You don’t have to give up on these, but are you hankering to try something different? There’s a world of unique writing opportunities out there. Finding them is the tricky part.  

I didn’t realize how diverse the freelance universe is until I was tapped by someone who had heard about my writing and editing skills and offered something I hadn’t done before: Edit copy for an international pop music album cover. Now, I enjoy music, but I’m no musician, as I explained to the young guy emailing from another continent.  

“No worries,” he replied in slightly accented English. “In fact, it’s better if you don’t know the technical side of the music industry. Read and respond like a fan so they will know what my songs are about.”  

I listened to all his songs and liked most of them! Reading his basic lyrics and descriptions, I added action verbs, stronger nouns, and shorter sentences. Voila! He loved my ideas and later sent me two more album covers to edit. I’m still no music expert, but I have a better understanding of his techno style and his fans. Last I heard, his sales were doing fine.  

My favorite writing and editing projects are those where I learn something while helping the client adjust the language and tone for the target readers. 

Soon, my mind began to open to projects I wouldn’t have considered before due either to lack of interest or lack of confidence. Before long, I was working on a variety of exciting projects that nudged me out of my comfort zone into the challenging territory of new formats and high-profile clients.  

Travel Writing 

One of the most exciting projects I accepted through a writing agency in Canada was to revise and edit a travel blog for a minor European celebrity. His blog’s premise was to travel throughout the U.S. on the platform of “kindness” to see how people responded to a low-income tourist without knowing of his popularity in Europe.  

The blog featured his responses to interesting encounters with locals and lesser-known places of interest. He invited me to L.A., which included visits to Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, and paid expenses for a couple of all-day writing sessions as his blog neared completion. I made a side trip to San Francisco to see a family member, a bonus.  

Speaking of travel, I’ve been offered paid visits to Eastern Europe, Africa, Israel, and Saudi Arabia to write an adventure novel, a conservatory documentary, a philosophical treatise, and a family history. While those projects seemed a little beyond my then-expanded wheelhouse, I may consider similar initiatives in the future. I’ve also written travel guides for beautiful U.S. cities of my choosing. 

Tip: Don’t hesitate to consider new opportunities. Contact travel agencies to offer writing assistance for their materials or website to gain experience and offer your writing and editing skills to travelers who want to summarize their experiences for loved ones or local press. 

Business Writing 

Business is another area where I had little personal experience, so I previously hadn’t looked for writing work beyond newsletters and Web content. That changed when I was approached about writing a family business history through three generations. Was I up to it? I wasn’t sure and started asking questions.  

It turned out the head of the company wanted a series of eight or 10 interviews with his descendants currently running the business along with key employees who had facilitated the transitions. Although I expected the finance industry project to be mundane, it was anything but! Snowstorms, earthquakes, and a White House invitation enlivened the family’s story to where I felt it would make a great movie—starring Robert Redford in the lead role!  

The project turned out well and boosted my confidence. I began to ghostwrite or edit business books for international travel, the mortgage industry, and gas and oil, among others. Executives often like to publish books about their company or sector to be seen as industry leaders. The publicity helps with promotions, bonuses, and title enhancements.  

Tip: Check out local companies or online businesses of interest and contact them to offer your services to write a company history, a family biography (for family-owned businesses), or the business’s contribution to the industry. 

Professional Services  

A psychologist who worked with the state prison population wrote case summaries for each of his clients. He asked my help to review the summaries and revise or edit them as needed. This was another interesting project because I learned a lot about the backgrounds of prisoners (they were anonymous in the reports) and why they were imprisoned. The psychologist also explained their goals and outlook. Later, he asked me to design a brochure for his services.  

Tip: Contact professional offices or social service agencies to offer writing services like editing reports (especially those submitted to the government) or other documents that need to be highly accurate and easy for readers to understand. 

Other Freelancers  

You may think it presumptuous to edit another freelancer’s work. But some are overloaded with projects and eager to share (for a percentage of the fee) with another freelancer. When my cousin became a freelancer on different projects than I was used to (fantasy novels and movie scripts), she asked me to edit her work, and I obliged.  

Again, I learned much from exploring other genres and exercising my editing skills to reinforce her writing abilities. She was grateful, and I got paid! Eventually, one of her clients offered me additional work, with my cousin’s full support. 

Tip: Get acquainted with writers in local or online writing groups and let people know you have experience in writing, revising, editing, and proofreading. The local chamber of commerce is another way to meet area professionals who may need writing help for their companies. 

Invent a Niche 

One of my earlier vocations was teaching. Based on experience, I felt parents could benefit knowing more about classroom expectations and student experiences. I offered a local newspaper a weekly column of about 500 words each: “From the Teacher’s Desk.” It was readily accepted and published. I felt good knowing I was helping families and students understand classroom learning from a teacher’s perspective.  

