Who doesn\u2019t dream of ditching their nine-to-five office job in favor of freelancing from home? Most are afraid to take the plunge, as decent freelance jobs for writers seem hard to find. It\u2019s a dog-eat-dog marketplace out there.<\/p>\n
So how can you become a top-dog freelance writer, turning your skill with words into a profitable career? You\u2019ll have to set yourself apart from the growing competition and make the best use of any special opportunities that may come your way. Sometimes, all it takes is a tweet from a publication or a referral from one of your LinkedIn contacts, and suddenly you\u2019ve landed a lucrative freelance writing job.<\/p>\n
In brief, here\u2019s what you can do to get ahead of the competition:<\/p>\n
Maintain a strong online presence<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Create watertight writing samples<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Learn to write great pitches<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Collect flattering testimonials<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Use the right job listings<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
Subscribe to specialized newsletters<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Raring to get started?<\/p>\n
Hold your horses. If you\u2019re planning to start by joining a gig site like Fiverr or Upwork, you\u2019ll just find yourself fighting tooth and nail over jobs that don\u2019t pay off at all. Instead, follow the steps in this guide to find the best freelance writing jobs out there.<\/p>\n
To land the best-paying jobs, you have to present yourself well. First, you\u2019ll need a website and an active social media presence. Then you can build up a portfolio and gather testimonials. You\u2019ll also perfect your pitch-writing skills so your work is more likely to get published.<\/p>\n
The main reason to buy a domain name and host a\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0is all about looking (and being) professional. Demonstrate that freelance writing isn\u2019t just a passing hobby\u2014you\u2019re serious about running a business and showing visitors who you are.<\/p>\n Your website should include the following sections:<\/p>\n Portfolio<\/p>\n<\/li>\n \u201cAbout Me\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Services<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Contact Info<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Each page should be informative, yet concise. What kind of work have you done in the past? What\u2019s the best way to contact you? What kind of writing services are you offering?<\/p>\n Most importantly, your website should tell potential clients\u00a0why\u00a0<\/em>they should consider you. By establishing an identity on the web, you\u2019re not just one of many anonymous writers that could ditch a contract or project in a heartbeat; you\u2019re a professional business.<\/p>\n Social media accounts are an invaluable tool for any freelance writer. Whether it\u2019s to network, connect with your audience, or find a call for pitches, social media is a fast, expedient way to build connections and find work.<\/p>\n Twitter is the\u00a0most useful account<\/a>\u00a0to have as a writer, whether you\u2019re looking for literary agents to represent you or for opportunities to submit your nonfiction. Now more than ever, magazine and publication editors are using Twitter to announce calls for submissions. Take advantage by following publications, editors, fellow writers, and even job listing accounts. You never know who\u2019s hiring or looking for contributions to an anthology.<\/p>\n However, creating social media accounts is only a small part of marketing yourself well. You\u2019ll have to be active and communicative with your audience in order to catch your lucky break.<\/p>\n The next critical step to finding work as a freelance writer is to build up your portfolio. You can start by creating samples and pitching article ideas. Then, you collect testimonials whenever possible.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll get back to pitches and testimonials in the following sections. For now, let\u2019s discuss samples.<\/p>\n For fiction writers, this is a bit tricky: the only writing samples you can provide are your published novels or short stories. How do you demonstrate your potential to write nonfiction?<\/p>\n Luckily, you have ample opportunities to set yourself apart from the competition. You can blog, guest-post on popular blogs, or submit nonfiction pieces to magazines. Presenting polished samples will show editors and potential clients that you\u2019re not just all talk.<\/p>\n Professional blogging gives fiction writers a platform to showcase their skills. The best thing about running your own blog is the freedom to write whatever you want. As long as it\u2019s polished and organized, you can blog about any interest you have. Or you can blog about your writing.<\/p>\n For fiction writers, this is where you can shine. Here are some examples:<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a novelist with a 95k-word manuscript, readers will be interested in how you achieved that feat. You can write a post about how you got inspired, how you created the plot and characters, and how you organized your time and efforts to bring the project to completion.