There are hundreds of thousands of writing opportunities available out there. A freelance writer certainly wouldn't pass up an opportunity of that magnitude. Perhaps that is one of the attractions offered to those who want to try out a career as a freelance writer. A freelance writer is someone who produces written work, but is not tied to any company or entity, and operates like a small business or independent contractor.
Pursuing a career as a freelance writer full-time can be a lifeline, or you can do it part-time as an extra income. There are also many people who become freelance writers just to channel their writing hobby or want to build a wider portfolio. This article will provide basic knowledge that can be a guide for those who want to get into the world of freelance writing, whether as a career or a hobby.
Step
Step 1. Be a good writer
To become a freelance writer, of course you have to be able to produce good writing. Many people believe they have writing skills, but their writing lacks originality, exhibits poor grammar, and self-discipline suggests otherwise. Make sure you're comfortable with writing because it's the medium you'll be using to express yourself easily and clearly, and you don't mind doing it almost every day of your life, without a break. If you don't have a writing qualification, there's nothing wrong with taking a bachelor's degree in journalism or English, or taking a course so you'll know what writing requirements are, and the terminology used. Even if you already have a degree in a field unrelated to the world of writing, it will be easier for you to earn a writing diploma or get a job as an entry-level copywriter or editor in a field that matches your major.
- Decide which do you prefer, fiction or nonfiction, or maybe both? But remember, nonfiction is easier to sell than fiction. So, take this into account when making your choice. If you write as a hobby, there are plenty of opportunities for experimentation.
- Decide what your purpose for writing is. Is it to make a living, earn extra money, or just have fun? The reasons behind your decision to enter the world of freelance writing will influence the approach you take to your profession as a freelance writer. Keep in mind that relying on freelance writing as your main income will take a lot of hard work and persistence to “make” your name in this field. So, be prepared to devote energy and time to achieve it.
- If you already have a qualification, such as a degree or diploma, don't forget to use it to support your skills. Having a qualification is very important in the highly competitive world of freelance writing, especially when there are lots of people who want the same thing, while they don't have the qualifications that stand out.
Step 2. Practice your communication skills
If you don't want to be a novelist living a solitary life in poverty, you'll have to relate to a lot of people as a freelance writer. You have to be able to market yourself, create something compelling to bring in business, and pursue opportunities. You must also be able to adapt to the needs and demands of a client or employer, and all of this requires good negotiation and interaction skills. Fortunately, most communication can be done via email, and that means you can rely on your writing skills to get in touch with clients. However, you also have to prepare yourself to promote yourself out there, not just sit around waiting for job opportunities to come your way.
Since communicating through writing is important, you should know how to write a cover letter for a manuscript. A cover letter explains the concept of what you want to write, along with a brief description of your experience and qualifications. This letter sells your idea to an editor, blog owner, or website maintainer and will become a regular tool of communication. The sooner you get comfortable with this communication tool, the better
Step 3. Recognize that turning a creative activity into a job can dampen your enthusiasm
No matter how much you love writing, there will occasionally be writing jobs that you won't like. In situations like this, you should learn the art of “just do it” regardless of how you feel, and how much you desire to procrastinate, and the temptation to rush into it. Those who have worked in the writing world break down barriers of dislike by treating the job as it is while waiting for more interesting work to emerge. Some freelance writers find it helpful to keep writing for themselves on the side. That way, there was at least something they could write purely for fun.
Step 4. Balance the pleasures of working alone with the occasional circle of other people to soak up the positive energy
Working at home or alone can sometimes be lonely (no matter how much you love writing) and you can feel as if you are working in a void. Part of the solution to this is to accept the unconventional (and often liberating) nature of being a freelance writer; others are getting out of the house and hanging out with as many people as possible. Work without being limited by location by purchasing a notebook or laptop, and access portable Wi-Fi so you can write around other people when you feel lonely, such as in a cafe, library, park, or anywhere that makes you feel part of society again. You may need to do this regularly, or occasionally. Find your own rhythm and don't stay home all the time.
Step 5. Be prepared to apply great self-discipline and good money management
If you are planning to have a career in freelance writing, you must have a sense of responsibility towards your client or employer and yourself.
- Set up a financial system before you start hiring and get to know your methods of invoicing, filing taxes, and reconciling accounts. You can't be careless when it comes to income!
- Make a good organization: prepare a special room for writing, keep all reference books in one place with easy access, all writing equipment needed to function properly, a fairly ergonomic work desk. Writing every day can have a bad effect on your posture if you don't pay attention to it!
- Have a good deadline system. Whether you're using a diary, online reminder system, wall chart, whiteboard, or anything else, make sure you have a system that lets you see which jobs are approaching deadlines and for whom. That way, you can prioritize accordingly and don't have to rush to finish a piece of paper.
- Have good and regular communication. It's important that you feel comfortable communicating with others to ask for explanations, to reassure them of your skills and abilities to meet deadlines, and to keep clients and the company up-to-date on the progress of your work and any issues that may arise.
