Freelancing is a great way to try out different types of writing and build up a portfolio. Whether you’re interested in travel writing, marketing copywriting, or just about anything else that involves putting words on paper for money (or digital pixels or whatever), freelancing can help you get started on your career path and pick up valuable skills along the way.
| Takeaways |
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| 1. Freelance writing offers flexibility in terms of working hours and location. |
| 2. It allows you to be your own boss and take control of your career. |
| 3. Freelance writing provides opportunities to explore various industries and topics. |
| 4. It can be a source of additional income or a full-time profession. |
| 5. Freelance writing allows you to unleash your creativity and express yourself through writing. |
| 6. It offers the potential for personal and professional growth as you continuously learn and adapt. |
| 7. Freelance writing provides a platform to build a diverse portfolio and establish your expertise. |
| 8. It allows you to connect and collaborate with clients and professionals worldwide. |
| 9. Freelance writing offers the chance to work on meaningful projects that align with your interests. |
| 10. It provides a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction as you see your work published and appreciated. |
Because Full-Time 9-5 Jobs Are Not For Everyone
If you are a freelancer, then you know that there are many perks to being your own boss. But what if you aren’t sure if it’s right for you? What if you’ve tried and failed at freelancing before?
Or maybe the thought of taking responsibility for your financial well-being is intimidating and seems stressful. In this section, I’ll address some common concerns people have about leaping from full-time employment to freelance writing.
I will start with the easiest question: “Can I make enough money doing this?” The answer is yes! It may take time to get established as a writer but once we do and our name becomes known in certain circles, things can start rolling pretty quickly.
And even if we don’t get rich overnight (which isn’t likely unless someone publishes our book), we can still make more than enough money to live comfortably on our terms.
Tracking key metrics is crucial for maintaining consistency as a freelancer. Discover the 20 essential metrics you need to monitor in our comprehensive guide on The Consistent Freelancer: 20 Metrics You Need to Track to optimize your freelancing success.
You Get To Be Your Boss And Set Your Hours
Freelance writing gives you the freedom to set your hours, which means that you can take time off to do other things. You can work from home, or anywhere in the world as long as you have an internet connection. You don’t need to worry about having a boss breathing down your neck; this is all up to you.
You also get to wear pajamas and/or underwear while working!
You Can Make Money Doing What You Love
When it comes to freelance writing, there are no limits on how much you can earn. There is a whole world of online writing opportunities out there for people who want to write about their passions and interests and make money doing so!
You don’t have to take a traditional 9-5 job to support yourself. Freelance writing allows anyone with an internet connection the opportunity to make money from home or anywhere else that has Wi-Fi access.
You Don’t Have To Feel Stuck Because You Can Always Go Learn A New Skill
Wouldn’t it be great if you could just wake up one day and suddenly be a marketer? Or a developer? Or an artist?
It’s possible, but not likely. The only way you’re going to be able to do anything without any experience is by starting small and building up your skills over time.
Freelance writing is perfect for this because the tools are cheap or free and there are thousands of tutorials on the internet that can teach you what you need to know.
You don’t even have to leave your house! Just grab a laptop and start learning how to create blog posts, sales pages, and videos with nothing but Google at your side (in fact, I would highly recommend checking out YouTube).
Uncover the secrets of successful freelancers and gain valuable insights from their experiences. Learn more about the valuable lessons shared in our article on Secrets I’ve Learned from Being a Freelancer to enhance your freelance career.
You Can Participate In The Conversations About Subjects That Interest You (And Get Paid For It)!
Whether you’re passionate about writing about a subject, you know more about a topic than most people, or you’d just like to learn more about a particular subject, freelance writing is an excellent option for getting paid for your knowledge and expertise.
Even if you don’t have any experience with freelancing before, there are plenty of places where you can pick up some quick tips on how to find clients and start earning money right away, or even better: build an entire career out of it!
