How to Become a Freelance Writer
Hundreds of thousands of writing opportunities exist. The trick is to find the ones that pay. Start by writing for smaller, possibly non-paying publications. By writing articles for smaller publications, you will establish your credentials and build a portfolio. You need that portfolio for established publications to take you seriously and hire you. If you plan to write magazine and newspaper articles, don't quit your day job until you are making enough money to sustain your lifestyle. This means that you will do your writing in the early morning or in the evening or whenever you have a spare moment.
1. Submit a poem or story to a children's magazine such as Owl if you are a young person. If you are a teenager, join your school's yearbook committee and submit articles to the school newspaper. Regard this effort as good practice for your future freelance career. If you are a college or university student, craft strong, well-written essays for class. You can also offer your services at the writing lab, and write articles for the student newspaper, literary magazine, and alumni magazine.
2. Become active in the writing community. Subscribe to "The Writer". Join a freelance writers' association.
3. Visit the reference section of your local bookstore and buy a copy of "The Writer's Market". This will give you the know-how of writing in easy-to-digest tidbit. There are numerous exercises you can do to increase your abilities as an author- submit letters to the editor of your local newspaper, write articles for your church bulletin, Create a blog, even write articles for wikiHow.
4. Realize that when you feel that you are capable of writing professionally, think of something you'd like to write about, then send a query letter to the city/lifestyles/sports editor of your local newspaper asking if they are interested in publishing an article on the topic. Include the first paragraph of your article and an outline of the rest. Call in two weeks, if you don't get a reply. If you feel you're ready for the real deal and an honest paycheck, find publishers you'd like to write for, then read their guidelines.
5. Think of something you'd like to write about, then send a query letter to the editor of a pertinent major publication asking if they are interested in publishing an article on the topic. Include the first paragraph of your article and an outline of the rest. Call in four to six weeks if you don't get a reply.
6. Write your article. Don't conform exactly to the mold of others. Be yourself, and soon your work will turn into a flower of brilliance and uniqueness.
7. Or, you can find freelance writing jobs at websites like:
* The Freelance Nation
* Get A Freelancer
* Elance
* Guru
* Writerlance
* Freelance Writing
8. Make your profile
9. Search projects
10. Place bids
11. Impress buyers by your profile and portfolio and get selected
12. Build your reputation: let clients testify about their good experiences with your work. They can write comments on your website or you can have them vote for you at Trust-index
1. Submit a poem or story to a children's magazine such as Owl if you are a young person. If you are a teenager, join your school's yearbook committee and submit articles to the school newspaper. Regard this effort as good practice for your future freelance career. If you are a college or university student, craft strong, well-written essays for class. You can also offer your services at the writing lab, and write articles for the student newspaper, literary magazine, and alumni magazine.
2. Become active in the writing community. Subscribe to "The Writer". Join a freelance writers' association.
3. Visit the reference section of your local bookstore and buy a copy of "The Writer's Market". This will give you the know-how of writing in easy-to-digest tidbit. There are numerous exercises you can do to increase your abilities as an author- submit letters to the editor of your local newspaper, write articles for your church bulletin, Create a blog, even write articles for wikiHow.
4. Realize that when you feel that you are capable of writing professionally, think of something you'd like to write about, then send a query letter to the city/lifestyles/sports editor of your local newspaper asking if they are interested in publishing an article on the topic. Include the first paragraph of your article and an outline of the rest. Call in two weeks, if you don't get a reply. If you feel you're ready for the real deal and an honest paycheck, find publishers you'd like to write for, then read their guidelines.
5. Think of something you'd like to write about, then send a query letter to the editor of a pertinent major publication asking if they are interested in publishing an article on the topic. Include the first paragraph of your article and an outline of the rest. Call in four to six weeks if you don't get a reply.
6. Write your article. Don't conform exactly to the mold of others. Be yourself, and soon your work will turn into a flower of brilliance and uniqueness.
7. Or, you can find freelance writing jobs at websites like:
* The Freelance Nation
* Get A Freelancer
* Elance
* Guru
* Writerlance
* Freelance Writing
8. Make your profile
9. Search projects
10. Place bids
11. Impress buyers by your profile and portfolio and get selected
12. Build your reputation: let clients testify about their good experiences with your work. They can write comments on your website or you can have them vote for you at Trust-index