The first thing you need to know about being a freelance writer in your twenties is that, while it’s certainly thrilling at times, it’s also incredibly stressful and difficult. The second thing you need to know is that there are plenty of ways to make your life easier.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| 1. Build a Strong Portfolio: Create a compelling portfolio showcasing your best work to attract potential clients and demonstrate your writing skills. |
| 2. Network and Collaborate: Connect with other freelancers, clients, and industry professionals to expand your opportunities and gain valuable insights. |
| 3. Stay Consistent and Disciplined: Maintain a consistent writing schedule and stay disciplined to meet deadlines and deliver high-quality work consistently. |
| 4. Seek Continuous Learning: Stay updated with industry trends, writing techniques, and new niches to broaden your expertise and stay relevant in the competitive freelance market. |
| 5. Value Your Worth: Set fair and competitive rates for your services, considering your skills, experience, and the value you provide to clients. |
| 6. Adapt to Feedback: Embrace feedback from clients and editors as a chance to improve and grow as a writer. |
| 7. Balance Independence and Social Connection: While freelancing offers independence, maintain a healthy balance by staying connected with peers and seeking support when needed. |
| 8. Manage Finances Wisely: Keep track of your earnings, expenses, and taxes to ensure financial stability and plan for the future. |
| 9. Diversify Your Income Sources: Explore different writing opportunities, such as content creation, copywriting, or blogging, to diversify your income streams. |
| 10. Be Persistent and Patient: Success in freelancing takes time and effort, so remain persistent, patient, and dedicated to achieving your goals. |
Take Advantage Of The Flexibility
As a freelancer, you’re your boss. You can take time off when you need it and work from home when it suits your schedule.
That means that if there’s an opportunity to take on extra work or explore other writing opportunities, you don’t have to worry about getting fired because of absenteeism.
If a client tells you that he needs the piece delivered by Friday, then deliver it on Thursday night instead of staying up until 2 am working on it. No one will be mad at you for giving yourself some breathing room!
One of my favorite things about being a freelance writer is the flexibility this job provides in terms of scheduling.
I can work any number of hours per day according to how much energy I feel like putting into my craft at any given moment and no bosses are telling me otherwise!
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Leverage Your Age To Your Advantage
You are young and don’t have many responsibilities. This means you can work from home or on the road, in your pajamas, at any time of day or night.
You can work in a coffee shop if it suits you better than working at home and if there aren’t too many distractions around (or even none at all).
Working with other people around might be distracting but not entirely detrimental – having someone to chat with while you are working may keep your mind off other things besides writing.
As long as there is internet access available somewhere nearby, anyone can get their freelance writing business started without much fussing about office space requirements or equipment purchases.
Social Media Is Important
Social media is a great way to connect with people, build relationships, get your name out there, and even find clients. It can also be a great way to network and find freelance writing jobs if you’re looking for them.
Many editors are on social media platforms such as Twitter and LinkedIn, so getting connected with them there can help you land a job or gain clients later down the line.
Take Advantage Of Your Youth And Inexperience
You are in your twenties, which means you might be a bit more low-key than the average writer. This is a good thing! Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
You have plenty of time to get into the hustle of things and start working hard if that’s what you want to do, but right now it’s okay to take some time for yourself and enjoy being young and inexperienced.
The best thing about being young is that no one expects anything from you yet take advantage of this freedom by asking questions about everything: how much money should I charge? How long should my writing samples be? What is SEO?
And so on (remember: there is no such thing as too many questions). When asking questions like these, don’t forget to ask for help or advice from those who have already been doing this for years everyone has been where you are at one point or another!
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Quality Over Quantity
The most important thing you can do is to write more than you think you need to.
I mean, write way more than that. I mean, go above and beyond what feels like the bare minimum. Write as much as you possibly can until it starts to feel like too much and then keep going.
Write more than anyone could reasonably expect from someone in their early twenties (or thirties, or forties). You’ve got nothing but time on your side!
There’s no reason not to write a lot of words when they’re all going into a folder full of potential future articles that people might want to read one day.
It doesn’t matter if anyone will ever read them; writing them is still good training for learning how long-form content is structured and how writing in general works best online today:
Be A Better Writer By Reading More Than You Write
Reading is the best way to learn how to write.
As a freelance writer, you must read broadly. You want to be familiar with the writing styles of other writers and how they approach their topics. You also want to know what works (and what doesn’t).
In order not to waste too much time writing something that no one will want to read, you must get a general idea of what people are looking for in their reading material.
Read The Elements Of Style
Reading The Elements of Style is one of the best things you can do if you want to succeed as a freelance writer. This book by Strunk and White will help you become a better writer by teaching you how to use language effectively, avoid common pitfalls, and write clearly.
The best way to read The Elements of Style is with a pen in hand so that you can take notes. You should also make it your goal to read this book at least once every two years because it helps keep your writing skills sharpened!
Read On Writing Well By William Zinsser
If you want to be a successful freelance writer, you must learn how to write clearly. This can be difficult when writing for an audience who knows far less about the subject than you do. It’s easy for your writing to become dense and filled with jargon.
