You read articles all the time about freelance writers who have earned $30,000, $40,000, or even $60,000 a year doing what they love. In fact, it’s success stories like those that partly inspired you to try your hand in the freelance writing business yourself. Perhaps you earn a few bucks here and there working with writing agencies or you have a few clients, but your income is nowhere near what you’d hoped it would be. Close to giving up on the idea altogether, you can’t help but wonder how they do it. [Read more…]
What to Do If You Aren’t Getting Freelance Work Offers
Job searching isn’t always fun. In fact, most people really don’t enjoy the process at all. It can be stressful, especially if you need to find work quickly for financial or even emotional reasons.
The work-at-home job scene is no different. If you’re looking for a regular freelance writing job with a traditional company, you’ll have to conduct a job search the same way you’d do it for a “regular” job.
Most of these leads will ask for a resume and possibly a cover letter or other written document that shares your experience and qualifications. You might even be dealing with a lot of online application systems, which make it hard to stand out and get noticed in the sea of freelancers.
That said, the key to landing a good remote writing job is to get noticed, get in front of the right people, and make a good impression.
What to Do If You Aren't Getting Freelance Work Offers Click To TweetHow to Ask for Referrals and Get More Writing Jobs
I’ve worked with scores of freelance writers in my editing career. Guess how many have asked me to refer them to other clients? One.
Yup, just one. Oh, I’ve provided plenty of references and the occasional testimonial, but as for anyone flat-out asking me for names of those who could benefit from their writing services? Just the one. I remember it not only because it was the sole request of its kind, but because I was happy to oblige it. But more on that later.
If you’re not asking for referrals, you’re losing a big opportunity to grow your client base and make more money. [Read more…]
Mistakes to Avoid in Your Holiday Job Search
Searching for a job is not easy, and it is especially difficult this time of year when you have the added pressures of worrying about paying for holiday gifts in addition to your usual expenses. While there is no surefire way to have a successful holiday job search on your first go, there absolutely are some mistakes to avoid. We list some of the most overlooked mistakes here, to make your holiday job search a little easier. [Read more…]
7 Little-Known Ways to Get Freelance Writing Jobs
Editor’s note: This post was written by Kim, a freelance writer and blogger. She helps new freelance writers on their journey with her blog, Kim The Writer. You can connect with her on Twitter.
As a freelance writer, you may already have your own strategies to find writing jobs that fit your profile.
These strategies may include pitching editors, answering job ads and attending networking events.
But what do you do when nothing seems to be working? What’s next when you don’t hear anything back from your pitches, job applications or your new contacts?
The good news is there’s always more than one way to do something and that includes looking for your next writing gig.
Here are seven other ways you might not have tried. [Read more…]
Musicians – Make Ends Meet as a Music Industry Writer
Editor’s Note: This post was written by Christie Templeton, a freelance writer in Los Angeles California who also dabbles in music production and singing. Christie enjoys writing for the music industry when she is not busy writing copy and technical writing for her clients in the software development industry.
Many musicians must work an unrelated job to make ends meet until their music begins to become profitable enough to survive from. Jobs like bartending, waiting tables or retail work inside guitar stores are typical work resources used by a lot of musicians to supplement their income. While these can jobs be flexible to a degree, they usually require a lot of hard work that isn’t really related to the overall dream of being a musician and, in the long run, aren’t contributing towards building credibility in the community as a talented and knowledgeable performer. [Read more…]
How to Start Writing in Retirement
Editor’s note: This post was written by Jennifer Parris, career writer at FlexJobs, the award-winning site for telecommuting and flexible job listings. FlexJobs lists thousands of pre-screened, legitimate, and professional-level work-from-home jobs and other types of flexibility like part-time positions, freelancing, and flexible schedules. Jennifer provides career and job search advice through the FlexJobs Blog and social media. Learn more at www.FlexJobs.com.
After years of working in other industries, you’ve made the decision to look into pursuing a writing career. Writing is truly one of those fulfilling careers that is attainable if you know how to go about it. If you are thinking how to start writing in retirement, this article is for you.
