Whether you’re a beginner or a battle-hardened pro, finding freelance writing jobs has gotten simultaneously easier and tougher. The internet makes editors increasingly accessible, but their accessibilty also means that they can get a flood of cold emails.
Recently, artificial intelligence has started to make inroads, so if you're new to the world of freelance writing, you may find writing jobs even more difficult. Writing can be a lucrative and flexible career — you just need to figure out how to take the next step. Here's everything you need to get started finding the best writing jobs.
Know Yourself: Find A Good Fit
A lot of recruiters talk about the importance of “finding a good fit,” which alternately sounds like a thinly veiled insult when they can't hire you but also rings with truth. Not every job is going to be suitable for you, and if you're looking for good writing jobs for beginners, you don't want to waste time wading through too many gigs you don't want.
Take the time, as a beginning freelance writer, to consider your skills and the value you can bring. The most successful freelance writers find writing clients looking for the skills they can offer.
Determine short-term goals, schedule, and abilities
Start by listing your objectives. Are you looking to write full-time or part-time? Your freelancing career must match your abilities and available time. As a new freelance writer, you may have to prove yourself and work your way up the ladder. This may mean starting on lower rates of pay or even some jobs for free while you build your portfolio.
Carefully consider your available time. If you have family or study obligations, you may have to reduce the hours available for your freelance writing work. If freelancing is a side hustle, you’ll have to fit your freelancing work around your full-time work commitments.
Are you planning an independent freelance career, or are you open to being employed with a W-2 contract? There are advantages and disadvantages to both W-2 contracts and 1099 independent contractor agreements, so consider your options.
As a 1099 or independent contractor, you can set your working times. Still, good freelance writing jobs may be hard to come by, and freelance work lacks the job security of a full-time contract. Freelancers who also find W-2 contract to become an employee, which can offer benefits and training opportunities. On the other hand, you may earn more as a freelancer, and you can write off certain expenses for tax purposes.
Understand your personal finances before you give up your permanent employment. Freelance writers must deal with inconsistent workflows. As a beginner freelance writer, it may be difficult to find quality jobs that return the income you need to cover your costs.
Consider the type of freelance work
Consider the topics you will tackle when you start writing. There are freelance gigs available in most industries, from travel websites to product reviews and more technical matters like online security and financial management.
Knowing your strengths will help you target your job searches and make it easier to find potential clients on writing sites. Check the freelance writing jobs online to find out what’s trending. If you’re good at research and writing, you could capitalize on the types of content that draw interest. Make sure that you’re comfortable with the content you choose to write about. Freelance writers must often specialize in a particular area. Specializing makes it easier to research and write as you develop your expertise in your subject of choice.
Consider your career as a professional writer. Would you prefer to write for one or a few clients? Are you a factual writer, or is fiction your game? Do you plan on article writing, creative writing, journalism jobs, or blog post writing? Different types of writing demand different skill sets. For example:
- Freelance ghostwriting jobs require excellent research;
- Technical writing may require experience and/or a college degree;
- White papers require in-depth research/knowledge;
- To succeed at email and digital marketing freelance jobs, you must understand your target market and know how to sell;
- Magazine writing and journalist jobs have high journalistic guidelines
- A freelance copywriter must have powers of persuasion. Search engine optimization skills are also needed for these types of writing services.
Determine Your 5/10-year career goals (don't have to be set in stone!)
Is writing a short-term stopgap or a long-term career? How much money do you need to earn over the short and long term? If you plan to rely on online writing jobs for your income, decide whether writing offers you a sustainable income. Remember to consider holidays and weekends since your income must cover all the costs a full-time employer would cover.
Weigh up any life changes you can reasonably anticipate in the short to medium term. (For instance, could you devote more time to freelance writing gigs in the future when your kids go to school?)
Set targets, if you can: By X years, you want to earn Y income; in X years, you want to have published Y number of books, etc.)
Brush Up on Your Writing Skills
After looking at what you want to do, take the time to build a portfolio. You'll need it to build your freelance business. A portfolio is a collection of your best works. Your portfolio should showcase the skills that you plan to market. Here's how to build yours.
Use your existing work
If you have a lot of writing under your belt, use your best writing samples to build a portfolio to share in your job search. Consider creating a website, writing your own blog, or creating a shareable Google Drive/MS Word folder.
