How to Get Freelance Writing Jobs

If you like writing and ever want to make money from home on the side, freelance writing might be a good option for you. It is a great gig to make a little bit of extra income on the side. If you enjoy writing, then freelance writing is definitely something you can pick up on the side for some extra money and maybe even enjoy it! Here are just a few ideas that will help you get those freelance writing jobs.

If you want to work as a freelancer then you need to make sure your writing skills are sharp and professional. If you’re not already a good writer, then take some steps to become one. There are online classes, community courses, or even reading and journaling everyday can help hone your skills. You don’t need to sit down and read the dictionary or anything, but making sure you’re constantly exposing yourself to writing opportunities will help out. Practice writing, get feedback from friends and families, and then rewrite. It may not be the most exciting thing, but it will expand your skills and knowledge.
You may need to start writing for free before you get paid for your work. This isn’t always the case, but it can really help you get your foot in the door at many agencies. You can even get a free guest writer position on some popular blogs to help get your name out there. Even though it doesn’t pay, these kind of gigs will pay in name recognition and invaluable experience. Be aggressive and send your work out to whatever websites you think fit your style. Without charging a fee or expecting payment, many companies are more willing to look at your work and even publish it.
Another option, in addition to writing for free, is finding sites that have guest writers. Some of these positions are paid (although most aren’t,) but either way, they’re great for experience. If you can become an endorsed guest writer for a website or blog, not only will you get consistent writing opportunities, but you’ll also get name exposure as well. Just like on a resume, being a guest writer shows future contractors and company owners that you’re serious about your writing and that you’re good enough to be hired. Lots of writers actually got their start into a money-making freelancing career by being guest writers on prominent websites first. It may not be the most glamorous job or experience, but it’s a great start.
If (and when!) you do start building a name for yourself and making money from your freelance work, then you’ll want to make sure you have sufficiently honed your self-discipline and money management skills. If you’re only getting a few jobs every now and then, this isn’t so much of a deal. But the more work you have, the more companies contract you, and the other invariable responsibilities that come with growing a home business can really weigh you down if you don’t have a good system in place. Self-discipline is necessary so that you aren’t saving all your assignments for the night before they’re due (reminds me of school). If this is your style, then your contractors will quickly realize that and most likely drop you as a freelance writer. Similarly, you need to have a way of keeping track of your finances and managing your money. Not only will this help when tax season rolls around, but it will also give you more power to negotiate for higher payment for your writing.
Another aspect of freelance writing that is so important is networking and making connections. You need to be comfortable getting your feelers out and find potential business assets that can help your writing career flourish. If there are people in your community that run successful blogs, reach out to them. Friend, follow, and like potential businesses that you would like to write for in the future. Get to know a company’s writing style, typical topics, and target market. Once you’ve done your research, contact those who are in charge of the writers and be firm but polite in getting your writing published by them.
If you don’t want to network and connect with other people in order to get your writing out there, then consider creating your own blog! It will be hard work but, if you remain dedicated, then it can be a really great payoff. Not only will you make money from people reading your work, but you can also get money from ads and other marketing strategies. Choose a blog topic that is broad enough to have things to talk about every week, but still specific enough to actually attract a certain type of audience. And if you start your own blog, make sure it looks professional and remains up-to-date. You can use your blog as evidence to possible contractors to show them the quality of your work, too.