How to Spend Your Workday as a Freelance Writer

Anyone looking to become a full-time freelance writer should stop to consider how a freelance writer spends her workday. One of the more attractive qualities of becoming a freelance writer is that initially, you don't have to quit your day job. You can gradually increase your freelance writing until the income replaces your day job. Here 's a glimpse at how to spend your day as a freelance writer.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Look for new writing opportunities. Whether you're an established freelance writer or a newbie, you must spend time looking for new freelance writing gigs. Freelance writers know that it's risky business placing all of their freelance writing eggs in one basket. The growth of content providing sites such as eHow has made it easier for freelance writers to find writing opportunities.

2. Track the Money

   Keep track of earnings. Developing an earnings-tracking mechanism is another part of a freelance writer's day. While some freelance writers use pen and paper and other use software programs such as Quicken to track the income, writers know that they cannot leave it up to the publisher to keep track of the writing income. This is nothing against publishers. They're human and they sometimes make mistakes. Writers know it's better to track and document their writing assignments to have backup documentation in the event of an error, than wishing they had kept better track after a being on the short end of a costly accounting error on the publisher's part.

3. Network. Whether the writer networks in person or via the internet, keeping in contact with other writers is important. Freelance writers are a special breed of people. Their networking efforts are not always about getting something. Usually it's more about giving something. Through blogs, forums and newsgroups, freelance writers share their experiences, paying markets, tips and advice to help other freelance writers.

4. List of Ideas

   Maintain a title database. The name sounds more technological than it really its. Maintaining a title database is really keeping track of article ideas. Some freelance writers use index cards while others use an Excel spreadsheet. Bottom line, freelance writers jot down and keep track of titles as they come to mind.

5. Research. An important part of a freelance writer's workday is research topics. The beauty of being a freelance writer is that writers are eternal students. It's the perfect profession for the person who "doesn't know what they want to be when they grow up." Freelance writers never really grow up, but they constantly grow.

6. Write. Although freelance writers want to write, they spend a lot of their time preparing to write. Once all the preparation is done, they finally get to spend a portion of their workday actually writing. Writing involves outlining the ideas, expounding on them and then editing them. The not always pleasant part of a freelance writers workday is rewriting. The rewrite may be as a result of self editing or as a result of constructive criticism from an editor. Either way, a portion of a freelance writer's day is dedicated to writing and rewriting.

Tips & Warnings

• It takes a special personality to become a freelance writer. It's not always easy accepting criticism for a piece of work that a writer has poured her heart and soul over. However, understanding that criticism is a part of the trade, most writers accept criticism gracefully.

Resources

• Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer
• How to Find Health Insurance as a Freelance Writer
• How to Make Money Online as a Brand New Freelance Writer