Tips For Getting Started- Freelance Writing

freelancerjourn · Oct 21, 2012

Hello! I just joined this website. It will be great to network and share ideas/information/etc with other writers.

I have a Bachelor's Degree in Mass Media Arts/Print Journalism. I currently am not working in my field; and am looking to make a change career wise and jump-start my writing career.

For those of you who are experienced in the world of freelance writing, I would certainly appreciate any advice/suggestions you have on establishing a successful career as a freelance writer.

Also, I am aware that there are companies who hire people just to manage and write content for their social networking sites (i.e. Twitter). I'm really interested in learning how I can find out which companies are hiring writers to maintain their social networking sites.

Thanks in advance. I look forward to any information/suggestions anyone has to offer.

GeekTells · Oct 21, 2012

You could try writing some articles on spec and pitching them to sites. If you're willing to let them be published for free, you'll soon have published articles you can use as a reference when pitching other articles. If you aren't willing to go unpaid (which I would applaud), just keep pitching and pitching and pitching until you get something published.

Being a freelance writer is all about you banging on doors.

Good luck, and welcome to the forums.

freelancerjourn · Oct 21, 2012

Thank you

Thanks so much for the welcome and the advice/feedback. I appreciate it!

GeekTells said:
You could try writing some articles on spec and pitching them to sites. If you're willing to let them be published for free, you'll soon have published articles you can use as a reference when pitching other articles. If you aren't willing to go unpaid (which I would applaud), just keep pitching and pitching and pitching until you get something published.

Being a freelance writer is all about you banging on doors.

Good luck, and welcome to the forums.

Melina · Oct 24, 2012

Welcome to AW! :hi:

Have a look around--you'll find this place is jam-packed with great information about writing of all kinds. You'll also find that there are a ton of wonderful, generous people here who regularly dispense incredibly helpful advice!

There's a lot to read (this place is HUGE), but I think you'll find a lot of what you're looking for has already been discussed on these boards.

The best way to benefit from all this site has to offer, is to engage with the members of the community, and read, read, read!

RookieWriter · Oct 29, 2012

One place that helped me get started was a book called Getting Started as A Freelance Writer by Robert Bly. He has a few others that I have not read but you might decide to take a look at. Try your local library and see if they have a copy, otherwise you can buy a copy for about 12-13 dollars. There are probably countless other books on the subject out there.

Coco82 · Nov 13, 2012

I'd also like to become a freelance writer. I have a BA in Political Science and an MA in Military Studies. I do really enjoy writing and the research that goes into it and in fact did some non-paid (unfortunately) writing for a local campaign recently on current affairs. How could I by chance find venues where I could write on such issues for?

TheKoB · Nov 14, 2012

Writing for online magazines or signing up to one of those writers platforms might be your best bet.
Although I would be very careful of the latter as there are myriads of scammers out there.

NinjaFingers · Nov 14, 2012

Also, bear in mind that most of the writers platforms will not pay you very much AND the work goes out work for hire, so you can't use it for your portfolio. I'm trying to move away from them myself. (Does anyone know of any that actually pay decently other than Writer Access, which rarely has work?)

WeaselFire · Nov 15, 2012

Start the same way you would start anything: Research

Pick a topic you would like to write on (why write about something you don't like?)
Research the publications appropriate for this topic (Writer's Market, etc.)
Read the writer's guidelines for the publications (Online at their web sites)
Check the publication's editorial calendar to see what they might be doing in the next few months.
Write a query tailored to your topic and their guidelines.
Repeat steps 1-5 until you get a request for an article.
Write the article.
Get paid.

Repeat until rich.

Jeff

Miller Robert · Dec 12, 2012

There are several sites where you can find some bids. Make research on the internet. You can easily find it.

*Amel* · Dec 30, 2012

Also, I am aware that there are companies who hire people just to manage and write content for their social networking sites (i.e. Twitter). I'm really interested in learning how I can find out which companies are hiring writers to maintain their social networking sites.

I think your best bet here would be to identify companies that have a weak or non-existent social media presence and then contact them directly to offer your services. Many companies need someone to tell them what they could be doing more effectively. If you search Craigslist and other job boards, you will also find companies actively recruiting for social media managers.

Publius · Jan 11, 2013

If we're keeping score, so far we have BA in Mass Media/Print Journalism and BA in Political Science with an MA in Military Studies.

I'll throw a BA in History into that equation.

What other degrees out there inevitably end up here?

Seriously though, thanks for the advice to us newbies.

Tips For Getting Started- Freelance Writing

freelancerjourn

GeekTells

Tick tock...

freelancerjourn

Melina

Getting better all the time

RookieWriter

Coco82

TheKoB

Smooth Operator

NinjaFingers

WeaselFire

Benefactor Member

Miller Robert

Amel

Publius

Hummin', comin', atcha . . .