Writers do not become famous overnight nor do authors become millionaires in a month. Learn what essential skills are necessary to transform a hobby into a career as a writer.
Reasonable Expectations for a Freelance Career
The first step to starting a freelance writing career is to acknowledge reality. For every Pulitzer Prize winning author and New York Times best-seller there are thousands of writers and works that go unacknowledged and unrecognized.
Not every freelance writer becomes a regular newspaper columnist, but with practice and perseverance hobby writers can become published freelance writers.
Getting Paid to Write
Freelance writers rarely make enough to write full-time and often keep a full-time day job or part-time office gig. The December 2008 issue of "The Writer: Advice and Inspiration for Today's Writer" offers additional insights into the juggling that occurs when freelance writers have another job, career, or commitment.
Patience for a Freelance Writer
Patience is an essential quality for any writer beginning a writing career. Building a recognizable name in any field or industry takes time.
It is important that the beginning freelance writer exercise patience. There will be rejection and there may be friends or family who don't understand what a query letter is or why so many are being mailed out.
Eventually the patience and time will pay off when the first piece is published and the freelance writer gets to proudly show his or her name in print, or online, to friends and family.
Queries for a Beginning Freelance Writer
Querying is the process where a writer pitches an idea to an editor or publication. To a freelance writer queries are what job applications are to an unemployed worker.
Just as job applicants wear their best suits and strive to make the best impression possible, freelance writers, especially when beginning their careers, must present themselves as professionally as possible.
Query letters should:
- Be personalized for each publication
- Be addressed to the editor by name
- Be grammatically correct and free of errors and typos
Query letters should not be form letters. Each query letter should include an appropriate pitch targeted to the niche of the publication while highlighting any relevant experience in that particular field, industry or market. Freelance writers should use query letters to show how they are a perfect fit for a specific publication.
Experience does not have to be limited to prior writing experience or freelance assignments. Qualifications for freelance writers can include professional work experience in other fields, as well as volunteer positions.
Hobby Writers Becoming Professional Freelancers
The hobby writer looking to become a professional, paid freelance writer must have reasonable expectations, patience, and well written query letters to succeed. A supportive network of family and friends can also be crucial to provide encouragement during the beginning of a new career.
