Many writers have the dream of becoming a freelance writer or blogger. The idea of being your own boss appeals to many people, but making that dream a reality is a different story. It doesn’t just take hard work; it also takes a smart approach.
As a beginning freelancer, you will have take a few lower paying jobs from time to time to make ends meet. However, the following strategies you will be able to pick and choose jobs that offer better conditions and income. Here’s how.
Set Up a Trolling Time Each Day
Hit the job boards at the same time every day. Make it as regular as checking your email each morning. Scope out the great opportunities, pass on the not so great ones, write up your perfect cover letter, and move on. Don’t check the boards sporadically, or for that matter, obsessively. Make job-hunting a steady task you do for a couple hours each day.
Pitch Your Dream Job
Sometimes organizations, websites, or blog networks don’t realize they need a writer until you tell them. Aim to do a pitch once per week. When you’re in “trolling mode,” look for other opportunities that might not be spelled out directly. For example, if a magazine is looking for a restaurant columnist, could they also use a relationship, business, or real estate columnist? If a blog wants a TV blogger for one show, would they consider one for a different show as well?
Find the Market First, Then Write To It
Too often freelancers write a great piece and then try and sell it somewhere. In reality, you’ll have an easier time if you fill the specific needs that editors look for rather than bending your piece to fit.
Get a Part-Time Job That Has Nothing to Do With Writing
Don’t give up your dream of being a full-time writer. Instead: change that dream slightly. Look for a job that will provide a couple hours a week away from writing and allows your mind to drift. Doing this will bring in some money on a steady basis so you won’t be tempted to jump into a writing job that doesn’t pay very well, and it will also give you a break to spark your creative juices.
Don’t Get Too Comfortable
Comfort isn’t a bad thing, of course, but in the life of a freelancer the real opportunities come from pushing yourself. Searching for work, dealing with new clients, and writing something new everyday are what make you find the best jobs out there. It’s also what makes freelancing exciting. So embrace it!
If your ultimate dream is to write for a living, keep the above strategies in mind. It will ease you into freelance writing and give you a leg up from all those other writers working for pennies. More than that, with the proper attitude and approach you’ll never have to worry about going back into the corporate world again.
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