How To Become A Freelance Writer (And Actually Make Money!)

Content is king, and right now, there is a shortage of writers to create it. In this article, I will share with you how to become a freelance writer and make a full-time income writing at home in your PJs or on a beach in Bali: you pick!

Do you love writing?

If you do, the idea of getting paid to write and work from home may sound too good to be true.

Trust me. It’s not.

In an era of unending content creation, there is actually a shortage of good writers out there.

This means that today, it has never been easier to earn money writing while at the same time gaining the freedom and lifestyle you are longing for.

Yes, making a living as a freelance writer is going to require time, effort, and an investment in yourself to get started.

But once you do, you’ll be able to work from the comfort of your home and set your own schedule!

Or, if you love to travel like me, you can freelance from anywhere since all you need is your computer and an internet connection.

You can simply earn money writing on the side or easily transform this into a full-time gig.

It’s up to you!

Let’s get started!

How to become a freelance writer

If you’re ready to start your own freelance writing business, just follow this step-by-step process that will help you not only get going but also make money quickly!

Also check: 15 Best Freelance Writing Website To Find High-Paying Gigs!

1. Decide what type of writer you want to be

This is such an important first step. There are different types of writers, all of which can be generally classified under the freelance writer umbrella.

The first thing you should do is think about which types of freelance writing and what type of content sound most interesting to you, along with your area of expertise and what you think you’d be good at.

The most common types of freelance writing are:

• Article/feature writing: This is probably the most common type of writing that comes to mind when people think about freelancing. You’ll be writing for magazines and newspapers, either online or for a printed version.
• Blogging: You can make money writing by starting your own personal blog. How do you make money from a blog? Take a look at my guide here.
• Ghostwriting: This means that you will be writing things for others, who will then put their name on the work. Think blogs and articles, white papers, social media content, and even books. If you don’t mind working in the shadows and letting someone else take the credit, this may be the option for you.
• Copywriting: As a freelance copywriter, you’ll write creative copy to help businesses and entrepreneurs establish and promote their brands, engage with clients, and market their products and services.
• Social Media Content: With social media becoming an important aspect of everyone’s life, social media content writers help brands plan, write, and schedule social media posts and digital content across a variety of platforms.
• Technical writing: The idea of technical writing is to take an overly complicated idea in a specific field and present it in an easy-to-understand manner to the general public. If you’re an expert in certain scientific, mechanical, or other high-level fields, you can make good money as a technical writer.

2. Narrow down your niche

Now that you know what type of writer you want to be, the next step is to narrow down your niche.

Believe it or not, marketing yourself as a general freelance writer may backfire. Most people looking for a writer for a specific project want someone with expertise in that specific topic.

If you choose to become a Jack or Jill of all trades, potential clients may assume you’re not specialized enough and just not what they’re looking for.

Start by brainstorming the topics that seem more interesting to you and that you have some experience in. You can even create sub-niches from your main niche to allow for more diversity.

For example, if you enjoy writing about personal finance, you can also cover specific topics like paying off debt, creating a budget and tracking expenses, saving for retirement, or building an emergency fund.

Here are some of the best and most profitable niches for freelance writers to consider:

• Personal Finance
• Business and Freelancing
• Technology
• Travel
• Marketing
• Parenting
• Dating and Relationships
• Food
• Fitness
• Higher Education
• Fashion

3. Invest in yourself

Becoming a freelance writer can be overwhelming at the beginning. As you get started, you should be open to investing in yourself and your writing skills to ensure your success.

For example, I absolutely love this affordable course, which shows you everything you need to know to set up a profitable freelance writing business.

Not only does it teach you the writing skills you need for this digital age – including the secrets to writing successful blog posts, website copy, podcast and video scripts, and more – but it also shows you how to find paid writing work and market your services effectively to make the most money.

No wonder it has helped almost 7,000 burgeoning freelance writers already!

Beyond a freelance writing course, new freelancers should also consider investing in the right equipment.

This could be upgrading your laptop or setting up a home office so you can work efficiently.

Here are some helpful tools that you may want to consider using as a freelance writer:

• Grammarly: To help check grammar and spelling for your work (there is a free and paid versions).
• Hemingway App: Free grammar editor that can help you score your writing level and assess your overall sentence structure.
• Wave: This can help you send invoices to clients and track your payments. The best part? It’s completely free!

