Are You Meant to Be a Freelance Writer

Freelance writing certainly has a lot of benefits; working from home, setting your own schedule, being able to write about unusual and interesting topics, seeing your name in print, but what about the other side of writing?

Freelance writing isn't a job for everyone. It is a wonderful way to use your creative talent but you should consider these important factors:

1. Are you disciplined enough?
2. Are you financially secure to handle the ups and downs?

Writing is a tough business. There are no promises of a sale today, tomorrow, or next week. Freelance writers have to be responsible for everything that a normal employer covers; health insurance, disability insurance, 401K, employer taxes, sick leave, holiday and vacation pay and more.

Consider your skills; do you have enough experience and enough contacts to find work projects? Selling a few articles or one book doesn't mean that you'll have a steady income. The goal of every freelance writer is to establish long-term relationships with different clients and being able to pay the bills. Versatility is important in making this happen. You have to include as many types and styles of writing as possible to have a better chance of succeeding.

Finding clients for your work isn't as difficult as you may think. You have to just use your skills to find what people need. You first need to consider, are you good at: articles, fiction, non-fiction, books, blurbs, consumer tips, advertising, etc.

Next you have to think of all the places that may buy your work. With traditional publishing companies, payment is generally higher but quality work experience is essential. Book publishers usually offer advance and ongoing payments for work that is published. Magazines pay by-the-word- count. Newspapers may be much lower in the pay range but usually willing to give a good freelance work.

There is one way to get information on these markets. You have to research these publishers and their guidelines very carefully. If you can give them what they want, deliver quality work on time; they're likely to give even the newest freelance writer a chance.

There is one way of finding hundreds of freelance jobs, thanks to the Internet. From e-books, content, to blogs, jobs are everywhere.

Today's market offers opportunities for anyone willing to put in long hours at their computer, for basically fees ranging from $2 an article to $50 or more.

Business writer are in high demand. There are thousands of companies wanting experienced writers for sales campaigns, preparing proposals, writing manuals, public marketing, to text writers for there web sites. The possibilities are endless. You have to have business knowledge because this is a highly competitive field.

How much can a freelance writer make has always been the common question. It's totally up to you. You have the choice to accept or turn down work. But the more work you do, you gain more experience and speed so this increases your daily output of work. This can also increase your hourly rate.

When you are considering your hourly rate. There are important factors you need to keep in mind.

1. Income you need to survive.
2. Certain amount of pay per word.
3. The type of writing job it is.
4. The time it will take you to complete the job.
5. If this is a bidding job.
6. All taxes and business expenses you have and will have.

After all these have been considered, you can set a reasonable and competitive fee.

If you have been writing as a hobby, then when does it become a real job? If you think when you get paid then it becomes a real job, think again. There has to be a passion and love for writing. There are other factors that could effect your writing like, pressure to beat a deadline, anxiety to please the readers, and the idea of not living up to other best selling writer.

So how do you keep the passion in your writing and be productive? The easiest answer is to ask the writer within you, the reasons you write in that daily journal or on that piece of paper that no one told you to do. Search your inner soul and you will come up with several answers for your question.

What ever the answers you find, ask yourself if you still have it in you to find the passion to write. If you do, you will always be able to cherish your passion in your writing.