What is the Future for Freelance Web Writers?

Today, I was reading the story of Sabah Karimi's journey on AC to her recent recognition as the AC 2008 Content Producer of the Year. Congratulations! While I have come and gone and come back again over the last two years at AC because of the short-term lack of earnings potential, I am left wondering an important question.

What is the future for freelance writers with an established online content reputation?

Here is my vision. It is positive because being a freelance writer is such a rewarding career.

The world is looking bright. Right now, we are competing with a lot of journalists who have been laid off in the recession. However, if we keep stepping up our game with quality writing and research, there will be a long-term market for our skills. I say this because experts predict billions of new web pages will be created over the next few years. The thousands of web articles we create every week at Demand Studios is a good example. Some key players in online media believe in this vision.

I also realized that the new web (think Web 2.0) is developing, and this type of web is going to change the way we think about the web environments of the past. For example, you can explore the website link down at the bottom of the article. Yesterday I was reading about a new platform for organizations and individuals called Near-Time, targeted for the new web.

When you think about the future of freelance writing and consider whether you will make a long-term career here, consider this. If you were just graduating from journalism school, would you be afraid to interview for a job at a newspaper? You can't be afraid to put your name out there. Some writers in history have brought changes to society. (Recall here the impact of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle on the meat industry).

If you can build your web presence, you can change the future.