How to Become a Freelance Writer

Writing has always been one of my passions but unlike many, it didn't come naturally to me. It actually took me some time to learn how to express my thoughts effectively and as clearly as possible. This is primarily due to the fact that English is my second language, so I often found myself literally lost for words.

Fortunately, after years of studying and daily practice I believe I've gained the knowledge and experience of clearly expressing my ideas through writing. One thing is for sure, writing effectively is a learned skill, even for the most brilliant writers.

If you're thinking of delving into freelance writing but don't know where or how to start, these series of articles will help guide you every step of the way. Let's start off by answering a very important question - What kind of writer do you want to be?

In order to answer this you must first consider the following:

• Your field of expertise - If you are a student, what courses are you currently taking and which ones do you excel at? If you're working, which industry do you belong to? Entertainment, law, medicine, etc? When we say expertise, this usually refers to your educational background, the degrees you have and your length of experience practicing in that field. It also pertains to any skill or training you've acquired.
• Your passions - These are the things you may or may not have a formal background on but is something you are quite knowledgeable about due to first-hand experience. In a perfect world, all of us will have careers we are passionate about, but sometimes this is not the case. There are those who maintain good-paying day jobs they are passionless about while pursuing their true passions. For example, for 10 years I worked in an office as a secretary while at the same time pursuing a writing career. I would go to work on weekdays, come home and work on my writing and on Saturdays, have a gig as a TV scriptwriter. For me it was a learning experience which paved the way to freelance writing.
• Your interests - These include subjects, topics, areas or fields that piques your interest and which you may have pursued at one time but discontinued. It also pertains to those which you are currently thinking of pursuing. This may be a hobby you enjoy but haven't thought of on a deeper level such as knitting, painting or photography.

Set aside a time where you can ponder these questions undisturbed. Have pen and paper handy and write down your fields of expertise, passions and interests. See if there's a trend that comes out from you assessment.