Charging More Made Me a Better Ghostwriter (And Gave Me Back My Weekends)

I once wrote eight blog posts for $100—and no, that’s not a typo.

This was when I started working as a freelance writer, way before joining PGA. These weren’t BS articles, either. They were well researched, over 1200 words each, and drove tons of traffic to my client’s website. When I look back, I am somewhat embarrassed at how little I was charging, but hey, we all have to start somewhere, right?

The first seven months of running my own writing business were a mix of trial and error. Mostly error. I was a copywriter in the loosest sense of the word, taking any job that came my way. Website copy? Sure. Blog posts? Absolutely. Landing pages? Why not. Having worked at a digital marketing agency for about 5 years, I had experience doing it all, and I was determined to go solo. 

However, 7 months into my venture, I realized I had no idea how to price myself.

Then, one morning, I stumbled upon Nicolas Cole as I listened to a podcast.

Turning Small Writing Gigs into a Ghostwriting Business

I had taken other business courses and joined other communities, but none of them had a ghostwriting focus. I needed something built for writers who wanted to turn words into a serious, high-paying business. 

PGA gave me exactly the framework I was looking for.

At this point, I didn’t narrow my services just yet. Instead, I focused on implementing key lessons from PGA—improving packaging, structuring my offers better, and getting better at sales calls. Even though I wasn’t selling EECs, I applied the same principles to the services I was offering. And I started to feel the difference.

Suddenly, I wasn’t scraping by with whatever clients were willing to pay. My inconsistent, low-income months turned into steady $2K to $4K months.

This was progress. But deep down, I knew I was still charging too little.

I kept reading about other ghostwriters landing clients that paid $2-3k per month, and I wasn’t finding those clients. I knew I had the skills. But something was holding me back.

And just as I was trying to figure out how to take the next step, Andrew from PGA reached out and introduced me to Liftoff. This time, the biggest change wouldn’t be tactical. It would be mental.

More Money, Fewer Clients, Better Work

Liftoff wasn’t just about learning how to find better clients. It was about unlearning everything that kept me stuck.

At this point, I had about 10 clients, all of them paying me too little, but keeping me so busy enough that I couldn’t even think about leaving them. I didn’t have time to work on my business. No time for marketing. No time for lead generation. No time for sales. In fact, I didn’t have weekends off either, and I barely spent time with family and friends. At the same time, letting go of any single client felt terrifying. 

Andrew, my Liftoff coach helped me come up with a plan, I had to let go of half of them in the first 90 days of PGA. 

At the same time, as I prepared to offboard some of the first clients who had trusted me when I was just getting started, Andrew told me to try something different. He told me to pitch the next client for more than I have ever asked before. I was covering my basic expenses, so it didn’t matter if they said no.

So I did.

I pitched a single newsletter for $2,000. Something that, just months before, I would’ve charged maybe $300 for. I hit send on the email and waited, fully expecting a rejection.

Fifteen minutes later, the client replied: "Sounds great. Send me the payment link."

I was shocked. Not because they said yes, but because I realized I had been the one setting my own limits all along.

The first 90 days of Liftoff felt magical. I offboarded half of my clients and doubled my income. Where before I was making $3K/month with 10 clients, suddenly I was making $6K/month with just 5.

I had more time to do better work. I felt less burned out. And most importantly, I was finally seeing proof that the way I had been thinking about pricing and value was completely wrong.

Then, exactly one year after joining PGA, I hit my first $10K month.

3 Lessons I Wish I Had Learned Sooner

If I could go back to my first days as a freelance copywriter premium ghostwriter, I would give myself the following advice:

1. Charging more doesn’t just change your bank account, it changes your business. It gives you better clients who actually value what you do. It gives you the freedom to say no to the wrong fits. It forces you to up your game and deliver at a higher level.
2. Investing in the right guidance saves you years of trial and error. I could have spent years figuring this out on my own. But instead, I invested in people who had already done it, and that changed everything.
3. If you’re waiting for someone to give you permission to charge more, stop waiting. No one is going to tell you that you’re worth more. You have to decide that for yourself.

Of course, I’m still in the process of refining things. At one and a half years, my business is still a baby, and I still need to iron out the edges. But now, I know that every level of growth is just about breaking the next ceiling, and I have the tools (and the confidence) to do it.

And if you’re where I was—stuck charging too little, overworking, and wondering why you’re not seeing bigger results—know that there’s a way out.

But first, you have to be willing to charge what you’re work is actually worth.