As a freelance writer, you can turn your passion into income. It's not any easy field to break into, however, so you may need some guidance along the way (and plenty of dedication). This page will help you learn how to become a freelance writer.
- A freelance writer is a small business person who is in the business of writing, and works as an independent contractor for various employers. Often, they work from home. In order to be successful you need to have a good product (your writing), determine your market (your area of specialization), and find customers (writing assignments).
How to Write a Query Letter
Step 1: Become a Better Writer
(Creative Commons photo by Ian MacKenzie)
- Your writing is your product, so it's important to make sure you can do it well. In order to be a better writer, you need to practice your craft and regularly review your work with a critical eye.
- Analyze other writers' work.
- Study the rules of grammar and composition, as laid out in guides such as Elements of Style and the AP Stylebook.
- Take a class at a local college, to polish your skills.
- Work on developing your editing skills. As a freelance writer, you'll get more assignments if you submit work that the editors don't need to invest much time in.
Step 2: Specialize and Establish Credibility
- Writers can work in a variety of industries and genres. Although you can work in more than one area, when getting started writing for pay, its best to select one area and focus your efforts there, to improve your odds of success. If you have a background in finance or information technology, for example, you might want to focus your initial efforts in that area, branching out after you've established credibility.
Step 3: Where to Find Freelance Assignments
- You can find jobs by networking with other writers, submitting proposals to publications in your area of specialty, or by perusing jobs that are listed online. There are a number of sites that list potential assignments online. Here are a few to get you started:
- OnlineWritingJobs.com: Freelance Writing Jobs
- Writingcareer.com: Writing Jobs
- Sunoasis: Today's Freelance Writing Jobs
- WritersWeekly.: Markets And Jobs
- Freelance Writing Jobs: Writing Gigs
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