Tips for freelance writers just starting out?
I am beginning my journey as a freelance writer. I am interested in human politics, charity work, art, culture, and fashion. I also write poetry, scripts, and creative think-pieces. I am keen to start earning my living as a writer and I am happy to write articles about many different things, I just would like to know how some of you successful freelancers started?
My website is www.jaoife.com if you want to check it out.
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Replies8
- @Alice D Cooper thank you so so so much!!
- @Benedict Cosgrove amazing thank u so much for taking the time to write all this out x
- @Lucy Thorpe great, I’ll order the book!! Thank you so much:)
- @Ken Williams I haven’t considered that, thank u so much. Words of encouragement are much needed with all the rejection that comes with creative work!
- Your site looks great, I think you'll have no problems finding regular work. Make sure you register with as many agencies as you can and reach out to 'Heads of Copy' if you can. Have you considered pitching yourself as a creative instead of just a writer? Good luck.
- Hi Jessica, congrats on starting out. You need to get really comfortable with promoting yourself, your skills and your services and mingling where your potential clients are. Focus on being able to write great pitches and send them out regularly. A book I'd recommend is "You're The Business" by Anna Codrea-Rado, I found it really helpful.
- Alice offered some excellent business-related advice. Here are some other thoughts, based solely on my own experience over the past couple of decades:-- Read everything -- fiction, nonfiction, reportage, fantasy/sci-fi, op-eds, take-away menus, the backs of cereal boxes, the sports pages, essays, memoirs, etc. -- and pay attention to what *works.* How are the people writing this huge variety of stuff communicating effectively? Are they using humor? Metaphor? Are they strident? (Probably not.) With a few exceptions -- i.e., those people who make a living writing about one thing, and one thing only -- freelance writing is about versatility.-- Cultivate your own curiosity. Avoid cynicism and snark. That sh*t is booooring.-- Remember: Interviews and profiles are a great way to get a foot in the door. Identify people who are doing things that *you* find cool or inspiring or unusual -- scientists, activists, athletes, artists -- and pitch profiles of or interviews with those people to editors. Q&As are great ways for outlets, online and off, to fill gaps in the edit calendar while getting interesting and little-known voices into their publications.-- Always reply in a timely manner to texts, emails, DMs, etc., from editors, colleagues, sources, etc. -- even if it's just to say "I'll get back to you in a bit!" Don't leave people hanging.-- And this is very difficult, but it's also one key to freelance success: find and cultivate your own voice, while also working hard to match the tone of whatever publication or outlet you're writing for. Strike that balance, and you'll be ahead of the game.Good luck!
- Collate a really good portfolio (preferably online and easy to find) that demonstrates your versatility as a writer. Keep it up to date with absolutely the best work you have.Keep your CV up to date, and keep lists of brands so that you can show your experience in any one sector or medium.Make sure you know all about the minefield that is IR35 and whether you want to work within it or outside it (preferably the latter but sometimes there's no choice).Set yourself up as a sole trader but be prepared to set up a limited company as this is sometimes the only way to get freelance work e.g. through ad agencies and headhunters.Get yourself out there on social media, build your audience of potential employers and keep in touch with them.Sign up for online writing jobs sites e.g. Yuno Juno, Indeed, Source.Good luck!
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