4. Build your portfolio

Writing samples are so important to starting a freelance writing career, and it’s difficult to get hired without them.

Would you hire a dog sitter who has no experience? Probably not. You’d likely want to see reviews and testimonials from past clients to assure you that they know what they’re doing when it comes to caring for your dog. It’s the same with freelance writing.

Potential clients want to see that you’ve written content before, and they also use samples from your portfolio to get a feel for your writing.

If you don’t have any samples in your portfolio, you may have to write for free a few times, so you have some work to showcase. You don’t have to do this long term. Just try to land 3-4 solid guest article spots and deliver your best work.

This is how you do it:

1. Search for websites within your niche that accept articles from guest writers.
2. Reach out to them to see if they would be willing to have you write a trial article that can be published on their blog. The best approach is to send an email and give them a proposal for a few guest post articles you could offer them for free.

A few tips when you reach out to write your first articles:

• Keep it short, simple, and to the point.
• Explain in a brief paragraph who you are and why you’re an expert in that particular niche.
• Pitch your article with a catchy title and a short description of what it will be about.
• Everyone likes to hear why they are great, so read their content before you pitch a platform and tell them why you like it.

From there, you can use those samples to pitch new clients for paid work.

As you build your portfolio, you should be thinking about three things prospective clients want to see.

1. That you know how to write: think about spelling, grammar, and punctuation, as well as format and clarity of thought in your work. Most simply, potential customers want to see that you are a skilled wordsmith.
2. Knowledge in your chosen niche: your portfolio should show clients that you know what you’re talking about. Aim to show a knowledge of both the history and future of the niche, as well as a grasp of industry-specific terms and jargon.
3. Documented results: if you are writing a guest article for free, ask the source if they can write you a short review talking about the quality of your work and the success of the content you created, then add these testimonials to your portfolio!

5. Do I need a blog?

I think it’s a great idea for freelance writers to have their own blogs.

Having a blog can be the easiest way to build a portfolio and showcase your work if you’re trying to make money writing articles but don’t have a ton of writing experience.

Yes, starting a blog costs a little money, but it’s another good way to invest in yourself, and it pays off.

Most writers I talk to also have a blog and have used it to help them land qualified freelancing gigs.

You can even leverage your blog to get other guest post opportunities. If you find a blog in your niche that you really like and admire, pitch a guest post idea that you think would be valuable to their readers.

Deliver your best work, then afterward mention that you’re a freelance writer for hire and would appreciate any leads they send your way.

6. Build a network

Don’t underestimate the power of a solid network – it can be the difference between success and failure as a freelance writer.

The good news is it is so easy for new writers to build a network in the writing community online.

Head to Twitter and search the hashtag #Writer; start a LinkedIn profile and connect with others; you can even find a thriving writing community on TikTok!

If you’re just starting out, perhaps the best way to build a writing network is by joining a few freelance writer groups on Facebook. This will allow you to connect with other writers, ask questions, and get feedback.

Most freelance writers in these groups are friendly and more than willing to help other members out.

There is plenty of freelance work for everyone, so you probably won’t feel a sense of competition and should feel more like you’re part of a community.

Below are some of the best Facebook groups for freelance writers to join at the moment:

• The Write Life Community
• Binders
• 1…2…Freelance: A Community For Creative Freelancers
• No Fluff Freelance Writing Group
• Freelance Writing Jobs

Remember that networking shouldn’t be one-sided. However you network, be sure to give back and contribute just as much as you receive – networking is all about relationships, and relationships require nurturing.

Who knows, you may even be able to share leads with your network once you reach your capacity with clients.

It can happen sooner than you think!

7. Start pitching: how to get your first freelance writing client

You may actually land your first client by the time you get to this step, thanks to networking and building your portfolio via guest posts. However, it’s still crucial that you know how to find freelance writing work. There are three great ways to do this:

1. Job Boards

Job boards are often filled with freelance writing jobs for clients who are eager to hire. This is what makes them a great place to start your search.

My favorite job boards for freelance writing gigs:

ProBlogger: In many ways, the industry leader in freelance writing jobs, ProBlogger is a great place to find work no matter your freelance writing niche, or if you are a beginner or an expert. And, despite the name, it’s not just blogs. ProBlogger’s job board contains clients looking for copywriters, ghostwriters, social media content writers, and more!

