Becoming A Freelance Writer

Figure out what kind of writing you want to do. Most of freelance writing is non-fiction, so what topics do you feel passionate about, that is where you want to start.

• Schedule your time even though you are working at home. This is a real job, so treat it like one.
• Write a paragraph or two about yourself and the work you are best at. Paste it as needed on websites you visit.
• Familiarize yourself with search engine optimization and use it. Get subscriptions to several ezines and forums. Get involved with a writing club or online community. All of this networking should be able to be accomplished at no cost to you. Newsletters are a good source of information.
• Go through the market listings and submit articles to them.
• Keep track of your work and your interests and expand on them whenever possible.
• Keep careful records of your articles, income, and expenses. You will be totally responsible for your own taxes at year’s end.
• Your portfolio should have a copy of every piece you publish online, including the URL and the date.
• Do research before you quote a price on a job. Take into consideration the time, length, and difficulty of the project, as well as the client you are doing it for. Always arrange for method of payment in advance.
• Before you get into a bidding war, familiarize yourself with the site, the process, as well as the client and job you are bidding on. Complete projects exactly as requested and in a timely manner.
• Don’t be afraid to contact the Better Business Bureau to check out a questionable job offer.
• When using sites like Craigslist for locating jobs, remember that they have no good filtering system. Many of their job listings are scams.
• Learn how to recognize and avoid the scams. Never put out money to get a small article assignment or some such project. And don’t be willing to work for free unless it is for a charity.

There are jobs everywhere, if you know where to look.