How To Become A Full-Time Freelance Writer, Even If You Have Zero Experience

Despite what you may have been taught, it’s not that hard to become a full-time freelance writer. While I’m not going to say that it will happen overnight, it’s possible with some hustle and a few smart moves.

If you follow this guide, you can be making money writing in as little as two weeks and working full time within a month or two. Read on to find out how.

How to become a freelance writer with ZERO experience

Takeaways
1. Pursue freelance writing even without prior experience.
2. Build a strong portfolio with personal and guest posts.
3. Engage with online writing communities for learning.
4. Showcase relevant writing samples to potential clients.
5. Explore content platforms and freelance marketplaces.
6. Network with other writers to discover opportunities.
7. Invest time in improving writing skills through practice.
8. Consider taking writing courses for skill enhancement.
9. Seek feedback from peers or editors to refine your writing.
10. Research industry rates and negotiate fair payment terms.

Table of Contents

Start Where You Are

The first thing you need to do is start where you are. If you have no experience as a writer, but are good at telling stories and have some friends who are also interested in writing, then start there.

You will be able to share each other’s work and help each other out when it comes time for editing or feedback on drafts. As long as the quality of your writing is good enough for the market that you are trying to enter, this can be an excellent way of getting started.

When I started my freelance career as a full-time writer, my goal was simply to make $200 per month from home and I did so within six months!

Building a successful freelance career takes time and effort, but it’s definitely possible to achieve a six-figure income. Learn valuable insights and strategies in our guide on how to build a six-figure freelance career and take your freelancing journey to new heights.

Write, Write And Write Some More

The first thing to do is to keep writing! The best way to learn how to become a writer is by actually writing. You can start with simple articles on popular topics like beauty or lifestyle. Your goal should be to get published on a platform that allows for free content (such as Medium) or earn some money from your work (such as Craigslist).

As long as you’re learning and building up your portfolio, it doesn’t matter where the money comes from at first – just make sure that you are doing something every day that will help build up your skillset as a writer and make sure that people can see what kind of work you are capable of producing

Create A Work-Life Balance

As you begin your freelance career, it’s important to create a balance between work and life. You’ll be spending a lot of time writing and researching, so you must make sure that the rest of your life is still intact.

A good work-life balance can help keep you sane and healthy as a freelancer. If you’re constantly stressed out because there isn’t enough time in the day to get everything done, it might be time to take some steps toward improving your schedule or finding ways to reduce stress levels.

Here are some tips for keeping things balanced:

Make sure there are clear boundaries between personal and professional responsibilities so that no one takes advantage of us or we don’t overwork ourselves unnecessarily; this includes setting limits on how many hours we spend each day working at home so we don’t burn ourselves out before getting anything done!

Establishing an effective system for prioritizing tasks will help keep track of what needs doing next without wasting too much time trying to figure things out yourself every morning (or night).

We should also regularly check in with others who may need feedback from us such as clients who need proofreading services from us before publishing their articles/books online etc., but not necessarily all at once! That would just confuse everyone involved.”

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Use Your Spare Time To Pitch To Potential Clients

Once you’ve got yourself a list of potential clients, you’ll need to start pitching them.

Your first few pitches should be through email or social media. If a client responds, great! You can then follow up with them via phone or in-person if they’re local.

If no one bites after a few weeks/months (depending on how quickly your work is delivered), go back to the drawing board and try something else. It’s important not to get discouraged by this step it’s natural for it to take months before anyone agrees to pay you for your writing services!

Ask For Help

You can’t do it alone, and that’s okay! There are several ways to get the support you need to make your business succeed. My personal favorite is using a mentor or coach.

You could also reach out on forums or in communities, start a blog where you share how you’re doing things, or create an Instagram account that showcases your work and offers advice on how to improve it the options are endless!

Write Every Day

I can’t stress this enough: writing every day will make all the difference between success and failure in freelancing life as a writer. It doesn’t matter if you write 500 words per day or 2,000 just do something every day so that when the time comes for another project like National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) in November each year…you’ll be ready!

Plan Ahead

Planning is an essential part of any successful freelancer’s life. It helps you to be more efficient, productive, and successful.

By planning, you can get the right things done at the right time and in the right way. Planning gives your life focus and greater control over it.

Planning helps you process information more quickly so that you can make decisions quicker, better, and with greater confidence too!

Make Time For Yourself And Your Family

As a freelancer, you’re your boss and get to set your schedule. It’s up to you whether or not you choose to work at home or in an office environment.

But no matter what type of work environment you decide on (or have), it’s important that it feels like a place where people can get stuff done, and feel good about being there.

A healthy work-life balance is vital for any employee and doubly so for freelancers working from home. You may want to take some time out for yourself and your family during the day or week, as well as make sure your workspace is conducive to productivity and creativity.

Join The Community Of Freelance Writers

One of the best ways to connect with other freelance writers is by joining a community of freelance writers. These communities will help you get started, and they’ll help you build your portfolio by reviewing your work so that you can create better content.

