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Step 1
Read "Writer's Market." The premiere resource for freelancers, this publication may be found online (for a small subscription), in hardcover or at the library. It lists magazines, online publications, book publishers and writers' agents—-all with links to writing guidelines, pay scales and contact information; a truly invaluable book.
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Step 2
Scour the online job listings. Dozens of websites list writing jobs. Some of the best of these are regional CraigsList sites (although read the terms of the job offers carefully), Freelancewriting.com, Freelance Writing Jobs and the ProBlogger Job Board. (See Resources below.)
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Step 3
Network. Some of the best writing jobs never hit the classifieds. Become friends with other writers in your specialty. Many employers hire multiple writers and your writing friends are likely to share this information. Remember to return the favor.
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Step 4
Ask clients for more work and recommendations. If a client is pleased with your work, they can be your best advocate. Ask them periodically if they have any colleagues or friends that need copy material or articles.
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Step 5
Spend a day at the library. The local library is a great source of information for writers looking for work. Magazine mastheads hold contact information, as do regional newspapers. In addition, most library stacks include dozens of resource materials for freelancers.
Comments
phpnetpro said
on 10/31/2009 Excellent article on freelance jobs. I had never thought about visiting the library to find new clients. I have been doing freelance writing jobs part-time for the past few months to supplement my income and have found the majority of my work using online freelance job sites. I found a great list of them here: http://www.fireboss.net/freelance/new_freelance_clients.php