Tip: Reach out to sectors or industries where your expertise can help. If you have experience with a loved one in a nursing facility or hospice care, offer an article to a facility’s newsletter, blog, or website about family expectations or concerns for a loved one in that situation. You can think of numerous topics to suggest that can bridge the gap between care providers, an aging patient, and the family. 

Individual Projects 

A friend of a friend asked me to write his memoir about a terrible accident that left him a paraplegic. It was a sad story, but it was heartwarming to see him triumph over adversity. He was making plans to start a business with a girlfriend who was helping him. However, he was so busy that the book plans were put on hold. He later developed a serious illness and passed away.  

Other friends have asked me to help them write their life story or novel, and I’m waiting for their plan to develop. Many people have great ideas for a book, but they’re not sure how to organize it. I’ll make suggestions, but the ultimate decision is up to them.  

A basketball coach at my son’s Christian middle school did an excellent job of teaching the students how to play the game well and to show respect for the other teams along with additional life skills. That age can be difficult, right? I was so impressed with his work that I authored an article, with his permission, which was published in a youth group leadership magazine.  

Tip: When you discover someone or something that impresses you, consider ways of sharing your admiration through publication. If you have a byline, someone may contact you about writing a similar topic.  

***  

Ready to leave your wheelhouse? Pack up your laptop and head for the great unknown! A world of freelance opportunity awaits your inventive and creative capabilities!

The post Ready to Leave Your Wheelhouse and Stretch Your Writing Skills and Expand Freelance Opportunities? appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(How to Become a Full-Time Writer.)

Yes, it can be a tedious, even dull existence. Just ask my social life. To break the monotony sometimes I cut loose, write whatever I want, and look for a market later. It’s counter-intuitive in a way, because if I fail to sell the piece it would be a huge waste of my time and resources. Or so I used to tell myself. But over the years I’ve discovered where the real pleasure lies.

It’s about celebrating the little wins.

Let’s be real, the check is the ultimate reward. Or, more likely, the PayPal payment or bank transfer. It legitimatizes your work, brings credibility, and hey, you’re published! There’s nothing better than seeing your name in print and it never gets old. I still get the same thrill now as I did as a hungry 23-year-old. But what I have come to appreciate more are the other points along the way where you can derive some level of pleasure or satisfaction.

First comes the idea, the Eureka moment when a concept presents itself. That initial thrill is so full of hope and optimism. And it applies across the board, whether you’re a novice writer or a seasoned pro, whether you write fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.

I ponder the idea for a while to see how viable it is, and whether it’s worth pursuing or not. If I decide in the affirmative, I’ll do some preliminary research. I might send out a few tentative emails, do an internet search, or read some articles, and little by little I learn more about this project I’ve become invested in. Slowly, the puzzle starts coming together and—when I feel confident enough—I start writing.

This is the part I find most exhilarating. I’ve done the prep. The research. I know what I’m going to do. It’s go time. I sometimes fall into a zone where the words are flowing and it feels like I am riding the crest of a wave. The words appear almost unbidden, and all I have to do is write them down. I’d wager most writers know that feeling. I only wish I could bottle it and sell it.  

Then follows a roller-coaster ride. There will be setbacks and disappointments, but there’ll also be moments of pride and extreme satisfaction as the story, or article, takes shape. Finally, when it is finished, you get a little extra rush of endorphins. You feel accomplished, like you have achieved something. And you have. You created something from nothing. I imagine it’s a similar feeling to what a gardener may have when picking vegetables they’ve grown from seedlings. And you may be able to milk that feeling twice; once when you write ‘the end’ on your first draft, and again when you type those same words on your shiny, polished, submission-standard draft, confident and safe in the knowledge that your baby is ready to enter the world.

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When the piece is finished, I might have a think about who might be interested and send out a pitch or two. Looking at it in this context, maybe all my decisions leading to this point have been influenced to some degree by how sellable the feature or story might be. It definitely plays a part in the initial weighing-up process. If I don’t get any hits, all is not lost. I either use the piece as content for my blog, or I file it away. I might not be able to sell it that moment in time, but I might be able to further down the line.

You can always tweak it to fit certain markets or submission calls that emerge. A word of advice, though. It’s better not to do both. If you post a short story, for example, in a Facebook group for feedback, which many do, it has technically been published. So if you submit it to a market in the future you would only be able to offer secondary publication (reprint) rights, which generally pay less. There’s nothing stopping you posting progress reports, extracts, and teasers on your social media to build interest, though.

