FREELANCE WRITING
Freelance writing can be a highly satisfying and rewarding way to earn money, either as a part time or full time career. Some of the qualities you need for success in freelance writing are good writing skills, sale-able ideas, and an ability to meet obligations and deadlines.
Freelance writers can work in fiction and non-fiction. Fiction writers can write for adults and children, writing books, short stories, articles for magazines and newspapers, and online.
Non-fiction writers can also write for magazines, newspapers, online articles, government publications, technical and specialist books, general interest magazines and so on. They may also be involved in script writing, educational writing, copy writing, webwriting and more.
Starting out as a freelance writer
The following steps are a broad guide to getting started as a freelance writer:
1. Identify the area(s) of writing that interest you.
2. Research the market place to get a feel for what other successful writers are doing. Visit bookshops, and buy newspapers and magazines to see what’s currently being published. Get a feel for what publishers want and look for gaps in the market.
3. Develop your writing skills. Start off small and hone your skills by contributing to newsletters published by your school, work or social club. You could enter short story competitions or even try writing short articles for local newspapers or hobby or trade magazines. Don’t be disappointed if your articles are rejected – at this stage the aim is to practice your writing and to get a feel for what is acceptable in the marketplace.
4. Develop a personal reference library. Collect examples of other writers’ work in the areas that interest you. Books, newspaper articles and magazines are not only a useful information resource, they also help you to develop an awareness of how other successful writers write!
5. Develop your selling skills! Build up contacts with publishers and organisations in your chosen area of writing.
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Would you like to become a freelance writer?
Why not have a look at our courses?
Freelance Writing - 100 hour distance learning course
Advanced Freelance Writing - 100 hour distance learning course
Or ask our tutors any questions about our writing courses. They are happy to help. Click here to contact a tutor.
