Building a freelance writing career

So, is it really easier to become a freelance writer today?

Ultimately, you’ll have to come up with that answer on your own.

For all the advantages writers have today, there’s still a lot of legwork they need to do in order to get work.

Still, freelancers today have access to resources, training, and a job market that wasn’t available to writers just a few decades ago.

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That said, there’s a world of difference between finding a freelance writing gig and building a freelance writing career. Hobbyists might make some pocket money with a few article assignments, but if you want to make a living as a writer, you need to get serious about finding regular work.

To make sure you build a thriving career, keep the following tips in mind:

Pace yourself

With all the online courses, groups, and job opportunities today, you may feel overwhelmed trying to decide where to start. 

Take a breath. You don’t have to study every article, job board, or course out there. Just find a resource that looks useful, focus on that, and start building up your knowledge base.

As you grow in experience, you’ll get a better idea of what new resources and skills you need to become familiar with.

Practice self-care

Studying smarter doesn’t mean studying all day and all night. Take breaks during your lessons and your job hunt. Eating, sleeping, exercising, and even watching movies helps re-energize your brain which makes acquiring skills and knowledge much easier.  

Get to know your chronotype, or when you feel most alert or groggy during the day. As a freelancer, you can set your own work schedule, so write when you know you’re the most productive. 

Write every day

Writers write. Even if you don’t get an assignment right away, that doesn’t mean you can’t spend time writing every day. Work on some articles for your blog or a personal project. Practice your copywriting skills by writing copy for your website. Refine your email marketing abilities by crafting cold emails. 

The more you write, the more you train your brain to think of yourself as a writer. Not only will this improve the quality of your writing, it’ll also increase the satisfaction you feel with your freelance career choice. 

Above all, have fun with your writing! Freelance writing opportunities are so numerous these days that the main challenge you face is finding work that makes you happy.