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People are increasingly becoming interested in remote working and seeking freelance jobs to make the change. Quite naturally, they look for advice from other freelancers and remote workers but hardly get anything meaningful out of them. The advice is mostly vague and comes with no real guide for anything actionable. Luckily, the process of becoming a freelance writer isn’t lengthy or confusing, it just needs perseverance and dedication- and good writing skills, of course!
This article is not about offering writing tips on how to become a writer or the specific process of writing. Instead, we’ll answer how to become a freelance writer by realizing the difference between occupation and profession and how they play out for a freelancer. Profession requires training and specialization to acquire specific skill sets that can be applied in specific fields. Occupation is a job that one undertakes to earn a livelihood that may or may not require specialization. For instance, only a doctor can prescribe medicines but any person from any pharmacy can sell those medicines. The doctor is specialized to treat the patient but the pharmacy worker can only sell what the doctor prescribes- a job for which they earn wages. Freelancers have to hone their skills to make a living. They can’t expect to sit at home and do a job that they’re periodically assigned and take a sum of money at the end of the month. They have to constantly improve, market and evolve.
Here we’ll discuss how to become a writer for beginners stepping into the remote work setup.
Key Tip: “Don’t know how to become a good content writer? Practice more to master grammar and punctuation and be attentive to avoid common writing mistakes.”
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What Is Freelance Writing?
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What Is Content Writing Jobs: Knowing The Types
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How To Become Content Writer: The Steps To Become A Freelance Writer
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How To Become A Content Writer With No Experience
What Is Freelance Writing?
Freelance writing is a lucrative form of remote work where the writer enjoys good flexibility and pay as a full-time career or a side hustle. It’s working without going to a traditional office and functions on the principle that employees don’t have to work from a designated place to execute projects and achieve goals. Freelance writers can choose to work from home, a cafe or any other place that suits their needs. The difference between a remote worker and a freelance writer is that the latter is a professional writer who’s contracted and not employed.
Jobs are mostly location-independent and freelance writers have the liberty to set their price and working hours, with the option to offer their writing services to other clients and publications. Long-term commitments are not common with freelance writers; however big clients can offer lucrative long-term deals to top talent. Freelance writers work across a variety of genres and forms, ranging from short stories to creative journals to a copywriter.
What Is Content Writing Jobs: Knowing The Types
It’s true that freelance writers can exercise almost total control and freedom over their career growth. After all, they get to choose their own schedules, handpick projects and people to collaborate with and where they work from. And there are different types of work that freelance writing includes. Let’s look at some of them:
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Content Writer
Freelance content writers produce online content that educates, entertains and informs. They need to adapt to and write in different styles and tones and are expected to have a good grip over search engine optimization (SEO).
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Copywriter
There may be a few overlaps but copywriting is different from content writing since the former is about persuasion. The approach of a copywriter is strategic and driven by data and aims to sell products or services.
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Columnist
Freelance columnists work with publications regularly to provide journalistic articles that reflect their worldview.
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Ghostwriter
Writing on behalf of someone is ghostwriting. The work of freelance ghostwriters is credited to other individuals or organizations.
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Academic Writer
Freelance academic writers use evidence-based facts, research and surveys to produce academic content. They must have good research skills and exceptional grammar along with an understanding of styles of referencing such as MLA, Chicago/Turabian and APA.
The mechanics of freelance writing involve having good ideas, knowing how to explicate them clearly and finding publications or clients to work with. The process needs dedication and the ability to deal with failures and rejections. If a writer makes their mind up to step into freelance writing then there are actionable steps to make it happen.
How To Become Content Writer: The Steps To Become A Freelance Writer
The downside of having so many options and opportunities in freelance writing is that getting started may seem overwhelming. One of the biggest challenges that people face initially is processing how to go about as a freelance writer. Although every freelance writer’s origin story will look different from the other, there is a process involved that the rest may choose to follow. Here’s how you can piece together a career as a freelance writer:
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Build An Online Portfolio
Portfolio is a collection of writing samples or clips that show the range and strength of a freelance writer. They have to showcase their works on websites to display the style and the quality of work they can deliver. Finding new clients, even small jobs, can help build a solid portfolio.
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Start Pitching To All Clients
Freelance writers have to look for work online but that’s half the job done. They have to put themselves out there for multiple websites and publications. They have to rely on networking and be at speed with the trends and ideas of the day.
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Seek Training
Learning never ends and still holds true for freelance writers. They don’t need formal degrees to start but upgrading skills and learning what’s new is crucial for career growth.
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Job Boards
Not all freelance writers will get paid per word or article. Most organizations offer content marketing, copyediting and copywriting jobs on part-time contracts. This can include anything from SEO projects to brand partnerships. Freelance writers have to scour job boards on websites such as Contently and LinkedIn to grab these opportunities
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A Blog And A Side Hustle
Starting a blog is one of the best ways for freelance writers to gain exposure. They can regularly put out content highlighting their styles and range which can attract appropriate clients and opportunities. Freelance writing can be especially tough in the initial days. Having a part-time day job isn’t a bad option to support the difficult days.
Freelance writers must always include a cover letter in their email when approaching for work through websites. Apart from being a professional approach, a cover letter is a way to instantly tell the reader why the writer would be a fantastic option for the said assignment.
How To Become A Content Writer With No Experience
People are wrong if they think freelance writing at home means working while lying in bed. It requires as much dedication and professionalism as office work. Freelance writers have to follow the disciplines that any professional has to. After all, choosing to work as a freelance writer doesn’t mean giving up working. Freelance writers have to find a place in their homes (or wherever they want to work from) that allows them to work like true professionals. The right setup, necessary equipment and a place free from distractions are fundamental.
Know how to start content writing from home:
- The first step to start freelance writing from home is planning. Make a list of things that are essential and make sure that they’re available. This makes the setup process smooth, avoiding delays and pending actions.
- Sitting to work anywhere isn’t an option. To work with discipline and meet targets, choose a space that’ll be the place of work. Whether it’s a separate room in the house or a small table in a corner, the workplace has to be dedicated and uncompromised.
- Pay attention to factors such as desk and screen height, comfortable chairs and room temperature and lighting.
- A freelance writer is responsible for arranging the essential tools and equipment that are required for their work. A computer or laptop, printer, internet and webcam are basics of freelance work. Additionally, they must have headphones with a microphone for calls, pens, notebooks and other stationery, along with enough storage space.
- Most importantly, eliminate distractions. Look for the least noisy area or if possible a separate room. Families, roommates or partners must know about and respect work hours.
- Choose an appropriate mode of communication.
- When working with international clients, be aware of time zones and schedule conversations accordingly.
Even though freelance writing doesn’t include monthly salaries and leaves, it should improve a writer’s performance simply because of the benefits that come with it. Getting to choose work hours, the kind of work and the workplace that not only comes as a privilege but also demands a high level of professionalism.
Organizations across the world are increasingly turning to remote work and people are having to adapt to remote and freelance work cultures. Surviving in dynamic corporate environments requires the ability to think critically and learn quickly. Harappa’s Learning Agility pathway will help you unlock a new world of ideas and innovation to passionately pursue new roles and responsibilities. Utilize past experiences to perform well in first-time solutions. Actively engage in cognitively challenging tasks and seek knowledge purposefully. Get ready to upskill and reskill yourself to achieve new heights!
