It's important to be serious and dedicated if you're going to make a good living as a freelance writer. The job has its ups and downs, but if you're able to weather them, it can be fun and a rewarding experience. Best of all, you'll get a lot of freedom with respect to when and how you work.
Step one in finding good writing jobs is deciding where you'd like to concentrate. The demands for being a professional ghostwriter are very different from those of a fiction writer or magazine feature article writer. In all situations however, you'll probably have to start out at low rates, build your portfolio, and work your way up the pay scale.
Remember that different markets may offer different rates. In the world of magazines, for instance, you'll see a range from those who offer a fraction of a cent per word or only a few contributor's copies, all the way up to magazines that offer one or more dollars per word.
Three fields that are often profitable for people in writing jobs are copy writing, business writing, and technical writing. They're known for their ability to pay more and to pay more consistently than many other, less reliable fields. Fiction writing can be a lot of fun, for instance, but it may result in unreliable pay.
In these three types of writing jobs, you're usually working for a corporation or smaller business. Your client has the money to get a job done, and is often willing to pay to get a writer who can do it correctly and on a short deadline. Professionalism and the ability to turn in quality work on schedule are two of the most important traits a good writer can have. There may be better writers out there, but if they're unreliable, they won't get as much work as a more dependable freelancer.
Business writers may produce white papers, reports, speeches, press releases, ads, pamphlets, or articles. They need to be versatile, and may charge by the hour — fifteen to twenty dollars per hour isn't uncommon. It's important to be conversant with the business world and maintain a very professional demeanor when doing this kind of writing.
Technical writing is also known for having a high hourly rate. Writers with proven portfolios may make as much as fifty to sixty dollars per hour — comparable to other technical jobs. You'll have to have a good background in a variety of technical subjects for these writing jobs, and be able to work closely with a corporation. This writing can be fun for those with a keen interest in the subject, but may become tedious over time. Multiple revisions are common, and rewriting may be required as well.
Copy writing usually involves sales page writing, and is often used to produce promotional content for websites and online services. This is a difficult skill to learn, but can produce high pay rates and good rewards. Remember not to fall victim to offers that sound too good to be true — some online business people offer royalties instead of up front pay, promising that they'll make a fantastic profit. This may or may not turn out to be true, and could be a poor choice for the writer.
Remember to look closely at the contracts you get for any type of writing job. Make sure that the rights being purchased and the terms of purchase are specified, and that you're comfortable with the conditions of the contract. Having your terms in writing means that you have a better chance of getting compensation if a company decides not to pay you for your writing jobs.
Freelance writers will also need to keep a few extra things in mind when selecting writing jobs. They'll need to remember that they pay additional self-employment tax, and provide their own insurance, benefits, and retirement options. It may be necessary to charge more to make sure you cover these. Many companies are more willing to hire freelancers than in-house writers because these things are then covered by the writers, instead of the employers. That makes the job market a little more lucrative, though a little less reliable.
Remember that budgeting is important, since writing jobs may be few and far between. Most writers find that their work comes in bursts, resulting in a "feast or famine" situation. Money earned during periods of heavy work should be saved for those times when writing jobs are hard to find. This could require you to change the way you budget and spend money. You'll need to spend almost as much of your time looking for new writing jobs as you do working on the ones you have, in order to make sure you'll have a steady paycheck.
Freelance writing jobs can be rewarding and enjoyable, as long as you know what you're getting into. Pay attention and have a good plan when you start, and you'll have a much better chance of landing fun, high paying writing jobs. Don't allow yourself to get stuck working for peanuts. Building a good portfolio and seeking out better writing jobs can allow you to make a good living working as a writer.
