Freelance Writing Jobs: How to Build a Successful Career from Anywhere
In a society where people rely on instant gratification through social and streaming media that consists of blog posts and memes, writing careers have undergone a significant metamorphosis. Gone are the days when experienced marketing communications professionals or technical writers were guaranteed a livelihood. With the rapid rise in AI and the gig economy, many companies are laying off workers in writing and marketing positions. Instead, they rely on lower cost freelancers; this creates opportunities for those who want to freelance remotely or from home.
Benefits of freelance writing from home or remotely
The primary benefit of freelance writing from home or remotely is that you are your own boss and can work on your time schedule. You can determine how much or how little you want to work, what you expect to be paid and, finally, choose to accept only work that inspires you. You can wear your sweats, pajamas, casual attire or whatever is most comfortable (but be sure you know when the camera is powered on). There is minimal overhead, other than a fast computer and an internet connection. If it sounds too good to be true, know that there is much more to freelance writing than simply printing a business card or updating your online profiles.
Critical Success Factors of Freelance Writers
If you are just starting out as a freelance writer, you may be surprised or even overwhelmed by the variety and numbers of freelance writers already out there, most of whom started before you did and have the benefit of understanding the competitive landscape and tools for finding work. Here are some key first steps:
Get a lay of the land. Figure out which “job” sites are best for you. Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com, GigX, Indeed, etc., are some examples.
Join discussion groups for freelance writers. Facebook has a few and people are usually willing to help others.
Pick your Niche! You may not always be lucky enough to write only about your area of expertise and you may not always be able to land the type of writing you want to do; i.e., books, journal articles, marketing collateral, blogs, academic writing, resumes, sales decks, etc. Nonetheless, you will need to market yourself, and it’s easier if you have an elevator pitch that highlights your uniqueness.
Self Discipline. Know your limits, your bandwidth and your speed. Don’t take on more than you can successfully deliver in the time frame promised. Experiment with writing to see how long an assignment might take.
Check your ego at the door. You may be a brilliant writer and you may be a subject matter expert on a number of topics. Unfortunately, all those companies and individuals who are trying to hire freelance writers don’t know yet that you’re exactly what they’re looking for. Unless you were personally referred (and you should work on having people in your network refer potential clients to you), a potential client has no idea who you are. Until you acquire a following, be prepared for lowball offers and expect to submit proposals many times before anyone even looks at an application or proposal from you.
Be patient. Just like you can’t land the perfect day job overnight, you likely won’t get a remote freelance writing job fresh out of the starting gate. Once you do, though, it can be an incredibly rewarding and very convenient experience.
Manage your time and workload
Don’t overpromise and under-deliver. Do the opposite; deliver your work earlier than the client wants it. Spend more time on your first jobs than they may seem worth. Then, after you have a couple of jobs under your belt, you will know better how to estimate the time you need for jobs, and can plan accordingly. Don’t burn yourself out and take on more than you can comfortably deliver.
Stay motivated. If the work is not coming in at a reasonable pace, find other things to do that will fulfill you and help minimize any stress you may feel from waiting for jobs. For example, volunteer work is a great distraction, but also a great networking opportunity. You never know when a fellow volunteer at the local soup kitchen might be a professional in need of your services.
Conclusion
If you enjoy writing, and are good at writing in a variety of styles, and if you have the patience and self-discipline to find work and manage your time, then freelance writing can be a dream career. How wonderful it is to do what you love, work where you want, and on your own terms. Before you dive into it though, give it some careful thought, figure out what you want to write and what online sites you want to use to help you find work, whether it’s a gig site or a job board. Work probably won’t fall into your lap at first but, with persistence, time and effort, you should be able to do as much or as little writing as you want. Good Luck!