Earlier in my career, if I couldn’t get the sale after doing all that hard work, I would be disappointed. But being a little further down the road, I have come to realize that enjoying the process is a lot more important than making a few extra dollars. I am still fundamentally opposed to ‘for the love’ markets. As the popular internet meme says; I can’t pay my rent with exposure. My rule is, if the publisher is making money from my work, then I should, too.

Depending on who you believe, either Mark Twain or Confucius said that if you find a job you like, you’ll never have to work a day in your life. And whoever said it was right. Those little wins along the way make it all worth while, and—if we play it right—it can all be topped off with that acceptance and pay check, which is very much the icing on the cake.

The post Celebrating the Little Wins as a Writer and Freelancer appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(6 Reasons to Turn Down a Writing Opportunity—Even One That Pays.)

These strategies and more can help you build a solid client base that will return with new projects—and tell their friends about your writing and editing services! Most people would rather work with someone they know and trust than take a chance on someone new. You can make that preference work in your favor by optimizing customer service and expanding your product line. You will also reap the benefits by attracting repeat business instead of spending more time scouting for new customers.

How do you as a freelance writer get customers to come back? The following steps can help you secure dedicated clients to keep your coffers full.

Be professional.

Many freelance writers work from home on a casual schedule. They have the luxury of typing in their pajamas while texting during frequent breaks from writing. But make the most of your professional image during conference calls, Teams meetings, or Facetime with clients. Don’t let diction slide into slang or conversations lapse into prolonged joke-telling or personal chat; a little bit goes a long way. Remember, they are paying you to write for them, not become their bestie.

Be friendly and upbeat but treat your client like a business customer. In time you may become friends, but initially it’s important to put business first. I’ve had clients tell me far more than I needed to know about their personal lives, but I steer the conversation back to their project and not reveal anything about myself beyond writing credentials and experience. Look neat and well groomed for video calls and smile occasionally! A pleasant personality is always appreciated and helps to keep customers coming back.

Maintain good records.

Clients may doubt your abilities if you frequently request information they have already provided (that you misplaced). After finishing the current project, they might look elsewhere for help with the next one. Organize a project file for each assignment and keep it updated. Take good notes during phone or video conversations. Summarize lengthy conference calls or email exchanges in a list of action steps.

I’ve had several clients contact me for information about a previous project, which they had misplaced. When I provided it, they were grateful. I would ask how the publication process was going, and they would often explain the need for a project summary, synopsis, or update that I was happy to provide, and was paid accordingly. Make the most of each client contact by showing interest in their previous work and asking if they have everything needed for publication or presentation.

Stay on task.

Meet all established timelines and complete all tasks as directed. Requesting several extensions for various excuses erode trusts and inspires doubt so clients will avoid collaborating with you in the future. Several of my clients had worked with previous writers who had drinking problems, kept asking for upfront pay without producing solid content, and wrote content contrary to the client’s specifications. Be sure you understand what they want and ask questions if you need clarification. Submitting fuzzy writing or missing deadlines is a surefire exit strategy.

Proofread, proofread, proofread.

Don’t get distracted when working on a project or submit careless writing. Some writers boast they are paid well for putting little effort into an assignment. But do their clients come back? Again, I’ve been the second or third writer on a project when my predecessors submitted disappointing writing that did not match the client’s request style, tone, or format. Provide accurate, expert service and quality writing to exceed expectations.

Proofread several times to ensure compliance with the client’s project specs and accuracy of your writing. Customers will remember your thorough approach and come to you for the next project. Many refer their friends, coworkers, or relatives with projects to me because they love the professional speech, article, or book I’ve provided them.

Emphasize the project’s value.

While clients understand the importance of their writing project, it’s up to the writer to reinforce the significance of a clear, readable document to the intended readers. Comments like “I’m sure your employees will appreciate the updated policy handbook” or “Your family will love this collection of childhood stories you’re put together” reminds clients the project is not just for self-satisfaction (although sometimes it is), but also to benefit others.

I’ve helped matriarchs organize and publish family histories and assisted individuals to write their memoirs. Family members were thrilled with the bound stories that were preserved for future generations. I enjoyed helping them, and it showed. Several contacted me subsequently to say how much their relatives and friends loved the stories.

Mostly, I accept only projects I believe in and want to support, and I’m able to make suggestions about what to include or leave out that the clients appreciate. I’ve helped a gentleman with an abusive childhood complete five books of poetry to work through his experiences, each of them a repeat project (not done continuously). An older woman who has become a star in her industry contacted me recently to help with her second book. A lady who has struggled with a divorce, a son’s death, and a cancer diagnosis has returned for my help with five or six reflective devotionals about her thoughts and feelings, with nature photography. Understanding a project’s value to the client and to prospective readers will help you do excellent work that will meet or exceed the client’s hopes.

