American Society of Journalists and Authors

Brette Sember A few years ago, Brette Sember was so busy as a contract business and legal writer and editor she turned work away. Then AI showed up and “decimated” the legal content writing industry. “It was sudden, and it was terrifying. Every legal content writer and editor I knew was soon out of a job,” recalled Sember, a long-time ASJA member who’s written more than 40 books and edited, coached, or ghostwritten many more.

In 2020, when I designed my writing website after a few years of full-time freelancing, my goals were simple: to let potential clients know that I existed and had writing and editing chops, and to be a home for my writing portfolio. Six years later, that approach isn’t enough. In the age of AI, anyone can use a prompt to generate content in second on any topic. Our value as writers has to go beyond the words that we put on the page—to voice and point of view.

Photo courtesy of Vincentas Liskauskas from Upsplash Please enjoy this lightly updated article from the ASJA Confidential archives. And stick around to the end for more tips on conducting successful interviews. I admit it; I’m a sucker for some good celebrity scoop.

Photo illustration by Jan Reichelt via Pexels It’s a weird time for marketing, and it’s an even weirder time for marketing your services as a freelance content marketing writer or strategist. There is work out there. How we find it might be changing. Cold outreach was once the tried-and-true marketing method for freelance content writers, but response rates aren’t what they used to be.

This article was written by one of the dozen independent journalists who received scholarships to the 2026 ASJA conference. 2026 ASJA conference keynote speaker Jayde I. Powell encouraged writers to pick rituals of optimism that give you energy. It’s easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of negativity these days. The turbulent job market, a relentless news cycle, inflation, and a trillion other factors.

Recently, I was a guest on a podcast, being interviewed about the 2016 book I co-authored, “When Your Child Is Gay: What You Need to Know.” The host, a clinical psychologist, referred to the LGBTQ+ adults in the book as “homosexual.” Hearing the term reminded me of how noninclusive language used to be and how few resources there once were for learning about the LGBTQ+ community and being more inclusive.

Wikimedia Commons photo by AlexmarPhoto Many B2B and B2C brands are using AI tools for content marketing. Wisely, many freelance content marketing writers are questioning whether they have to adopt AI to keep up. How writers navigate this challenge could determine the shape of opportunities for freelance content marketing writing work.

ASJA members appreciate both in person and virtual annual conferences–for very different reasons, according to results of the organization’s recent conference survey. In-person conferences are better for networking with other members and prospective clients, and provide the sense of community, togetherness, and belonging that is a hallmark of ASJA membership, according to open-ended comments shared by some of the 106 people who took the survey.

My hacks hero, Allrecipies culinary editor Nicole McLaughlin I’m a big fan of Nicole McLaughlin, the host of AllRecipes YouTube videos that show home cooks how to do less work and still get the same delicious results. One of McLaughlin’s recent videos, “20 Lazy Kitchen Hacks You Need to Know (Nicole’s Best Tips & Tricks)” inspired me to think about the freelance hacks I’ve developed over the years.

Geoff Williams’ freelance career was meant to be. The Cincinnati, Ohio, resident’s days as a full-time independent writer began in 1996–when he got fired from a staff job at a teen entertainment magazine for spending too much time working on freelance assignments. In the three decades since, Williams has freelanced for major newspapers, national magazines, trade publications, and online news outlets, covering a plethora of topics, including business, personal finance, and health.