While working from home means that you have the freedom to set your schedule (and work nights/weekends if needed), it also allows writers to travel while they work. There’s no reason why someone who enjoys traveling should stay put when they could be exploring new places while getting paid at the same time!
Your Writing Improves With Time And Practice, So Freelancing Is A Good Way To Become A Better Writer
Writing is a skill. If you’re not good at it, sometimes you need to practice before you get better. Like any other skill, writing can be improved by doing it more often. And like any other skill, freelance writing is a great way to get this practice in because it forces you to write every day and makes sure that what you write is being read by people who have paid for your work (which means they might also pay again if they like it).
Freelance writing can help improve your writing skills because of the feedback from editors and clients. They’ll help guide your work as well as offer suggestions on how to improve what’s already written.
When I started freelancing I didn’t think about getting editorial feedback until someone pointed out how helpful it could be for me and now I’m grateful for all of the advice my editors give me!
Freelance Gives You The Freedom To Pick Projects That Interest You Most, Not Just Follow Specific Requirements
There are a lot of reasons to do freelance writing. But there’s one big takeaway I want you to take away from this article: Freelance writing gives you the freedom to pick projects that interest you most, not just follow specific requirements.
You don’t have to choose projects based on your interests; you can choose them based on your skills. You don’t have to choose projects based on your skills; you can choose them based on where they will lead in life or how much money they will make.
It’s up to YOU! As long as you’re willing and able and willing AND able to complete what’s asked of you, then go ahead and pick whatever kinds of assignments interest YOU most!
Flexibility. If You’re Not Feeling Well, Or Something Comes Up, You Can Adjust Your Schedule
Flexibility is important for me. I’m a mom of three and I have a husband who travels frequently, so there are times when we need to be flexible with the kids or work from home. Freelance writing allows me the freedom to do that, which makes it much easier for me to juggle everything else in my life.
Also, if you don’t feel well and don’t want to write today, then no one expects you to write today! You can adjust your schedule as needed and take time off when needed without fear of losing money or disappointing anyone else.
This is true even if you’re working at home as an employee on a traditional payroll you still don’t want everyone else in the office seeing how sick you are!
Are you on the right path to a successful freelancing career? Discover the 15 signs that indicate you’re making progress in our informative article on 15 Signs You’re on Your Way to a Successful Freelancing Career and ensure you’re heading in the right direction.
The More Experience You Get, The More Likely You Are To Land Bigger Clients
The more experience you get, the more likely you are to land bigger clients or projects that pay higher rates. This is because the more experience you have and the better results you show, the more confidence clients have in your abilities and skills.
So don’t worry if this seems like a lot of work at first; once they see how well their content performs and how much attention it gets from readers, they’ll be willing to pay a premium for great content that keeps attracting customers back again and again!
Is freelancing a full-time career or just a part-time hobby for you? Gain valuable insights into the nature of freelancing with our thought-provoking article on Freelancing: Is It a Career or Just a Part-Time Hobby? and discover the possibilities of pursuing freelancing as a viable profession.
Freelancers Are Free To Work Remotely, Which Means They’re Free To Travel While They Work!
You can work from home. You can work from a coffee shop. You can work from a coworking space. You can work in a hotel room. You can work from a beach or mountain top or anywhere else that’s not the office building your employer owns, because you’re all by yourself and not beholden to anyone’s schedule but your own!
It’s easier than ever to find freelance work online. There’s no shortage of job boards, websites, and platforms that offer freelance gigs.
As a freelancer, you can find work on websites like Upwork and Freelancer.com. You can also find freelance jobs on job boards like Indeed or Odesk or through personal recommendations from friends who are already working as freelancers.
If you’re not sure where to start looking for your next gig, try searching for these terms:
- “freelance writing gigs”
- “content writing jobs”
Try To Make Sure That The Jobs Are Legit Before Applying
You can choose your clients and projects based on your values (e.g., if there’s something you refuse to write about).
The ability to choose your clients and projects based on personal values is one of the main reasons why I think people should consider a career as a freelance writer. This means that you can work with companies that share your values, are aligned with them, or are aligned with your professional values.
