7 Tips for New Freelance Writers

Have you just stumbled into the world of freelance writing and can’t believe how awesome it is?

The freedom to set your schedule, choose your clients and to raise your rates when you like! Who wouldn’t want to be a freelance writer?

So, what did you naturally do when you learned about it? You went online and researched as much as you could about becoming a freelance writer. But, then you ended up having analysis paralysis – you don’t know where to start or how to start.

7 Tips for New Freelance Writers

If this is you, then I want you to know that I was in your shoes once. Not too long ago – a little over a year ago – I was at a place where I was reading soo much about freelance writing, that I didn’t know what to believe.

This just resulted in me making mistakes and taking longer to reach my goals.

I don’t want that to happen to you!

To get you started, I’ve come up with seven tips to help you out.  This all requires taking action on your part, however.  If you don’t just do it and get out there, you’ll never know how much you can potentially succeed as a pro writer.

Here are seven tips all new freelance writers should do to get started. And, if you don’t have time to read this post, make sure you check out my YouTube video and subscribe to my channel!

1. Pitch Every Day

Just because you are a journalist or that you had a story published in your local newspaper last month, doesn’t mean clients will suddenly start flocking to you by the dozens.

I’m afraid they won’t because they have no clue you exist! The internet is big and while it’s the best place make money, everyone is on it!

So, it’s your job as a new freelance writer to start pitching and go to the client. And the best best way to accomplish that is to set a goal and stick to it.

For example, pitch 5-10 times a day for 1 month.

Here’s a post I wrote on how to find freelance writing jobs fast and it’s a great tool to use when you’re new.

Be sure to not only pitch to job boards, but also send out some cold pitches. These are pitches you would send to companies that aren’t actively looking for writers – and I made a guide to help you out!

2. Have a Blog

Can I tell you something? I often visit freelance writer’s websites to see their blog. I like viewing what other writers are writing about. But more times than not, their blogs aren’t being updated.

I want you to treat your blog like a client. Set deadlines and create a content schedule.

Why is this important?

1. It Serves as Your Portfolio

You’re new and you don’t have any samples under your belt. The easiest way to quickly create samples is to write a few blog posts.

Now whenever you send a pitch, you have samples to link to. A win-win!

2. It Helps Improve Your Writing

I have every post I’ve ever written on this blog. If you go and read the first few posts I wrote and compare them to now, you’ll notice an improvement. It’s without question that writing every day will improve your writing.

It’s just another muscle to exercise.

3. It Can Help You Land Clients

At first, my blog didn’t help me land clients. I was still new and no one knew I was a freelance writer. But then prospects found out about my blog and I started getting inquiries from them letting me know that they read my blog and wanted to hire me.

Then I had prospects leave comments on my blog. matt-wolfe-comment

3. Focus on Goals, Not Failures

It’s so easy to get hung up on the failures and rejections. Writing, in a lot of ways, is a creative outlet and is personal.

So, when someone doesn’t hire you or doesn’t like your writing style, it’s like they don’t like you as a person.

That’s what you think, but in reality, freelance writing is as business. It’s not a hobby.

When a business doesn’t get back to you or says you’re not a good fit for their brand, don’t take it personally.

It has nothing to do with you as a person! So, don’t let the fear of rejection stop you from taking action. I’m not the best writer, but that hasn’t stopped me from writing for big brands and influencers.

And to think I almost quit freelance writing because of what someone else said!

So, have faith in yourself and stick to your goals.

4. Invest in a Course

So, remember when I said I made some mistakes? This was one of them. I know for a fact I could’ve saved time by enrolling in a course.

Having a successful framework to go by just makes new freelance writers become successful faster. You learn the right way to pitch or submit your work or where to find freelance writing jobs and you don’t waste time.

That’s why I tell aspiring writers to invest in your business first by taking a course (my course!).

5. Network With Other Freelance Writers

One of the best things I did was reach out to other freelance writers. Whether it was to ask them about rates or clients, having another person that “knew” what I was going through was helpful.

