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The Quickest Way to Become a Freelance Writer [Opinion]
Don’t let the title fool you even though it was intended to do just that. (just to get you here, of course) Alas, there is no speedy way to excel to lofty heights immediately in this coveted career, in fact, you better bring all the patience you have.
If you are fresh from a search engine having heard of an elusive, yet fabulously prestigious and adventurous new career that can be lovingly referred to by such titles as:
- Freelance Creative Writing Artist
- Independent Copywriter
- Grammar Guru
- Word Dynamo
- Anything that includes the words “writing” and “consultant”
You’re in luck! The first thing you should do if you’re seeking knowledge on how to get started in freelance writing is to immediately have the illusion above destroyed. If you really want to become a freelance writer, you should probably get more attuned to titles such as:
- SEO Junkie
- Current Content Destroyer
- Manuscript Manipulator
- Erroneous Word/Phrase Creator
- Deadline Breaker
- Where the H*ll is My Money?
At least to begin with. Sorry to have been so brutal, but someone needed to tell you. Even freelance writers with a list of incredibly valid, high-quality and digitally impressive links have little choice in how and where to get started freelance writing. At the bottom. (Unless they have a super-fantastic teacher like me, *wink, nudge*)
Why Am I Saying This Now?
You’re right, I should have said this a long time ago. The problem is that I run into so many people, on a regular basis who should be doing this job and I can’t help but point this out to them.
Some are struggling, some are not, some don’t realize they even have the talent or the ability. Some just have a fantastic way with words, the ability to drag a viewer in for a read, kicking and screaming and such.
At one point, I thought perhaps hoarding my knowledge to myself to be an option worth considering. Well, that lasted about five minutes before I tossed up a content writing company website, hired 50 writers, and began to train others to do just as I had done for myself so many years ago.
Back in those days, content writing was a bit more like an old game of whack-a-mole. You jumped on a topic and literally beat it into search engine submission until your beater broke or the time ran out. These days, it’s a bit more intricate than that.
What Did I Do?
I worked hard. I worked myself into a frenzy of carpal tunnel syndrome. I built my portfolio. I’ve shown this here before, so if you do not have one, even better, if you feel like you don’t need one, it might be in your best interest to just stop the delusion train right this instant and step right off. Although you should begin on sites like:
You should also plan to get away from them as fast as possible. Use them to build a steady base of clients. Use the resources available at sites like Odesk 
or Elance to educate yourself on the many elements of freelance copywriting. (Also, expect to pay for those services with percentages of yours and your clients money going to their system to keep them running.)
You’ll need a good portfolio and a good bit of experience, but once you have it, you should head to Problogger and apply for jobs posted there.
I studied. (Still do, every day, get used to it)
Once you step into independent mode and begin to create your own content, you should immediately get familiar with how social media is used to aggregate your work and bring your client’s, and your own, content right out into the dazzling sunlight of social sharing. When I try to explain to prospective writers the two most important things to do first, to get on the road to the most fantastic job you will ever do in your pajamas, I always tell them to:
- Get Familiar with SEO (And be ready for what you learned today to mean zilch tomorrow. It is your responsibility as a content writer to look at all trending information when it comes to content creation. Google Algorithm Change Log is now your best friend and worst enemy.)
- Understand How Social Media Works for Content
- Get a Blog. Head straight to WordPress and learn how to create a WordPress blog for your business, services or products.
I was patient.
Plan to spend anywhere from four to six months (most people who aren’t still living the illusion by this point will realize they probably shouldn’t go ahead and tell the boss where to put the old day job just yet) getting attuned to what it takes to be a:
- Website Copywriter
- Article Writer/Rewriter
- Freelance Writer
- Independent Writer
- Other Reasonably Sounding Titles without Divatude
By now, you have probably learned very little about the mass range of intricate details that it takes to be a professional freelance writer. However, I get the sense you may still be curious about the phrase that indicated the loss of money. It’s true. Most especially when you make the last conversion from aspiring writer on outsourcing websites to managing your own rowdy pack of roving clients. For that reason I leave you with a list of things a budding freelance writer should keep in mind.
Freelance Writer Resources
- How to Not Get Ripped off by a Client
- How to Avoid Catching on Fire While You Work (I mean burning out as a writer.)
- Never Stop Educating Yourself
- Don’t Forget the IRS (Really, don’t,)
c/o cupcakebusinesscards.com/
Sources:
- Get Familiar with SEO
- Google Algorithm Change Log
- How Social Media Works for Content
- How to Create a WordPress Blog for your Business, Services or Products
Funding Your Freelance Writing Business
The greatest aspect of funding your freelance writing business is that you are only as limited as your ambitions, creative talents and the time it takes you to complete writing 
projects. As a freelance writer you likely have already gained some knowledge on what it takes to win larger projects as well as specific knowledge different clients seek.
It is imperative to create a business plan and set aside some of your income from freelance writing projects. Once you begin building it, funding a small online business will be as easy as paying writers as they complete projects. When considering funding your freelance writing business, realize that it is a distinct possibility that others may not have the ethical practices you have. Clients have been known to run off without pay, so be prepared emotionally and financially for that possibility as well.
The Basic Requirements
Before you delve into creating a small online business of your own in the writing niche, you need a reliable internet connection, an up-to-date computer and the willingness to work longer hours than you would as a part-time or even a full-time freelance writer. You will likely need at least two to four hours per day to have enough success to ensure your failures are not ‘end-alls’ for your company.
Build on Your Good Name
Outsourcing Ethically
Never mislead a client if you are outsourcing jobs they give you. This is not only unethical but can end up costing you your reputation. If a client has agreed that your work is up to their standards and you turn in work from another writer who did not meet those standards, the client will assume you lack consistency and may decide to terminate your 
contract. Fair assumption, you didn’t supply consistent content, regardless of who created it. On many freelance work sites, the client would win that disagreement in a moderation process.
However, once you have clients with whom you have made clear you will have a group of writers on their project, make sure that each writer‘s work lives up to the standards that you originally provided. This may require that you spend less time writing and a bit more proofreading the work of others. Be financially prepared with a bit of overhead from your own completed assignments in case the proofing or approval process takes a bit longer with larger orders. It will. Expect to spend at least a couple hours per day doing not much else for even the smallest projects.
Don’t Multitask Too Much
The freelance writing world is full of competent writers and websites that clients can be fully satisfied with. For this reason it will become your personal responsibility to see that your freelance writing business stands out among others. Before you go from employee to employer, you may also want to consider building up some funds to invest in marketing. Without a bit of help, the time you spent hunting, managing, and completing projects, will go from around two hours per day to ten. You can not add the much needed element of marketing on top of your many other responsibilities and expect any of them to be highly-effective. You can also expect to find yourself failing at both ends if you do. Certainly be hands-on when it comes to learning how the marketing process works. You will eventually have the time to give that area of your business far more consideration.
Funding your freelance writing business will become much easier if you demand high standards from your employees and perhaps even set up a series of rewards for consistently meeting those high standards. This will return your own private working time back to you, which you can turn over to completing the projects that will be funding your freelance writing business.
The Joy of Content Writing 