👉 Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live Substack video with Dubai-based editor and writer
.
It was my very first Substack Live session, and—true to first-time form—we ran into a few technical hiccups (overheated camera and internet glitches, to say the least!). Ah, well.
The live video ended up being split into two separate parts, but we pushed through and covered some incredible ground. I’m taking all the lessons from this experience and promise a smoother ride next time.
Here is the second part, and below are some highlights of the golden nuggets we covered on freelance writing with a special focus on the Middle East.
💼 Why Go Freelance?
Katy’s freelancing journey is anything but linear. She’s gone full-time, gone freelance, and come back again. But this time, she’s made it stick.
“I’ve always wanted to freelance. The pandemic changed things—remote work is more acceptable now. And with two kids, this lifestyle just works.”
💰 How to Make Freelancing Sustainable
Dubai isn’t exactly a budget-friendly city. So how does Katy support a family of four?
“You need at least two retainers. That’s the key to stability.”
Her strategy:
Two long-term contracts to cover core expenses (rent, food, bills)
Extra bandwidth for one-off freelance articles, travel features, and her Substack
🔍 Katy’s Income Streams
Katy’s freelancing setup is built for flexibility and resilience:
Retainer with The National – Writing 10,000 words per month
Freelance features – Mostly travel and lifestyle stories for global publications
Editorial project management – With The Media Majlis, a museum at Northwestern Qatar
Substack revenue – Through her newsletter Desert Prose
“I’m not a digital nomad. I’m the breadwinner with two kids—and I’ve made it work by diversifying.”
✨ Inside Desert Prose
Katy launched her Substack to fill a major regional gap: a platform for freelancers in the Middle East.
“There are loads of freelancer networks in the West. But out here? Not so much.”
What Desert Prose offers:
Pitch callouts and freelance opportunities
Editor insights and job leads
Industry-specific resources
A private, safe space behind a paywall
She currently has over 30 paid subscribers and 300+ free subscribers, just weeks after launch.
🧠 How She Grew Her Substack
No fancy funnels—just strategic sharing:
Posted on LinkedIn and Instagram
A colleague with a strong network gave it a boost
Leaned into her existing relationships in the region
“One LinkedIn share from a friend brought in 60 subscribers.”
📍 Want to Freelance in the Middle East?
If you're an Arab-American writer with bilingual skills and regional insight, there’s real opportunity.
Katy’s advice:
Target brands or organizations with international ambitions
Use LinkedIn smartly for outreach (that’s how I found her!)
If possible, visit the region to build relationships
Consider Saudi Arabia—it’s a growing market with fewer freelancers
🛠️ Tools of the Trade: AI, Writing, and Workflow
Katy and I both use AI to supercharge our creative process. Her toolkit:
Otter.ai – For fast and accurate transcriptions
ChatGPT – For brainstorming, summarizing interviews, and light editing
Grammarly – For proofreading (though she prefers to keep her own voice!)
AI carousels – For creating Instagram visuals from her Substack posts
“I paste multiple interview transcripts into GPT and ask it to find quotes. It saves hours.”
I do the same—using tools like Claude or Grok to pull key takeaways and repurpose transcripts into Substack posts and social content.
💼 Should You Quit Your Job?
“Only if you have savings—or something lined up.”
Katy doesn’t sugarcoat it:
Freelancing can work, but you need a plan.
Pitching stories alone won’t pay the bills.
You need retainers, multiple income streams, and a niche or specialty.
“You can ghostwrite, work with brands, build digital products, or coach—just don’t rely on commissions alone.”
🧵 Katy’s Top Tips for Freelance Writers
Here’s her roadmap for anyone dreaming of the freelance life:
Start before you quit – Build a portfolio, get bylines, and gain traction.
Lock in retainers – They’re your financial foundation.
Build a personal brand – Not influencer-level, just visibility and trust.
Learn AI tools – They can speed up your workflow without replacing your voice.
Explore multiple income streams – Coaching, content writing, Substack, editing, and more.
Subscribe to freelance networks – Like Desert Prose for the Gulf, or others for your region.
Network digitally—and in person – Face-to-face still matters in the Gulf.
Set financial goals – And reverse-engineer your strategy from there.
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