I found most of my network of freelance writers either on social media or by visiting other freelance writing websites like Be a Freelance Blogger or The Write Life.

And, you know what happened? I learned that one freelance blogger actually lived in my town!

twitter

It’s great when you have someone to bounce ideas off of and talk all things “blogging and freelance writing.”

6. Develop a Marketing Plan

Okay. This is a BIG tip 🙂

Having a solid marketing plan is what will help you stay in business. Because after you land your first client, you still need to land another and another if you want to make this a sustainable business.

And to do that means you have to market yourself. I’ve talked a lot about marketing (here & here).

The best tips I can give are:

  • Start guest posting. This gives you an author bio which helps gets you noticed
  • Get on Twitter and LinkedIn
  • Comment on blogs you want to write for
  • Connect with businesses on social media
  • Have a writer website

7. Keep On Hustling

You’re a freelance writer and that means you’re also a hustler. You have to go out there and hustle hard for clients.

This is not to say you have to do it ALL the time; after a while – if you market yourself right – prospects will start approaching you.

So, even though you may earn enough to pay your expenses and live comfortably with one client’s work, be on the lookout for more work. Clients don’t stay with you forever and you don’t want to suddenly lose all your clients.

Don’t Do This Alone

Even though we work from home by ourselves, it doesn’t mean you have to do it alone! There’s a community of freelance writers out there willing to help.

My course has a private Facebook group and we ask questions, solve problems, congratulate wins and offer support.

What other tips for new freelance writers did I forget? Tell me in the comments and please Pin me!

Hi I'm Elna and I'm a freelance writer and mom blogger. I help people just like you become a profitable freelance writer. Within 6 months of starting my freelance writing business from scratch I was able to earn a full-time living as a part-time freelance writer while taking care of my twin toddlers. Check out my free email course Get Paid to Write Online and learn the steps you need to take to be a freelance writer.

