Freelance Writer, Alexa Peter’s Top Three Tips for Entering the Market in 2022

Freelance Writer Alexa Peter’s Top Three Tips for Entering the Market in 2022

By Alexa Peters

December 2022 will mark nine years since I had my first piece published as a freelance writer. Inspired by one of my professor’s new books, I pitched Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls to write a piece about it. The upbeat and women-focused digital publication liked the idea, and much to my surprise, I began to write for the site regularly as an arts columnist.

When this happened, I was in my final year at Western Washington University, where I earned a degree in Creative Writing, and at the time, engaging in the freelance market was still regarded as a cute side-gig on your way to a corporate 9-to-5. Planning to do freelance writing full-time, I was most definitely an outlier among those my graduating class.

But, since then, I have become exactly what I wanted to be: Freelance writing is my full-time occupation. I have had the privilege of writing journalism for The Washington Post, The Seattle Times, Seattle Weekly, Leafly, as well as many other publications. I’ve also worked as a copywriter and content writer for global brands like Rover.com, Microsoft, and more.

Almost a decade since my first article went live, the freelance writing market looks completely different. For one, it’s absolutely flooded with writers, particularly since the pandemic made the flexible, remote and self-defined nature of freelance work more desirable and thus, more accepted. Are you new to the market or feeling tempted to join the freelance flood, but unsure how to make yourself stand out? I’ve got a few tips that may help you get ahead of the curve and create a comfortable living for yourself as a freelance writer.

1)???Know Your Craft

Do not, I repeat, do not set out to become a writer if you hate to write. In other words, don’t become a freelance writer purely because you want the glamorized lifestyle that comes with it. Freelance writing isn’t all pina coladas on a beach with your laptop. You really need to know how to write and like it if you plan to make a good living as a wordsmith.

Ten years ago, knowing your craft pretty much meant going to college or university for writing or studying hard on your own by reading and mimicking writers you admire. These days, those methods are still probably the best, but there’s a few other options too that leave little excuse for bad writing. For one, there are way more online and short-term “freelance writing courses” that cover craft, in case writing school is out of your budget. There’re also a lot of writing coaches for freelance writers in the industry these days, and other resources like freelance writing podcasts, that can help you better your skills.

2)???Follow Your Passions

When someone is happy and inspired, it transmits into what they write and inspires the reader. For me, music was a passion, so it felt natural to start with writing about it–something I knew well. I can honestly say that my passion sustained me creatively, kept me motivated in the beginning when the pay checks were small, and moved my readers enough to lead to future gigs.

So, take some time to think about what really lights your fire when considering what you will write about. Are you really into food? Consider becoming a food journalist, or doing digital marketing for restaurants. Do you live and breathe politics? Consider breaking into news reporting or working with a nonprofit that advocates for a political cause you believe in. Do you love managing your personal finances, or searching for houses to buy? Finance and real estate are both profitable niches for copy and content writers—might be worth a try?

Obviously, work can’t always be 100% amazing and fun and inspiring, but if you at least have one or two clients that really stimulate and excite you, it can help keep you motivated and happy in your day-to-day and help you produce better work.

3)???Learn The Business

Remember when I said freelance writing wasn’t all writing on a tropical beach with your laptop? Yeah, well, sometimes you’ll need to invoice clients, do some book keeping, pitch new clients, onboard new clients, market your services, pay estimated taxes, hire sub-contractors, figure out how to scale, network and more. In gist, the sooner you realize that owning a freelance writing business is as much about writing as it is about business—the sooner you will find success.

I learned a lot about business through trial and error, but these days the scene is so competitive and so fast-paced, having a basic grasp on how to run a small business on the outset is a great way to set yourself apart from the pack. A great way to immediately become more professional and get clear on your business goals is to create a business plan. From there, auditing business courses at your local community college, joining a local small business association, or devoting a few hours a week to meeting with another small business owner willing to give you tips, is never a bad idea.

Let’s recap! If you are considering becoming a freelance writer or hoping to up your freelancing game: Decide if you like writing enough and are good enough at it to make it your career before you dive in, follow the subjects and style of writing that make you passionate so you can show up for the hard work inspired, and get yourself some business know-how so things run smoothly and you can spend more time on what you love—the creative work!