No One Likes a Bitter Creative: How Not to Feel Undercut when Working in Freelance as a Content Creator

CREATIVES

20 Oct

I believe this simple truth: You do your best work when you feel good about the work you’re doing. If you feel like you're being undercut or not paid fairly, your work suffers.

Beyond the deliverables (paid work) suffering, you’ll likely hold back on the organic love you show the product—and that’s important. Organic love builds brand relationships and shows your audience that you genuinely enjoy what you’re promoting.

Lets have an honest chat about navigating bitterness as a creative!

First off, you’re not alone.

Bitterness, or feeling like you’ve been taken advantage of, usually kicks in when someone crosses your boundaries. This is tough—it really is. Although I don’t have all the answers, I hope I can offer some encouragement and ideas to help navigate this stuff, because every freelancer feels it at some point, and it is mostly avoidable.

Boundaries Get Crossed—What Happens Then?

When boundaries are crossed, it hurts. But how does it happen in the first place?

1. The Boundaries Weren’t Clear from the Start

Sometimes brands don’t know what your boundaries are. And I don’t say that to excuse them—I get it, some brands should know better. But the person managing the campaign might be overworked and juggling three inboxes, running events, and managing influencer relations on top of it all.

That’s why, when I work with people in 9-to-5s, I try to make communication with them really easy. No long-winded emails. No beating around the bush. Just prompt replies, on-time submissions (or updating asap if they’re not on time!), and acknowledging their emails.

Most importantly—setting clear boundaries.

Not every overstep is intentional, and because the creative world is a bit like the wild west, your boundaries might not look the same as someone else’s. Where you start feeling taken advantage of, another creator might be totally fine.

So, while it sucks, you need to take control and communicate your limits clearly. It’s not always sinister when brands cross a line—they might not even realise they’ve done it.

2. The Brand Pushed Back with a Lower Offer

Let’s say you told a brand your rate is $500, but they reply with: "Thanks for letting us know. Our budget is $300—if that’s of interest, let us know."

At this point, you’ve got a choice to make. Run a quick pros and cons list or ask yourself a few questions:

Do I want to work with this brand?
Do I like their products? Will my audience?
Will I feel okay accepting this rate, or will it leave a sour taste?

If the answer is yes to most of these, it’s okay to go ahead, even if it’s below your usual rate. It’s about weighing up what feels right for you. But if it doesn’t sit well, it’s just as important to say no. You might respond with something like:

"Thanks so much for the offer. Unfortunately, I can’t discount my rate out of respect for my full-paying clients, but I do accept PR with no obligation to post."

I get that not everyone can say no when they need the money, but if you’re in a position to, trust that there are brands out there who will respect your rates and be easier to work with. In my experience, every time I’ve dropped my rate, the brand has asked for way more than I signed up for- It’s why I simply don’t anymore (plus, it’s my full time gig).

The brands that value my process and know my audience usually find the budget—or they tell me they’ll reach out when they have it, which I really respect. Those are the relationships worth growing.

3. The Brand Ignored Your Boundaries

This one stings.

Maybe you told them not to repost your content, but they did it anyway—and when you asked them to remove it, they ignored you.

At this point, it’s murky waters. This isn’t just a misunderstanding; it’s a boundary breach, and it’s frustrating. This is a whole different ballgame, and sometimes it requires stronger action. Maybe an article for another time, as this focuses on what we can immediately control as creatives.

How to Fight Bitterness as a Creative

When you’re feeling bitter, it’s time to reconnect with your creativity. Think about a piece of content you loved creating—not because of how it performed, but because it made you happy.

Now, plan your next content around those same elements. Staying true to what makes you feel creative is how you keep bitterness at bay. It could be a piece of branded content, or maybe a PR pack that made you feel appreciated- it might be something you never thought you’d get to experience when you first started out—like an event invite or a product you couldn’t believe showed up on your doorstep.

Write down five things you’re grateful for in your creative journey so far.

Gratitude shifts your focus from what’s frustrating to what’s fulfilling. When you create from a place of joy, bitterness doesn’t stand a chance.

Corny, but it’s true.

Wrapping Up

Freelancing as a content creator isn’t easy, and feeling undercut or taken advantage of can happen when someone’s new on their creative joruney and is still figuring out their boundaries.

The key is to communicate boundaries early, make thoughtful decisions about brand offers, and stay connected to the joy of creating.

Bitterness will sneak in from time to time, but by focusing on the work you love and the wins you’ve had, you can keep it from taking over. Stay true to yourself—and trust that the right brands will respect you, your work, and your worth.

Love,

JAQUELINE xx

(Someone who doesn’t know it all, but is sure trying their best)