Starting off as a freelance writer can be a difficult task. First of all, everyone around you will give you the ‘That’s not a real job’ expression and even after you convince them that people do make a fine living by freelancing, it actually takes a lot of hard and smart work to get the ball rolling.
If you are convinced that this is what you want to do then do not look back anymore and simply follow through these steps to dive into a successful career of freelance writing.
Step 1: Turn your focus on
Everything else should become secondary because the primary focus now should be your career as a freelance writer. If you have decided to take this road then leave your doubts and your old job behind. Spend some time polishing your command over grammar and get the writing flair that will get you moving.
Step 2: Understand the market
There are many types of freelance writing such as writing for web content, for bloggers, for online magazines, for local clients or even on site. You must be well aware of what options are available and choose what suits you best.
Step 3: Get your writing samples in place.
If you want to write, you’ve got to convince them that you really can. Create some form of a portfolio through which you can show case your best works. It is important to have a general idea of what kind of writing you want to do so that your samples match with the requirement of the clients you approach. Having you own blog is also a great way to portray your talent at writing.
Step 4: Get noticed
You might need to get some novice experience before you can show off as an expert. The best way is to use guest posts as a way to give a sneak peak of your writing talent. Free posts are welcomed by everybody and slowly you can give feedback and advices which will get the online community to notice you.
Step 5: Reach Out
Enough free work! Now is the time to start getting paid for your hard work. There are several ways to connect to clients and you should try a combination of these to get your first writing job. You can start by trying some of the simpler assignments to see where you stand. The experience gained in your first few assignments can come in extremely handy and may prove to be the stepping stone towards a flourishing career.
Step 6: Take what comes
Your first offer need not be what you dreamt of but do not let this bother you too much. Accept the offer and begin modestly. Remember, this is the stepping stone and not the final destination. Work hard at gaining experience in the field and much sooner than you know, you will be in a position to demand higher rates.
Step 7: Be committed
Starting your career as a freelance writer is challenging. There is a lot of brand building involved, which takes considerable time to happen. You need to make a name in the field to start bidding for the higher rates. If companies know that what you write will attract a lot of audience, then there is no way that they will turn you down. All you need to do is be patient and work hard to reap the benefits of freelance writing.
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Career
Jobs
Freelancer
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