Consider discounts for repeat business.

It doesn’t have to be much, but even five percent or 10 percent off the next project may be enough to motivate a client to initiate a second project that would otherwise be shelved or shopped elsewhere.

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Suggest follow-up writing projects.

Some projects were especially interesting to me. After completing them, I sometimes follow up with the client several months later to ask whether they are published. More than once when I did this, the client would ask me to edit or revise the book again before contacting the publisher. You might also recommend a companion or next-step project for the future. “Your company history turned out great, Mr. Smith. Do you think the executives would be interested in developing a twenty-five-year anniversary edition for the celebration being planned next year?”

I recently contacted the publisher of one of my books to ask about interest in an update or new edition, and they expressed interest in an update for 2026, which I will be working on soon. If you published nonfiction books a few years ago and would like to update or refresh them, contact the publishers to see if they are interested. If not, you may be able to offer a new edition to a different publisher, depending on the terms of your original publishing agreement and the right of first refusal.

Be courteous.

In our time-conscious society, it’s easy to feel pressure when a client doesn’t return your calls or respond to your text messages. You may have trouble pinning down a phone meeting date with a busy client. Some clients can be rude or insulting if your writing doesn’t meet their expectations. It’s not unusual for writers’ work to be over-criticized and under-appreciated. Don’t be pulled into an argument, raise your voice, become defensive, or use profanity.

Stay calm and offer to call later to discuss the project when things are calmer. Accept corrections and revisions gracefully. I recall a client insisting that my grammar corrections were unnecessary although I referred him to the journalism grammar guide I was using. The errors remained and fortunately, they were few. Some clients will insist on their way even when it doesn’t make sense.

A freelance writer’s job is like others in the professional world. To attract repeat business, focus on the positive aspects of a project and give the client excellent service. A cheerful outlook and sincere interest in your clients’ projects can bring more work and referrals your way. Put the client’s needs first and do your best, and you may soon have more work than you can manage!

The post 8 Steps for Courting Repeat Clients as a Freelance Writer appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(10 Handy Digital Tools for Freelance Writers.)

Google Chrome is the world’s most popular web browser with a huge library of extensions that are mostly freely available in its store. Some of those Chrome add-ons can be invaluable freelance writing tools. These are some of the more useful Google Chrome extensions for freelance writers to add to that browser.

Grammarly

Grammarly is one of the best online tools for proofing articles. This utility checks the correctness, delivery, engagement, and delivery of article content entered in it. It rates articles with a score out of 100 and provides review (editing) suggestions for them. Open this Grammarly page to sign in with Google or set up a new account for using that tool.

The Grammarly extension adds a handy shortcut for accessing this proofing tool directly from Chrome’s toolbar (or Extensions menu). Clicking the Grammarly button in Chrome will open the extension, from which you can click New Document to access the SPAG checker. Installing this Chrome extension also enables the Grammarly SPAG checker to work in Google Docs, Gmail, Linkedin, WordPress, and other web-based content management systems.

Unsplash

Unsplash is a great website source for adding freely available (non-copyrighted) images to articles. The Unsplash extension for Google Chrome enables you to quickly find and download pictures for articles. This extension is an Unsplash search box you can conveniently access from Chrome’s toolbar without opening the site. Input a keyword within the extension’s search box to find a picture for an article, and then right-click on it to select Save image as.

OneTab

If you often open many page tabs in Google Chrome for article research (as I do), you’ll appreciate the OneTab extension. OneTab is one of the best tab manager extensions for Chrome that enables you to move tabs you’re not currently reading into a OneTab list. Then, you can restore pages moved into OneTab whenever needed. This tab management functionality enables you to considerably reduce tab bar clutter and save system memory (RAM) with fewer pages open in Google Chrome.

It’s easy to manage tabs with the OneTab extension. To move a tab, select a page and right-click the OneTab extension button to select OneTab > Send only this tab. The page link will then appear within the OneTab tab, where you can click on it to reopen.

Keyboard.cool

Many authors sometimes need to input more unique special characters that they can’t enter with specific keyboard keys. Although there are various ways to input more unique characters and symbols, you can use the Keyboard.cool extension. This is a handy Google Chrome extension with which you can quickly and easily enter many Unicode characters.

Clicking the Keyboard.cool button in Chrome opens an extension panel from which you can select unique characters to input. You’ll see many emojis at first glance, but scroll down and click Browse All to view the many ASCII, Latin, mathematical, and unique punctuation characters you can input with this tool. Or enter a keyword in the search box to find a symbol or character. Click on a character or symbol to copy it, and press Ctrl + V (on a Windows PC) to paste it into your document.

