Getting Started In Freelance Writing
Hi Anne,
I started reading your fantastic blog and have a question for you - how do you recommend people, who are trying to transition into the freelance writing field from another field begin their freelance writing career? I don’t have any copy writing or blogging experience and am wondering how
people usually enter this field.
I do have a blog of my own, which I am trying to update more, but I’ve never been published and don’t know what kinds of gigs or resources are out there for me!
Thanks!
Victoria
Hi Victoria,
Thanks so much for the complements. You don’t say what field you’re coming from, but that’s often a good place to start. Search out trade magazines in that industry and write articles there. Query first, or send complete.
Another logical place is small weekly newspapers. They are always looking for writers to cover very local stuff from new coffee shops to newly blossoming trees in parks. Call the editor and be prepared to briefly pitch a couple of ideas. You might even get paid a small amount.
Finally, update your blog daily… use it as a way to showcase your writing. Build an audience and after a month or two you qualify to apply for pro blog jobs… heck, you can try applying now.
If you’d like your question about freelance writing answered, send me an email (anne@annewayman.com), put Q&A in the subject line and I’ll do my best to get you an answer.
Good luck, and…
Write well and often,
Two newsletters:
Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings.
Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written.
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POSTED IN: Ask Anne, the Pro Writer, General Freelance Writing
14 opinions for Getting Started In Freelance Writing
John Clausen
Mar 16, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Victoria,
If you’re attempting to start a commercial copywriting business, I’d recommend a book by Peter Bowerman called The Well-Fed Writer. He’s got a great, wicked sense of humor and an easily digested writing style…plus he’s a marketing monster with a lot of good tips for kicking off your writing business. Available on Amazon, I’m sure. I’d also like to invite you to read Too Lazy to Work, Too Nervous to Steal: How to have a great life as a freelance writer…written by yours truly. Apologies for the shameless plug and as an act of contrition, I’m willing to send you a free copy of the book. Just a gift to somebody starting out in the business like I was 30 years ago. Go to http://www.writingformoney.com and send me a mailing address and I’ll see that you get the copy of the book.
Laura L
Mar 17, 2008 at 8:04 am
This is nice advice, but I never had a career before staying home with my kids. And I’m more interesting in copywriting/copyediting. How do you convince prospective clients you know what you’re doing when you have no experience?
Anne Wayman
Mar 17, 2008 at 11:21 am
excellent suggestion
Anne Wayman
Mar 17, 2008 at 11:53 am
Lara, I posted an answer to your question:
http://www.thegoldenpencil.com/2008/03/17/qa-getting-started-with-no-credits/
Is a freelance writing career your dream? Here’s some advice
Mar 27, 2008 at 6:42 pm
[…] this recent post, Anne gives some advice to an aspiring freelancer. She also lists lots of freelance jobs each week for you to check out. And if you want information […]
Is a freelance writing career your dream? Here’s some advice | money news blog
Mar 27, 2008 at 9:25 pm
[…] this recent post, Anne gives some advice to an aspiring freelancer. She also lists lots of freelance jobs each week for you to check out. And if you want information […]
Jake
Mar 31, 2008 at 1:07 am
yet another one of those blogs on how to write — probably about the 100th one I’ve come across. Why is it all of these look the same, have the same posts, and offer the same things for sale (e-books on making money). When will people realize that there is such a thing as too much BS circulating…?
KathleenL
Mar 31, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Well Jake, it was nice of you to stop on by.
But, you need to keep in mind, there are always new people coming into industries and they are looking for sources of useful information via different avenues.
And where there is an avenue for a freelancer to make a bit of change, as selling words is part of the business, and help someone else decided whether Freelance Writing is for them can be a personal perk, then so be it.
You don’t have to purchase the information, unless you are interested in finding helpful information.
But others are more then welcome to seek the help.
John Clausen
Mar 31, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Jake,
Go to http://www.writingformoney.com and contact me. I’ll be happy to send you a copy of my book “Too Lazy to Work, Too Nervous to Steal.” I’d be interested to know if you feel it’s just another book offering the same old advice. Be careful reading it, though. I had an email from one reader who said he read it and it made him give up his thriving law career and become a freelance writer.
lillya
Apr 1, 2008 at 2:42 pm
John, how would I get started on writing direct response sales copywriting? I know Michael Master has an accelerated course on earning 6-figures, but that course costs about $500. I’d rather learn another way thank you. Any ideas?
thanks
Anne Wayman
Apr 2, 2008 at 8:14 am
Jake, sorry you’re not finding what you want here. Kathleen and John, thanks!
John Clausen
Apr 2, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Lillya,
Direct mail copywriting can be tough to break into…for the very reason that you want to break into it. It’s extremely lucrative and sometimes old veterans are reluctant to show newbies the ropes for fear that they will end up bidding against them for future jobs. It’s a highly competitive area of writing, more so than any other sort of advertising copywriting. Also very results oriented. If you can put together a winning package, your client will not care one little bit if the writing stinks from a pure writing standpoint. If you can bring in big net numbers by writing a letter on toilet paper or used rags, your client will not object and you’ll make a fortune. A little more than 98% of all direct mail gets tossed, so you have to develop a tough skin.
One thing you might do is contact the Direct Marketing Association. I think they are in NYC, but a Google search will probably turn them up where ever they might be. Contact them and ask what books and education material they recommend. A woman named Joan Throckmorten used to have a pretty good book about direct mail copywriting. I’m sure there are more. Get the books, study them, and keep an eye on your own mailbox for some examples of what the big mailers are doing.
It can be tough to get in because mailers are risking hundreds of thousands of dollars on printing and postage. The difference between hiring a seasoned professional for $20,000 or a newbie fo almost nothing…well, it’s insignificant compared to the disaster of a badly written package.
On my website (www.writingformoney.com) under Writer’s Resources, I have an article on getting started in the direct mail copywriting business. You might check that out.
Don’t be discouraged if it takes a while to get established. It’s well worth it. I came home from teaching one afternoon, made a handful of calls in the three hours before my next class…and made more money than I’ll make in three years as an adjunct English teacher. Something to think about, huh?
lillya
Apr 2, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Hmm, good advice, and thanks for the info John. I’ve printed your comments and I’m going to pay serious attention to everything you said.
Much appreciated
Lillya
Anne Wayman
Apr 2, 2008 at 4:18 pm
My favorite copywriting book of all time is Cash Copy by J. Lant - out of print, might find it at a library and it’s based on print tech… but the principles - write for the target, not for the company selling - is right on.
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