Basics to Freelance Writing

If you are like most people, you wanted to be a writer at one time or another. Tragically you had to get a job to support yourself. Don't give up on your dream! You can earn money as a freelance writer. Here are the basics to the three types of freelance writing.

Bidding on freelance writing is easy. You join an online writing site that offers work. You bid on projects. Once the bid is won, you accept the work and send it to "buyer." You get paid either through Paypal or an Escrow.

There is also unsolicited freelance work. Here you write an article and find a buyer for it. You will use books like "The Writers' Market Guide," to seek-out the publishers that publish the same category that your newly written work falls under; for example, you wrote a science-fiction piece, so you would look for science-fiction publishers. You then send off your work and wait forever to see if the publisher accepts it. You can wait for as long as two years to find out. This waiting has been the killer of many dreams. Do not let it kill yours. You love to write, so write like crazy. You are paid either on acceptance or on publication, which takes forever!

Assigned freelance is where you advertise your writing skills, and a publisher sees your advertisement and invites to work for them. These can be long-term gigs that pay well, and you get paid a lot sooner than with unsolicited freelance.

No matter which path you choose, there is some equipment you will need: a computer, printer, paper, notebook, bank account, Pay-Pal account, debit or credit card, and at least four hours four times a week. You will need a quiet work space as well.

Now the business side is taken care of, let's get down to writing the article its self.

Don't be surprised if you freeze on your first day. Write about subject you know about. The more familiar you are the more you will have to say, and the less time it will take you to say it. Do your research before you start to write. This will make your work go faster. Outline your article and use focused writings to improve it. Leave yourself enough time to finish the job. Never take on more work than you can handle.

If your subject is assigned, research it first, and then do the writing. Keep in contact with the publisher. Take time to enjoy your work. Create and defend your writing space and your writing time. Keep a fairly regular schedule. Keep good copies of your work because the publisher may need to send a second copy of your work. Meet or beat your deadlines.

All of this will make you a professional.