- Do not take jobs beyond capacity. As part of being well organized you know the extent of your capacity. Once you find a regular writing rhythm, don't be lulled by the false confidence that instills in you the belief that you can handle more work. Remember to maintain a good balance in your daily life.
Step 6. Set goals and keep working
If you plan to write magazine articles, online publications, and newspapers, don't leave your main job until you've made enough money to support your lifestyle. That means you have to do writing activities in the morning or evening or whenever you have free time, for example on weekends. There's nothing wrong with practicing your writing aspirations in such an arrangement so you get a chance to see if you can enjoy writing under pressure and tackling a variety of different topics. In addition, practice also gives you the opportunity to find out if your writing is good enough.
- Go to a bookstore, go to the references section, and buy a book that can give you instructions for writing easy-to-understand writing.
- There are a variety of exercises you can do to improve your writing skills, such as writing a letter to a local newspaper editor, writing a letter for a church newsletter, blogging, and even writing an article for wikiHow.
Step 7. Actively participate in the writing community
You can find freelance writing groups and associations in various countries and it's good to join them so you can meet other writers, get information and advice, and build on your qualities as a writer. Do an internet search to find organizations in your area or country. Look for a group that regularly holds meetings, seminars, invites guest speakers, and provides advice on all aspects of writing including publishing and marketing it, as well as having publisher relationships and networking opportunities. Groups like this can also be a reliable source for job prospects. By being part of this group, you can benefit in terms of contacts and job offers.
- Attend conferences and conventions focused on writing, writers, and freelance writing only. At this event, you can meet publishing professionals and have the opportunity to network with other freelance writers.
- If you happen to live in the United States, you can subscribe to “The Writer,” a publication that provides information and advice on writing cover letters, finding a publisher, and how to run a writing business. These magazines can be a good source of reference if you are serious about pursuing a career as a full-time magazine writer.
Step 8. Decide what type of writing you want to pursue
Today there are many options available including writing for print media (magazines, trade publications, newsletters, and newspapers) and online writing. It's possible to do both, although you'll get stuck trying to keep it up. Even within the realm of online writing, there are various possibilities, including blogging, guest blogging activities (writing blogs not on a personal blog page but on someone else's blog, public blog, or blog directory), writing a website on a specific topic (e.g. friendly living environment, pet care, collectibles, and so on), writing inexpensive articles for websites (usually of varying quality), and much more. There are also opportunities to write official papers for the government, but for this type of writing you will often need qualifications and experience in the policy-making area you are writing for. Contact a company that handles this type of writing and ask them what they need.
Be aware that many print publications such as newsletters and trade publications are produced by the company itself or outsourced to other companies that specialize in writing. In this case, you will stand a better chance with a company that is willing to give you freelance work tackling a variety of different topics using their contacts. They will take a commission, but you will benefit from their expertise and an established market
Step 9. Start looking for writing opportunities to build a portfolio
In the early stages it is important to compile credentials and build a portfolio. The simplest way to get started is probably to write for publications and small websites for free. By writing for smaller publications, you will gain experience, gain recognition, and have many articles already published in your name that you can show clients and employers alike. You need that portfolio for an established publication to take into account and hire you. Visit your local library for a list of publishers and ideas on who to contact.
- Submit a poem or story to a children's magazine like Bobo if you are a child.
- If you are a teenager, join the school yearbook committee and submit articles for the school newspaper. Think of this as a good exercise to support a freelancer's future career.
- If you are a student, write a strong, well-written essay for your coursework, which you can publish at a later date. You can also offer your services in the writing lab, and write articles for student newspapers, literary magazines, and alumni magazines.
- For adults, start by offering writing to reputable online sites that accept outside articles. Contact the owners of websites and blogs you admire and explain that you're building a portfolio and want to write some articles for free in exchange for having your name published. If you manage your own blog or website, this step can help you because you can include it as a backlink with your name.
- Nonprofits can also be a good place to find writing opportunities. Take the time and effort and publish your writing in their newsletters and publications. You can then add it to your portfolio.
- Turn your best articles into PDF documents that can be easily emailed to potential employers or clients.
Step 10. Try to take the initiative and start job hunting
If you feel you can write professionally, think of something you want to write about, then start contacting the relevant parties. Find a publisher that suits your taste, then read their guide. Again, it should be emphasized that sending cover letters and articles unrelated to their publications is as bad as going for a job interview without doing some research about the company first. Know the market and target of your writing. Also, always send a cover letter to a major publishing company before submitting a finished article, unless you're sending it as a speculative (on spec) article, or you don't mind spending valuable time writing an article that will never be published.
- For newspapers: Send a cover letter to the city/lifestyle/sports editor in the local newspaper and ask if they are interested in publishing an article on the topic. Include the first paragraph of your article and other paragraph outlines. Call them in two weeks if you don't get a response. You can take another approach by sending them the finished article to consider as speculation. In this case, the editor will read it, but not necessarily publish it.
- Magazines and other major publications: Think about the topic you want to write about, then send a cover letter to the editor of the relevant major publisher and ask if they are interested in publishing an article on that topic. Include the first paragraph of your article and other paragraph outlines. Call them after four to six weeks if you don't get a response.