Quick Text Case Converter

To better ensure title capitalization accuracy in your articles, check out the Quick Text Case Converter extension. This extension enables you to convert headings and subheadings into title case, lowercase, or uppercase text. You can use this extension to access the Title Case Converter tool or convert titles and subheadings entered into online text editors via Chrome’s context menu.

To utilize the Title Case Converter, click the Quick Text Case Converter extension button and Title Case Converter in the page tab that opens. Input a subheading to convert to title case into the utility’s text box. Click the Copy to clipboard button and then use the Ctrl + V hotkey to paste the capitalized heading into your document.

If you utilize a web-based text editor or app, you can convert text to title case with this extension’s Google Chrome context menu options. To do so, drag the mouse cursor over some text to convert, right-click, and select Copy selected text as > Title case. Pressing Ctrl + V will paste the converted title case text into your document.

Wordtune

Although 100% AI article content generation is generally discouraged, it’s ok to use an AI tool to assist your freelance writing (rather than replace it). Wordtune is an AI extension for Google Chrome that offers suggestions for rephrasing selected text passages and corrects SPAG mistakes.   The basic (free) version of this extension restricts users to 10 rewrite suggestions a day, which might not be a bad thing for preventing overusing its AI features. Also, note that you can only utilize this tool when writing articles in web-based word processors and content management systems.

When you’ve installed and enabled this Chrome extension, select a passage in an article within the browser. You will then see a Wordtune Rewrite button to click on for AI content suggestions. Click the Rewrite, Make it Formal, Make it Casual, Make it Shorter, or Make it Longer options to receive input from the AI assistant and select one you prefer.

Power Thesaurus

Power Thesaurus is a handy English tool you can add to Google Chrome to find synonyms for alternative words. When added to Chrome, you can look up synonyms for your articles by entering words into this extension’s text box. Power Thesaurus will then show you related synonyms for the word entered in its panel. You can click this extension’s View All button to open a separate Power Thesaurus tab that shows an extended list of synonyms and antonyms with definitions.

Power Thesaurus also enables you to look up synonyms and definitions for words on web pages. To do so, drag the mouse cursor over a word on a page to highlight it and click the P button you’ll see under it. Clicking that button will show synonyms, antonyms, and definitions for the selected word.

Clipboard Tool

Freelance writers often need to copy and paste hyperlinks, special characters, and text passages for quotations into their articles. Clipboard Tool is a Chrome extension that can help you manage copied items. It saves all copied items to a list you can access by clicking the button for the extension. You can select copied text snippets for pasting into articles from the Clipboard Tool extension.

Clipboard Tool can be considered an alternative to Windows clipboard history, but it offers much better functionality. One thing I like about this extension is that it removes page formatting from copied text. Another good thing about Clipboard Tool is that it enables you to add copied items to a favorite list. This is a handy feature with which you can set up a saved list of useful copied special characters and symbols for pasting into articles when needed.

You can add those extensions to Google’s flagship browser by clicking the subheading page links above and their Add to Chrome buttons. If you don’t see those add-ons on the toolbar when installed, click the Extensions menu button. Then, click the menu buttons for the extensions to select their Pin to toolbar options.

Other Browsers That Support Chrome Extensions

Google Chrome isn’t the only browser that supports the extensions above. You can add those extensions to alternative Chromium browsers like Edge and Opera. Those browsers have their exclusive extension repositories, but they also support add-ons from the Chrome Web Store.

To add Chrome extensions to Edge, you must turn on a setting that enables add-ons from other stores. Type edge://extensions/ in Edge’s address bar and press Enter to view the Extensions tab in Microsoft’s browser. Switch on the Allow extensions from other stores setting on that tab by clicking its toggle switch.

The Google Chrome extensions discussed above can be useful utilities for freelance writers in numerous ways. You can utilize those tools for proofing, finding article images, managing page tabs, entering unique characters, looking up synonyms for alternative vocabulary, converting subheadings to correct title cases, and rephrasing passages. Many more Chrome add-ons can also be useful for freelancing writing. Have a good browse through the Chrome Web Store to see what handy extensions you can find.

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(7 Healthy Habits for Writers to Find Success.)

Many of us yearn to break through as a full-time writer but still have that day job, which pays the bills. Most of us are self-aware enough to know that we are probably never going to make J.K. Rowling money. That isn’t to say it can’t be done. After all, J.K. Rowling herself did it. But the odds are stacked against you. A far more realistic goal is making a steady living from your passion which, though not easy, is far more achievable.

