at heart, it’s important to keep in mind that design is a core skill for any content creator. It can help you stand out from the crowd and find new clients, help you build a portfolio, build your brand, or even pave the way to finding a new career.

It’s also worth noting here that if you have no previous experience in the design whatsoever (like me!), there’s no need to fret: You can learn how to use tools like Canva and Adobe Illustrator by taking free online courses on Skillshare (I recommend Designing Your Life:

Personal Branding For Freelancers) which will give you an introduction to what designers do every day all while building up valuable skills that will serve as an asset when applying for freelance jobs later on!

Freelancing can transform from just a job to a fulfilling career for freelance writers. Discover firsthand experiences and insights in What Freelance Life Is Like Now That I Have a Career Instead of Just a Job, exploring the exciting path of freelancers’ professional growth.

Freelance Writers Can Learn New Skills And Secure Their Position Within An Industry That Is Often Seen As Threatened By AI

The rise of AI has been seen as a threat to industries across the board, but freelance writing is no different. Freelance writers can learn new skills and secure their position within an industry that is often seen as threatened by AI.

The good news is that while machine learning has made significant progress over the last few years, it still has limitations. The bad news is that those limitations are likely to persist for some time:

Machine Learning Requires Training Data

Machine Learning Is Not Creative by Default

Becoming a freelance journalist requires dedication and skill, and aspiring writers can find valuable advice in How to Become a Freelance Journalist. Discover the steps to establish a successful career in journalism while navigating the freelance world.

Conclusion

Every writer has their own unique set of skills that they bring to the table, and with these skills, they can find a place in an increasingly AI-driven world.

So whether you’re looking to pivot your career or make it as a freelancer, there will always be room for talented writers in our brave new future.

FAQs

Can AI replace human writers entirely?

While AI writing has made significant progress, it is not likely to replace human writers entirely. AI-generated content may excel in certain areas, but human creativity, emotion, and unique perspectives still hold immense value in the writing industry.

How can freelance writers adapt to AI advancements?

Freelance writers can adapt to AI advancements by focusing on their distinct strengths, such as creative storytelling, critical thinking, and providing unique insights that AI cannot replicate. Additionally, staying updated on AI tools and using them to complement their writing can be beneficial.

Will AI writing affect academia and research publications?

AI writing can impact academia and research publications by automating certain tasks like summarizing papers or generating preliminary drafts. However, the core aspects of research, analysis, and peer review will continue to rely on human expertise.

What are the ethical concerns surrounding AI-generated content?

Ethical concerns with AI-generated content include issues of misinformation, bias, and potential copyright violations. Addressing these concerns requires developing robust guidelines and ensuring transparency in AI writing processes.

How can writers leverage AI technology to enhance their work?

Writers can leverage AI technology to streamline research, enhance productivity, and improve content quality. AI-powered tools like grammar checkers, content generators, and topic suggestions can be valuable aids for writers seeking to elevate their writing skills.

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.