Freelance Writing

Making Money from Freelance Writing

It seems these days the most commonly asked question I see around forums and job boards involves how to make money from freelance writing. Newbies ask this all the time, with visions of riches beyond their wildest dreams. While it's true you can make a lucrative career out of freelance writing, you cannot go into the field expecting to get rich quickly. It just doesn't work like that! As with any other job, it takes time and experience to command the rates of a true professional. I've compiled the following guide to help you increase the profits you can earn from writing. Oftentimes, a few small tweaks in your routine will enhance your overall income greatly.

First and foremost, you want to know the audience you are writing for. Nothing screams "amateur" like a piece that's written with the wrong audience in mind. Whether you're targeting an internet company or a magazine, you want to be sure you know who their target audience is. Gain an understanding of the kind of language they prefer as well as the style of writing that's most likely to be accepted. Once you know who your audience is, you're able to write a piece reflecting that.

In freelance writing, you'll also want to make sure you understand the publication you're interested in writing for. In the case of magazines, check out a couple of past issues to gain a feel for what the magazine is looking for. Make notes on the publication's preferred layout, style and tone. When you know how to write for the publication, your piece will be that much more likely to be picked up by the editor for perusal.

Whether you're just starting out or have been in the business for years, you may want to consider targeting smaller markets with your work. While these markets don't pay as much as larger ones do, sending in multiple "fillers" to various publications is an easy, cost-effective way to increase your writing income. Because the word count for these are so short, it's easy to crank out several snippets a week. Look around in magazines or online for publications that accept these types of submissions.

Possibly the most important rule of thumb to remember when looking to increase your writing income is to constantly write! It seems easy, but you'd be amazed at how much time is lost networking, marketing and otherwise avoiding writing! Granted, all of us need a break from time to time and marketing your services is an essential part of the freelance writing business. However, if you're looking to increase your income with freelance writing, you need to write on a daily basis and keep sending submissions out. With these strategies in mind, you should be seeing a return on your hard work in no time!

posted by Denise @ 12:26 PM