How to Make Money as a Freelance Writer

Let’s admit it, being a freelancer is hard work. It’s an office job, self-publishing with no insurance. Many of us have one or two jobs, are working our way through school, or are supporting growing children. We can’t afford to quit our jobs with the economy right now. Our paying blogs won’t be reliable to pay our house payment and other bills. We have to be able to support ourselves in order to sell our books or work for local magazines. So what other options are there for us striving writers who put in hours of dedication? There is hope, and here are some ideas.

1. Earn a B.A. or B.S. (or higher) in a field you have a passion for and love.

First, let me explain. I’m not saying those with a GED, HS degree or Associate degree aren’t smart. If this is as far as you were able to go, then I consider you successful. However, a university will teach you research techniques, improve your writing skills, and benefit your skills in other problem areas. It will help you open your eyes to opportunities you may have never considered and may lead you into that dream career. It offers you so many more classes and so many more people from other backgrounds. For instance, I met my first Indian professor at EIU. I learned more about India in one semester than I ever have before, and it was very fascinating. 

2. Consider a teaching degree.

I know this isn’t for everyone; it certainly isn’t for me. You have to possess certain personality characteristics such as patience, creativity, and excellent time-management. I’m just starting to figure out time-management, but I am not very patient at times. You also have to have to like kids, which I do, but I would not have the patience to deal with teaching them each day. 

3. Copyedit/Proofread.

Two words: Stress-management. Also, Advil and LOTS of caffeine. Yes, that’s right. You’ll be working the copy desk at the local newspaper or magazine, probably 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. every day waiting for late stories to come in. You’ll write headlines, check for grammar, punctuation, and that comma splice that always makes its way in a sentence. However, you’re making $16-22/hour, so you’re making double my salary at Walmart. That still doesn’t make up for all the back aches and neckaches. There are freelance jobs for this online if you dig deep enough.

4. Blogs

There’s many options here. You could have one or multiple blogs of your own, and use services like pay-per-post or Google AdSense. However, you’d have to write alot of posts each week to make money worth the effort. Or, you could try to get a job as a professional blogger online. It’s hard to get a job as a blogger, though, without a blog. Try to blog about something you’re an expert on and you’ll get more hits. Submit your blog everywhere. This means search engines, blog sites, stumbleupon, etc. The more places it’s located, then the more eyes will see it.

5. Submit freelance articles to local newspapers.

This is where the B.A. or B.S. comes in handy. It helps if it’s in Journalism, Communications, or English. It always helps if you have a portfolio of your work–even better if it’s all on a website. Most employers won’t hire you today if you don’t know multimedia or don’t have a blog, at least this is what my journalism professors are telling my classmates & I. Call and make an appointment to pitch your idea with a query letter. Editors like it when you’re precise and to the point. 

6. Network with people.

Facebook is a great place to post your articles from Triond and your blog. Also, place them in search engines. Go to freelance job sites and post your resume. If they allow you to, post writing samples. This is the way to get seen by potential employers and get leads to jobs. You could go from a freelancer to a mainstream journalist in a matter of weeks or months. Query newspapers, magazines, broadcast stations–whatever your niche is that your niche might be. Let them know your idea, and they will either accept or reject it.

7. Set a goal.

What do you write this month? 20 articles? So, there’s 5 weeks in October. That means you have to write 4 articles a week. That’s an achievable goal. Don’t overstreach it and make it over-achievable. You’ll never get to your goal, and you’ll become too stressed out. Nobody wants that, and you won’t be happy. Stick to what you want to achieve by the last day. That may be 20 articles, 6 query letters and 5 resumes sent out. Go for it. I believe in you.

8. Subscribe to blogs.

I personally like Google Reader, but I’m sure there’s other ones to subscribe to blogs on. I’ve gotten alot of good article ideas off of my blogs. I just don’t subscribe to blogs in my interests, however. I subscribe to them in everything. This gives me the best chance to find that perfect idea that I will write a great article and be creative. Among some of the topics I subscribe to are health, entertainment, writing, all the triond channels, cooking, arts and self-help.

9. Find your writing spot that’s only “yours.”

This can anywhere you want it to be. As for myself, I can write pretty much anywhere as long as I have my iPod in my ears (if I’m away from my apartment.) It could be an office where all your writing is stored in a file cabinet with extra envelopes, stamps, and address labels. It may be so secret that nobody knows it’s there but you, or so public that everyone knows what you’re doing. You just have to be able to concentrate and be able to achieve your goal. I know I can’t concentrate in dead silence, and I’m sure there’s others just like me. 

10. Find a local writing group

You might be able to find these by Google, your local paper or visiting your local library. It’s easy to feel intimidated by these groups, but don’t allow yourself to feel that way. If you go in there open-minded you’ll get honest criticism on your work, and you’ll be able to give honest criticism. The group may also provide you ideas that you may have never thought about writing. 

11. Use the Share option in Triond & comment on others’ posts.

These two options alone will get you noticed by readers. Submit your work to as many sites as you can, and comment as much you can each day. I made a notebook for all my posts and checked off which sites I have them on to make it easier for me to keep track of, but I’m sure everyone has their own system. Also, keep writing. Write everyday and ass many posts as you can a day. This will get you noticed and earn you that money that you want to add to you bank account.

12. Never, ever give up.

All of us have bad days. We wake up with migraines, or the kids come home sick. Maybe you got a speeding ticket or you you left something at the store that’s a half-hour away. It’s not a going to be a writing day because you’re not feeling inspired. That’s okay–I’ve gone through days like these too. Go for a walk, take a hot bath, or put in Friends DVDs. Tomorrow, though, start toward your goal again. Never give up that you can achieve it. You’re the only one that you have to answer to if you reach the last day of the month and it’s incomplete. You’re your own boss. If you want money, keep on task.