How to Begin Your Career in Freelance Writing

Freelance writing can be an excellent way to fund your creative writing...or it can be a lucrative career all by itself. Whatever your interest in freelance writing, these are the best steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Creativity
• Work Ethic
• Computer with the Internet

1. 
    

   Just Write. Writing is definitely the first step in starting a freelance career. Write everything that's on your mind. It doesn't matter what it is or if it makes sense. Try writing outside your general interests too just to find out how it feels. Write a commercial for your favorite candy or an advertisement for your dream car. Whatever you write, hold on to it. Don't erase everything no matter how bad it is. Keep it as a kind of writing journal just to see how far you've come. I still have short stories I wrote when I was 6 years old. The progress I've made is astounding.

2. 
    

   Register online for different writing websites. HubPages and eHow are the greatest examples. I made a little bit of money from eHow this month and haven't published any articles up to this date yet. It may not be much, but the more articles you have available for the public to read, the more likely you are to make a little bit extra money on the side. Over time, this money will add up until you're able to fund your entire writing career without doing too much work on the side.

3. 
    

   Embrace your writing. As mentioned above, don't ever get rid of your old works. Keep them as a portfolio and alternate them often so you always have your best work. There is no way to improve your talents if you have no mistakes to learn from. Look at your old writing as your childhood. No matter how terrible you were at certain things, you persevered until you became as talented as you are today. Why would writing be any different?

4. 
    

   Check Craigslist for writing positions. Don't think locally only, though. Search all over the internet for different writing jobs that are available. Eventually, you'll find so many you'll be overwhelmed.

5. 
    

   Apply, Apply, Apply...and don't get discouraged...EVER. Ray Bradbury, the famous sci-fi author, once said that though it appeared that several of his stories had been accepted it was only because he'd written thousands. If you want to write for a living, apply for every position you're qualified for...and maybe a few that are just above your qualifications. After all, you have to prove yourself eventually. Remember, the greatest authors and freelance writers all started exactly where you are. Their works were rejected and turned down time after time also. They are no different than you and the only thing that sets them apart from the rest of the world is that they took the time to try over and over again until they finally succeeded. Try until you succeed.

[dreamlarger]

on 11/5/2009 great advice. I always love when I see people enjoying the same things as me. rec :-)

[nikkia623]

on 10/27/2009 EXCELLENT INFORMATION!!!!!! These are perfect tips for people looking to become freelance writers. Number 3 is especially important, I learned that the hard way. 5 stars and a rec!!!

[leduncan]

on 10/24/2009 Great article...You're right! Never, ever give up. It used to be rejection letters in the mail after typing manuscripts and query letters. Work it on the internet and it will come!

[dbdewer]

on 10/24/2009 Good advice all around. Persistence is the most important qualification for any freelance gig.

[bulletbutter]

on 10/24/2009 Excellent article. Could use some some links to freelance writing job searning websites like www.freelancewritinggigs.com/