The conversation around AI and writing is heating up. But too often, it’s framed as a false choice: AI is either “bad” and deceptive, or it’s the ultimate shortcut to productivity.

In this solo episode, I challenge that binary thinking and unpack the real issues at stake for freelance writers. Sparked by a provocative LinkedIn post from Mariya Delano, CEO of Kalyna Marketing, this discussion dives into the myths and misconceptions that keep us stuck in unproductive debates.

I lay out 10 false assumptions fueling the AI writing controversy. And I explain why the future belongs to freelancers who can master what I call “creative synthesis,” which is the ability to skillfully combine human judgment, lived experience, taste, and AI capabilities into something far greater than either could achieve alone.

If you’ve been wondering how to navigate the AI conversation with clients — or how to position yourself to thrive in an AI-enhanced world — this episode will give you the clarity and confidence you need.

What You’ll Learn

• Why binary debates about AI (“good” vs. “bad”) miss the bigger picture
• The 10 false assumptions about AI that are holding writers back
• How to reframe AI as a tool for amplification (not deception!)
• The concept of Creative Synthesis and why it’s the skill that will set you apart
• The four phases of Creative Synthesis mastery and how to progress through them

Key Insights and Takeaways

• AI doesn’t equal deception: Like Grammarly or Google, it’s a tool. What matters is how you use it and whether you’re transparent.
• Not all AI is the same: There’s a vast spectrum of use cases, from research to brainstorming to drafting, and lumping them all together is misleading.
• Clients care about results, not process: What builds trust is consistent, high-value outcomes. It’s not about whether AI played a role behind the scenes.
• Creative Synthesis is the future: The winning freelancers will be those who can blend AI capabilities with strategic insight, emotional intelligence, and client understanding.

Action Steps You Can Take This Week

1. Audit your AI beliefs: Which of the 10 assumptions have you unconsciously bought into?
2. Experiment intentionally: Spend 30 minutes testing a new AI workflow for creativity and strategy, not just for efficiency.
3. Develop your AI policy: Be ready to discuss openly with clients how (if at all) you use AI in your process.
4. Shift your mindset: Stop asking “AI vs. no AI?” and start asking, “How can I combine AI with my skills to deliver extraordinary value?”

Memorable Soundbites

“The debate isn’t AI good or AI bad. The real question is: how will you use it to create something that only you can?”

“Using AI doesn’t make you less original. What makes your work original is the judgment, taste, and perspective only you bring.”

“The freelancers who thrive won’t be the ones avoiding AI or blindly copy-pasting it. To thrive in the years ahead you’ll need to master Creative Synthesis.”

Listener Challenge

This week, pick one client project (current or past) and ask yourself:

Where could AI have enhanced my process—not replaced me, but amplified my creativity, speed, or strategic value?

Then take one small step to test that approach in your next project.

If this episode resonated, share it with a fellow freelancer navigating the AI conversation. And don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode packed with insights to help you earn more in less time... doing work you love, for better clients.

Hourly billing is the default pricing model for many writers. But it’s also a hidden trap that can sabotage your growth, undervalue your expertise, and limit your income.

If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the ceiling on your earnings or struggled to position yourself as a trusted partner rather than a hired hand, this episode will change the way you view pricing forever.

In today’s episode, I break down 15 compelling reasons why hourly billing is actively working against you — and what you can do instead to unlock your earning potential and build trust-based, outcome-focused client relationships.

What You’ll Learn

• Why hourly billing punishes efficiency and caps your income potential.
• How it undermines your positioning as an expert and devalues your unique expertise.
• The hidden costs of hourly billing: admin burden, client micromanagement, and trust erosion.
• The psychological traps that make it hard to raise your rates under hourly models.
• Why shifting to value-based pricing or project fees can transform your business.
• Steps to reframe client conversations around value and outcomes, not hours.

Key Insights and Takeaways

Hourly billing creates a perverse incentive against efficiency. The faster you work, the less you earn, which is the opposite of how a healthy freelance business should function.

It permanently caps your income potential. There are only so many hours you can sell, and raising your hourly rate eventually hits a ceiling.

It erodes trust and positions you as a commodity. Clients start focusing on hours rather than outcomes, leading to micromanagement and suspicion.

It fails to capture your true value. Your best insights often come from years of accumulated expertise, not the hours it takes to execute a task.

Fixed project fees and value-based pricing aligns your interests with your clients. When you price based on the outcomes and value you deliver, you can grow your income while building stronger client relationships.

Memorable Soundbites

· “Hourly billing rewards incompetence and punishes mastery.”

· “You’re not selling time, you’re selling outcomes.”

· “Hourly billing turns your business into a job you can’t quit.”

Action Steps

🔹 Reflect: Are you stuck in the hourly billing trap? Track how it limits your income and positioning.
🔹 Experiment: Try quoting your next project as a fixed fee based on value rather than time.
🔹 Reframe: Start asking clients, “What outcomes are you looking to achieve? What makes this project important?” rather than “How many hours will this take?”
🔹 Educate your clients: Share the benefits of non-hourly models and how it aligns your incentives with theirs.
🔹 Internal tracking only: Continue tracking your time for your own data and profitability analysis, but avoid sharing these hours with clients.

Listener Challenge

This week, pick one service you currently bill hourly and write down how you would price it based on the scope and value instead. You don’t have to roll it out immediately, but this exercise will shift your mindset toward value-based pricing.