Many people toy with the notion of becoming a freelance writer, but few ever get down there and establish themselves. Why? They don’t know where to start. The myriads of jobs on Craigslist daunt them, and they don’t feel qualified enough to submit anything. But truth is -- most freelance writers start out like this, on square one.
Start With a Paypal Account
The one thing every freelance writer needs is a Paypal account. Maybe a few sites out there will pay by check, but those are out-of-reach for beginners.
Beginner Sites for New Freelancers
A quick Google search reveals that Associated Content and Constant Content are good for beginners, but that is not so. When starting out, generating topics out of the blue can be difficult, as can waiting on editors. The best places to start are actually low-paying sites such as Textbroker and eCopywriters, which have user-requested titles, but automated systems that skip the bidding process. Dealings are one-on-one, with the website as the mediator.
After gaining some experience at such sites, the content sites may prove more fruitful. Beginning writers need confidence, and that is what sites with lower standards provide.
Residual (or Passive) Income
After a fair amount of time dabbling in various writing sites, writers may begin considering sites that offer residual income. Good leads include:
- Helium
- Bukisa
- Info Barrel
- eHow
- Hubpages
- Squidoo
- Firehow
Sites that offer Ad revenue tend to pay more than sites that pay by page views.
How to Write a Freelance Resume
A freelance writers’ resume is different from the typical resume. Only experience relevant to writing needs to be included… and guess what? All of the above sites count! Something simple such as "Helium.com Content Producer, 2006 - present" can easily go under "Work Experience" or "Personal Achievements," and with 3-4 sites, the resume begins looking impressive.
A resume immediately opens up a wide spectrum of new possibilities, including bidding markets (Flexjobs, Guru, Elance) and more lucrative upfront payments (Demand Studios). Deb Ng’s Freelance Writing Jobs Network is a great resource for leads.
For writers feeling ambitious, take a step up. Many magazines will pay anywhere from $100-$1000 or even more for an accepted submission, and About.com pays its writers $675 ALONG with residual income for a few simple articles/two blog posts per month. Those savvy at web design may even consider starting their own blog, and earning ALL instead of part of the Google Adsense Revenue.
Working With an Online Editor
This is something that every writer must develop for himself. Many places will have editors who review articles and tell writers what they did wrong, but it is up to the writers to fix those errors and learn from their mistakes. Freelance writing is not easy, and those not willing to put a certain amount of effort into it will not reap the rewards.
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