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If you’re working or studying in a creative field and are interested in exploring freelance writing as a pathway during school or post graduation, you can find a wide variety of employment opportunities. Use this guide from Roamingdesk to help you on your freelance journey.
Benefits of Freelance Writing
One of the best things about working as a freelance writer is you can typically take on the types of projects that interest you, for a duration you’re comfortable with. Some freelance assignments are one-off, while others are ongoing, allowing you some degree of flexibility.
Keep in mind that as a freelancer, while you do have a lot of options, it’s not a full-time job with benefits. You’ll need to keep your own schedule, keep good records, track any business-related expenditures, and file your taxes with your freelance income. You may also need to submit invoices as you complete work, and you might need to continue your education to keep moving ahead. To stay on top of everything, consider using a template to generate a monthly planner. Professional development in niche writing fields can be a big benefit.
Types of Writing Work
There are different types of writing that lend themselves to freelancing. There’s feature writing, or writing for newspapers, magazines, blogs, and websites. You can also do commercial copy writing in the form of ad and marketing copy. Ghost writing is also something that’s in high demand, where you write editorials, speeches, and other pieces of material for someone else to attach their name to.
There’s also technical writing, social media blog posting, jingles, taglines, and even reporting-style work, like being a stringer for a paper. You may also opt for short stories, essays, or working with content writing agencies.
Where to Find Work
You can find freelance writing gigs in a number of places. You can apply to postings on online job boards, list yourself on freelance hiring websites, or even go through an agency that specializes in hiring out for creative talents. In addition, you can cold call newspapers, magazines, and advertising, marketing, and public relations firms to inquire about whether they hire freelancers.
It’s important to have a detailed and versatile online portfolio that demonstrates your different writing abilities. This allows prospective customers to get a feel for your tone and style prior to hiring you. According to Make A Living Writing, it’s also wise to learn the going rate for work in specific industries, as well as to know your value.
Starting a Business
You may find that you enjoy freelance writing so much that you decide to turn it into a business. In this case, it’s important to have a business license and an EIN or tax ID number to identify your business. This is one way the Internal Revenue Service tracks payroll taxes. Starting a business means you should establish a website and social media presence. This will help you attract new customers and retain existing ones. Always ask for referrals from happy customers—this is a great way to build a stable of clients.
Freelance writing can be a lucrative way to earn income as a side hustle or as a pathway for launching a full-service writing business. You may also find the work leads to full-time opportunities in the public or private sector. Even once you find full-time work, keep freelance writing open as a side pathway, whether you’re publishing a novel or just looking to pick up extra cash on the side. With advances in technology, you can work from virtually anywhere—a great opportunity for those who crave creative freedoms.
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