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Published: 05 March 2024

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This month has been a ride—and not a good one. While the calendar says it’s only the 5th, for me, March started back on February 22. That’s when I finished up all my work for the month and was ready to slam through the audio for Little Bitey 21. I was on a roll—three chapters in—and then, boom. I realized a payment I was counting on didn’t go through.

This wasn’t a bill I forgot to pay. It was income I was owed—and I needed it for rent. By February 23, I was glued to freelancing job boards, hitting refresh like a madwoman. But the work was light. February is always slow for freelance jobs, especially in the final week. That’s where this story starts and why Little Bitey 21’s audio is running late.

If You’re Not Diversified, It’s Time to Change That

This post is part rant, part reality check. If you're a freelancer, author, or indie creator, diversification isn't optional anymore—it's survival.

I write books. I freelance. I crochet and make jewelry. Because here’s the hard truth: the authoring industry is fragile, and freelancing isn’t the cash cow the gurus make it out to be. Only the top 1% of the top 1% are making six figures writing or freelancing. You and I? We’re not in that tier. And that’s okay—if you’re diversified.

Diversifying income streams means doing more than one thing, consistently. Deliver for a gig app. Take a part-time retail job. Sell handmade crafts. Offer digital downloads. Work your day job. Do it all, and then do more if you can.

The Freelance Economy Isn’t What It Used to Be

The freelance writing market in 2025 is tough. Freelance jobs are inconsistent, and even regular clients are paying late. February was brutal—short month, low volume, and delayed payments. Two clients who normally pay like clockwork were late. That’s almost unheard of in my decade-long freelancing career.

The result? Rent due on the 5th instead of the 8th, with almost no notice. Illegal? Probably. But here we are. I had the money owed to me—triple the rent amount—but none of it hit my account in time. That’s the kind of squeeze that can break a household.

The Rental Market Is Predatory—Yes, Even in Trailer Parks

Let me paint you a picture. My mobile home park was sold on December 28. No one told us until early January. On February 28, I was handed a 27-page lease—dated that very day—but retroactively starting January 1. Yep, I was supposedly bound to a lease I’d never seen, for property I didn’t even know had changed hands.

People trying to pay January rent early in December? Screwed. Their payments weren’t honored, and they were told they owed again. I dodged it by sheer luck, but the chaos has continued ever since.

The housing market is a mess, and corporate investors are eating up affordable housing—trailer parks included. That means unstable rental terms, surprise lease agreements, and zero communication.

Get Diversified or Get Left Behind

I’ll say it again: Get diversified. I make jewelry. I crochet. I write articles. I narrate my own audiobooks. I’m still not diversified enough.

This past week, I walked to a few retail stores just to ask if they were hiring. They’re not. The market is tight. And if you’re only working one job right now, it might be time to consider a second—or third. Don’t rely on a single client, gig platform, or creative outlet.

Even people with multiple income streams are feeling the pinch. That’s not fear-mongering. That’s what happens in a faltering economy where freelancers and creatives get paid last—if at all.

Ideas for Diversifying Income in 2025

Here are a few realistic ways to diversify your income as a creative or freelancer:

• Offer services on Fiverr or Upwork: Think editing, voiceovers, resume help, or niche consulting.
• Sell digital products: Create and sell printables, eBooks, or templates on Etsy or Gumroad.
• Start a Substack or Patreon: If you write regularly, build a subscriber base and offer bonus content.
• Join delivery or gig apps: Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, Rover—something flexible and immediate.
• Teach or tutor online: Use platforms like Preply or Outschool.
• Flip or resell goods: Source from thrift stores or Facebook Marketplace and resell on eBay or Mercari.
• Create handmade goods: Jewelry, art, crafts, bath products—whatever your skillset is, there’s a market for it.

Final Thoughts: This Is Why Little Bitey 21 Audio Is Late

It’s not laziness. It’s not poor planning. It’s life in a shaky economy where independent creators and freelancers carry all the risk. When clients delay payments, rent gets missed. When rental companies backdate leases, tenants suffer. And when people say, “just work harder,” they’re missing the point.

I don’t have a rich spouse funding this dream. I’m doing it myself—and so are you. So stay creative, stay scrappy, and stay diversified.

Your survival—and your art—may depend on it.