How to start writing in retirement
Jump-start your writing career during your Golden Years with these tips!
Decide what you want to write.
You know that you want to write. But what exactly do you want to write about? You might have a passion for fishing or want to write service stories about how grandparents can connect with their grandchildren on a deeper level. Unlike some other careers, writing is the type of job that you should feel passionate about in order to write compelling copy. So determine what it is that you love, and then write about that subject.
Think outside the “book.”
Back in the day, writers didn’t have many options as to whom they could work for—and get paid to boot. They either wrote for newspapers or magazines, or they were novelists. Today, writing jobs are available in almost every career field, from accounting to zoology, and in various mediums, too.
You might love non-profit work as much as you love writing and combine your two loves to write newsletters for non-profits. Or you might believe in a company’s mission and write its press releases. You may love connecting with an audience via blogging, or decide to try your hand at working for traditional newspapers and magazines—but as an online writer.
Consider your needs.
Before you begin putting pen to paper—or whipping out your laptop to type out the next Great American Novel—you need to figure out what you want to get out of a writing job. Do you want to make it into a full-time career, or something you do part-time when you’re not spending time with your family and friends?
If you’re looking to supplement your income with writing jobs, take a look at how much you would need to earn and then compare it with the types of paid writing jobs that are out there. Do you want to work in an office, or do you want to work from home? Once you figure out why you want to write, how often, and where, you can begin your job search!
Use niche job boards.
Once you realize that you want to write, well, you’ll want to write right away! So you won’t want to waste a lot of time clicking through job postings in order to find the perfect position. That’s why it’s important to use niche job boards (such as FlexJobs and Freelance Writing Job Board) to help expedite your job search. You’ll avoid job scams, which are common in the world of remote work, and find a job that you’ll love, too.
Get social.
If you haven’t already worked as a writer, you’ll need some help in order to launch your writing career. Talk to friends and family about this next phase in your career and get them on board to help you. You should also get on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
Your LinkedIn profile should be up to date and include in your bio that you’re currently looking for writing work. And, of course, you should have your resume and cover letter designed to spotlight any previous writing work you’ve done (volunteer, freelance, and unpaid work all counts!).
You can write your way to a fun and exciting writing job! Take the time to prepare yourself for this next step in your career, and you can write yourself a happily-ever-after ending!
5 Great Jobs for First-Time Freelance Writers
Editor’s note: This post was written by Jennifer Parris, career writer at FlexJobs, the award-winning site for telecommuting and flexible job listings. FlexJobs lists thousands of pre-screened, legitimate, and professional-level work-from-home jobs and other types of flexibility like part-time positions, freelancing, and flexible schedules. Jennifer provides career and job search advice through the FlexJobs Blog and social media. Learn more at www.FlexJobs.com.
By day, you toil away in your 9-5 job. But by night, you whip out your typewriter (okay, your laptop) and get in touch with your inner Hemingway. Writing is truly your passion, and you’d love to turn it into a full-time career. But with precious little professional experience (does writing for your college newspaper even count?), you’re concerned about finding a serious writing job.
Luckily, writing is one of those jobs that has “work from home” written all over it. Needing little more than a computer and a high-speed Internet connection, writers can work from anywhere in the world—literally. So even if you don’t have a lot of experience, you can still find a writing position to launch your freelance career. (As with any writing position, superior writing and grammar skills are necessary.) Here are just five writing jobs for first-time freelancers.
Writer/Reporter
Writers and reporters come in all skill levels, from entry-level to advanced, and thankfully, many positions are open to beginners. A typical writing/reporting position will include creating content for a variety of outlets, such as print newspapers, magazines, online content hubs, and much more. Depending on the company you work for, you should have some familiarity and interest in the topic(s) you’ll be writing about. But no matter the subject, you’ll need to be able to produce fairly clean copy and meet deadlines.
