Building a freelance writing career from the ground up used to involve the tedious task of writing query after query to print publications such as local newspapers and trade magazines, as well as pounding the pavement to offer copywriting services to advertisers and corporations.
Freelance writers eked out one small publication after another, building up clip books in an attempt to secure more lucrative writing assignments. Today the best place for freelance writers to begin building their audience and honing their craft is online. There are numerous free writing resources for getting started.
Blogging for Beginners
A blog gives freelance writers an opportunity to increase their visibility on the Web while improving their craft through the practice of daily writing. The proliferation of free blogging sites also allows beginning writers to create their first website with little or no start-up money.
For freelance writers attempting to connect with readers and publishers, their blog should move beyond the personal and focus on the topic or topics in which they hope to find writing jobs. Many freelance writers will create and maintain multiple blogs on different topics.
Exploring Multiple Platforms
In addition to blogging, freelance writers should also become visible on social media networks such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. These sites allow beginning writers to connect with each other while showcasing their work. Writers can also network with professionals such as experienced writers, publishers, editors, and agents. This is called platform building and is considered a key component in creating a successful freelance writing career.
Attracting an Audience
Freelance writers today have the opportunity to show potential publishers or employers that their writing is popular with an audience and that they know how to network and market their writing. Finding an audience doesn't just happen; writers have to actively seek out readers by commenting on other blogs, offering readers some written products for free, and becoming visible on multiple platforms.
Cashing in on Passion
For every hobby and passion that a writer may have, there is an audience. People can make money writing on such varied topics as knitting, cooking, dieting, fitness, aromatherapy, pet care, automobile repair, and digital photography. Freelance writers should brainstorm and keep list of possible topics and areas of expertise.
Recycling Writing
Blog entries can be crafted into essays as part of a memoir or nonfiction book. How-to essays can be collected by topic and published as an ebook. Poetry and short fiction can be published individually and as part of collections and anthologies.
Most publishers will allow writers to retain the rights to their work, giving writers the opportunity to republish all or part of their writing after a certain period of time. Writers should be careful to know their rights and know the conditions of their contracts. Also, some publications are happy to print previously published material, while others find this practice unacceptable.
The more that beginning freelances write and put themselves out there on the Web, the more that opportunities to write and publish for money will come their way. Building an online freelance writing career takes patience and persistence.
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