How to Land Freelance Writing Jobs

Most writers who attempt a solo career run into the same roadblocks. Forums devoted to the trade are filled with complaints of stiff competition, unpredictable paychecks, and headache clients. How can you beat the crowd and find steady, paying freelance writing jobs?

Here are a few tips for finding great freelance writing jobs.

Pay your dues. Many websites list freelance writing jobs that writers can bid on. Place your bid and do your best work, even if the price is a bit low at first. If a client likes your work, they may hire you directly for freelance writing jobs in the future. Also, you'll build your portfolio.

Participate in online communities for writers, and read magazines such as Writer's Digest. You'll learn a lot about finding new markets, and which clients pay or don't. Build your network and the freelance writing jobs will follow.

Focus locally. Offer copywriting or editing services to the businesses at Chamber of Commerce meetings. Write website content for local entrepreneurs. You will find a lot of freelance writing jobs locally if you look, and the competition will be less intense than on the Internet. Also, these local freelance writing jobs allow face-to-face communication with clients and more word-of-mouth networking opportunities.

Buy a good organizer, such as those from Franklin Covey. Your local Staples or Office Depot should have a wide selection. Use it specifically for recording sources for freelance writing jobs. Track contact information for potential clients, follow up reviews for previous clients, and so on. To find great freelance writing jobs, you have to spend as much time on marketing and networking as you do writing.

Invest in a laptop, such as an Apple MacBook. Your freelance writing jobs will require mobility. You may need to drive to meet clients, or travel to the library, and you will want your computer nearby. Also, a major benefit of freelance writing jobs is that you can work in the environment of your choice.

Create a website to market your work. The Internet is a huge market that you can't afford to ignore if you want to find freelance writing jobs. Your website should include clips of your best work. Be sure to add the URL for your website to the bottom of your outgoing email messages. If you are not technically adept, invest in software like Adobe Dreamweaver to use in designing your website, or find a local web designer to help you. In fact, local web designers make great contacts for finding freelance writing jobs, because most of the websites they create require content.

Balance your work between high-paying jobs and steady clients. If you can replace lower-paying freelance writing jobs with higher-paying freelance writing jobs, do so. Your income should increase over time. But don't ditch too many regular clients in hopes of higher rates, or you may find yourself with too few jobs to pay the bills. Use Quicken or other small-business software to see the big picture and calculate how accepting certain freelance writing jobs will impact your bottom line.

With some elbow grease, a little devotion, and the tips above, you should have no problem finding freelance writing jobs.