Practical Tips to Kickstart Your Freelance Writing Career

So, you want to learn how to be a freelance writer? Freelancing is a great option to keep yourself supported as a college student. If you’re exploring work post-graduation, you know how little American grads get paid starting out. This is why many motivated individuals have started turning to freelance to generate extra income and earn money off of skills they developed in school.

In this article, we walk you through the basics to succeed in the writing gig industry.

Seek Out Training

Don’t worry, you don’t have to have an English degree (although ideal) to qualify as a writer. A degree or diploma in related fields such as psychology, journalism, and sociology helps immensely, as studying the arts builds up the critical skills needed for writing. If you don’t have the time or money to get a degree, look up online certificate courses to build your skills. As long as you can write well and demonstrate reasonable skill through your writing samples, we promise you that a university degree (or lack thereof) won’t be an issue.

Attract Clients

You’ve got the training, now what? Begin by looking up industry-specific sites like Problogger and Freelance Writing Jobs. Check out job boards (this list by Elna Cain is super handy) that post daily, well-paid gigs. You can also always put your services up for hire on marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork. This reduces your headache significantly, as clients will come to you rather than the other way round.

Take On a Few Starter Jobs

Everyone has to start somewhere, right? To build up the credibility you require to land well-paying gigs, you need to begin with low-paying jobs to generate feedback. We won’t glamorize this – starter jobs aren’t fun, and you’ll be doing a lot without much ROI. But once you’ve laid the groundwork with a few jobs, you’ll have work samples to show future clients. And a writing portfolio is the hot ticket to graduating to better-paying gigs in the industry!

As you begin writing, be sure to create a business entity for long-term success. An Employer Identification Number, or Tax ID Number, is what the IRS uses to track your payroll taxes and identify your business. Be sure to pay attention to your IRS EIN filing so that you’re set up for a stress-free tax time (both for federal and annual taxes).

The beauty of this business is – anyone can become a freelance writer. While degrees and past qualifications certainly help, freelance jobs are open to pretty much any individual who can show off their stellar writing skills. And it’s profitable too! Use writing as the tool to transform your income (and life) today!

As a former banker, Jim McKinley uses his background and skills to provide advice and valuable resources to anyone who needs help with their financial literacy. In his spare time, Jim spends time with his family and his dogs and he maintains his website Money with Jim.