There are freelance writing jobs out there, and it’s much easier to start a new career as a freelance writer than you might think. But you do need to do some good work to get ready for the freelance writing world before you jump in. I’ve found that these are the most important steps to get your freelance writing career off to a great start.
First of all. What is a self-employed writer?
A freelance writer is someone who works well as a “hired gun.” Okay, that’s an exaggerated way to describe a writer who works as a contractor and writes for someone who pays them. It’s a great way to make money if you like writing, and there are plenty of freelance writing jobs out there. There are a lot of freelance writing jobs out there, and the number is growing. Make sure you know where to look for work.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, I want to talk about some of the most important things you can do to become a successful freelance writer who can find good freelance writing jobs.
First, you need to decide what kind of writing you want to do. There are a lot of jobs, from making comics to writing instructions. There are a lot of different kinds of writing jobs, and you should figure out what fits you best based on your interests, background, experience, qualifications, and anything else that can make your work more interesting. Don’t forget that if you write about something you know a lot about and (hopefully) enjoy, your work will be more than just a way to make money. It will be fun.
Second, plan your freelance writing jobs and assignments so that you are ready to go out and work. This means that you should get ready by figuring out the best sources of work for the kind of writing you want to do. Do a search on the Internet, look at local writing and other magazines, and look at sources for the kind of freelance writing jobs you want to do. If you’re interested in home improvements, for example, make a list of the magazines, websites, and other places where you could find freelance writing jobs related to home improvements.
Third, make sure you have everything you need to write for your audience. I think it’s almost necessary to be an expert in a certain field, but you also need to be able to write well if you want to “sell yourself” as an expert freelancer. So make sure you know about grammar and other things, and if you need to take a writing programme online or offline or some other course to improve your grammar or writing skills, do it.
Four, you need to be ready to sell yourself. As a writer, this isn’t a big deal because email is key, as is writing a great query letter, which will be the subject of an upcoming article. Putting together a great query letter is one of the keys to getting good freelance writing jobs, so you should work on it. You also have to be willing to market yourself through email and other means so you can get freelance writing jobs when they come up.
Five, get things in order. When people aren’t organised enough, so many small and big businesses can fail. Make sure you have a place to work, writing materials, reference books, and that your taxes and finances are in order. Also, make sure you are being professional in what you do. If you want to be successful, you need to get yourself organised in a very professional way. The most important thing, though, is to set and meet your deadlines.
Sixth, meet other writers and get to know them. You’ll be surprised by how helpful and cooperative the writing community is, and if you look for online forums and join them, freelance writing jobs will start coming your way. Then you should go to conferences and other events and make sure that people know who you are both online and in person. If you want to be a freelance writer, you will have to learn how to be a “operator” in the writing world. The job will come next.
Seven, put together a portfolio of your writing. No matter what you want to specialise in, you can easily start building your writing confidence and credentials by making a portfolio of your work. This will give you a body of work that you can then use to help market yourself by making a blog or website with your work on it. You should also do work that doesn’t pay to help build this work. Non-profits and other organisations can be very helpful in this way. Just take the work they give you and put it in your portfolio.
Eight, keep motivated and keep working. You will find it easy to get freelance writing jobs if you set goals and set goals that will motivate you. But you have to keep that drive going, because working alone can be hard for some people. So, as a freelancer, you need to get out and meet contacts, other writers, and possible clients. You should also go to parties, events, and conferences and be able to write on a laptop, iPad, or notebook when you’re not at home.
Believe me, it’s not hard to learn how to become a freelance writer. Freelance writing jobs are out there, I can promise you that. Even if you work from home, you can make a lot of money and enjoy a job you may not have known existed. So get to it!
