Freelance Writing 101

Freelance writing is a great way to earn money. You can do it at your own pace and at your own convenience. Research is usually a breeze – in this age of modern technology, information is just one click away. However, before you start searching for online freelance work, you may consider these tips first to improve your chances of getting such, and if you’re doing it already, succeed in the profession.

Advertise. First off, you must sell yourself. No one will give you any written work unless they are impressed with your capabilities. Give samples of your portfolio, and of course, show off that impressive resume. The Internet actually saves you money as you can now submit your works through e-mail instead of the traditional mailing method. With the popularity of blogs and personal web sites today, it is vital that you have your own site if you want higher chances of getting chosen by editors.

Focus. Know your objectives before you start writing an article. Are you writing merely to inform? Are you marketing a product? Are you trying to enforce an idea? Once you know your goal, stick to that. Put in only related information that will help you achieve what you and you’re editor are aiming for with that particular article.

Research. Be sure to have all the resources you need as you start writing. When you have all that you need, you can write continuously and not get stressed out in the middle of the task because of missing or inadequate information.

Organize. Make a map or an outline connecting all the data and information that you have. During the writing process itself, remember to state your ideas directly and reduce fluffy words and not connected ideas.

Learn. Study different styles of writing. For instance, if you’re assigned an article to be posted in the web, keep in mind that web content should be shorter and crisper than material in traditional print publications. It would benefit you if you read a lot of well-written online content to master your style. This market is not difficult to break into if you take a bit of time to research content writing.

Experiment. It’s easy for any writer to get stuck in writing the same thing over and over. For fun and for your own good, try adding some spice in your writing routine. If you’ve written articles for years, you may do some greeting card writing for a while. If you’ve been writing mostly technical content, try writing about the arts. Occasional variation will increase your inspiration, writing skill, and income.

Rest. Spending too much time writing in a day tires you and lessens creative flow. Give yourself time to relax for a while until inspiration strikes again. Furthermore, leaving an article for a while refreshes your mind and enables you to see mistakes you’ve overlooked a while ago.

Take these tips to heart and you’re sure to go your way up in the freelance writing business. Always remember that opportunities are abundant but only those who have utmost desire and discipline get them.