Freelance Writing for Fun and Profit

I have always wanted to be a writer. When I found myself at the end of a job in construction and at loose ends, I found that I could pursue my dream of being a writer. I realized before I started that I would have to pursue it as a job and develop myself as a business to be successful. The great news was the start-up cost was free. I already had the computer and the internet which were my two greatest needs. I now had the time to pursue the business, but do I have the drive and focus to become succeed?

I was 12 years old when I read "The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton. That novel changed my life. I was drawn into the world of Ponyboy and the inner city youth that struggled to survive. When I set down that novel, I picked up a pen and began scribbling my own stories. It was much later that I learned that S.E. Hinton was actually a 12 year old girl when she wrote the book. Though I have scribbled my stories for most of my life, I had never pursued writing as a full-time career and business.

When a job in the construction industry ended, I had the opportunity to revisit my childhood dream. I had published articles in newspapers and magazines over the years, and even had a book credit to my name. My proficiency with computers and the internet led me to a website that allowed me to publish my writings. I found that the articles were short enough to keep my attention and that the pay scale was adequate to provide me with a living. I just had to literally sit myself down and write. That was the easy part. The hard part has been to keep writing every day.

Other people who would want to pursue a business as a freelance writer will need to have a good computer and internet access. Internet access costs between $50 and $75 per month and a basic computer system will run about $300. One option I highly recommend but is not necessary is a good digital camera. Photographs can help to sell an article or a story.

There are numerous websites and shysters out there who will try to trick you into sending money to them. They promise you will make a lot of money with little effort. Do not listen to them and do not send them a penny. The best way to decide if it is real or a scam is whether you have to send them anything before you start. Legitimate sites pay you for your work, not the other way around.

Places you can write for and get paid for it include Break Studios, Yahoo Contributor Network, and Demand Media. Find which sites work best for you, then enjoy yourself as you make the transition from employed to self-employed business owner. You will find in this business, what you earn is in direct relation to the amount of time and effort you put into it.

More from this contributor:

Discrimination against Rural Residents of the United States
Refocusing Life's Work For Retirement
Escaping Abuse: The Long Walk across the Pasture