You can join a freelance writing course, a freelance writing group, or even just a forum where people chat about their projects and share advice on becoming successful freelancers. Some experts recommend joining as many communities as possible to develop your expertise in multiple niches.

Take Risks And Challenges In Your Stride

You need to take risks and challenges in your stride and not be afraid of them. But if you are going to take a risk, make sure that it is not an unnecessary one. You need to know what the challenge is all about, what it involves, and whether or not it will help you achieve your goal of becoming a full-time freelance writer.

It is also important for you to make time for yourself and your family while pursuing this career path. There are times when things may get overwhelming; hence having some time off from work can help refresh your mind so that you can give it another go at writing or whatever else needs doing.

Be A Professional Writer Not Just A Blogger Or An Article Writer

As a freelance writer, you need to be more than just an article writer. You must be a professional writer because only professionals get paid for their work. Bloggers and article writers are not professional writers, they are hobbyists who enjoy writing but don’t expect any payment for their efforts.

If you want to make money as a full-time freelancer, then you should follow this approach:

Have a portfolio of published works that demonstrate your skills (articles or blog posts). This is where people will decide whether they should hire you or not based on what they see in your portfolio.

Create a business model around your portfolio which shows potential clients how much it would cost them if they hired you to write something similar (an article or blog post).

Let Not Your Limitations Hinder You From Accomplishing Your Tasks Efficiently And Effectively

Don’t let your limitations hold you back. I know it seems scary, but don’t be afraid to ask for help. If there is something that you don’t know how to do, reach out and ask someone who does know how to do it! You might be surprised at how many people are willing to help out a fellow writer in need.

Don’t be afraid to ask for advice from experts in the field or even one of those “gurus” on YouTube who claim they can teach anyone everything about writing within 24 hours!

Everyone started somewhere, so take advantage of the fact that seasoned writers have been there before and learned from their mistakes along the way so they can pass on their knowledge to others like yourself!

Don’t worry if you have no experience yet; neither did I when I first started my freelance career as a writer but now look at me.

I’m doing alright 😀 Just make sure whatever task(s) come across your desk are things that interest/excite/motivate YOU personally because if not then chances are high that won’t work either 🙂

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Identify, Analyze And Evaluate A Task Before Taking It Up To Ensure That You Are Reasonably Capable Of Delivering In A Stipulated Time Frame

Before you take up a task, consider the following:

Identify the task. What is the assignment? What are its parameters and scope?

Analyze the task. Is this something that you can deliver or not? Is it within your skillset? Will it be a challenge for you, or will it be too easy to do well? Consider what other writers with similar experiences have done for such assignments in the past.

Do not take up tasks that are out of your league just because they pay well; remember that work can only be considered ‘good’ if it contains elements of challenge, growth, and learning for both parties involved – client as well as freelancer (you).

Evaluate whether you are reasonably capable of delivering within the stipulated time frame given your skill set and experience so far; do not commit yourself to more than what is feasible under any circumstances!

The Secret How To Becoming A Full-Time Freelance Writer Without Experience Is To Stop Doubting Yourself

When you stop doubting yourself, it will be easier for you to grab every opportunity that comes your way. There are lots of opportunities waiting for those who believe in their abilities and are willing to learn from people who have more experience than them.

You should also take advice from other successful writers because they can help by sharing their tips on how they got where they are today.

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Conclusion

I hope you’ve enjoyed this article and that it has given you some insight into how to become a full-time freelance writer. As I mentioned before, it’s hard work but very rewarding if you can make your living in this way. There are many other benefits too such as flexibility and freedom! Good luck and happy writing!

Frequently Asked Questions

I Have Never Written Before. How Can I Become A Professional Writer?

There are many ways to get started as a freelance writer, including taking courses and reading books on the craft. However, the best way to learn is by practicing. Write every day, even if it’s just for ten minutes or so at first. Practice makes perfect!

What Kind Of Writing Should I Write About?

The sky is the limit when it comes to what you can write about as a freelancer. You can write about anything from fashion trends to politics to sports the possibilities are endless! Some writers even specialize in niche topics like health care or food and drink.

Just make sure that whatever topic you choose, it’s something that interests you enough that you’re willing to keep researching and learning more about it over time (because there’s always more to learn!).

How Do I Know If I Should Be A Freelance Writer?

If you have an opinion on anything and are willing to share it, you could make a great freelance writer. Freelance writers need to be good at listening, understanding what their clients want, and communicating clearly. If you think that sounds like something you’d be good at, then give it a shot!

How Much Money Can I Make As A Freelance Writer?

The amount of money can vary greatly depending on the type of writing you do and your location. For example, journalists in big cities tend to make more than those working in smaller towns. On average though, most full-time freelance writers earn between $30-$50 an hour.

How Long Does It Take For Me To Get Paid By Clients?

This depends on the client but there are generally two types of clients: those who pay immediately after they receive their copy and those who require payment after the project has been completed (such as when someone wants to hire you for ghostwriting).

In general though, if there is no upfront payment required from your client then expect payment within 30 days after completion of the project or when they receive their copy

Costantine Edward

Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.