What Is Freelance Writing and How to Become a Freelance Writer
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A freelance writer is a self-employed professional that completes contract work for various clients. Freelancers have a lot of unique freedoms that are difficult to find in certain industries, and freelance writing is a field people can enter with the proper knowledge and skills.
If you dream of a job that offers freedom and creativity, freelance writing may be the perfect fit. You can choose clients and projects to maximize time and income as a freelancer. It can be a great opportunity to make money while writing about topics you know.
The process of becoming a freelance writer takes time and effort. You have to be dedicated to obtain clients, make a living, and show the worth of your work.
As a freelancer, you are self-employed and rely on various jobs or tasks to earn income. A freelance writer is a type of freelancer that uses writing and editing skills for articles, copywriting, and other content. Instead of being a full-time employee at a company, a freelance writer works independently with clients on a contract basis. These professionals often work from home but can also work out of public spaces, rented offices or coworking spaces.
Generally, freelance writers produce written text their clients require but may vary based on topic. Freelance writers can be generalists, which means they write about a variety of topics.?
There are many different subcategories for freelance writing, which can help clients find the right fit for their projects. Here are the main types of freelance writers you should know:
Freelance Content Writer
A freelance content writer, also called a web content writer, creates written text designed for the web. This type of content includes:
Freelance content writers want to instruct, entertain, or inform their audience. The ultimate goal of these writers is to create posts that drive website traffic. Writers want to encourage the readers to take action based on the client’s intended result.
Freelance Copywriter
Freelance copywriters are similar to freelance content writers in many ways, but the main difference is that these professionals want to sell the brand. Advertising often requires a copywriter's expertise.
They create content for the web that persuades the audience to do something specific. A copywriter’s written text will end with a call to action.
Freelance Columnist
A freelance columnist is a writing professional that works with a publication to provide journalistic-style articles.?
They use their perspective to talk about specific topics related to their column in the publication. Editorial writers write about their opinions while news writers cover the facts unbiasedly.??
Freelance columnists often contract with:
Columnists used to be almost exclusively full-time or part-time employees, but the transition of many forms of media to the internet has made it easier for freelancers to sell their work to publications.
Freelance Ghostwriter
Freelance ghostwriters can write just about any type of written text, including blog posts and books. This umbrella term refers to writers who complete work and give another person or group the official credit.
Many celebrities hire ghostwriters to write autobiographies even though the book describes that same celebrity as the author of the text. Alternatively, some book series may give credit to just one author when multiple authors worked on the project.
Freelance Technical Writer
A freelance technical writer takes complex information and writes it to make sense for the general population.?
Key types of projects a technical writer might work on include:
Technical writing also encompasses more generalized work, including legal briefs, grant writing, or business plans.
To succeed as a freelance writer, you must prepare yourself before jumping into the profession. Key actions to take before you start writing include:
How to Become a Freelance Writer
Since freelance writers have to find their own work, there are platforms that clients use to post their jobs. Freelancers can browse these sites to find clients and read more about the types of jobs each client offers.
Some of the popular freelancing platforms for writers include:
When you’re starting as a freelance writer, you need basic writing and editing skills. This includes grammar conventions, word processor proficiency, and the ability to research.
You also need to ensure you can meet deadlines and work independently. Freelancers have to be their own boss, which means they can’t rely on anyone else to help them stay motivated.?
In addition to the basic skills, here are some other skills you should focus on:
Spend time developing hard skills and soft skills. Both are equally important if you want to be a freelance writer. Executive resume writer Jessica Hernandez says, “Hard skills are the keywords employers use to search/scan resumes. They look for hard skills to see if you have the professional, technical, or academic qualifications for the role. Soft skills are the EQ (emotional quotient) and personality skills that make you a great people person, enable you to lead or motivate others, and contribute to teamwork. Both have an important place on your resume.”?
Potential clients need to see these skills when considering hiring you as a freelancer. Hard skills show that you have the know-how to do the job well. Soft skills show that you’re someone with which they want to have a professional relationship.
Consider what you prefer to write. Some freelance writers prefer to write about one specific topic or industry, while others prefer to have a more diverse writing portfolio.
Some industries require freelance writers more often than others. Some examples include:
Freelance writers also choose how many writing opportunities they want at one time. Some freelance writers consider writing their full-time career, while others complete jobs only when they have free time.
Your portfolio is what clients view to determine what type of experience you have and your level of skill. For this reason, it should include your resume, writing work samples, testimonials and any other evidence of your strong background.
As a freelancer, you must be able to sell yourself and your skills to anyone who comes across your work. Choose your best writing samples to demonstrate your value to potential clients.??
Pros and Cons
Freelance writing is not perfect for every writer. Consider the pros and cons of freelancing before making professional changes.
The pros of freelance writing include:
The cons of freelance writing include:
In a LinkedIn Learning course, Jay Clouse, founder of Creative Companion, says, “If you're going to leave your job, be sure to give your employer plenty of notice so you don't burn a bridge. A lot of freelancers even offer their former employer the opportunity to become a client. This is a fantastic way to secure your first client while buying yourself some time for finding new clients.”
Choosing whether this is the right path for you is a personal decision. However, if you’re motivated and ready to work hard, it can be a profitable career path for many skilled writers.
Top Takeaways
What is freelance writing and how can you become a freelance writer?
(Reporting by NPD, Editing by Timothy Mably)
Writer
2 年Thank you for this: - simple language - informative - and guiding article. Do you have an Arabic version of it?
Lead Generation,Photo &Video Editor,Content writer and website developer,Up work on fiverr
2 年Thanks for posting
Freelance Writer, Digital Content Writer, and Blogger
2 年This is so very true. The market is Uber competitive right now.It's also important your niche(es) aren't the most popular thing circulating these tangly interwebs! And if you are a sports journalist- an NFL ,NCAAF, and pro-wrestling writer, you pray that your unique writing style will be what the employer is looking for.?I am helped out in two ways- one is that I am a female sports journalist, which is rare, and something companies are claiming to want change in. And the other is that pro-wrestling, truly a Billion Dollar business, is still considered a small to medium niche in the media industry.?My words of wisdom for the day. But before I leave, if writing is your dream- don't dare let go of it... read as many books, join communities and groups, take some classes, try to start writing with Medium to begin. Or better still... make your own newsletter or blog!
Education Management Professional
2 年Yes I’m considering it.