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KILL FEE

@kill___fee

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A newsletter about ꩜ the business of being a creative ꩜ by @kitwarchol.
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In 2015, I took a $30,000 pay cut — down to ~$50k in the least affordable city in the U.S., while still paying off student loans — to bet on myself as a creative.

I went into editorial direction at a girlboss-era media platform, then later at women-focused tech startups. That era was exciting and underpaid and exactly what I needed. At night, I freelanced — copywriting, anonymous bylines — whatever made life in Los Angeles work and kept my creative brain buzzing.

By 2018, I hit six figures for the first time (all those freelance clients x a full-time salary finally compounded).

In December 2021, I went fully independent, and in 2022, I out-earned every full-time job I’d ever had. My next few years were the best of my career financially: $140k, $165k, $180k. And the bylines finally matched: Fast Company, Coveteur, Food & Wine, ELLE Magazine.

2025 was humbling, but I still believe that a creative life is worth it. And I’ve found through trial and many errors that you don’t need to sacrifice everything to make a creative living.

Next week, I’m launching a newsletter called KILL FEE about the business of being a career creative.

It’s going to include the strategies + tools I’ve unearthed, the mistakes I’ve made, interviews with curveball creatives who have made it work, and all sorts of other antics.

If you’re also building a creative life and believe that shouldn’t mean missing out on ꩜ actually living that life ꩜ — oh boy, it’s a newsletter for you.

First issue lands May 28. Link in bio to subscribe or, if you’re a fast typer: kill-fee.beehiiv.com/subscribe by @kill___fee

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