How to Start your Freelance Writing Career Off on the Right Foot

Freelance writing as fulltime work has always been perceived as a sketchy career. While many freelance writers paint a pretty picture of spending their days besides chirping birds and the gleaming sun, freelance writing is generally not that laid back of a career. If you are serious about becoming a freelance writer, read this step by step guide that will lead you towards a steady monthly income.

Instructions

1. 

   Don't burn yourself out. It's cool that you're excited about being a freelance writer, but working 20 hour days won't lead to financial freedom. Let's be realistic here, after a few days of working 20 hours and getting only 2 hours of sleep your body is going to catch up with you. And don't think overloading on coffee is going to save you, because it's not. The caffeine will catch up with you, the long hours will catch up with you and your spouse who is feeling ignored and unloved will eventually find a time to get in your face and lash out. Do yourself and your family a favor, don't work more than 12 hours per day.

2. 

   Diversify your income streams. If you have a talk with any successful freelance writers, the very best advice they will give you is to diversify your income streams. As a freelance writer you have an advantage that not many other careers are granted. You can earn residual income. See this article you're reading right now? Yeah, I was paid to write it. I didn't receive upfront payment, but I get paid on a recurrent basis from eHow based on an undisclosed formula. Hey, we'd all like a little clarification, but as long as I get paid, I don't have a problem. Consider writing for revenue share sites such as eHow, Bukisa and Info Barrel. Wouldn't it be great to have an extra $500 coming in each month without actually having to do anything for it after the initial conception of the article? Yep, it's pretty sweet.

3. 

   Track down clients. You can't be shy if you want to be a freelance writer. In fact, shyness will almost guarantee that your freelance writing career will remain in neutral forever. Get out there and mingle. Bring some business cards wherever you go. Cold call businesses and tell them why they need your services. Cold email bloggers and let them know that you'll make their life easier by creating their web content. Contact online businesses who have terrible product descriptions and offer to rewrite it for them for a fair fee. As a freelance writer, the possibilities for clients are endless. Anyone who has a brick and mortar business needs marketing collateral and anyone with an e-commerce business needs web content. Become their freelance writer of choice by getting in their face. If you get rejected, move on. You'll get more rejections than you will paying customers anyways. Quantity is king in marketing.

4. 

   Raise your rates. Are you charging $10 for a 500 word article? If you are, stop. It's just bad business. If you are a prolific writer why would you go dishing out valuable content for the price of a meal at McDonalds? Raise your rates immediately. While it is true that nowadays freelance writers are a dime a dozen, prolific freelance writers are diamonds in the rough. Evaluate what you bring to the table and if it's worth more than $10 raise your rates. If it's not, get out of this business. You won't make it as a freelance writer by undervaluing your work.