Becoming a Freelance Writer: Tips and Tricks
Writing articles for a WordPress blog can be a great way to relax and let go of daily tensions. But what if you want to take it to the next level and become a freelance writer? While being a freelancer is not always easy, it can be a very fulfilling experience both financially and personally. In this article, we will share some tips and tricks to help you become a successful freelance writer.
Decide What You Want to Write About
The first step to becoming a freelance writer is to decide what you want to write about. It is important to write about what you love the most, rather than settling for less or simply jumping on a trend. Writing for a blog professionally requires passion, and people will want to read about your experience, expertise, and opinions if they come from a place of inspiration. When you write about something, your passion needs to be evident in your writing.
Don’t Wait for it to Happen
Planning too much or overthinking can make the process of creating articles painfully slow. Instead, open up an empty page in your favorite editor and start writing. It is far easier to first focus on the broader idea and then add in main topics/titles. If you have the main topics written, the rest of the article will flow much faster and easier.
Create Your Own Blog & Resume
To attract attention, you need to have your own blog up and running. Pick an affordable hosting service to start a blog, such as Cloudways which starts at just $10/month. After you’ve published enough content, consider creating your own resume online. Although you can use free services like about.me, it is better to have your own domain. You can make your own resume online with easy tools and in no time. For the domain, simply use your own name.
Use the Proper Tools
Compiling a resume can be very easy if you use the proper tools. While you could use one of these awesome resume WordPress themes, another great way to start up your own resume is with a free site builder such as Mobirise, Wix, etc. This handy tool will allow you to build a website in no time, just by adding modules, pictures and text. Once you have your website ready, it’s as easy as copying the files to your new hosting account and your site should be visible right away.
Working on articles once you become a freelance writer will require some tools. If you love to write offline, Word is going to be your best friend. If you use Windows, be sure to add OneNote to your favorite set of programs. That handy tool will allow you to save content easily and sync it with the cloud. It’s very helpful when you have new ideas to write about and not enough time to make an actual new document. If you edit all your articles by yourself, it’s a good idea to have basic knowledge in Photoshop. This tool allows you to manipulate pictures easily.
Use Social Media to Your Advantage
Facebook is great for connecting with friends, but if you’re looking for a job, you’re not going to find it there. LinkedIn is a wonderful social network to find jobs. Make the most of it by adding connections and increasing your network. Don’t be afraid to post your articles on the network and introduce yourself to contacts that may be interested in your work.
Be Active on Communities in Your Niche
Joining groups is a good way to find and get to know your audience for content once you’ve become a freelance writer. Always ask the group or community manager if publishing external content is allowed. Posting your work on Facebook Groups is a very useful way to expand your audience, reach and potential leads.
Don’t Be Afraid to Speak Up
If the article is going to touch some difficult topics or you’re scared that it’s not going to go well, don’t stay quiet. Say something. Be polite but do not hide your true motivations. People want to read honest articles, even if they are technical. Companies will not get offended if you write something negative, as long as it’s respectful and well written. You have to let go of the fear of people not liking your content.
Maintain a Healthy Environment
After some time writing for blogs, you will soon find out that your work gets edited, time and time again. That’s normal. You have to let go of your ego pretending that your work is always a work of art. Although it could be, any serious blog or magazine will have editors. Those people are in charge of tweaking the content, adapting it to fit the objective of the magazine and it is completely normal to get edited.
But don’t let the editing work go unchallenged. Too much editing can change the primary message inside your article. As a rule of thumb, if the content that gets edited is not fundamentally changing your idea then it’s fine. If you suspect that a specific edit is changing the article in a fundamental way, you need to make sure to communicate this to the editor.
Become a Freelance Writer – and Enjoy it!
Becoming a freelance writer requires dedication and commitment. With time, your articles will keep improving. The trick is to really enjoy writing them. If you manage to balance commitment with enjoyment, you’ll have the best of both worlds. Who would not want that?
In conclusion, becoming a freelance writer can be a fulfilling experience both financially and personally. By following these tips and tricks, you can become a successful freelance writer and enjoy the process along the way.
