Making Money from Freelance Writing

Making Money from Freelance Writing

It's the question that every aspiring freelancer eventually finds themselves asking: is it really possible to make money from this? The kind of money that lets you keep a roof over your head and feed your kids occasionally, that is?

Well, yes, it is. But let's be honest: it's not easy. In fact, you probably just picked one of the most difficult career paths in the world. That's the bad news.

The good news is that with the right approach and the right attitude, you can earn a respectable wage from freelance writing. Here are a few tips on how to do it:

Love your writing career

If you're anything like the thousands of other freelance writers out there, you're probably not in this for the money. If money was your main objective, you'd probably be working your way up the corporate ladder right now in a nice, safe office job, washing the car on Sundays and forgetting all about writing.

If that kind of lifestyle is anathema to you, then congratulations ? freelance writing could be the right career choice after all.

At the bottom line, most freelance writers do it because they love to write, and because they want to be able to make a living doing something they enjoy. And that's a good start. If you really want to make a success of your freelance writing career, you're going to have to love what you're doing, and really want to make a success of it.

This is a rule that doesn't really apply to conventional working. You don't have to love Big Macs to work in McDonalds, or love filing to work in an office. You just have to turn up on time, do what's required from you and then walk away. If your career is freelance writing, you never get to walk away. The truth is that at first (and often for a long time afterwards) you'll spend much more time looking for work than you'll spend actually writing. Looking for work will become all-consuming. When you're not writing, you'll be either thinking about writing, or looking for writing you can do to make money. If you don't love what you're doing, and if you're not absolutely determined to keep on doing it, you'll find it very hard to keep that up.

But enjoying what you're doing isn't going to be enough: if you really want to make a living out of your writing, you're going to have to treat it like a business.

Treat freelance writing as a business

As we've said, the chances are that you write because you love to write. Or because you want a job you can work around your kids, your hobbies or your other commitments in life. Whatever you do, though, never lose sight of the fact that your writing is, first and foremost, a business. And as with any business, you need to work at marketing it and growing it.

This may not come easy at first. You're a writer, after all, not a marketer! If you wanted to sell things, you'd have found a job in sales, right?

Wrong. You DID find a job in sales. Freelance writing is as much about selling as it is about writing. You picked a competitive industry to work in. No matter how good you are at writing, there's someone out there who's as good or better. There are even people out there who aren't nearly as good at writing as you are, and yet they're getting more jobs. Why is that?

The difference is in the selling. The mediocre writer who does a good job of getting out there and selling their services (and themselves) will ultimately be more successful than the excellent writer who sits at home and waits for the work to come and find them. The truth is that the work will never come. You need to go and find it ? and when you find it, you need to make sure you pitch yourself well enough to secure it. If you don't know anything about marketing, it's time to learn.

Remember the golden rule of writing

Of course, there are ways to make things easier on yourself. There are a whole host of websites out there which allow you to "bid" for writing jobs. Great idea, no? Well, it depends. Remember the golden rule: money flows towards the writer. If you're thinking of signing up with an agency that requires you to pay money to join, you're already breaking the number one rule.

Be wary of bidding sites, too. Often the competition is so fierce that you have to be willing to practically work for free in order to secure the job. And working for free isn't paying your mortgage or feeding your kids.

Love your work, market yourself, and remember the golden rule. Welcome to the wonderful world of freelance writing!

Amber McNaught runs WritingWorld.org, a new agency for freelance writers. Writing World provides a free agency service which helps writers find work, and helps employers find the best writer for their project.

Writing World also offers a range of service such as proofreading, edting and manuscript appraisal services to new and aspiring writers.

Chat about all aspects of freelance writing in the WritingWorld forum!

---

8 Reasons Why A Freelance Writer Should Use the Internet

What a wonderful resource the Internet is!Students find information to... Read More

Four Act Stories and Beyond

There are various forms of structure, including frameworks, work processes... Read More

Passionate About Writing?

I'm a writing fool! 2 book proposals, 1 user's guide,... Read More

Before You Write Your Book, Organize Its Parts - Part 1

If you are a serious writer who wants to publish... Read More

How To Build A Successful Freelance Editorial Career

In the current job market, many editorial freelancers have turned... Read More

Scenes and Structure

Beginning writers often tend to think of a book as... Read More

Writing IS a Business

Why is it that so many people don't take writing-as-a-job... Read More

Create Confidence With Your Writing

Whether you are writing a magazine article, composing a press... Read More

Tips On Writing A Killer Sales Letter

Writing a sales letter doesn't have to be that difficult... Read More

A Plan

All writers should use a plan whether written or reflected.... Read More

Top Ten Ways to Write a Book That Sells

Is there a book inside of you? Yes? Then why... Read More

How to Write a Holiday Tale that Isn?t a Turkey

When we write stories, with the purpose of sharing them... Read More

Writing - Copyrights and Trademarks Protect You

When most people consider writing a book, they don't think... Read More

Top 5 Rules of English Grammar

Communication is effective when we follow certain rules. These rules... Read More

How to Build A Success Freelance Career (Part 2)

Part 1 of this article discussed the experience you need... Read More

Screenwriting, Screenplays, Screenwriters ? Incremental Productivity

When attempting to understand Creativity and Innovation, it pays to... Read More

Aesop, Abraham Lincoln, and You

May I tell you about a writing technique shared by... Read More

7 Essential Letter Writing Strategies

Based on the feedback that I have been getting from... Read More

Making Money from Freelance Writing

Making Money from Freelance WritingIt's the question that every aspiring... Read More

Does Your Plot Suit Your Characters And Vice-Versa?

Creative Writing Tips ?When an idea comes to us for... Read More

How You Can Become a Certified and Profitable Proofreader

A certified proofreader is one that has taken a few... Read More

The Write Habit: How to Strengthen Your Writing Muscle

Writing is a muscle that needs exercise to stay in... Read More

The Authors Life: 14 Hints on Creating a Career Plan

1. Remember publication is a business; writing is an art.... Read More

If You Want to Succeed As a Writer, Dont Just Think It, Do It

It never ceases to amaze me when a prospective writer... Read More

Hey Cient, this is Me! Find Your Writing Voice and Sell Yourself

In a crowded market, clients will be seeking personality as... Read More

7 Weapons to Conquer the Giant Procrastination Keeping You from Your Book Dream

Have you been guilty of procrastinating on your book project,... Read More

Alternative View Points and the Lamp of Creativity

Pictures they say are worth a thousand words, but many... Read More

How to Publish a Book: Key Differences Between Publishing and Self Publishing

For many authors just starting out, it can be a... Read More

Writing Made Them Rich #2: Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens was born in Portsea, England, in1812. His father... Read More

Why Manners Maketh the Freelance Writer

Lately I've been noticing an odd trend amongst the freelance... Read More

Plotting Problems - Episodic Writing

The rejection letter says: "Your story, on the surface, appears... Read More

COULD YOU (not) REPEAT THAT PLEASE?

I recently read a book where everything was akimbo. Arms... Read More

The Writing Game

There are a lot of tapes and books and CD... Read More