Leave a Reply

48 Comments

Thanks for sharing your experience and skills needed for growth and success in life. I love writing and editing but I finding it hard to start. I am highly motivated and inspired by your write-up. You’re a plus to our generation.Reply to Edosa
Thanks so much for such a wonderful guidance, kindly help me become a great freelance writer and I will greatly appreciate.Reply to Josephat
Thanks for the supportive, yet cold-hard truths, about what it takes to rise above the rest. Plenty of good tips here!Reply to Juliann
Hi Juliann, You’re welcome! Good luck on becoming a freelance writer!Reply to Elna
Wish to be a freelance writer in the future too. By the way I’m only 17 years old and there’s still so much to learn.Reply to Alyssa
Hi Alyssa, You have plenty of time to find freelance writing tips for you! Good luck!Reply to Elna
This is great. I am just starting my blog and I aspire to become a freelance writer. This video and post helped me see the main aspects. Thank you!Reply to Neha
Hi! That’s fantastic to hear! Glad you enjoyed these freelance writing tips!Reply to Elna
thanks for the great tips about freelance writers.If you want to know about ‘Tips for Succeeding as a Freelance ‘ read this blog.Reply to Kristy
Thanks for the great advice on starting out with freelance writing, you mention a few aspects i had not thought of.Reply to Antony
Lots of helpful tips πŸ™‚Reply to Erica
Hi Erica, Thank you so much!Reply to Elna
Your articles are so helpful! Thank you!Reply to Angelina
Angelina! <3 Thank you so much! Glad you found them helpful!Reply to Elna
I’m a teacher of English Language & Literature. I recently started blogging about education. It’s so exciting and interesting. I’m good at it and I thought, “Why don’t I become a freelance writer?” But I had a big fear, I didn’t know how and where to start, and your article just helped me to cope with everything. Now I have found my clients and start writing for them. For the same beginners as me I want to advise not to be afraid to try yourself in this matter, if you try your best, you will succeed! I also would like to advise useful freelancer tools, such as https://www.hubspot.com/blog-topic-generator – which will help you when you are short on post ideas and Uncheck.com – great plagiarism checker helps to be sure of the originality of your content. All the best!Reply to Nancy
Nancy, what a nice blog comment here. I like your two suggested tools and will add them to my list of tools. The two I use are https://answerthepublic.com/ for blog post ideas and http://copyscape.com/ for plagiarism checks.Reply to Kurt
“Make A Pitch Everyday” ! If I could impart one piece of advice to freelance writers it would be this. To make it you need to market every single day. A freelance writer without clients is just a hobbyist. Marketing on social media, query letters, sample content, your website, networking — all of these methods are necessary. Jon PenningtonReply to Jon
This is actually great advice for us newbie bloggers. I have bookmarked your article for my friends can read them too. Great work!Reply to Kathleen
Elna, I wish I had found your blog earlier…like almost a year earlier. I probably wouldn’t have had to go back to my corporate job if I’d found you earlier. That’s one of my mistakes and I hope others don’t make the same one. Thank you for this post and your blog!Reply to Lisa
Hey Lisa! I’m sorry to hear that! But, there’s still more time of course! Come over to the other side (the freelance freedom side!) πŸ™‚ Thanks for being a follower and supporter!Reply to Elna
May be you forgot to included all freelnce writers must included guaranteed for reevision. I always did it so the client get what they want. if they are dislike with my job, there is always revision option.Reply to Shiq4
Great post as usual, Elna! The first tip is absolutely essential, and I’m glad you listed it at the top of the list! I’ve had a few different newer freelancers ask me why they aren’t getting any responses, and what they are doing wrong with their pitches. They had a few issues with their approaches, but the main problem was how little they were pitching. Generally, they would send out 1 to 2 pitches a day, and then not do anymore marketing work. They sat there, waiting…and waiting…and waiting. Needless to say, they needed to pitch MORE! Again, great post!Reply to Alexia
Hey Alexia! Thanks. Yeah many new freelance writers don’t know that they need to make pitching their job until they land one. You have to hustle hard in the beginning, but it definitely pays off.Reply to Elna
Hi, I just wanted to say thank you for this β€” it’s just what I needed to hear today! I love your blog, with all of its encouragement and practical, warts-and-all advice.Reply to Mantra
Hey Mantra, Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed my post and it helped you stay motivated.Reply to Elna
Hi Elna, Thanks for these tips. I’m just starting out as a freelance writer and I have my own blog, but it’s quite intimidating being out in the big wide world of the Internet. But with these tips I feel like I have more of a plan and will just keep pushing on and see what happens. Cheers, DianaReply to Diana
Hi Diana! That’s great to hear. You’re taking action by reading and commenting. That’s how I started πŸ™‚ Looking forward to hearing about your progress!Reply to Elna
Thank you for the information. I’m a new author and still learning the ropes. Instead if working on my next novel I’m trying to keep my blog afloat by posting three times a week. the blog is new and just this last weekend I made the decision what I truly want to write about. I have a book signing event coming up and I’ve been reading and researching the proper way to wrote a press release. Day number two and I’m completely overwhelmed. Not only am I trying to promote my own boom but my husbands as well. Does it get any easier? Loom through your list there are several things I need to work on. Thank you again for posting this.Reply to Charity