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Maybe you want to make a blog series about the progress of your projects, like your experiences during participating in NaNoWriMo.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Go further: talk about the interesting facts you\u2019ve learned while researching Medieval Italian history for your historical romance.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Blogging offers a way for prospective clients to see your writing style. You demonstrate your ability to attract audiences, be entertaining or informative, all while having a consistent writing habit. In addition to showcasing your writing to land you more writing jobs, your blog can be a lucrative business in and of itself. Through ad revenues and affiliate marketing, you can make a profit based on how many viewers visit your blog.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to guest post on a popular website, you can use updating and maintaining your blog as a way to practice how you present yourself.<\/p>\n Nothing\u2019s more impressive in a pitch than a byline from a popular magazine. For fiction writers, \u00a0it\u2019s a great way to start making money freelancing while building up a portfolio of nonfiction work. Speculative fiction magazines are no exception. While you can\u00a0submit your short stories\/novellas<\/a>\u00a0and get well-compensated, essays and reviews also count.<\/p>\n Consider submitting to the following magazines. They are all award-winning creative forces known for uplifting marginalized voices.<\/p>\n Clarkesworld<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Tor<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Asimov\u2019s Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Uncanny Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Lightspeed Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Strange Horizons<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Pay attention to the call for submissions, themes, and word count. Just like any other publication, they will only consider your submission if you follow their rules (which is more than fair, if you ask me).<\/p>\n Is submitting to magazines too intimidating? Start with guest posting instead. Think of guest posting as a warm-up: some popular blogs have guidelines, require a pitch, and want original content.<\/p>\n It\u2019s also a win-win situation if you need writing samples. You get some first-hand experience writing for a publication (even if it\u2019s a blog), and you learn to edit and polish your nonfiction writing. If you get rejected, you can always recycle the sample for a post on your blog or submit it elsewhere. Popular blogs give you the spotlight, and some even have paid opportunities! To get started, check out\u00a0this list<\/a>\u00a0from The Write Life.<\/p>\n Ghostwriting is a tricky, but\u00a0lucrative niche to get into<\/a>. You can ghostwrite articles, blog posts, scripts, and even books! The good news: there are many ways to\u00a0establish yourself as a ghostwriter<\/a>, as long as you have a website and adequate proof of your trustworthiness. The bad news? You can\u2019t exactly add these works to your list of bylines (other than in those rare cases when the client doesn\u2019t mind. It\u2019s always worth it to ask).<\/p>\n To find ghostwriting gigs, you need one key component: a network. This can be a Facebook group, your Linkedin contacts, or even the clients you\u2019ve amassed in your email list. Spread the word that you\u2019re interested in ghostwriting\u2014and, if your contacts don\u2019t have an assignment for you, maybe they know someone who does. Share your newest writing samples and track your leads.<\/p>\n As soon as you have a neat, practical website for your services and a few active social media accounts, you can start hunting for freelance writing jobs (whether you have your samples ready, or not). If you want to have an easier time finding work, you\u2019ll have to brush up on\u00a0writing pitches and cold emails<\/a>. So, what’s a pitch, and why is it important?<\/p>\n A pitch is a short proposal outlining what you’re going to write, why you’re writing it now, and how you’re going to approach your subject. It’s usually included in a cold email and can range from a paragraph to a few sentences. A pitch also lists your other bylines and qualifications, though if you have neither, it’s not a deal-breaker. Editors mostly consider whether your idea is right for the publication and whether you’re the right person to write the piece.<\/p>\n A well-composed pitch<\/a>\u00a0should include the following elements:<\/p>\n An attention-grabbing headline<\/p>\n<\/li>\n A basic summary of your piece<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The relevance of your piece to the publication<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Why you’re qualified to write the piece<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Regardless of your experience level, an exciting or boring pitch is the difference between having a byline in a notable publication or\u00a0facing another rejection<\/a>. An editor\u2019s first impression of your writing skills is heavily influenced by the quality of your pitch\u2013\u2013especially if you don’t have samples or bylines. A unique or interesting angle on the piece is very helpful, too. Use the pitch to showcase your creativity and skill. Then, triple-check for mistakes and typos.