Better still, because ProBlogger is often the first place businesses and content creators go to find freelance writers, the chances are you will be working with professionals who know the value of high-quality writing.

FlexJobs: FlexJobs is arguably the best online job board for all sorts of remote work, including freelance writing gigs! There, you can search for writing jobs and narrow down the options based on your preferred work schedule, your experience, and your niche to find exactly what you are looking for.

Note that FlexJobs does come with a 2.95 fee for the first 14 days, but if you’re looking to find paid online writing work immediately, I would definitely say that it is worth it.

Plus, if you don’t like it, you can cancel at any time, no questions asked!

Also check: 15 Best Freelance Writing Website To Find High-Paying Gigs!

2. Cold Pitching

The second way to find writing work is by sending a cold pitch. If you discover a blog or website that you’d like to write for, find out who the editor is and send them an email.

There are a few things you can do to make sure your pitch leads to new client work.

• See if there are other writers on the site. If you see different authors on the blog, it’s a good indication that this client hires freelance writers. Some sites even have a team page where they may include bios for their current writers or the head editor.
• Make sure the content is up-to-date. Don’t waste time pitching a dead blog or website. Seeing fresh content indicates that this prospective client actually cares about the writing and finds it valuable.
• Follow instructions. If there’s a page on the site that highlights a freelance writing opening, be sure to follow the instructions exactly when you send your pitch.
• Connect on social media. A great way to warm up your pitch is to connect with the client on Twitter or LinkedIn to build up some rapport.
• Send article titles and samples. Never send a freelance writing pitch without attaching some writing samples. You can also get creative and send them a few custom article titles that you think would work well for their site. This shows them that you’ve taken some time to read through existing content and learn more about their audience.
• Don’t get discouraged. You may have to send a number of pitches before you’re accepted. Be prepared for rejection, but don’t stress; this gets easier the more you build your portfolio.

3. Freelance Service Marketplaces

Another great way to find freelance writing work, particularly when you are just starting out, is through online service marketplaces like Fiverr.

There, you can post an ad for your writing services and wait for customers to come to you! (Check out my guide on How to Make Money on Fiverr).

If you’ve read other blogs about how to become a freelance writer, you’ve probably seen the stern warnings against this option, claims that it is not worth it since you will be competing against bottom dollar freelancers, and assertions that many have waited months without ever hearing from a single customer.

I’m here to tell you that this does not have to be the case. To succeed in service marketplaces like Fiverr, all you need to do is follow these simple tips:

• Use your account as an element of your writing portfolio. This means showing that you know how to write eloquently and concisely through your profile and ads. Additionally, as you begin to complete projects, don’t be afraid to ask clients to leave reviews, which will show future potential clients your documented results.
• Don’t compete against bottom dollar freelancers. Serious clients are not looking for bottom dollar work. They are willing to pay for a professional writer who knows what they’re doing. Don’t set your prices based on the lowest common denominator; instead, don’t be afraid to charge what you feel you are worth, which will actually make you more impressive to many prospective clients than if you had low rates.
• Cheat on your first sale. The hardest sale to make on service marketplaces like Fiverr is your first. Many create an ad, then sit back and wait for the offers to come rolling in, only to find that they hear nothing for months. Get around this by asking a friend or family member to make the first purchase (you can even pay them back) and leave a 5-star review. This will show potential clients that you are making sales with positive results and will almost certainly result in more sales shortly after. Is it cheating? Yes. But all’s fair in love and business.

8. Don’t undervalue yourself

It’s unfortunate, but most new freelance writers actually undervalue their work and don’t charge enough money.

I get it. It’s tough to ask for more money sometimes, not to mention slightly awkward. Still, you have to do it if you want to be paid fairly and earn enough to support yourself.

Freelance writing is hard work and requires a lot of skill and attention to detail. You should be compensated well for the work you do.

Plus, you have to cover your own expenses, pay taxes and health insurance, as well as save for your own retirement.

Keep in mind, you will have to do administrative tasks that keep your business running, like checking and responding to emails, doing research, editing your own work, and sending invoices. Factor that time into your ideal rate.