There are two ways of accomplishing this goal. The first is to land a job in the media. That means applying for entry-level jobs at newspapers, magazines, trade publications, publishing houses, and even radio stations, TV production companies, and movie studios. There are thousands of them all over the world, in every country, and they all need content. Don’t be afraid to apply to those jobs.

If you are reading this article you obviously have an interest in the media so that’s the first hurdle. Plus, there is a good chance you’ll have a couple of cuttings or published credits, maybe a blog or a book, you can point to and use as evidence of your skills. In many cases that is all you need. Yes, a degree (in any topic) helps your case but is by no means essential. What’s the worst thing that can happen?

The other route to becoming a full-time writer is by going freelance. This is actually the preferred option for some as it offers more flexibility, if not outright stability, and as you are writing for multiple clients rather than one employer, it keeps things fresh and exciting. You get to make your own schedule, and know exactly where all the money is going. For many, it’s the dream ticket. They just don’t know how to make it happen. That’s where this article comes in.

Begin in the Beginning

We are all familiar with the expression ‘Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.’ The first thing you are going to need is a safety net. This will at least take some of the pressure off. It is recommended that before making any kind of significant career change, especially one with so much uncertainty attached, you accumulate enough savings to cover your living expenses for a year.

For most of us, that could be a little unrealistic. Who has that much money lying around? Obviously, the exact amount we are talking about here depends on your outgoings and other financial responsibilities, but you should aim for enough savings to keep you afloat for at least three to four months.

Bear in mind that even after you sign a contract and make a sale, you invariably have to wait a couple of weeks or months for the payment to hit your bank account. 

Lay the Foundations

Before you quit that day job, try to make sure you have some contracts and regular commissions under your belt. Of course, that is easier said than done. It all comes down to how hard you are willing to work for your dream.

Being self-employed means you get what you work for, and no more. The process can be as fast or slow as you want, but try to get a minimum of three or four regular clients. They don’t need to be paying you the earth, but aim to cover at least 40% of your anticipated monthly outgoings with these regular commissions and cover the rest with more sporadic work.

Ideally, you’ll be able to build on this figure incrementally as you become more established. How many commissions you need ultimately depends on how much they pay and how that figure equates to the amount required to cover your basic requirements. Do the math!

Be Flexible

Of course, we would all like to count someone like Rolling Stone or The New Yorker as one of those regular clients because they pay so well, so why not ask? Other people are doing it, so why not you?

Study the markets, be invested, figure out what they want, and give it to them. Failing that, don’t be too fussy. Write anything for anybody, and take every job that comes up. If it falls outside your comfort zone, look at it as a challenge.

At first you probably won’t be selling many articles for upwards of $2,000. But selling 10 articles to less prestigious titles at $200 each is definitely within your sights. Over the course of my career I have been paid wildly varying amounts for features covering everything from chili pepper farming to Chinese media manipulation.   

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Create Multiple Revenue Streams

This epitomizes flexibility. When freelancing, don’t rely on just one or two sources of income. Instead, try to create as many revenue streams as possible. Some have to be nurtured, and others may only ever bring in pennies. Regardless, don’t neglect them.

The bulk of my income comes from writing magazine articles, but I also sell short stories, receive book royalties, and grab the occasional editing or proofreading gig. You can also monetize your blog or social media channels if you have a large enough following. Another useful revenue stream are platforms like Medium and Fiverr. Investigate everything, and rule nothing out.

You might also think about taking on some part time work. Pubs, cafes, and restaurants are always looking for casual staff, and these places are great for meeting contacts and sniffing out stories. Being a journalist is a very precarious existence, even if you work for a publication full-time, and you regularly have the rug pulled out from under you.

While I was making the transition to full-time writing, and at times since, I did bar and hospitality work, teaching, and even the odd medical trial. That might not be for everybody, but it pays well and offers something you can incorporate into your writing later.

Raid Your Archives

You are going to need a boost from time to time, especially early on. Most of us have been writing for years, and have built up a little (or even a big) treasure trove. Short stories, articles, poetry, blog posts. That’s money. You just have to find a home for it.

Even if it has been published before, check when or if the publishing rights have reverted back to you, and if then look at selling them as reprints. Give the piece a lick of paint or perhaps update it before you send it out. You’re probably a much better writer now than when you wrote it. You might also be able to tweak some pieces to fit specific markets you weren’t aware of before.

Don’t Rest on Your Laurels

So you are starting to see some success in your freelance career. Congratulations! Now the hard work really begins.

Yes, your new routine allows you to be flexible, but you still have to put in those hard yards. Try to settle into a system whereby you have a conveyor belt of work laid out before you, all at different stages of completion. You might have two articles out on submission, another two in the polishing phase, and two in the research stages.

