Founded the Freelance Writers Den in 2011 and sold it in 2021; it is now owned by Self-Publishing School while she is still featured as founder. Membership is $40/month, month-to-month. She has returned to freelance writing and ghostwriting.
Carol Tice is the elder stateswoman of freelance writing education. While younger gurus promise overnight success with AI-generated content, Carol has been teaching writers how to build sustainable careers since before most of her competitors knew what a byline was. Her approach is decidedly old-school. Focus on quality, build relationships, charge premium rates. But in an era of content mills and AI disruption, her wisdom has never been more relevant.
She Sold the Den in 2021
This record described her as running the Freelance Writers Den and flagged an "Expensive membership". Both parts are wrong, and the first is the more serious.
Tice founded the Den in 2011 and sold it in 2021, after eleven years, to Jara Publishing. Which later resold it to Self-Publishing School. The site now carries selfpublishing.com branding while still featuring her as founder. Her own account of the sale is unusually candid for this category: she describes being burnt out after years of six-day weeks, and says due diligence turned up accounting problems that cut the price by around $100,000. "Clearly, there was more I should have done to clean up my books before marketing my business for sale."
Since the sale she has returned to freelance writing and ghostwriting books for clients. So a reader arriving here to evaluate "Carol Tice's membership community" is evaluating a business she has not owned for several years, and a price she no longer sets.
The price itself does not support the criticism either. Den membership is $40 a month, and the site states plainly that "the charge is month-to-month and there's no ongoing obligation," alongside a 7-day money-back guarantee. At the time of sale members were paying $25 a month. Forty dollars with no lock-in is at the inexpensive end of this database, not the expensive end. Several records here cover programmes costing more in one payment than a year of the Den.
The "expensive membership" flag has been removed. What is genuinely worth telling a reader is the ownership change, because it decides whether the reputation attached to the name still attaches to the product.
Who Is Carol Tice?
Carol Tice spent over two decades as a professional journalist and freelance writer before transitioning to education. She wrote for major publications including Entrepreneur, Forbes, and The Seattle Times. Her journalism background shapes everything about her teaching. She approaches freelance writing as a craft, not a hustle.
In 2011, Carol founded the Freelance Writers Den, a membership community that has become one of the largest and longest-running communities for freelance writers. The Den has helped thousands of writers transition from content mills to premium clients, and Carol's blog "Make a Living Writing" has been a go-to resource for over a decade.
What sets Carol apart from newer gurus is her track record. She is not someone who made money once and immediately started teaching. She built a successful freelance career, sustained it for decades, and only then began sharing her knowledge. This depth of experience shows in her nuanced advice. She has seen every trend, survived every disruption, and adapted to every change in the industry.
The Philosophy: Quality Over Quantity
Carol's core teaching philosophy can be summarized in one sentence: Write better, charge more, work less. This stands in stark contrast to the "hustle culture" approach that dominates much of freelance education.
The Premium Client Focus Carol is adamant that writers should pursue high-paying clients from the start. She argues that writing for content mills at $0.03 per word is not a stepping stone. It is a trap that teaches bad habits and destroys your relationship with writing. Instead, she teaches writers to position themselves as experts and target clients who value quality.
The Relationship Approach Rather than treating freelancing as a numbers game (blast 100 pitches, hope for one response), Carol emphasizes building genuine relationships with editors and clients. Her advice on pitching focuses on research, personalization, and providing value before asking for work. This approach takes longer but yields more sustainable results.
The Anti-Spec Work Stance Carol is famously opposed to spec work (writing samples for free in hopes of getting hired). She argues that professional writers should be paid for their expertise, and any client who asks for free work is not worth having. This principled stance resonates with experienced writers but can frustrate beginners who feel they need to prove themselves.
The Freelance Writers Den: What You Actually Get
The Freelance Writers Den is Carol's flagship offering. For $25-40 per month (pricing varies), members get access to:
The Forum The heart of the Den is its private forum. Unlike Facebook groups where posts disappear in hours, the Den's forum is organized by topic with searchable archives going back over a decade. Members can ask questions, share wins, request feedback on pitches, and connect with other writers.
The Bootcamps Carol and guest experts run regular bootcamps on specific topics: pitching magazines, finding corporate clients, building authority, negotiating rates, and more. These are structured courses with assignments, deadlines, and accountability.
The Job Board The Den maintains a curated job board featuring premium freelance opportunities. Unlike generic job boards filled with low-paying content mill gigs, Den listings are vetted for quality and pay rates. Many members report landing significant clients through the board.
The Mentor Directory Experienced Den members volunteer as mentors, offering guidance to newer writers. This peer mentoring supplements Carol's teaching and creates a genuine community atmosphere.
The Resources Library The Den includes templates, scripts, and guides for everything from LOIs (letters of introduction) to rate negotiation. Members can download and customize these resources for their own use.
The Good: What Makes Carol Exceptional
Depth of Experience Carol's decades of real-world experience make her advice unusually nuanced. She can tell you not just what to do, but why it works, when it does not, and how to adapt to different situations. This depth is rare in an industry dominated by people who wrote for six months before launching courses.
Long-Term Focus Carol's teaching is designed for building sustainable careers, not quick wins. She discusses things like retirement planning for freelancers, building recurring revenue, and creating systems that scale. This long-term perspective is valuable for writers who want more than a side hustle.