Write new content wherever you can
Find popular blogs and offer to write a guest post. This will get your name in print and allow you to build your reputation as a writer. You can also use this work as a writing sample when looking for new clients. Search Google to search for popular websites that accept guest posts. Then, find one to which you can contribute. Guest posts are an excellent way to establish your expertise and make contact with editors who may offer you freelancing work in the future.
You can also create content for the sole purpose of showcasing your skills. If you decide to go this route, consider your target audience and the type of skills they will look for. Then, write the article to showcase your skills.
How to Find Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners
Once you have completed your portfolio, it's time to start looking for freelance writing jobs for beginners. This is where things get interesting. There are so many options.
Browse Freelance Sites for Beginners
You'll find some of the best freelance writing jobs on freelance sites like Upwork and Fiverr. Many large corporations post freelance writing jobs on these sites, and they pay well for the service. Some of the best-known freelance sites include;
- Upwork – Upwork has a reputation for low-paying job listings, but there are opportunities to grow your portfolio and increase your earnings as you progress. The website has a vast range of online freelance writing jobs, and the platform is safe, securing funds for both clients and contractors.
- Fiverr – Fiverr works like Upwork in reverse. Instead of the employer posting job listings, the freelancer posts availability, and the employer contacts the freelancer. Try Fiverr for a great start to your freelance writing career.
- Flexjobs – Flexjobs specializes in remote work for people who prefer to work from home. You can find online writing jobs for a membership fee.
- SolidGigs – For a monthly subscription, SolidGigs will send you email alerts for the top 1% of advertised freelance job postings. The service checks the web to find freelance writing gigs.
Many freelance writers start writing on sites like these, though some sites are oversubscribed, and you will have to cut your salary expectations as you build your portfolio.
Lurk on Freelance Writing Job Boards
A freelance writing job board is often the best place to start. Some of the best-known include:
- ProBlogger – ProBlogger offers writers resources to develop their writing skills along with a job board and community network. It's a great place to start freelance writing.
- BloggingPro – a dedicated job board, BloggingPro doesn't offer the comprehensive well-developed service, you'll find on ProBlogger. Still, there are open writing job opportunities on the site.
- Freelancewriting.com – The main objective of Freelancewriting.com is to match writers with people wanting to hire freelance writers. They also offer writers resources.
Job boards are often very competitive, so you may find that the pay is not good, but it is a good place to start building your portfolio.
Search Traditional Job Boards
Don't overlook traditional job boards for beginner freelance writing jobs. These include:
- LinkedIn – For success on LinkedIn, create a profile that draws interest and showcases your industry knowledge. Then, start to build your network.
- CareerBuilder – with more than a million jobs on offer, many successful freelance writers have found writing jobs on CareerBuilder.
- Indeed – Considered one of the best job boards in the world, Indeed matches millions of job seekers with employers each year.
Creative Staffing Agencies
Creative staffing agencies offer mostly part-time jobs, but if you want to write full-time, you may be lucky enough to find a full-time writing job at a staffing agency.
- Creative Circle – a non-profit organization, Creative Circle matches clients with creative writers.
- 24Seven Talent – A global company headquartered in the UK, 24Seven Talent specializes in creatives, marketing, and technology.
Some of these agencies offer benefits you would not receive as an independent freelancer.
Work for Other Writers
Aspiring writers can also connect with other freelance writers, working in a professional environment and learning from the best. Try Freelancing Females. The website provides a space for female freelancers to network. It also has a job board for freelancers.
If you know successful freelance writers, you can also offer to ghostwrite on their behalf.
Cold Pitching to Clients
While it’s a long shot for a beginner, some websites and magazines consider “cold pitches” of articles, books, and ideas. If you have a great idea and a writing style that will appeal to clients, cold pitching may get you in the door.
Start Your Freelance Business Today
Starting a small business is never easy. A freelance business is no different. However, the barriers to entry are low since the only assets you'll need are a good laptop and the software. What you will need, however, are content writing skills and a good measure of tenacity to succeed at your business.
There are plenty of resources a successful freelance writer can access. Go out there and find them!
FAQs
How much do freelance writers charge per hour?
The rate varies considerably depending on your skill level and experience. Entry-level rates are typically between $15 and $30 per hour.
Can I do freelance writing as a side hustle?
Freelance writing as a side hustle is a great way to improve your income, gain the skills you need, and build up your business.