💡 From $90/Hour to $1,000/Hour — The Freelance Shift No One Explains
My recent podcast interviews with host Preston Lee about how to scale your freelancing business and creator
Preston Lee of Freelancer to Founder had me on his podcast for a 4-episode series to talk about everything freelancers and creative founders should know going into 2026.
He’s a great host of a wonderful show, and here are the episodes of his show he had me on. Listen at Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to podcasts!
❓ Feeling Overwhelmed as a Freelancer and Creator? (23 minutes)
Feeling overwhelmed by the endless tasks of running a solo business? You’re not alone. In this episode of Freelance to Founder, Preston and guest Amy Suto dive deep into practical strategies for automating your workflow, saving time, and protecting your mental energy.
In this episode I mention the time tracking tool Toggl, which I love (not sponsored, I’ve just been using it for years and it’s helped me a ton.) I also mention Calendly which is my favorite scheduling tool for discovery calls and client calls. The Google Suite with Google Workspace also has a calendar tool and a built-in contract tool that’s free with their Google Workspace subscription.
Preston and I also talk about outsourcing, automating, and time management vs. energy management. I also share my tips for freelancers and creatives to avoid burnout.
👩💻 Will Freelancers Survive AI? (24 minutes)
The world is transforming FAST, but creative professionals aren't going extinct—they're evolving. In this eye-opening episode, Preston and Amy Suto dive deep into how freelancers can not just survive, but truly thrive in the age of AI, revealing surprising opportunities for those willing to adapt and specialize.
In this episode I talk about my niche of freelance memoir ghostwriting and developmental editing. I taught a class about how to break into memoir ghostwriting over at ✍️ Make Writing Your Job and I also moderated a panel with freelance memoir ghostwriters and developmental editors in our community at ✍️ Make Writing Your Job.
☕️ How to Work Less as a Freelancer and Creator (24 minutes)
Freelancing offers incredible freedom, but it can also lead to overwhelming stress and exhaustion. Many freelancers find themselves trapped in a cycle of constant work, juggling client demands, marketing efforts, and administrative tasks. But it doesn't have to be this way.
I talk a lot about how to raise your rates as a freelancer in this episode. I talk more about setting luxury rates as a freelancer as well as mindset shifts necessary to be successful in my upcoming book Write for Money and Power.
Preston also had some great advice in this episode about outsourcing your marketing as a freelancer.
💻 My Jump From $90/Hour to $750/Hour (And Now, I’m at $1,000/Hour!) (23 minutes)
Freelance writing can feel like a financial rollercoaster, with many creators struggling to price their services confidently. In this revealing conversation, Preston and Amy Suto crack open the complex world of freelance pricing, sharing hard-earned strategies that transform how independent professionals value their work.
More pricing talk! I cover a lot of topics discussed in my upcoming book Write for Money and Power.
🔗 Links From The Episodes
In the show we talk about my writing job board at ✍️ Make Writing Your Job, this Substack publication you’re reading here at 💡 Sutoscience, my upcoming book Write for Money and Power, and Preston’s podcast and community Freelance to Founder. Go subscribe to his podcast because he puts out great interviews!
Thanks for listening and happy writing!
-Amy