Freelance writing is very attractive as either a part-time job or a career. It’s not just a means of earning money – it also presents a brilliant chance to gain a new set of skills and discover stimulating topics.
Beginning as a freelance writer necessitates more than just drive. It is essential to have knowledge of the road ahead, in addition to being resourceful, persevering, and possessing writing talents.
This article has all the information you need in order to learn how to become a freelance writer. Find out what freelance writing entails and how to start today by continuing to read.
What is freelance writing?
Freelance writing covers a wide spectrum of topics, covering numerous industries and areas of specialty. No matter how big or small it is, lots of companies employ independent authors to craft anything from promotional materials and eating establishment menus to site content and announcements.
Some people take up freelance writing as a leisurely activity alongside their regular job. For some people, it is an efficient way to generate additional income in addition to their primary employment. And for some, freelance writing is a full-time job.
Advantages of Freelance Writing
- Autonomy over your schedule: As a freelancer, you can set your own hours and work when it’s most convenient for you.
- Control over your projects: You can pick and choose projects, pitch topics you’re passionate about, and say no to assignments you’re not interested in.
- Flexible rates: You can set your own rates and change them whenever you need to.
- Freedom to learn and grow: When you’re not bound to writing for one particular publication or company, you can follow your interests and passions wherever they lead you, changing course as often as you like.
- No ceiling: How you progress and develop as a freelancer is totally up to you. You can take on a handful of assignments every month for fun, or create a full-fledged freelance writing career if you want.
- Flexibility in how and where you work: You aren’t bound by location or rules when freelance writing. You can work in whatever manner and place suits you best.
- Minimal equipment required: All you need is internet access and a computer and you’re good to go.
- Low barrier to entry: You usually don’t need a degree, specialized certification, or even years of experience to become a freelance writer. You just need a good work ethic and decent writing chops.
Disadvantages of Freelance Writing
- Burden of securing work: Until you’re more established, clients aren’t going to appear out of thin air. As a freelance writer, it’s on you to actively seek out writing jobs and assignments.
- Lack of structure: Unless you’re working hourly with a manager overseeing you, you’re responsible for managing your time and deadlines.
- Inconsistent income: The amount of money you earn is directly related to the quality and volume of assignments you’re submitting—not the hours you put in. As a result, some months will be leaner than others.
- Slow growth: It takes time (and patience) to build up a portfolio and secure steady, well-paying gigs. Depending on their skill levels, expertise, and niches, new freelance writers could be working for months or years without consistent assignments and regular clients.
- Tough feedback: Part of being a freelance writer is conducting revisions and learning to take feedback. Some clients don’t know what they want until they see it, while others will have detailed (and sometimes harsh) feedback.
- Rejection: Being turned down for freelance writing gigs and getting ghosted by editors and clients is normal, unfortunately. You may encounter more rejection than acceptance as a freelance writer, especially when you’re just starting out.
- Multiple hats: Writing isn’t the only skill you need as a freelance writer. You also have to be good at researching, marketing, communicating, networking, editing, negotiating, and doing administrative tasks.
What You Need To Know Before Starting
Getting into the world of freelance writing is an intriguing journey, but before diving in, it might be helpful to take some time to contemplate what you are expecting from it, as well as the effort you are willing to invest.
Before you decide to become a freelancer, consider the following questions to gain a better understanding of the path you would like to take.
Full-Time or Part-Time?
You are able to select freelance writing as an extra source of income; however, it can equally be pursued as a full-time occupation. The strategy you employ will vary depending on the response to this inquiry.
Remember that it is totally possible to start with part-time work and gradually switch to full-time once you get a steady flow of customers. This strategy can help reduce the danger connected to becoming self-employed.
What is your skill set?
Now is a great opportunity for those who have never put anything in writing to begin writing. Everyone was once a beginner! Remember that your written ability will get better if you put effort into practicing it over time. Begin early and you will be able to write skillfully sooner.
Think about what other abilities you might need to be an effective writer. Having a foundation of SEO principles and familiarity with the concept of content marketing are both necessary to be successful in writing.
When do you want to start earning money?
As with any job, when you’re starting a new career, there’s a chance you won’t get paid much at the start. It’s how it is until you have a portfolio to back up how incredibly talented and experienced you are – so it’s a good thing to think about how soon you want to be able to make money from freelance writing.
If you don’t have any different means of earning money, you’ll want to begin generating income straight away – so you ought to put forth your best effort. If you are trying this out as a test and have other sources of income, you can take your time in transitioning into freelance writing without feeling pressured to make a large sum of money right away.
