Home
>
Writing
>
Making Money from Freelance Writing

Making Money from Freelance Writing

It's the question that every aspiring freelancer eventually finds themselves asking: is it really possible to make money from this? The kind of money that lets you keep a roof over your head and feed your kids occasionally, that is?

Well, yes, it is. But let's be honest: it's not easy. In fact, you probably just picked one of the most difficult career paths in the world. That's the bad news.

The good news is that with the right approach and the right attitude, you can earn a respectable wage from freelance writing. Here are a few tips on how to do it:

Love your writing career

If you're anything like the thousands of other freelance writers out there, you're probably not in this for the money. If money was your main objective, you'd probably be working your way up the corporate ladder right now in a nice, safe office job, washing the car on Sundays and forgetting all about writing.

If that kind of lifestyle is anathema to you, then congratulations ? freelance writing could be the right career choice after all.

At the bottom line, most freelance writers do it because they love to write, and because they want to be able to make a living doing something they enjoy. And that's a good start. If you really want to make a success of your freelance writing career, you're going to have to love what you're doing, and really want to make a success of it.

This is a rule that doesn't really apply to conventional working. You don't have to love Big Macs to work in McDonalds, or love filing to work in an office. You just have to turn up on time, do what's required from you and then walk away. If your career is freelance writing, you never get to walk away. The truth is that at first (and often for a long time afterwards) you'll spend much more time looking for work than you'll spend actually writing. Looking for work will become all-consuming. When you're not writing, you'll be either thinking about writing, or looking for writing you can do to make money. If you don't love what you're doing, and if you're not absolutely determined to keep on doing it, you'll find it very hard to keep that up.

But enjoying what you're doing isn't going to be enough: if you really want to make a living out of your writing, you're going to have to treat it like a business.

Treat freelance writing as a business

As we've said, the chances are that you write because you love to write. Or because you want a job you can work around your kids, your hobbies or your other commitments in life. Whatever you do, though, never lose sight of the fact that your writing is, first and foremost, a business. And as with any business, you need to work at marketing it and growing it.

This may not come easy at first. You're a writer, after all, not a marketer! If you wanted to sell things, you'd have found a job in sales, right?

Wrong. You DID find a job in sales. Freelance writing is as much about selling as it is about writing. You picked a competitive industry to work in. No matter how good you are at writing, there's someone out there who's as good or better. There are even people out there who aren't nearly as good at writing as you are, and yet they're getting more jobs. Why is that?

The difference is in the selling. The mediocre writer who does a good job of getting out there and selling their services (and themselves) will ultimately be more successful than the excellent writer who sits at home and waits for the work to come and find them. The truth is that the work will never come. You need to go and find it ? and when you find it, you need to make sure you pitch yourself well enough to secure it. If you don't know anything about marketing, it's time to learn.

Remember the golden rule of writing

Of course, there are ways to make things easier on yourself. There are a whole host of websites out there which allow you to "bid" for writing jobs. Great idea, no? Well, it depends. Remember the golden rule: money flows towards the writer. If you're thinking of signing up with an agency that requires you to pay money to join, you're already breaking the number one rule.

Be wary of bidding sites, too. Often the competition is so fierce that you have to be willing to practically work for free in order to secure the job. And working for free isn't paying your mortgage or feeding your kids.

Love your work, market yourself, and remember the golden rule. Welcome to the wonderful world of freelance writing!

Amber McNaught runs writingworld.org, a new agency for freelance writers. Writing World provides a free agency service which helps writers find work, and helps employers find the best writer for their project.

Writing World also offers a range of service such as proofreading, edting and manuscript appraisal services to new and aspiring writers.

Chat about all aspects of freelance writing in the writingworld.org!

Batchtown Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare

In The News:

A virtual private network can help ensure your information remains security and your privacy remains intact. Kurt the CyberGuy explains.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Artificial intelligence-based cameras are giving air defense operators unprecedented capabilities in monitoring and protecting airspace.

Apple's iOS 18.1 Inactivity Reboot automatically reboots your iPhone if it hasn't been used or unlocked for more than three days, providing better data protection.

An inventor designed rooftop solar panels for a Tesla that draws solar energy while the car is parked, adding travel mileage without plugging in.

There are currently no laws governing what artificial intelligence can and cannot do with the information it gathers; here are 10 things to avoid telling AI chatbots to keep yourself safe.

A credit union with over 240,000 members recently revealed it was targeted by cybercriminals, resulting in a data breach that was part of a two-month attack by hackers.

Scammers have become skilled at creating convincing fake websites that can easily fool unsuspecting users. The CyberGuy offers tips to protect yourself.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

CAPTCHAs, which are used by websites to confirm whether users are people or bots, are harmless, but hackers are using them to infect PCs with malware.

Hackers recently leaked personal information of about 500,000 Americans and stole patient medical records that included lab results and insurance details.

The holiday season sees a rise in mobile shopping scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson helps you learn how to stay safe.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson says a VPN enhances online banking security by encrypting data and protecting privacy.

Beware of these six sneaky holiday scams. Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson gives you tips to avoid falling victim.

Tech expert Kurt “CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals how to securely back up and factory reset your Android to protect your privacy and data.

Artificial intelligence is making life easier for cybercriminals, allowing them to create elaborate scams to trick people. Kurt the Cyberguy explains how to protect yourself.

Cut through all the digital clutter and delete multiple emails from your Android simultaneously. Kurt the CyberGuy explains how it's done.

Tips to prevent your holiday decorations from being stolen

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson lays out the immediate steps you should take if your phone has been hacked and your personal information becomes vulnerable.

Fraudsters are sending people bogus invoices through PayPal as part of a sneaky scam that is going around; here's how to protect yourself from being fooled.

A former Colgate-Palmolive employee was shocked to discover $750,000 had been drained from her 401(k) account. "CyberGuy" offers tips on how to prevent identity theft.

Electric vehicle maker Harbinger recently showed its electric delivery truck can handle icy roads with agility and stability in winter.

To make the busiest time of year more manageable, here are some tricks for tracking your packages, taking quality family photos and curating the perfect Christmas playlist.

Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how to keep your online Amazon gift purchases a secret from loved ones or friends this holiday season.