How to Become a Freelance Writer
Tips to Writing Your Way to Success
How do I start as a freelance writer? This is a question that many folks and sasquatches alike have had, especially during the months that the coronavirus pandemic has impacted the world’s economy. Traditional in-person work positions have been rocky due to fluctuating demands, but freelance work continues to boom in popularity and demand. Yet, many of us are too wary of learning how to start. But trust me- if a sasquatch like me can succeed, then so can you! In this article, we will examine how to become a freelance writer, tackling it from a few different strategies.
Before we begin, it’s crucial to uncover the question of “What exactly does a freelancer do?” I asked myself the same thing. Luckily for us, the answer is simple to understand! A freelance writer is anybody who writes content for a client while not being employed by a
larger organization. Some may choose to specialize in multiple areas of freelance writing, like ghostwriting or content writing, while others
prefer to do it all. So, if you’ve got some writing chops, it’s time to take a look at a few ways to get started!
Pitch Ideas to Potential Clients
One of the first ways freelance writers earned their keep was by applying to newsletters, magazines, and eventually websites with their story-worthy ideas. Have you experienced something one-of-a-kind and think that other people may want to hear about your story? Or perhaps you have enough insight into a hot topic that people want to read what you have to say. If that is the case, then submitting your pitches could be a strategy for you.
Submitting a pitch is a great idea when you have stories in mind and want your name to be plastered across the story. You may find yourself in one of the biggest newspapers in the world, while others are lucky to be featured in
their local paper. While this method has one of the best success rates of getting your name out there, it’s also notoriously hard to find consistent work. While it works for some, others prefer the online platform route.
Join Freelancing Platforms
“But how do I start freelance writing with no experience?” Well, my simple sasquatch pals, the answer to that is by starting by joining a freelancing platform like Toptal or Fiverr. These are places where clients in need of a freelancer provide a posting explaining precisely what they need, and the freelancer (that’s you!) applies and explains why they think they deserve a shot. Many of these platforms thrive on ratings, so anybody can succeed if they can earn rave reviews. The best way to do this is to pick up smaller jobs where you are confident you can learn (and succeed) and work your way up to have all the experience you need to apply to the bigger jobs confidently.
Many people shy away from this method of freelancing because it requires you to submit cover letters or requests for multiple jobs. While this is true and can be frustrating to humans and sasquatches alike, it remains worth your while. Freelancing platforms are also a great way to connect with clients who may turn into long-term clients. Some day you might even get enough work from these clients to justify stepping back from freelancing platforms in general!
Not sure which freelancing platform is right for you? Take our quiz to find out!
What Freelancing Is All About
Joining online freelance platforms or pitching to papers and websites are two of the most common ways to learn how to become a freelance writer. And now that you know a few ways to go about it, we’re sure that you have a few other questions.
One of the most popular questions people ask is, “how do freelance writers get paid?” The answer will look different to you humans. For me, I have often traded some food or some of the nicest trees within the forest. But for you, you can anticipate sending a lot of invoices and getting plenty of direct deposits, PayPal transfers, and in-platform exchanges. Most writers will come to an agreed-upon amount with the client before the contract begins. You may leverage your skills to earn a deposit before the work starts, but fortunately, freelance platforms tend to have guarantees that ensure that you’ll get your money no matter what happens.
Your next question may be, “do you need qualifications to be a freelance writer?” Having something like a background in journalism or English may be a perk and will help pad your resume. However, these are not required, and as long as your writing skills are there, your work will speak for itself!
There are plenty of
different freelance jobs out there to discover. But for those wondering how do I start as a freelance writer, you’ve found an excellent place to start. You can take a look at our ratings of some of the most
popular online freelancing platforms and feel confident that you’re well on your way to breaking the rut of the 9-5 job and finding a career that you love!