The freedom to pick and choose the projects you work on is another reason why I love being a freelance writer.
There have been times when I’ve worked with clients who didn’t seem like they shared my personal views (or even worse) but thankfully there were also occasions where we had similar beliefs about certain issues and causes – something which made our relationship stronger over time!
Freelance writing offers a variety of job opportunities, each with its own pros and cons. Dive into our comprehensive guide on The Best Jobs for Freelance Writers: Pros and Cons of Each to explore different writing avenues and make informed career choices.
Conclusion
I hope this article has been helpful to you and has inspired you to pursue freelance writing! There are so many reasons why I think it’s worth trying out, not just for me but also for other people who have shared their experiences with me.
If you want more information about getting started on your freelance journey, check out my book The Freelance Writer’s Guide: How To Use Writing As A Full-Time Job Or Side Hustle When Working For Someone Else Isn’t an Option.
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources to explore for further reading on freelance writing:
Why Start Freelance Writing Online?: Discover the advantages and opportunities of starting a freelance writing career online.
9 Benefits of Freelance Writing as Told by Top Content Writers: Learn about the various benefits of freelance writing from experienced content writers.
Reasons to Start Freelance Writing: Explore the compelling reasons why you should consider starting a career in freelance writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Freelance Writing?
Freelance writing is a form of self-employment that involves creating written content for clients. You may be asked to write blog posts, website content, or e-books. You might also be asked to write press releases, ad copy, or even fiction stories.
How Do I Become A Freelance Writer?
You don’t need formal training to become a freelance writer just a good grasp of the English language and an understanding of how to structure sentences in a way that makes them easy to read. You should also have some experience with basic computer skills like using Google Drive and Microsoft Word.
What Are Some Common Misconceptions About Freelance Writing?
The first misconception about freelance writing is that its easy money. In reality, most people who attempt this career find out quickly that it’s not as easy as they thought it would be and they often end up quitting before making any real money at it (or giving up).
The second misconception is that all you need are good writing skills and then you’ll make money hand over fist; however, there are many other factors involved in being successful with this type of work:
Why Should I Try Freelance Writing?
It’s a great way to make money, but also to build your resume and portfolio. It’s also a chance to work on your skills and develop them so that you can use them in other jobs.
How Do I Get Started?
Start by getting a degree in writing or journalism, then look for an internship at a publication or start freelancing on the side while you’re still in school.
After you graduate, consider applying for jobs at different companies until you find one that fits your style and needs well enough for you to stay there long-term (or at least long enough for it to pay off any student loans). Once you have experience under your belt, start looking into freelance opportunities!
How Much Does It Pay?
It depends on what kind of job you take and how many hours per week/monthly you work at it but generally speaking if it’s something that requires specialized knowledge and skills (like editing or copywriting), then it will be more than the minimum wage;
If it’s something like babysitting or housecleaning, then it will be less than minimum wage (but still better than nothing).
What Are The Benefits Of Freelance Writing?
Freelance writing is an excellent way to earn money from your passion, whether you’re a passionate writer or just looking for a way to make some extra cash. Freelance writers get to work from home and set their hours, which means that you can earn money on your schedule.
You’ll also be able to choose the type of projects you take on, so you’ll never be stuck writing about something you don’t care about.
What Do I Have To Know Before Getting Started?
To become a freelance writer, all you need is a computer and an Internet connection! However, some skills can help make your job easier: knowing how to write in different styles (such as technical or creative), being able to communicate clearly with clients and editors, and being able to meet deadlines are all important skills for freelancers.
Most importantly, though, it’s important that you love writing! If this sounds like something that appeals to you, then becoming a freelance writer might be the perfect career choice for you!
I am a content writer, and I love what I do! Writing makes me feel like the words are flowing through my fingers, and then onto the keyboard, like magic. My experience as a writer has taught me that writing makes me feel good, as well as helps others to feel better too!