When a client asks you how much you charge, never answer with a general quote. Every client is different in their own way, so your prices should vary.

Take into consideration factors like:

• How long will it take you to write, research, and edit (Pro tip: Time yourself when you do free trial work and write guest posts to build your portfolio, so you have a good idea of how much time and effort goes into writing).
• Whether you will be given a topic and outline or will need to come up with that yourself.
• Whether you’ll be writing under your own name or as a ghostwriter.

NOTE: Most writers charge per project or per word.

Set an income goal and speak to a tax professional about how much you should save from your freelance writing income so you can pay quarterly taxes. Factor that amount into your rate.

For example, if you charge $75 per blog post but are at a 25% tax bracket, that means $18.75 of that money should go directly to taxes.

Finally, ask yourself if you feel completely confident in the rate before you send it to a prospective client. If you secretly feel like you sold yourself short, don’t send it or raise the price. You will enjoy the work and most likely do a better job when you feel like you’re fairly compensated.

Just remember, with something as specialized as writing, the lowest price is not always best.

Customers are not looking for a cut rate product; they are looking for something perfect for their needs and are willing to pay for it.

9. Scale up your business

As mentioned above, in an age of unending content creation, there is currently more writing work out there than writers to do it.

If you follow the steps listed above as you start a career in freelance writing, then you will get work, and, more often that not, you will eventually find yourself fully booked.

When this happens, you should scale up your business by raising your prices for new customers. Don’t wait for a specific time on the calendar, do it immediately – you can always lower your prices again if the work slows down.

Do this a few times, and you will soon find yourself with a more than lucrative full-time job.

How do I make more money as a freelance writer?

To truly succeed and make more money with freelance writing, you should expand your thinking beyond simply putting words on a page.

There are so many different angles and elements to the writing game, and the more you learn, the more money you will make!

Here are three ways to boost your income as a freelance writer:

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Writers in the digital age should aim to become fluent in SEO. Many clients, whether they’re looking for articles, blogs, social media content, website copy, or other things, want to work with writers who understand how search engines work, and are anxious to pay for writers who are able to write SEO-friendly content.

How do you become an expert? Start with this amazing free course. It will show you the tips and tricks you need to take your SEO game to the next level, even if you aren’t very tech savvy.

2. Proofreading

Understanding how to effectively check work for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and readability to make sure everything is perfect before it’s published will allow you to provide more polished work and make you more impressive to potential clients. Moreover, you can actually supplement your writing income by doing freelance proofreading for other writers and content creators on the side.

Want to know more? Check out my breakdown of How to Become a Proofreader.

3. Make money from your blog

If you’ve started a blog as part of your freelance writing career, well, you might as well be making money from it! Not to brag, but I am currently making six-figures from this blog you are reading now.

How did I do it? Learn all my secrets with my comprehensive, step-by-step guide and How to Start a Blog and Make Money.

Should I be worried about AI writing?

If you’re thinking about getting into the freelance writing industry, you’re probably wondering whether the industry will continue to exist in a few years or whether it will be taken over and made obsolete by AI writing.

In my opinion, and in fact, in the opinion of those creating the AI writing programs, it won’t, at least not anytime soon.

Here’s the thing: AI writing works by searching for and processing thousands of written pieces related to whatever keywords are chosen. While this is great for creating pieces which regurgitate a series of facts, it lacks the ability to provide context and originality – it cannot include anecdotes or emotions, nor can it fabricate creativity.

That said, AI writing may be able to take over for poorly written content in the near future. For low-skill writers who lack the ability to formulate comprehensive, concise, and creative written ideas which flow smoothly, AI writing could probably do it better.

If you want to insulate yourself from this, think about improving your skill set and expertise, and don’t be afraid to invest in the courses and resources I mentioned.

Ready to make money as a freelance writer?

It’s true. You really can make money as a freelance writer, and in fact, there has never been a better time to get started than right now.

Laura, Leslie, Greg, Samantha, and many others have changed their lives and are now making great money doing what they love.

Just follow the steps above, and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a successful freelance writer, not to mention obtaining the freedom you’ve always wanted!

As you begin, please do let me know how it’s going and if you have any questions. I will keep an eye out for eloquent and well-written comments below.

Also check 17 Easy Remote Jobs You Can Start Today (With No Experience)