- Online publications: Check online job listings for columnist, blog writer, web content creator, and other writing jobs. Use a cover letter approach in email where appropriate, or simply respond directly to the job description. To do guest blogging, explain that you have read and enjoyed the blog in question and write a short and sweet suggestion. Popular blogs are flooded with guest blogging requests so your writing should grab the attention of the blog's readers. For article sites, if they ask you to apply to be an official writer, just do it and provide the required supporting information and prove your qualifications. For websites that only ask you to join, sign up right away and join, but don't rely on these kinds of sites as your main source of income!
Step 11. Write your article
If you haven't submitted a full article, just an introduction, it's time to start writing once the client or employer confirms that they want your writing. (Congratulations to you!) Write articles in a brilliant and unique way that characterizes your own and avoid copying other people's writing styles. Of course you must follow the requirements of the publication in question, but try to avoid clichés, outdated sentences, uninteresting essays, and very boring content. You already understand it, right?
Keep a thesaurus, dictionary, and grammar book nearby at all times. If you are writing in a language other than your mother tongue, or in another dialect, prepare a grammar reference book in that language
Step 12. Look for freelance writing jobs that provide a steady income or contracts that are constantly renewing
Many opportunities are available, both in print and online. The difficulty is competition. So keep your writing style sharp and engaging, your contact list detailed, and keep motivated. Continue to improve your writing skills by reading a lot, attending relevant meetings or seminars, and keeping your knowledge up-to-date in the area you are writing about. This step is especially important if you are writing in a rapidly changing field, such as technology and fashion.
- Update your portfolio every time your article is published.
- Learn from the comments provided by the editor. Fix your grammatical mistakes, correct sentences that are heavy and difficult to understand, and celebrate the fact that someone gave valuable advice to improve your writing skills.
Tips
- Before submitting any article to a major publisher, make sure you read the guidelines they provide. Many good writings are rejected because the authors are too lazy to adhere to these guidelines.
- Appreciate any advice a professional editor gives. They are the best writing teachers available for any fiction or commercial writing field, much better than you can get in class. They have the skills to recognize good writing and polish it to be the best. If they make scathing comments in disapproval, take those suggestions and apply them to your other writings as well. You will be surprised at the improvement in your writing.
- There are plenty of online writing opportunities available, but providing a list of potential websites here doesn't seem fair because it seems to belittle other websites that aren't on the list. In addition, the accuracy of the information cannot be guaranteed due to the constantly changing nature of online sites. This is the problem online freelance writers face: deciding which websites to trust and worth working on and which websites to hurt. A number of well-known article websites have a tendency to change policies without notice, confusing authors or even throwing them out of the website. A principle you can apply is to be prepared for changes in the online environment and don't put all your eggs in one basket. That way, if something bad happens to one website, you still have another website to rely on.
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If you're visiting a writing website to see if it's a good fit for you, here are a few things to consider:
- Does the website have a good reputation? This is important for your own reputation and the survival of the website itself.
- Is the pay fair? Online writing jobs generally don't promise huge fortunes, but some pay better than others and if you can rely on such sites, even better.
- Are payments made on time? It is clear that some clients or employers will be better off than others. Over time, you will learn to choose those who pay, either out of sheer necessity or out of frustration and anger at those who don't pay on time, or don't pay at all. Keep an eye on author forums and bulletin boards for information from other writers about those with a bad paying reputation and stay away from them.
- Does the website have a quota? Quota means no matter how good your writing is and even if it has been approved, the site may have reached the quota and refused to publish it. If you don't like a system like this, don't write for a website that implements it.
- Is there good communication from the employer or client? Lack of communication can lead to misunderstandings or poor interactions.
- Do you have to make an offer to get a job? Some sites ask you to make a bid. That means you need to understand the bidding system, have enough knowledge to be able to use it comfortably, and be prepared to offer competitive (or cheaper) prices.
- What language style is used for article writing? If you write in an online environment, you must follow the applicable policies. The choice of diction is usually adjusted to the target reader. Some websites usually have their own environment, depending on the topic being carried and the target audience. Be sure to comply with the EYD terms so as not to upset the editor (you don't want to do that!)
- Great success is usually achieved by choosing ideas in the areas you are most familiar with and are good at.
- Prepare a special room at home for writing activities. On your tax return, you can claim the room as a business expense. Consult your accountant or tax office for more information.
- Save the receipt. Many purchases may be tax-deductible. It's a good idea to keep your receipts safe than to lose their potential value.
Warning
- While the income you earn for articles already published on websites is great fun, don't let yourself be complacent and stop trying to be better. Changes are always happening and articles can be removed or updated without notice and your earnings suddenly disappear or fall into free fall.
- Keep honest financial records. Most countries apply an income tax.
- Ask for payment in advance or in part. Prepayment or partial payment will protect you from working in vain with those with poor payment systems.
- Never take it easy when working with a website that stores reader feedback. Negative feedback can make it difficult for you to work on the same platform again.
