Freelance writing

What is freelance writing?

Anything freelance means that you take on small jobs as they come instead of having a full-time job. With freelance writing, this would mean that, instead of having a full-time job such as a reporter, you would submit difference pieces to be published in magazines, newspapers, and other publications. You would have to search for work and, hopefully over time, people will request your work.

Benefits of being a freelance writer

One huge benefit of freelance writing is that you can be your own boss. You decide what you will and won’t do and you make your own money.

You could decide to specialize in an area of expertise and write mostly about that, branding yourself in that industry. For example, if you have a degree in finance and worked in the industry for a few years, you probably have enough expertise in that industry to focus on writing finance articles for different publications.

Often when people look at freelance writing, they think of those who travel the world and write about what they see and come across. Also, you might specialize in fiction by publishing short stories in literary magazines hoping to one day publish a bestselling novel.

Freelance writing is a job for the determined and hard-working person who really loves to write.

Freelance writing isn’t all glamorous

Freelance writing sounds great, but it’s hard to get off the ground. If nobody knows who you are, no matter how good your work is, the high-paying magazines probably won’t publish you. You need to start small and develop a portfolio.

Writers are often known for being broke, especially early in their careers. Some may never be good enough to move out of a dumpy apartment or even to live at all, and have to get a different job.

Even when you do start making money, there may be times where you feel rich with all the work you are getting, and then there are the times you have to scrape by. Freelance requires excellent budgeting skills to get through the tough months.

Freelance writing is like a business. You are selling your skills and services. If you are exceptionally and work very hard, you will do very well. If you aren’t good with words and only work half-heartedly, you should expect to look for another job.

If you want to get into a freelance writing career, you should start on the side while working another job until you are making at least what you are making at your job, preferably double, before you quit.

Back to Getting Published Homepage