Hi Charity! That’s great you are on track. I’m not an author but I know a few freelance writers that are authors! It may seem overwhelming but just take it one step at a time! It does get easier once you understand the process and expectations! Good luck.Reply to Elna
Hi Elna! Great post. I’m struggling with a few of these actually. I definitely need to work on #1 and #5. I enjoy interacting with fellow freelance writers when I get the chance but don’t always get the time to be an active part of the community. I’m always grateful for your shares and shoutouts on social! It’s been inspiring to watch your journey over the last 6 months (when I first found your blog!). This has been queued up in my Buffer btw πŸ™‚Reply to Jennee
Hi Jenee! Thanks so much. You are a very talented and engaging writer πŸ™‚ I think you’re doing a fantabulous job out there. But, yeah, pitching and networking can take a back burner when you’re busy or have other priorities. I know it does for me. These tips are only a guideline, but that’s great you know what you need to do to kick it up a notch. Thanks for being a loyal follower and supporter πŸ™‚Reply to Elna
Hi Elna, Great tips here. The part about pitching every day… I need to work on that. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve got a healthy base of clients. But as you know, clients don’t always hire freelancers with “forever after” in mind. It’s always good to have fresh prospects in the pipeline. As far as your writing course goes, I will be promoting it on my blog near future. Stay tuned! Best, BrentReply to Brent
Hey Brent, I’m the same way too. I have too much work, but I know this can change in an hour. I’m lucky, though to have constant inquiries in my inbox. But I am always on the lookout for new companies or bloggers to work with on social media! Thanks for being an affiliate for my course! Super excited. Adam is gearing up too!Reply to Elna
Thanks for these great tips! I’ve been thinking about jumping into the freelancing world, but it’s a little daunting. It’s nice to read advice from someone who has been there!Reply to Emily
Hey Emily! It is a scary think for sure! Why leave a comfy and consistent job for the life of hustling? But, us freelancers know that to be in control of your own destiny is the best thing ever! You’ll know when you’re ready and when you do just hit me up and I can help!Reply to Elna
As always Elna, you’re advice is spot on. I agree with all of these especially investing in courses to continue learning and improve our skills and seeking the help of others because we sure can’t do it alone. πŸ™‚ Thanks for sharing! CoriReply to Corina
Investing in yourself through courses and education is invaluable. Also believing in yourself and not giving up! Great share!Reply to Lori
Hey Lori! Thanks so much. Yes investing in yourself was a hard lesson for me to learn. You think if you can just bootstrap it or cut corners you’ll come out ahead and sometimes you do. But, what if you took that course or invested in that degree? How much further could you have gone? Thanks for stopping by!Reply to Elna
Hi Elna! Thanks for this informative post that serves as perfect reminder that we all start at ground zero. With lots of hustle and daily determination, it’s very possible to be successful at freelance writing. I just launched my site last week, and now need to start pitching. The reminder that it’s not personal is just what I needed to hear today. As always, thanks for all you do for freelance writers!Reply to Michelle
Hi Michelle, I’m happy to hear that! Yes, pitching is not personal and if you get rejected, just move on! It’s all business so the more you pitch, the better chance you have at landing clients. Good luck! Oh, btw LOVE your site and the new addition of your profile pic…Reply to Elna
Thanks Elna for the website recommendations and feedback. I also fixed my gravatar issue. As you can see by my photo, it’s working. Thanks for always being so quick to respond, and so helpful!Reply to Michelle
Funny this came up today! Several weeks ago my networking group suggested that instead of pricing by the hour, price by the project. Over the weekend I was asked the price for a bio — so today I finally did some math and priced out short, medium, and longer bios. It’s a start!Reply to Judi
That’s great! I charge per 500 words, but sometimes I do per project. If you’re doing more admin tasks I don’t’ see why per hour wouldn’t work. I know a lot of VA’s or social media marketers charge by the hour. Thanks for stopping by!Reply to Elna
Wait, that last one worked! Maybe it was my internet? I kept trying to say something along the lines of: great post and I agree that it’s easy to get bogged down in research instead of action. I think I said it more eloquently the first two times, but at this point I’m just happy I can comment again!Reply to Amber
Hey Amber, Sorry, you’re having problems with commenting on my blog. I see it might be fixed? Thanks so much! Yes, researching and reading can overwhelm a new freelance writer. You just have to stop and take action right?!Reply to Elna
Ack, I keep trying to comment, and either it’s not working or I’m just making three useless comments! If the latter, please delete two of them πŸ˜› If the former, I guess you won’t see this comment anyway.Reply to Amber
Hey girlfriend! Thanks for mentioning me! Getting together and sharing ideas and tips is something I have come to cherish. It’s just too bad we don’t live closer to one another! Great tips in this post, too. Keep on killing it, Elna!Reply to Lorraine
No problem chica! Well at least we live in the same city – just opposite sides. Glad you enjoyed the post.Reply to Elna