How to Become a Successful Freelance Writer
There is no special theory, formula, regimen, or vitamin that will help you become a successful freelance writer. We would all like a pharmaceutical company to market an effervescent tablet you can drop into water and drink that hones writing skills and gives the consumer what it takes to be a freelance writer, but that just is not the case, unfortunately. Some long time writers will give you a bunch of tips and hints, there are books you can read, and there are tutorials all over the internet. Some scam websites claim to have tutorials and lessons you can take to give you the inside scoop on what it takes to make it as a writer. The brutal truth is that there is no time tested theory. Everyone makes it different ways. Fortunately, there are some fundamental attributes all successful freelance writers have or use.
Before doing anything else, you have to decide what and how you are going to write. It is easier to score more jobs if you don’t specialize in a specific type of writing, but if you do specialize, you can charge more money, get more repeat business, and build up more credibility quicker. The question is really whether you want quantity or quality. You can make $200 a day on one project, or $200 a day on 10 projects.
Do not be afraid to spend as much time as you can studying different writing styles, freelance books, Microsoft products, and even HTML, XML, and RSS. All of these can be used in different aspects of the freelance writing market. You may want to look at the websites of established freelancers to find out what kinds of writing there are, what you are qualified to do, and what prices you will need to match or beat to stay competitive. Spend that time evaluating your skill level and being honest with yourself about your capabilities.
When ready, build yourself a simple website for marketing and detail your services, pricing, contact information, and a little biography. Also create memberships at different freelance websites and write or e-mail every person or business you can find that might be able to use a freelancer and offer them your services. Remember when signing up for memberships at different freelance websites that the paid memberships are always worth it if you are serious about success. Yes, you are becoming a freelancer to make money and not spend it, but paid memberships pay for themselves quickly. Once you have done that, you will want to accept as many jobs as you can, no matter what the pay, as you are looking for experience and the opportunity to hone your skills. It is not uncommon to begin part-time while working another job until you make the decision to “go pro”.
Once you are in business, like any other freelancer, or for that matter, any other business, you will need to understand the finances and legalities. You are your own sales representative, accountant, collection agency, and even janitor. You will want to learn about the contracts, written agreements, and copyright information necessary to run a legally efficient business. Study self-employment and small business taxes, both on government websites and in books you can get from the library. Tax deductions and filing information are crucial, especially to a beginner.