People often ask where my ideas come from. They are usually referring to fiction, but it could just as easily apply to nonfiction. My answer is, where DON’T ideas come from? They are all around you; in movies, games, the news, real-life interactions, gossip you overhear at the coffee shop. Just be receptive and jot down ideas when they come.   

Under Promise, Over Deliver

Regardless of what you did for a living before, your reputation is now everything. Hit your deadlines and deliver your clean, accurate, error-free, well-polished copy on time and to spec. This is the bare minimum expected of you.

If you disappoint an editor, it’s unlikely they will be willing to give you many more opportunities. Freelance writing is very competitive. So to summarize, put yourself out there and throw the dice. Just be smart about it.

The post Making the Dream a Reality: How to Become a Full-Time Writer appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(How to Break Into the Software Article Writing Market.)

However, we can utilize many desktop software packages and web apps on PCs that can be useful for the writing business in various ways. Nor do you need to splash out on premium apps and software, as many handy digital tools are freely available. Here are 10 digital tools that can come in handy for freelance writers.

OpenOffice Writer

A word processor for drafting articles is the essential software no freelance writer can do without. MS Word is one of the most popular premium word processors, and it is a part of the Office 365 suite with a $69.99 subscription. Microsoft’s premium word processor undoubtedly has some advanced features, but you can save hundreds of dollars by utilizing freely available alternatives instead.

Writer is the word processor of the open-source OpenOffice suite and one of the best freely available alternatives to MS Word. This word processor includes text and document formatting options comparable to MS Word. It’s more than adequate for basic word processing but also suitable for more complex document creation associated with desktop publishing tools. OpenOffice Writer also supports Word document formats, which means its users can save articles with the universal DOCX format for submissions.

OpenOffice Calc

Keeping monthly business account records is a regular activity for many freelance writers. Those who are registered self-employed will certainly need to keep records of monthly and annual business turnover figures. Spreadsheet applications are crucial software for the organization and storage of financial data in the form of accounts.

There are myriad spreadsheet software packages, free and paid, that we can utilize for business accounts. Those who pay for Office 365 can use Word and Excel, but OpenOffice Calc is a free desktop software alternative for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X PC platforms. This spreadsheet application includes hundreds of mathematical functions and advanced sheet formatting options, making it more than adequate for keeping basic accounts. You can also insert different types of graphs, images, objects, shapes, and other media into your Calc spreadsheets, much like Excel.

Invoice-Generator.com

Some clients (or websites) you submit articles to might ask that you send invoices (bills) along with your submissions. For example, Writer’s Digest requests invoices be sent with articles submitted to this website. Such invoices include titles of articles submitted and remuneration totals.

Invoice-Generator.com is a freely available web app that makes it straightforward to set up invoice PDF documents for your clients. You can log in and utilize that app with a Google account. Then, all you need to do is click New Invoice, fill out the required input boxes for articles in the template, and press the Create button. The invoice templates this tool generates are nice and clear, and it has no usage restrictions.

Grammarly

Grammarly is the best online tool I’ve found for proofing (checking through and editing) article drafts. This web app has a charged Pro plan for premium features and more restricted free usage. However, the free Grammarly tool is still a handy SPAG checker.

You can utilize Grammarly by signing into that digital tool with a Google account. When signed in, click New to bring up the proofing utility into which you can input an article draft for it to check. Use the Ctrl + C and Ctrl + V hotkeys on a Windows PC to copy and paste article content into the proofing tool. Grammarly will check your article and give it an overall score. Go through the red highlights shown in the tool to fix typos or other SPAG mistakes detected.

ShareX

Many tech writers need to create screenshots to include in software or gaming articles, which are almost essential for instructional how-to software guides and reviews. You cannot be a genuine tech writer without a screenshot tool. Although Windows includes limited tools for capturing screenshots, better third-party screen-capturing tools are freely available.

I recommend downloading and installing ShareX to take screenshots. ShareX is open-source software for Windows 11/10/8 that includes about 11 screen capture options. It also offers more extensive annotation and editing options for captured snapshots than the Snipping Tool bundled with Windows.

A Blogger Blog

Blogger is one of the biggest platforms for creating web blogs. It is a tool with which you can set up online journals known as blogs, which include chronological posts readers can reply to with comments. Creating web blogs with Blogger templates is a quick and easy alternative to website building.

A Blogger blog can be a handy digital tool for freelance writing in different ways. Setting up a Blogger blog will at least give you somewhere to post articles, which you can then show as samples to prospective clients. You can also monetize Blogger blogs to turn them into markets.

Blogs can also be handy promotional tools for authors’ books. For example, I set up this Blogger blog for my self-published book title. That blog includes posts that provide info about the book and samples from it.