How To Land Your First Gig As A Freelance Writer
Obtaining writing assignments is an art form itself – and getting your initial customer can appear intimidating. It may be a while, but you must believe that you will eventually get your first job as a writer (and many more after that).
It is essential to approach the search for freelance writing jobs in a planned and organized way, particularly for those just starting out in this field.
You can choose to use multiple methods to determine which methods work best, or you could focus on a particular specialty right away if you have experience in a particular area of writing, such as physics, the environment, finance, or something else.
1. Apply to jobs on LinkedIn
Set the job search parameters on your LinkedIn profile to display “freelance” or “contract” positions. Enable notifications to receive updates regarding job openings and begin reviewing the job opportunities that are available daily. In some roles, it is possible to connect your LinkedIn profile in place of a resume, however other roles require a distinct resume and cover letter or email to be sent.
2. Apply to jobs on job boards
An abundance of job boards are tailored to freelance writers. Sometimes you might not be successful in your search initially, but with consistent effort and widened scope, you should be able to locate ample job openings with generous pay, some of which could become recurring work.
Remember that some job boards can be used without having to pay anything, but others demand a payment each month to gain access.
3. Make a portfolio on job sites
There are websites that link freelance writers to genuine customers. The only catch? In the majority of these sites, it’s not feasible to search for writing jobs. You will need to assemble a collection of your work and remain patient until a client reaches out or an administrator from a platform offers a job.
4. Send pitches to editors
If freelance journalism or blogging appeals to you, sending offers to editors or content bosses is an amazing method to secure jobs. You could send an email that has two or three different story ideas contained within it.
5. Send cold emails to prospective clients
Write a letter of inquiry to as many prospective customers as possible. Refer to Steps 4 and 6 from this guide to compile an impressive prospect list, and create a great cold email. When sending emails, be sure to log the dates in a spreadsheet and then plan to send a follow-up email two weeks after if you haven’t gotten a reply.
6. Respond to tweets that ask for writers
If you have a Twitter account, it would be wise to follow the individuals, businesses, and publications related to your area of interest, as well as the individuals who are employed by them. Take into account editors, supervise content, designate creative heads, and oversee digital marketing experts. Doing it this way allows you to be among the earliest to find out if these individuals announce a necessity for a writer.
7. Ask your family and friends
Sending an email to your acquaintances inquiring if they know any person who would like to employ a freelancer may be a good idea. Describe the particular areas that you practice and the types of writing you’re willing to take on, and then provide the link to your webpage or collection of work.
8. Create a post on another website to draw attention.
If you want to gain visibility or build up your resume, try exploring the possibility of writing a short piece to submit to a website that covers topics similar to yours. If the website has a large following, it may be worthwhile to present an article that you don’t get paid for in return for your visibility.
9. Join a freelance writing group
There are a large number of digital freelance writing networks that post job openings and provide references. Examine your expertise in writing, field, or region when sifting through the mess.
10. Reach out to people on LinkedIn
Making links with editors, content directors, and company proprietors in the areas that intrigue you is an incredible method to extend your system and look out for writing openings. Don’t send connection requests at random, though. Make certain you choose the choice to “attach a comment”, then take a brief period of time to present yourself and explain why you are getting in contact.
Is Freelance Writing for You?
So, there you have it. This article contains all of the information needed to launch a career as a freelance writer, in hopes that it will be of assistance.
Starting out will be the most challenging aspect of the endeavor – however, do not permit this to demoralize you. It is possible that you will experience denial or emails that will not be responded to in the beginning– however you must keep carrying on! Continue to search for writing jobs, improve your resume, and construct your portfolio with assistance from webpages such as Medium, Thrive Global, and your own blog.
It is a fact that freelance writers have difficulty getting started. If it were straightforward to become a freelance writer, everybody would be penning from the shoreline and no openings would be accessible to you. View this as an assessment of your determination to earn money from freelance writing.
It is essential to acknowledge that there is always potential for growth. Familiarizing yourself with this information will give you an edge over your opponents and help you stay on top.
I’d like to emphasize that there are plenty of resources accessible which can assist you in achieving success as a writer. Making use of the resources and platforms accessible to you (often without cost), like the ones talked about in this article, as well as Contently, can give you the help you need.
I would like to finish off this message by urging you to have fun with your writing. Getting to enjoy the process of writing is something that can happen when you become familiar with it. It can be irritating occasionally, of course, but if you think this is something you want to pursue, stay focused and soon you will come to understand that writing offers not only monetary rewards, but also personal development.
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