Do you have what it takes to become a writer? Do you want to make a living out of writing without having to sit on a desk from 9-5? If freelance writing tickles your fancy, then read along as this post will help you find beginner freelance writing jobs.

Before you get too excited, there are things that you need to work on first if you’re still a beginner; whether at writing or if you’re not familiar with how freelancing works.

Freelancing offers the worker the flexibility to work from anywhere. So, not just that a freelance writer can work from home, he/she can even work from an entirely different country. However, the first thing that you need to know is that it’s a long process and it requires a lot of patience.

You shouldn’t put yourself out there and expect clients to come running to you. The competition is pretty intense out there and the market is saturated with writers and those who are experienced are only a few, but dominating.

So, it’s just a matter of time for you to get the hang of it, gain enough experience, and start building relationships with potential clients. In case you’re ready to give things a try, then let’s start with the basics.

First things first, what do you need to have to become a freelance writer?

For starters, you need a laptop, it’s 2019 after all; an internet connection, to communicate with your clients, do all the required research, and get your work published; and an e-mail address.

You will also need to set up an account on PayPal and link it to your bank account to easily receive payments.

What’s next?

1- Practice, practice, practice

The key to getting better at anything is practicing. You need to master your writing skills and to do that, you need to write more often. To do that, you can start your own blog, for instance.

Look for an interest of yours or an area of expertise; such as travel, fashion, film, or automotive, and create a website where you can share your experience with others.

Delving deep into the blogging world will not just allow you to practice more, it will help you build an audience and will teach you more about SEO.

You can also guest post on others’ websites; whether online magazines or blogs, where you get to share your articles on someone else’s website.

Another great way to practice is to offer free work to friends and family. This will not just help you practice writing, but will also be great for when you create a portfolio.

2- Put your work out there

Have you had enough practice? It’s time to put yourself to the test. Start getting your work out there and sharing it with others. After all, a potential client needs to see work samples before deciding which writer to go for. That could be through your blog; if you decided to go for that, or your portfolio; which is a must-have for you to land beginner freelance writing jobs, or any writing job with a matter of fact.

Another move a lot of professional writers do is set up an account on Ureed. It’s a platform where you get the opportunity to be matched with potential clients.

3- Settle for a pricing strategy

How to price your writing services is something a lot of freelance writers are confused about. A freelance writer’s rate depends on his/her level of expertise.

Most writers get paid around USD 0.17 per word. However, the most experienced ones can make up to four times as much as the average pay per word.

Nevertheless, you need to bear in mind that expertise is not the only factor to be taken into consideration when setting a price. You should also consider things like the amount of research required for the topic being written about and the duration of the project.

For long-term deals, some freelancers and clients prefer to settle for a flat rate for a fixed quota.

4- Hunt for clients

Having an account on Contently is not enough; you really have to hunt for clients and pitch your work once and twice till you land one. So, where can you find potential clients? LinkedIn is a great place to start as it’s an online space for people from all sorts of sectors to find each other.

Another social media platform to consider is definitely Facebook. Apart from the endless freelance and writing communities on the social network, you can also create your very own Facebook page where you offer your writing services.

Not just that, there are plenty of online platforms where you can find clients searching for freelance writers. Those include Upwork, Freelancer.com, PeoplePerHour, and Ureed.

Now that you’ve just read our mini-guide to landing beginner freelance writing jobs, you’re good to go. Don’t wait any longer and start building your writing career.