\u00a0Editors hate those<\/a>.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve landed your first few writing jobs. Do them well, then ask for testimonials, which you will display on your website and include in future pitches.<\/p>\n Testimonials are statements from people you\u2019ve worked with (clients or editors), attesting to your professionalism and great services. Testimonials aren\u2019t necessarily a requirement for your pitch or website, but they do give credence to your achievements and skills as a freelance writer. It speaks volumes to a potential customer that previous clients think so highly of you that they take the time to sing your praise.<\/p>\n So how do you ask a client for a testimonial? Just take a deep breath and do it!<\/p>\n If your client is happy with the service and you\u2019re happy with the transaction, it\u2019s always ok to ask for a testimonial. Something as simple as sending an email is more than appropriate. You can even take it a step further and ask:<\/p>\n Did I meet your expectations for this assignment?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Would you recommend my services?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Would you work with me again in the foreseeable future?<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n The answers to these questions can shape a fantastic testimonial for your pitch or website. As long as you feel a rapport with your client, feel free to ask for a testimony of your skills.<\/p>\n When it comes to job listings, the advice you\u2019ll find online is pretty evenly divided between two camps. Some sources swear that the\u00a0most successful freelancers<\/a>\u00a0got their first gigs on job-mill sites like Upwork and Fiverr, while others recommend you\u00a0avoid them like the plague<\/a>.<\/p>\n The truth is, the process is different for everyone. The issue lies in how full job-mill sites have become. Every gig you see will have at least 60 other bidders vying for it. So how does a budding professional find freelance writing work?<\/p>\n It\u2019s simple: don\u2019t rely on job listings. Sites like Upwork take advantage of freelancers who are willing to work for little to no pay. The payoff there isn\u2019t even worth it.<\/p>\n Instead, you should start by relying on these three sources:<\/p>\n Freelancer\u2019s Den<\/a>. Started by Carol Rice, a full-time freelance writer, her website is wonderful for shaping wannabe writers into professionals. Freelancer\u2019s Den also offers boot camps on how to write a pitch, cover letter, query, and so much more.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Contena<\/a>. Light warning: this is a premium job board that filters only top-dollar jobs for you. However, just like Freelancer\u2019s Den, there\u2019s an academy dedicated to teaching you useful skills for your business, like negotiating fair prices with your clients, calculating your rate, etc.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n LinkedIn<\/a>. This website is another source of job listings that connects you with legitimate clients and legitimate job opportunities. It also can show you who has taken a look at your profile\u2014and their profession. The site is designed for professional businesses, and your freelance services are no exception.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n Newsletters are the best way to find unique work opportunities, bar none. I argue it’s better than job boards. Here’s why:<\/p>\n Newsletters offer a curated collection of writing opportunities, distilled from hundreds of tweets with calls for submissions. If you’re not getting responses from job listings\u2013\u2013but you haven’t quite gotten used to navigating Twitter’s filters\u2013\u2013then these newsletters are your next best option. They find exciting offers and give you direct links so you can see for yourself. All you have to do is know where to look:<\/p>\n The Practicing Writer<\/a>. A free resource for writers that features writing exercises for subscribers, calls for submissions for literary journals, and announcements for contests.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n\n
Social Media Accounts<\/h3>\n
Create Watertight Samples for Your Portfolio<\/h2>\n
Professional Blogging<\/h3>\n
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Submit to Magazines<\/h3>\n
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Guest Posting<\/h3>\n
Ghostwriting<\/h3>\n
Craft Great Pitches<\/h2>\n
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Collect Testimonials<\/h2>\n
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Use the Right Job Listings<\/h2>\n
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Subscribe to Newsletters<\/h2>\n
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