Resume Writer
As a fellow job seeker, a resume writer might be right up your (writing) alley! Help others who are looking for work to perfect their job pitches by writing, editing, and even critiquing their resumes. You may need to have some certification, but an interest in resume writing is definitely a plus. You might work with individual clients or with a company that will provide you with a steady stream of customers. For this position, you may need to put on your interviewer’s hat as you do client consultations in order to develop the resume and bring out the best of the job applicant.
Copywriter
A freelance copywriter can work for almost any organization that is putting out content. For example, you might pen press releases for a Fortune 500 company or help create digital content covering a variety of topics and industries. You may write blog posts, company descriptions, update websites, or create brand packaging. Copywriters work on tight deadlines and need to have a strong knowledge and understanding of their client’s brand message and “voice.” This can be a research-heavy position.
Website Editor
While you are a solid writer, it’s editing that you truly love. So take your writing skills to the next level and score some work as a website editor. Web editors assist with the development and maintenance of website content. They might also write or assign writers to tackle email newsletters, conduct social media, and create other materials for the company. Some skills necessary for the position include proficiency in HTML, WordPress, Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign. Web editors are sometimes involved in content partnerships, advertising, and source writing contributors.
Blogger
Similar to a writer, a freelance blogger will create content, typically for online websites. Blog writing is heavily tied to writing about what you love, so be sure to look for freelance jobs in blogging that specialize in something you’re passionate about. Since blog writing is considered niche writing, you may need samples of previous work. As a paid blogger, you may write daily, weekly, or even monthly, depending on the frequency that the company you write for publishes content. As a blogger, you might manage social media and write press releases related to your content.
If you’re looking to break into the freelance writing market, these five job types can help you get your foot in the door. (But the way to get more writing jobs is to keep writing, which in turn, will help you become a better writer!) So start your freelance job search and write your way to the job of your dreams!
5 Unusual Writing Jobs
Editor’s note: This post was written by Jennifer Parris, career writer at FlexJobs, the award-winning site for telecommuting and flexible job listings. FlexJobs lists thousands of pre-screened, legitimate, and professional-level work-from-home jobs and other types of flexibility like part-time positions, freelancing, and flexible schedules. Jennifer provides career and job search advice through the FlexJobs Blog and social media. Learn more at www.FlexJobs.com.
Sure, you’d love to have that JK Rowling/Suzanne Collins success and write books that eventually become box office blockbusters. But for now, you’ve gotta pay the bills. Until then, you can still write your way to success—and avoid the financial pitfalls freelance writers can sometimes face—with these five unusual writing jobs.
Social media writer
Expressing yourself in only 140 characters or less may go against every fiber in your being, but social media writers can make big money off of small sentences. In fact, every writer should really have a good grasp on how to promote themselves on social media via channels like Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and even Pinterest.
Social media writers will need to write compelling copy and know how to make it brand relevant. They will need to be adept on all social media platforms, and write on deadline. In addition, knowing how to link copy, proofread, and do SEO optimization on their stories is important.
Keep in mind, though, that writing jobs in social media are often not listed as writers, per se. Here are some job titles that will allow you to flex your writing muscle in the social media world: Social Media Writer; Writer; Community Manager; Freelance Writer; Marketing Content Writer
Press releases
If you can write persuasive content, then a job writing press releases can be in your future. Writers who whip up press releases need to know their subject (whether it’s a brand new car, a new medical study, or even the latest dish on a celebrity) inside and out. Depending on the company you work for—and the subject matter at hand—press releases can be very straightforward or they can be chatty in nature.
Some job titles that involve this type of writing include: Press Release Writer; Writer; Marketing Manager.
Personal correspondence
You’re already on your email 24/7, so why not get paid for it? Working as a personal assistant to someone will undoubtedly include writing letters for them, as well as answering their emails and all other forms of communication. Depending on who the person is, you may need to update social media sites for them as well.
Jobs in this area include: Virtual Admin; Personal Assistant; Administrative Assistant; Writer.
