Hey friend, It’s been a while. 10 months, to be exact.

In that time, a lot has happened, and ever since I have been on this journey, I’ve sent hundreds of scary emails, priced some bold quotes, rewritten hundreds of bios, and helped clients in 13+ countries tell their stories better.

But this edition isn’t about all that. It’s about the honest, messy, behind-the-scenes life of being a freelance communications consultant — figuring it out one brief, one call, one “what-am-I-even-doing” moment at a time.

What Nobody Told Me

Freelancing isn’t just about writing press releases or running media outreach. It’s about holding space for someone’s idea when they don’t yet have the words. It’s about asking the right questions and listening with intent. It’s about knowing when to pitch a story and when to tell the client, “This isn’t news yet.”

No job description covers that. But the people who hire you — they feel it.

A Few Things That Helped Me

• Clients care about both, being perfect; and more than that, they care about being clear
• Emails that sound like a real person always land better
• Price with clarity. Say no without guilt
• Do good work. Keep your word. It travels

Some days will feel like you’re flying. Others, like you’re free-falling. You’ll doubt yourself, wing it, and still pull it off. And weirdly enough, that becomes your rhythm — messy, honest, yours.

Say Hi

If you’re freelancing, consulting, or thinking about doing your own thing — I’d love to hear from you.

Reply to this email and tell me: What’s something you’ve learned from working solo that no one talks about?

Catch you next time,

Mariam