How to Work as a Freelance Writer

To find work as a freelance writer is not difficult. To WORK as a freelance writer is not easy.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Time
• Computer w/ internet
• English Skills
• Time!

1. Build your portfolio. The best way of doing this for any aspiring writer with not much experience are self-publishing websites such as triond.com. Here you can write something out - be it poetry, fiction, or non-fiction - and have it published almost instantly online. This makes it much easier to show potential employers what you are capable of.

2. Troll sites looking for wanted writers. Good sites that I have had positive experiences with would be sites such as craigslist.com or freelancewritingjobs.com. Be careful no matter what site you go on and NEVER give out any private information (SS#) without first meeting the employer. If they are legitimate, they will be more than willing to meet with you.

3. When you find a posted job that you like, send an email or call the employer. Make your message brief, telling them how you would like to work with them on this particular job and include two or three hyperlinks to your already published works (triond sites if you are new). In some cases it may be appropriate to follow up with a call or email, but avoid pestering! You want to be as proffessional as you can be: do not leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth!

Tips & Warnings

• Review and re-edit your self-published works constantly! You want to allow them to be a reflection of how you write today, not 2 years ago!
• Keep your emails short and brief, they don't want your whole history yet!
• NEVER NEVER NEVER give out personal information without first verifying your employer. I actually had my SS# stolen because I was eager and excited about my first 'paying' gig. I paid alright.

Resources

• Triond
• Craigslist

[mrschoy]

on 10/14/2009 Your tips are helpful! I can't wait to try them myself. Unfortunately, I have gotten rid of my sample works. I have to start from scratch.

[treasuresyw]

on 9/20/2009 Thank you for the tips. Good and straight to the point. I like it:-) Peace

[davidjo]

on 9/8/2009 You can build a nice portfolio, in your own website, or if you take the other way, is to build portfolio at the freelance market place website.
You can always try freelancetraffic.com it's free, and you can build a nice portfolio(and it's free).

[kidsleepinfo]

on 8/18/2009 Thanks for this information. I like what you wrote about constantly going over your work so it reflects improvement over time.

[kianakelly]

on 7/5/2009 Thanks for the advice! Good to know you've had success with Craig's List.