How to Make Freelance Writing Work for You
In case you are under the impression that freelance writing a career option is a bed of roses, you need to have a closer look at the topic. Sure, freelance writing has its own share of perks: managing your own time, working within the comforts of your home, opportunity to think and write about a wide range of topics, seeing your name on print are some of the many benefits of the profession. But have you thought about the reverse side of this job? May seasoned freelance writers confess that after years of working alone with the computer without any human contact, long working hours, meeting incredible deadlines coupled with uncertainty of a steady income have driven many writers back to the routine of a 9 to 5 full time writing job with an assured income.
Are you cut out for freelance writing? While many get lured by the opportunity of doing something creative through out the day and make a handsome pay packet at the end of it, the fear of the many uncertainties involved in the process may make you shaky as well. Consider these important factors, before you take a decision:
Are you a disciplined person? There are many people who are incapable to organize their work schedule and plan their daily work without any supervision or any other co-worker around. If you find it hard to self-monitor yourself, then you should look for other types of writing jobs.
How stable are you financially? Freelance writing can be full of uncertainties and carry many financial ups and downs. Today the assignment you are handling may vanish tomorrow with no assurance of any job in the coming few weeks. So if you are the sole income generator in your family, this could work very hard for you and your financial budgeting. Also, a paid employee usually gets many types of coverage like health, disability insurance, 401K contributions, taxes, paid holidays, etc. When you are on your own, all these expenses are your liabilities which may put additional strain on your pocket. Would you then choose a secure ‘corporate’ job than to toil single-handedly at your computer and work as a freelance writer?
How good are your internal resources, like experience, knowledge of the writing market, familiarity with publishers, etc, which can generate continuous income for you, in case you decide to go into full time freelance writing? Every freelance writer should aim to develop long term relationships with a few of his clients, so that there is no gap in the flow to his income. Only a very versatile person can make this happen. You must be flexible enough to accommodate any and every type of writing and writing styles for which there is a strong demand in the market. Niche working is perhaps not the ideal situation – till such times that you are completely established and have loads of income to fall back on. The more versatile you are, the more assured income you can expect from your clients.
Where are the clients?
Finding customers who will pay for your work is not as difficult as it may seem. Good writing skills are always in demand and there are hordes of clients who are on the look out for good writers. But first you have to find your own niche: what type of writing are you good at? They could be fiction, non-fiction, articles, blurbs, books, press releases, consumer tips, advertising prose, etc. Then find out people who buy these types of writing and need them for their own publication.
Traditional Publishing Conglomerates: Irrespective of where your writing talents are focused on: books, magazines, news features or lifestyle articles, the traditional publishing houses are still the biggest pay masters. Since quality and experience in the profession are critical for a breakthrough with these organizations, most freelancers are out of the race. Publishers of books would pay royalty for past writings and they also pay advance for a future writing. Magazines on the other hand, have a pay-per-word payment style. Both these types of publishers have a higher pay scale than the non-traditional print publishing companies but they make sure that the quality of writing is the best to be found in the market. The authors also have to be genuine experts in the field of writing. Local newspapers, tabloids and small magazines would usually pay lesser but are willing to give jobs to freelancers more than they can chew. One way to make a breakthrough in this world is to study the publishers’ guidelines very carefully and then submit your writing which should fit their core topic (fashion, movies, women, etc). You should prove to them that you know your subjects thoroughly and can deliver quality articles on time, every time. You will likely be considered.
Non-Traditional Publishing:
Thanks to the internet, the world of non-traditional publishing has opened its doors to a myriad of talents in freelance writing. From content servers, product reviews, travel articles and blogs to e-book publishers, jobs for freelancers are all over the internet. Even the most inexperienced freelance writer can make a good start with this type of business. There are many sites which need numerous ‘how to’ articles and are willing pay freelance writers anywhere between $2 and $50 for such articles. Any one who is willing to gather experience by spending long hours at the computer and gather reasonable income per month, would love to do these types of jobs.
Business Writing: Of all the different types of writing skills, business and technical writing is a skill which attracts maximum pay. Thousands of companies worldwide are looking for people to write their proposals, user manuals, create their marketing and advertising campaigns, write sales letters, company news letters, and marketing plans as well as write simple website text, letters, and more. The list is endless and offer excellent opportunities for freelance writers with adequate business acumen. An extremely competitive field even for the seasoned writer, if you can make a breakthrough in this type of freelance writing, you could earn very good money with every project that you complete.
What are the income possibilities for a freelance writer?
How much money you can earn through freelance writing is entire up to you and your skills. It is entirely your prerogative to accept or reject a writing proposal. But before rejecting remember that in this world of freelance writing, what looks like a low paying proposal, may turn very lucrative, generating a steady flow of income. For example, many beginners start with charging a few dollars for writing several small articles ranging between 350 and 500 words. As they build their expertise, client trust and speed, they increase their rates which could in turn make their hourly rates very lucrative. This way they enhance their per-article rate as well as increase their daily output. There are also other freelancers who are keen on making a certain amount of money on a per-word basis. While fixing rates for your job, remember the following: the time it will take for you to complete research and writing the article, the taxes and extra payments which you might have to make for your personal finances, the monthly or annual income you need to make a decent living with this income. Then fix a rate with is viable as well as competitive.
The market of freelance writing is showing a tremendous growth. So writers with good business acumen, ability to stick to deadlines, and a good quality of writing style will find no dearth of writing opportunities and can make a good career choice that is rewarding both financially and emotionally.
Writing Maven recommends BodiesLanguage.com, eBookIncomes.com, and Williger.com.
