Freelance Writing Guide For New Freelancers
I’ve given this much thought. Hardly a day goes by when I don’t receive an email from new freelance writers who want the lowdown on how to score the best job, how to get noticed amongst the pack and more.
I don’t profess to be a know it all, but I also know that managing to go full time as a freelance writer in 7 months isn’t a bad achievement either. While some do this even faster, most wanna bees never even make it.
The cause of this could be many fold. It could be lack of time, laziness, setting the wrong priorities, getting sidetracked, losing faith in your abilities, feeling overwhelmed or one of the many other reasons that stop us from “getting there”.
The freelance writing guide how
I’ve even gone as far as purchasing a pre-owned domain name to start a brand new freelance writing site, but to be honest doing this would only make my life a lot harder in terms of finding time to manage all the blogs I’m writing for.
In the end, this blog Freelance Writing is my flagship blog and I intend to stick around for a lot longer. Plus I’ve already changed the course of this blog to reflect my experience and my journey, so writing a guide for freelance writing beginners is the ideal fodder for this blog.
The guide is intended to help newcomers get started and earn money. Initially your earnings won’t be worth your efforts. I know, because I have been through this myself. Every post in this guide will reflect a certain topic new freelance writers would want to know about and hopefully once I finish this guide over the course of some 16 posts, you’ll have a pretty good idea on where this can take you.
More important than that, you’ll be well on your way to start earning money as a freelance writer if you follow along.
The freelance writing guide structure
Looking back to when I started and the questions I had while trying to get established as a freelance writer, I tried to remember what was important to me. Where there particular questions that I needed to know to feel game enough to write?
Doing this small exercise helped me to come up with a structural frame for my Freelance Writing Guide for New Freelancers.
Here is an overview on what’s to come in each installment:
- Setting up a blog site
- Finding work
- Writing queries/proposing for a job
- Setting your rates
- Invoicing clients
- Client testimonials
- Marketing/branding/promoting
- Networking
- Time management
- Writing for SEO
- Writing for niches (there is a reason for this)
- Copywriting
- Writers tools
- Recommended reading/resources
- Office setup
- Lifestyle (food, exercise, sleep)
You are welcome to ask questions
It would be really helpful to other new freelance writers if you asked me questions that concern you for each of these topics. You can email me at info [at] thewritersmanifesto DOT com, or you can use the contact form on this blog to get in touch.
What I intend to do is incorporate your questions into my posts and if you are happy for me to mention your name, you can even get a link back to your site from these posts. Not only will this give you added exposure, but also recognition for helping others.
Remember please, the questions NOT asked are the dumbest ones!
The only thing I ask of you is to stay on topic on either of these 16 upcoming posts. Other than that, ask away as much as you like.
Monika
About the Author: I'm a passionate freelance writer and problogger. To further build my business I'm also in the process of building my own niche empire which pays me residual income.
Jylan Wynne | Apr 13, 2008 | Reply
Hey its great to know that you’re doing this Monika, I’ll be really looking forward to some of your installments.
Don | Apr 18, 2008 | Reply
This should be a great Series Monika, I talk to many people each day with dreams of making their living with freelance writing.
Monika | Apr 19, 2008 | Reply
@ Jylan: you are welcome. I hope I can share some valuable tips to help others with this. It will be fun for me.
Monika | Apr 19, 2008 | Reply
@ Don: Yes, I also look forward to this. I meant to write a guide like this for ages and always got sidetracked. So get ready for some major action.
Meryl K. Evans | Apr 28, 2008 | Reply
Liking the series, Monika. Great idea.
Monika | Apr 29, 2008 | Reply
@ Meryl: thank you good to hear.
Keep an eye out for the next installments coming to a place near you within the next couple of days.
May Ong | Jun 14, 2008 | Reply
Monika
I read your posts on Gobala’s blog as you are a freelance writer there, right?
That’s how I was able to track you down here.
Great idea to post these posts as Freelance Writing Guide as many of my students will want to know more about this in the context of “make money from home or passive income”.
Will link to this post on my other blog.
May Ong
May Ong | Jun 14, 2008 | Reply
Monika
My other blog is http://onlineinternetmarketingtip.com that is linking to this post, just so you know.
May Ong
Monika | Jun 16, 2008 | Reply
@ May: Thank you for the link back to this Freelance Writing Guide for new Freelancers. I appreciate this tremendously.
As for your question, yes I’m a freelance writer and write for Gobala. I sent you an email too, so please keep an eye out for it.
Varun Pratap | Jun 29, 2008 | Reply
I just came across your blog and this writer series is really great. You have been updating almost on daily basis. I never knew anyone could write so much on writing.
I also like your blog layout (may be because I am thinking of changing mine too).
Rana Varun Pratap
Monika | Jul 1, 2008 | Reply
@ Varun: Let me extend a warm welcome to you as a new reader. I’m going to redesign this site (once I get my head around it). I might actually make this design available as a free download once I’ve done this.
I look forward to seeing you stop by again.
Write and Earn a Living | Jul 2, 2008 | Reply
Hi Monika,
This is definitely a worthwhile endeavor. Experienced writers spend much time mentoring newer writers, answering questions and offering advice and tips.
A blog is a good platform to address common questions that newer writers may have.
Monika | Jul 2, 2008 | Reply
@ Write and Earn a Living: I’m happy to help anybody with questions. I think we can all do our bit to help others, regardless of where we excel.
It’s called paying it forward. At least that is what i call it.
farouk | Jul 9, 2008 | Reply
very useful info, keep it up
Anne Walls | Aug 1, 2008 | Reply
Monika, this is a great article series. I completely agree with you: time is money, especially when you’re freelancing. I wanted to let you and your readers know that my partner and I have developed a website called WordHustler.com that makes the entire submission process simple and organized, so you can spend your time WRITING. WordHustler has over 3,000 FREE literary markets. Not only that, we’re the first website to take care of the WHOLE process of writing, more than just giving you market listings. We also have helpful query and cover letter clinics and lots more.
With WordHustler, you upload your projects, search markets you want to submit to, then we print and ship everything for you. It’s easy to track all of your submissions using WordHustler and we cost less than doing it yourself.
Take a look and good luck writing! http://www.WordHustler.com
Best,
Anne Walls
WordHustler Co-Founder
Craig | Apr 8, 2009 | Reply
I have so many questions, I don’t know where to start. I was doing resumes for free for neighbor and friends. I’d like to start charging. I bought a domain name and I’m making up business cards. I guess I need to register my sole proprietorship. Other than what I have mentioned, what’s my next step? How does someone go from not charging, to charging?
Monika | Apr 8, 2009 | Reply
@ Craig: I think it will be very hard to turn non-paying customers into paying ones, especially if they are already used to getting things for free from you. However, nothing would stop you from asking for a pay. You could offer to do the work for a special price and perhaps mention that you need to get paid for your time as well.
If you can convey to your existing “clients” that they will be saving money by not having to go a full charging freelance writer they might well be happy to take you up on the offer. I’d say give it a shot and be honest to them on why you can’t be doing the work for free forever.
These people would also be perfect for your first testimonials.