Ghostwriting
If you don’t have your heart set on seeing your byline for every story that you pen, ghostwriting can be a great source of income. Ghostwriting—in which you do the writing, but another person gets the credit—is becoming more and more popular in today’s writers’ market. You may get hired by a publisher who is looking for someone to help a reality TV star “write” his memoir, a person who needs help writing a speech, or even by a company that needs someone with superior writing skills to assist with their public relations or corporate communications.
Jobs for ghostwriters commonly have titles like: Ghostwriter; Communications Specialist; Writer; Speechwriter.
Property descriptions
You drool over the designs on HGTV. Now you can get a job writing about luxury homes as a property descriptions writer. You may work directly with a real estate agency as their writer, writing award-winning copy that will get the properties they have on the market sold fast—and at a great price. But you’ll need to know the lingo necessary in order to write descriptions that will entice people to purchase the properties.
In this market, jobs include: Writer; Property Descriptions Writer; Copywriter.
Writers can find work in almost any industry. So think outside the box as you look for writing jobs that can help you become a successful freelancer while you work on writing the next Great American Novel.
6 Ways to Earn Extra Income Through Writing
Editor’s note: This post was written by Jennifer Parris, career writer at FlexJobs, the award-winning site for telecommuting and flexible job listings. FlexJobs lists thousands of pre-screened, legitimate, and professional-level work-from-home jobs and other types of flexibility like part-time positions, freelancing, and flexible schedules. Jennifer provides career and job search advice through the FlexJobs Blog and social media. Learn more at www.FlexJobs.com.
From the time you could hold a crayon in your hand, you knew that you wanted to be a writer. Writing is not only your career, but the way you express yourself to the world. Thing is, freelance writing jobs can be sporadic at best, so you need to be creative when it comes to keeping a steady income. Put pen to paper—and get paid—with these six ways to earn extra income through writing.
Use your network.
Some people might think that they’re the next Hemingway, but as a writer, you know the real deal. So if you have friends and family who are in need of a writer, offer up your services. Let them know the specific type of writing you do (after all, no two writers are created equal) and your rate as well. That way, when they speak of your services to their own nearest and dearest, they have the most accurate information.
Reach out to local businesses.
Just because you’re looking to work from home doesn’t mean that you can’t venture out to local businesses and offer your writing skills. Look for companies close by that might be in need of some writing help; perhaps their website needs some sprucing up. Identify what the company’s needs might be—and how you can help it—and then reach out. Finding a neighborhood business that needs an occasional writer might translate into having a steady freelance client in the future.
Use niche job boards.
If you’ve ever searched through generic job boards, you’ll spend a lot of time weeding through hundreds of job postings to find the few that you want to apply for. (And that’s not counting the numerous job scams you might come across, either.) So it’s best to use niche job boards, such as FlexJobs, where you can find legitimate work-from-home writing jobs. It will save you time, stress, and money in the long run.
Create an online portfolio.
You might be surprised how many hiring managers are crawling the web looking for a writer just like yourself. But if you don’t have anything online that spotlights your work, you’ll definitely get passed over for any potential position. You can easily create an online portfolio that includes links to your published articles, or a basic website that showcases your writing skills.
Establish yourself as an expert.
When you are looking to freelance, it’s important to be as social as possible. Create a Facebook page for your business, as well as a Twitter account and a LinkedIn profile, too. It’s not enough to set up your social media channels unless you’re actively involved in them, though. In addition to posting all of your new published works, you can offer advice, writing tips, and answer online questions that you come across that pertain to writing. By being active on the Internet, you’ll create a name for yourself—and attract the attention of potential clients, too. That can lead to extra income.
Think outside the box.
Sure, you may be primarily a magazine writer, but that doesn’t mean you can’t write for other outlets, either. For example, you can create content for websites, or even write press releases for companies. You can get in touch with your softer side by writing for greeting card companies or even be a social media manager for an organization or individual.
There are many, many opportunities for writers to find side gigs. It may require a little extra effort, but you could soon be writing your way to extra income in no time.
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