5 tips for becoming a freelance writer
Do you love writing? Then a career as a freelance writer may be the perfect opportunity for you to earn an income while enjoying the freedom of working from home. To succeed as a writer, you will need the creativity and grammatical skills that are required to create an engaging article. Attention to detail, time-management capabilities and a professional attitude are all required to succeed in this role. If you want to work from home, you can find a range of relevant opportunities on Job Mail.
Photo credit – Maya Maceka
1. Equip yourself with the right skills
While a love of writing is a great starting point, it’s not enough to make you a successful freelancer. In order to succeed in this industry, you’ll need to have a comprehensive understanding of grammar. Sign up for an online course to ensure that your grammar is impeccable. Learning more about different writing styles is advantageous as it enables you to adjust each article according the audience it is meant for. A basic writing course is an excellent point of departure as it will enable you to understand the layout of a good article, which includes a heading, introduction, body of text, and conclusion. Writing for the internet comes with its own set of rules so learning more about the best practices for this type of writing will set you up for success.
2. Start a blog
While completing courses is important, the best way to become a great writer is to practice. Like many professions, getting your first job can be challenging if you don’t have any experience in the industry. To get around this dilemma, you can create a portfolio of work by starting a blog. Not only will a blog show off your writing style to prospective employers, it will also give you plenty of writing experience. Start by finding an interesting topic and then craft an article to post online.
3. Network
Let your network know that you’re looking for opportunities to work as a freelance writer. Post articles that you’ve written on your social media accounts to show off your talents and capabilities. Co-working spaces are an excellent opportunity to meet other creatives and to expand your network. Freelancers in other fields, such as graphic design, may want to collaborate on jobs with someone who has writing skills. Joining writing groups or attending workshops are other opportunities to network and learn from other professionals in your field.
4. Search online
Conduct an online search for suitable freelance writer jobs. When you start out, you’ll need to apply for as many opportunities as possible. Platforms, such as Job Mail, are a great place to secure freelance work. Persistence is key, so don’t give up if you don’t get a response from the first few applications you send out.
Photo credit – Ewan Robertson
5. Landing your first job
Your first job as a freelancer is exciting since it gives you an opportunity to prove yourself. Doing a good job makes it more likely that you’ll get repeat business from your client. Make sure that you follow your client’s instructions and pay attention to detail when you’re writing the article. Good time-management skills are important because it’s essential to meet your deadlines. Employers look for freelancers they can rely on to submit their work on time. Once you’ve completed an article, make sure that you run a spellcheck and double check the grammar. If it’s the first professional article that you’ve written, you may want to ask someone that you trust to read through it with a fresh eye. A friendly and professional attitude goes a long way toward creating a good relationship with your clients. Even if you work from home, don’t forget to be professional when you correspond with your employer.
Now that you understand how to become a freelancer, you can look for writing positions on Job Mail. From completing online courses to starting a blog, there are numerous opportunities to develop the skills you need to succeed.
I love writing also love working from home at the some time please help me found a job
Hi Nondumiso,
If you have not registered your CV on Job Mail, follow this link: http://goo.gl/EhnxH1.
Once you’ve registered, look for jobs that suit your skill set at http://goo.gl/CvYAUa and apply for them!
Alternatively, set up a job alert to receive the latest jobs in your field via email at http://goo.gl/eTcGJC.
We hope you find employment soon!
Im definitely in love with writing, do it always. In good and bad times, writing makes me feel alife.