Taking the plunge: Getting Started in Freelance Writing
So you want to take a shot at freelance writing, huh? That’s cool. We’re a buncha nice people (well most of us are, anyway) and we welcome you to our fun little club! Unfortunately, your acceptance to the unofficial “freelance writers of the world club” doesn’t guarantee success. It just means that you have a shoulder to cry on and a sympathetic ear to chew off if something bad happens. Which it probably will. Hopefully nothing that will leave you maimed and in pain, though. We’re thinking more along the lines of having a difficult client, a pile of unpaid invoices or <gasp!> a shortage of work.
Ah yes. It’s time for reality. It’s the part that most of us can do without from time to time. But there ARE things that you should consider and be prepared for if you’re planning on embarking on this adventure.
So you want to be a writer, so what?
Meaning, so what do you want to write? That may seem like a basic question, but a surprising amount of people starting out say, “I don’t know. Anything.” But will you be HAPPY writing anything? Maybe, maybe not. So sit down for a few minutes and make a list of the things you like to do. Do you like to travel? Then maybe write some travel related articles or start a travel blog. Do you have a chocolate cake recipe to DIE for? Maybe being a food writer is right up your ally. One of the best parts of being a freelancer is the freedom to choose what you want to do. Everyday. So take advantage of that!
Be “smartly selective.”
Ok. Maybe you’ve decided that you want to write travel articles about the many places you’ve visited and plan to visit. You wouldn’t try to market your services to companies who make telecommunications equipment, would you? Understandably that’s a gross exaggeration, but hopefully you get the idea. In that case you would pick travel-related websites and companies to target your marketing efforts to. For example, contact the Tourist Bureaus of these cities and mention your brochure or website writing services. A lot of these tourist places have racks and racks of vendor brochures. There you go, a smorgasbord of leads! Grab a stack and get on the phone.
Sometimes, the best things in life are free.
Here’s something that may be a little difficult to get behind, but it may be a tough reality. If you’re a newbie to freelancing and have very few samples to show, it’s going to be more difficult to land jobs than if you had a portfolio stocked full of dazzling pieces. Is it impossible? Absolutely not! But it’s a good idea to have a few somethings under your belt. That wasn’t the hard part to hear. The hard part is that you may want to seriously consider “volunteering” your services to a few places so you can pad your portfolio with “real” freelance pieces. Future clients don’t have to know they were pro bono, the idea is that they will be so engrossed in your kick-butt work that it won’t matter that you technically weren’t hired to do the work. Consider charities, or organizations like the Red Cross or United Way. Many are letting their full time marketing people go due to a decrease in charitable contributions, so it may be a good way to get in the door…and win major karma points to boot.
There are many more things to consider when deciding whether to take on freelance writing, but these were a few to get you started.
Oh, and welcome to the neighborhood!
Do you have any other tips to help aspiring freelance writers?
Love it Michelle. Great advice for writers and non writers alike.
Thanks, Josh!
I think it’s also important to try to figure out what you’re worth, once you start getting paid for your writing. For instance, there are plenty of so-called “paid” writing sites that really only pay if other people are reading your stories (pay-per-view, or pay-per-hits sites), and then only a couple of cents per reader.
There are also sites that will pay you for your writing, but if you’re spending a couple of hours researching and writing these pieces, but only making 10 or 15 bucks with each one that’s accepted, is it really worth it? If you’re making less than minimum wage when you break it down to an hourly rate, then I’d say no. Be wary of people who want to pay you unfair rates, and don’t let them take advantage of the fact that you’re new to the game.
Great tips Michelle.
I would add a couple of thoughts, though they may be more tactical than your strategic points.
1. Get a copy of the Writer’s Market book. It’s a list of publishers and agents. You can buy it via Amazon, Barnes & Nobles or check it out from the library (may not be most current version). Just know that the publishers listed are getting lots of inquiries. Be wise in how you approach them, but be bold. I haven’t bought a copy in a long time because I do more advertising copywriting and fewer articles as of late. Someone else may have more recent experience with the list in this book.
2. Join a local writing club. This will be people who will hold you accountable to make progress on your dream of being a writer. They’ll also give you good feedback that you can use.
@ Laura- Excellent advice! These are truly common pitfalls that are all too common. Admittedly I experienced these the hard way! Thank you for adding to the list.
@Dustin- Thank you for adding to this list as well. These are also great tips…and ones that even “seasoned” writers may have needed a refresher on.
Great list Michelle. I am one of those individuals who wish to break into Freelance Writing. I especially agree with your point of volunteering your services. It is important to hone your skills as you build your resume. I plan on taking your advice.
Thanks Giselle! I know you can easily be stuck between a rock and a hard place when you’re just starting out. So I found that having SOMETHING to show, even though it was pro bono, goes a long way when you’re trying to convince a client that you have what it takes to get their job done. And when you become a super successful freelancer with a huge portfolio, then you can point to those pieces and say “Oh, I volunteered my time to help such a great cause.” :-)
Thanks a lot for the useful advice. It will surely help the writers and beginners. It is confusing earlier but following a certain pattern helps in growing further. Try out submitting unique articles in Ezine.