Freelance Writing Without a Degree

If you can afford it, I would look at getting some courses at a correspondence college (a reputable one, not a 'buy your degree' place - somewhere like the open university) or a local adult education centre. This can be costly, though.

The main thing a degree teaches is how to look at information critically and communicate said information effectively. The knowledge taught is secondary to this basic skill. Therefore, you may benefit from reading some books on your chosen area of expertise which discuss the research methodologies used. Skills like how to use a library properly, how to use online searches and online databases and so on are also covered and there are books on these skills out there too.

Looking into journalism courses or resources may also be of help.

I don't think a degree is actually essential for freelance work these days so long as you can write a balanced, well researched article which grabs the reader. Though with publications like national geographic, I suspect at least some of the writers are academics in that field who are writing about thier research.

While mags like Nat Geo probably want writers with a degree, a lot of publications are just looking for good writing by someone who can meet deadlines. I've been hired for a lot of freelance gigs solely on the basis of clips, without anyone asking to see a resume or inquiring about my education. I have a degree, but the main benefit I gained from it, as I see it, was the time spent writing assignments and receiving critiques. If you want to finish your degree, work out a realistic long-term plan for completing it slowly enough that you can still work and pay bills. You might want to look into getting a full or part time job at a university near you that offers free or discounted tuition to employees.

I have written for local publications as well as web magazines, mostly on topics of health/wellness and relationships. Also do some corporate work, brochures and such.

Just an idea--you might want to get in touch with Nat Geo writers and ask them about their education and experience. Would help you determine what program of study would be useful and you might be able to turn your research into an article for a website or mag about careers.

You do not need a college degree to write for magazines. I've been writing for over six years and my degree has never gotten me a gig. Figure out which magazines you'd like to write for and send them well-written queries or letters of introduction (when appropriate). That will get you assignments, not a degree.

PS. Please give up writing for content mills if you want to be taken seriously as a writer. Giving up those gigs and querying editors with great article ideas will get your further than any degree will in the freelance writing world.

Just my two cents.

I will add that I don't want to discourage anyone from getting an education. If your goal is to get a degree, go for it. I was only answering the question in terms of freelance writing. If your only goal is to become a freelancer, you don't need a degree (as I stated before).

However, if you want a degree for other reasons, then it's worth considering.

Hope that makes sense and clarifies my previous advice.

Good luck with whatever you decide!

I stopped doing freelance work years ago because i never got anywhere with it (the time required was too much for the reward in my opinion) but I was mainly commenting from the point of view of an education specialist with experience in academic publishing.

If you want a degree, go for it! You don't need a degree to be a freelance writer, though. I've had college graduates ask me to help them with query letters before. Study the markets, make lists of topics relating to your interests, polish your query letters until they shine. If you only have DS clips, start local. Check for regional publications and newspapers. Network. Make connections. Research everything inside and out. You can do it!

If you are outdoorsy or do a fair bit of travelling, that kind of stuff is reasonably easy to sell. There are other glossy mags out there besides NatGeo. If you have a half decent camera and can shoot the pics to accompany your articles (6MB file size), you'll have it easier to sell your articles and your rate will go up. And it really doesn't have to be stuff like a solo circumnavigation of Greenland - a lot of travel and outdoor mags are looking for things slightly off the beaten track but about things their readership will be able to do. IMO it's a good way to go if you enjoy this kind of thing - you get to do what you love and get paid rather well, too

Long Ride Writers Group has a great program for writers, which I know from experience. Breaking into Print is for Magazines. They have great instructors.

http://www.longridgewritersgroup.com/

I'm in the same predicament actually.

I do have a degree, in fact a post-grad, but from a technical and unrelated field. I recently resigned from that field after roughly 12 years to jump into the world of freelance writing, with the ultimate goal of breaking into fiction writing.

The vast majority of writers say a writing related degree is helpful but unnecessary. This is what gave me the nerve to just jump in. Now I'm on the difficult road of trying to build up a portfolio of published works, without having a portfolio to have anything published

I do plan on doing some writing courses at a local college. I'm in Sydney, Australia, and am planning on going here: http://sydneywriterscentre.com.au/

Anyone from around here know if it's any good?

I might do a writing related degree in the future if it all pans out and I can afford it.

I have heard this concern a lot, and I will be addressing it in my book I am currently writing to help freelance writers. I have never been asked about my degree and have only shown my resume to a few clients. The truth is most people or businesses are hiring freelance writers because they do not want to hire a staff writer. A degree does not matter if you can write well. Clips are what matter. Quality writing is what matters. The hardest part is breaking through the door, but you have to keep trying. You will get rejected and get frustrated - every writer goes through it.

Denene is spot on. You have to move away from content farms and $2 articles. Take yourself seriously and spend time looking for better paying jobs. Start local to build up clips. Consider guest posting on reputable blogs. Promote your website. Subscribe to writing newsletters and blogs. No one said freelance writing was easy, so above everything else - you must love it or you will end up hating it.

Hi CoCo,


You need to apply to work for newspapers or magazines if you have that much experience

I can't imagine turning in good, quality work and have an editor ask you about your degree.

Yeah, degrees are pretty irrelevant in this industry, though if you have expertise in a certain area (not necessarily a degree), you can certainly leverage it to sell work.

My degrees are in geology (BA) and counseling (MA). I mostly write about health and real estate. See the disconnect? Like others on here, I've never had anyone ask me about my education. Unless you're doing pretty specialized types of writing (not mags), it's all about your clips.

If you're going to freelance full-time, I think it's definitely worth it to take classes on writing and business management. I've taken classes on book proposals, querying and QuickBooks -- mostly from other writers and our local small biz association. None cost over $350. Way cheaper than college, yeah?

And what others said ... if you want to make a living at this, run ... RUN from DS and its ilk! Contact businesses in your area and see if they need help with writing tasks and send queries to paying markets. Once you escape DS, you'll be shocked how much money you can make -- and for much less time, effort and aggravation.

I feel your pain because I fell into the DS trap too when I started out.