Community Quality The Freelance Writers Den attracts serious writers. The community is notably free of the desperation and negativity that plague many freelance forums. Members are supportive, share real advice, and celebrate each other's wins. This positive environment makes the membership worth the price for many writers.
Regular Updates Carol consistently updates her teaching to reflect industry changes. When AI writing tools emerged, she created resources on how freelancers should respond. When traditional journalism jobs declined, she shifted focus to corporate and content marketing clients. This adaptability keeps her advice relevant.
The Bad: Honest Criticisms
Expensive Over Time At $25-40 per month, the Den is not cheap. A year of membership costs $300-480, and most of Carol's valuable content requires ongoing membership to access. For writers on tight budgets, this recurring cost can be prohibitive.
Dated Approach to Marketing Carol's marketing advice leans heavily toward traditional methods. Networking events, cold pitching, print publications. While these still work, she provides less guidance on newer channels like LinkedIn content, Twitter presence, or building audiences through newsletters. Writers focused on digital-first strategies may find this limiting.
Slower Results Carol's quality-focused approach takes time. Writers expecting to replace their income in three months will be disappointed. Her methods are designed for building careers over years, which does not match the urgency many freelancers feel.
Less Relevant for Content Writers Carol's background in journalism makes her advice most relevant for writers targeting editorial clients. Magazines, newspapers, and similar publications. Writers focused on content marketing, SEO content, or technical writing may find some advice less applicable.
Community Can Be Insular The Den's tight-knit community is a strength, but it can also feel cliquish to newcomers. Long-time members know each other, inside jokes develop, and new members sometimes report feeling like outsiders.
The Teaching Style: Old School But Effective
Carol's teaching style reflects her journalism background. She writes clearly and directly, avoids hype, and backs claims with evidence. Her blog posts are detailed and well-researched. The kind of content she teaches her students to create.
She is notably un-flashy. There are no webinars with countdown timers, no fake scarcity, no income screenshots. Carol builds trust through consistency rather than marketing tricks. For writers tired of guru hype, this is refreshing.
However, her communication style can feel dry compared to more dynamic educators. Writers who learn best from video content or interactive formats may find her text-heavy approach challenging.
Student Results: What Is Actually Possible
Based on testimonials and forum discussions:
Success Stories Many Den members report significant income increases after implementing Carol's advice. Common wins include landing first premium assignments, transitioning from content mills to premium clients, building recurring retainer relationships, and getting published in major publications.
Average Experience Most active members report steady improvement over 6-12 months. Typical progression involves learning fundamentals and sending first pitches in months 1-3, landing first decent clients in months 4-6, and building stable income while raising rates in months 7-12.
Who Struggles Members who struggle typically do not implement the training, resist charging premium rates, give up before seeing results, or focus on low-paying niches.
Comparison: Carol Tice vs. Other Freelance Writing Educators
Carol Tice vs. Elna Cain Elna targets newer writers with a gentler approach and lower price point. Carol targets more experienced writers ready for premium markets. Both are excellent. The right choice depends on your current level and goals.
Carol Tice vs. Peak Freelance Peak Freelance focuses on modern content marketing and includes more video content. Carol focuses on traditional editorial and relies more on text. Choose based on your target market and learning style.
Carol Tice vs. Free Resources Free Facebook groups provide community but lack structure. The Den costs more but offers organized resources, accountability, and higher-quality discussions. The Den is worth the investment for serious writers.
Who Should Join the Den?
Ideal Members:
- Writers with some experience ready to raise their rates
- Journalists transitioning to freelance
- Writers targeting editorial publications
- Writers who value community and accountability
- Those who can commit ongoing investment to their career
Not Ideal For:
- Complete beginners on tight budgets
- Writers focused primarily on content marketing and SEO
- Those needing immediate income
- Writers who learn best from video content
The Verdict
Carol Tice is the real deal. A veteran writer who built a successful career and now helps others do the same. Her Freelance Writers Den offers genuine value through its community, resources, and bootcamps.
The main question is fit. If you target editorial markets, value community, and can afford ongoing membership, the Den is excellent. If you are just starting out, focused on content marketing, or on a tight budget, other options may serve you better.
Carol represents an important counterbalance to the hustle-culture gurus dominating freelance education. Her message: that sustainable careers are built on quality, relationships, and patience. Is increasingly relevant in an AI-disrupted industry.
Final Grade: B+ (Excellent for the right writer, but not universally applicable)
Carol Tice operates primarily on Blog, where they have built an audience of 80K+ followers. Founded the Freelance Writers Den in 2011 and sold it in 2021; it is now owned by Self-Publishing School while she is still featured as founder. Membership is $40/month, month-to-month. She has returned to freelance writing and ghostwriting. Their content focuses on online income strategies delivered through Blog-based courses and programs priced at Freelance Writers Den is $40/month, month-to-month with a 7-day money-back guarantee - but she sold the Den in 2021 and no longer owns it.
Carol Tice charges Freelance Writers Den is $40/month, month-to-month with a 7-day money-back guarantee - but she sold the Den in 2021 and no longer owns it for their program. When evaluating whether this price is justified, consider: What specific, actionable outcomes does the course promise? Are there free alternatives covering the same material on YouTube or blogs? Does the price include ongoing access, community support, or mentorship? Many Blog educators offer similar content at lower price points, so compare before committing.
Carol Tice has a trust score of 4.4/5 and a scam score of 1/5 based on our independent analysis. Always verify income claims independently, check for a refund policy before purchasing, and look for verified student results rather than testimonials alone.
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