To avoid this problem, read On Writing Well by William Zinsser. This book will teach you how to write simply and concisely so that even those with little experience in your particular field will understand your point.
The book also covers how to use active verbs (instead of passive ones) and active nouns (instead of passive nouns) and adjectives (instead of adverbs).
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Don’t Sign Exclusivity Contracts With Clients
The last thing you want to do is sign a contract that locks you into one client for an extended period. You must be able to move on if the client does not meet their obligations, or if the job is no longer a good fit for either party.
It may feel scary at first, but it’s important to build up your freelance writing portfolio with as many different clients as possible so that when one relationship ends, another can take its place.
When you’re just starting and will probably have plenty of time between projects.
Consider working with multiple companies at once to increase your chances of success and boost your reputation as a reliable writer who delivers high-quality work on time a great skill set for any freelancer!
Email People Who Seem Interesting On Twitter Or Linkedin
Emailing people you don’t know is a great way to get your foot in the door, so use it! Here’s what you should keep in mind:
Make sure you have something interesting to say. It’s tempting to just send an email with the subject line “I want to write for your publication” but that doesn’t make for a very compelling message.
Instead, try taking an article from their website or blog and writing about why it resonates with you.
Or maybe there was a story on their site that inspired an idea for one of your own stories?
That’s what I did when I approached Mashable about pitching them some ideas and they ended up publishing one of them! So give it some thought beforehand and make sure whatever reason(s) behind your outreach makes sense before hitting send.
Be polite and professional in all correspondence with editors or writers at publications where you may work. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if they don’t respond immediately; this isn’t just true when trying to reach out via social media either it applies here as well!
If someone doesn’t get back after several weeks (or even months), feel free to ask again via email or text message until someone responds appropriately according to standard business protocol.
Ask if there are any open positions available before applying; this will help ensure time isn’t wasted applying for jobs that won’t likely result in anything anyway since everyone else wants those positions too. Don’t be afraid about letting others know who referred/recommended
Don’t Be Afraid To Reach Out To Potential Clients Face-To-Face
There are a lot of people who are afraid to talk to others face-to-face. I know this because I was one of them. When I started as a freelance writer, I would get nervous every time someone new emailed me or texted me about writing for them.
It didn’t matter whether it was someone from my hometown (I’m from the Midwest) or someone living on the opposite end of the country the fear was still there.
But once you’ve gotten over those initial nerves, you’ll realize how much easier it is to communicate directly with your potential clients in person rather than through email messages or Facebook chats!
You’ll be able to learn more about each other’s personalities and preferences that way, which will lead to better collaborations down the road! So don’t be afraid: reach out now!
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Avoid Doing Anything Illegal (Like Stealing Content)
As a freelance writer, you will be asked to write about many different topics. Avoid doing anything illegal (like stealing content).
Don’t plagiarize! These means don’t use someone else’s words or ideas without giving them credit.
Don’t use copyrighted material without permission. You can find out if something is copyrighted by doing an internet search for the title of your item and “copyright” or “public domain”.
If there are no results for either phrase, then it might be OK to use; but it never hurts to double-check with an expert just in case.
Also don’t steal other people’s content from websites like Wikipedia and take it as your writing this includes any images or videos as well!
Research SEO And Its Ethical Practices
SEO is a great way to get new clients and make money as a freelance writer. But, it can also be very confusing. There are so many terms, strategies, and tips that you will never know where to start.
So What Is SEO?
SEO stands for search engine optimization. It’s the process of getting your articles on websites that most people use when they want information about something (such as Google).
Once your content gets there, people can find it by searching for keywords related to what you wrote (for example: “how to write a resume”).
The idea behind this is that if someone searches for those keywords and finds your article, then they will see it first in the list of results because yours was optimized for them! This leads directly into how SEO works:
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Conclusion
If you want to succeed as a freelance writer, then you’re going to have to put in the time it takes. If you’re in your twenties and looking for work, I would highly recommend taking this opportunity to hone your skills as a writer.
The great thing about being young and inexperienced is that you have so much room for growth! With just a little extra time and effort, you can be well ahead of the curve before it counts. Good luck!
Further Reading
How to Become a Successful Freelance Writer: Learn the essential steps and strategies to kickstart a successful career as a freelance writer.
Freelance Writing Skills: A Comprehensive Guide: Enhance your freelance writing skills with this comprehensive guide that covers various aspects of the craft.
Tips for a Successful Freelance Writing Career: Master the art of freelancing with expert tips and advice to establish a thriving freelance writing career.
FAQs
What are the key skills required for a freelance writing career?
Freelance writing demands proficiency in various skills, including writing, research, time management, and communication.
How can I find freelance writing opportunities?
You can find freelance writing opportunities by networking, utilizing online job platforms, or pitching your ideas to publications.
How do I set competitive rates as a freelance writer?
Setting competitive rates involves considering factors like your experience, the complexity of the project, and industry standards.
Is it essential to have a niche as a freelance writer?
Having a niche can help you stand out in the market and attract clients looking for expertise in a specific area.
How do I handle multiple freelance writing projects efficiently?
To manage multiple projects effectively, prioritize tasks, create a schedule, and communicate transparently with clients about deadlines.
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.