You’re not failing as a freelance writer: you’re straddling fear and action.

You’ve been working hard to establish your freelance writing business. But you’re only making around $2k a month and it’s simply not enough. No matter how much you try and stay positive, it’s getting harder to ignore the tension that’s bubbling incessantly beneath the surface.

Your partner is working overtime to hold your household together. And your brain is constantly calculating how long this can all continue before something has to give.

You’re not looking for miracles. You just want something to show for the effort you’re consistently putting in. Something that tells you that all this is leading somewhere, and that you’re not “wasting” your time, energy, or family’s support.

You keep thinking, “I wish it were happening faster!” Not because you’re impatient. But because this pace is starting to take a toll—on your finances, your nervous system, and your sense of what’s possible for your future.

You’re doing your best to stay consistent and keep trusting the process. But the process feels slower than you can afford. And even though you’re showing up every day, it still doesn’t feel like it’s working.

So you start questioning everything:

You’re trying to find a version of events or a path forward that doesn’t come with so many trade-offs. One that brings momentum without mental strain. One that feeds your soul with everything it’s craving. One that protects your energy and pays your bills.

But no matter how long or hard you look, that ‘ideal’ path forward never fully appears.

Here’s why:

You’re not stuck because you’re failing. You’re stuck because you’re trying to walk two paths at once and that’s simply not possible.

There’s a version of your future where you go ‘all in,’ pitch before you feel ready, and put yourself “out there” before you have every detail figured out. It’s a harder push, but it moves faster. It brings in leads. It builds momentum. It creates a metaphorical pressure cooker inside you that leads to immense, rapid growth. It’s a bumpier road—for sure. But it gets you to your desired destination faster and more efficiently, and you learn a lot along the way that will serve you for years to come.

And there’s a version of your future where you take your time. You create behind the scenes. You make sure each step is solid before you take the next. This ‘scenic route’ is easier on your nervous system but harder on your finances. You don’t see results for some time because it’s simply a longer route to the same destination. But you get to feel your way through. You have time to address resistance and setbacks in a way that feels best for you. It’s a more enjoyable journey.

Both paths are valid. But trying to take both at the same time is what’s keeping you stuck—not the paths themselves. It’s this mental pull that’s draining all your energy, and keeping you from giving your business what it really needs to grow.

You’re essentially saying, “I don’t want to be on the fence,” but your actions are still one foot in, one foot out. You’re still watching the other path with longing, wishing this one didn’t feel so damn uncomfortable.

But here’s the thing: No matter which path you ultimately choose—whether it’s the faster, bumpier route or the slower, scenic one—you have to own that choice. Because the moment you start fantasizing about the benefits of the other path, you lose momentum on the one you’re actually on.

If you choose the more direct, uncomfortable path, you don’t get to look back at the scenic route and wish you were taking it easy. You’ve chosen discomfort for now so that you can enjoy the view later on. And if you choose the smoother, more intentional route, you don’t get to look over at the people who are already making $5k or $10k months and think, “Maybe I made the wrong decision.”

You didn’t. You made the decision that felt right for you, with the information, capacity, and clarity you had at the time. And the only way to see it through is to stop looking sideways, stop comparing, and stop making yourself wrong for being where you are.

This is how so many aspiring freelance medical writers get stuck in the very early stages of building their personal brand and growing their business. Not because they pick the wrong path, but because they keep idolizing the path they didn’t take. They convince themselves that they’ve chosen poorly or that they shouldn’t feel the way they do. But that’s simply not true.

What’s true is this: Your next move is to choose the path that aligns with your current priorities, capacity, and support system. What matters more right now—speed or spaciousness? Fast results or time to breathe? More income or more peace? There’s no universal ‘right’ answer, but there’s a right answer for you.

So, whatever you do: Stop straddling the line. Stop looking over your shoulder. Stop second-guessing every step. Look ahead. Make a decision. And then?

Walk your path like you mean it.

The ‘Thriving & Free’ Medical Writer Program™ will empower you to launch a freedom-focused business according to your vision, values, and needs. Ready to elevate your freelance medical writing business? Apply to join our waitlist.