Title Case Converter

There are numerous different style guide conventions for capitalizing subheadings in articles. Title Case Converter is a handy web app tool for converting subheadings in your articles to the correct title case for Associated Press, Chicago, Bluebook, American Medical Association, and NY Times style guides, among others. You can also utilize that tool to convert subheadings to the sentence case.

To utilize Title Case Converter, open the page for that app (linked in the subheading directly above) and input a subheading to convert; select a Title Case or Other Styles option and click Convert. The app will show you the converted title for selected options slightly further down the page below the style settings. Click the Copy button for the converted subheading, which you can paste into articles with the Ctrl + V hotkey.

PayPal

PayPal is one of the largest online payment systems for electronic funds transfer. This makes it one of the most widely utilized digital tools for sending and receiving payments. Many websites and magazines open to freelance article submissions utilize PayPal for transactions. I recommend utilizing PayPal in the freelance writing business mainly because of its universality and ease of use.

However, PayPal is not entirely free or necessarily even the best value. It’s free to set up a PayPal account, but PP takes an approximate five percent cut from your international article transactions received. This fee will slightly reduce the remuneration received for your articles included in magazines published outside your country.

WordStream

Keyword research is important for website (or blog) article search engine optimization. If you can identify keywords with higher search volumes, including those search phrases in your online articles can increase their page views. Increasing page views in such a way is most important for website markets that offer remuneration more directly based on article traffic, such as Medium and Hubpages.

WordStream is a handy and freely available online tool for article keyword research. To identify keywords with that tool, enter a potential article search phrase in its keyword text box and click Continue. WordStream will then show matching keyword variations you can utilize, along with search volume and competition info for them. Select to include keywords WordStream shows to have higher search volumes.

Thesaurus.com

Thesaurus.com is a handy web app for looking up alternative words with the same or similar meanings to include in your articles. Input any word in the “Start typing” text box on that app’s page and press Enter to view a range of alternative words. The app shows synonyms with the strongest and weakest matches, along with example sentences for the one entered.

That app also incorporates a digital dictionary utility you can switch to by clicking Dictionary.com. You can utilize this dictionary much the same by inputting a word inside its text box. Dictionary.com will then show definitions for the word entered and example sentences. Utilizing this digital tool is probably quicker than manually looking up words in paper dictionaries.

Most of those digital tools are generally free to use and are helpful for many aspects of the freelance writing business. You can utilize those software packages and web apps to assist with article content creation, keyword research, keeping accounts, book promotion, and business transactions. It is certainly worth at least trying out those tools before investing in more expensive premium alternatives. 

The post 10 Handy Digital Tools for Freelance Writers appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(8 Ways to Charge for Your Freelance Writing.)

But many of us do write for money—including me! And, the faster you write, the more writing you turn out—and the more money you can make.

Now, many writers today credit ChatGPT for their ability to write faster. But AI aside, another key to super-productivity for writers is to write about the familiar—to write about what you know, have seen, have experienced, or done.

#1—Write about something you know.

There are advantages to writing about something you know well. Either from your own extensive reading and research—or otherwise first-hand participation in the subject as a hobbyist, collector, enthusiast, or fan.

For instance, I have been reading and collecting comic books for decades. So I put together a book proposal for Comic Book Heroes: 1,001 Trivia Questions About America’s Favorite Superheroes, from the Atom to the X-Men, which my agent sold to Citadel Press.

Because I am such an avid collector and reader of comics, a lot of the research material was either already in my head—or else in my comic book collection—all of which was a considerable shortcut to completing my manuscript.

#2—Write about something you have done.

Back in the day, my then-employer—Koch Engineering, an industrial manufacturer—asked me to relocate from Manhattan to the company headquarters in Wichita, Kansas. I chose instead to go out on my own and become a freelance copywriter and marketing consultant.

I knew many people want to leave the 9-to-5 rat race and strike out on their own as a freelancer or small business owner. So I wrote a how-to book to guide them: Out on Your Own: From Corporate to Self-Employment, published by John Wiley.

I could write confidently about quitting a good, secure job and making the transition into new and unchartered territory…because I had just done it myself.

#3—Write about your job, work, profession, or field.

In my first job, as a technical writer for an aerospace company, I was frustrated that the company did not provide employees with a style guide. So I put together an informal technical writing style sheet for my own use; it addressed writing situations and problems for which I could not find good advice or guidance elsewhere.

A couple of years later, I expanded my style sheet into a book for McGraw-Hill, which they published—and today it is still in print, with a new publisher and a new title, The Elements of Technical Writing.

#4—Write about things you have closely, carefully, and thoroughly observed, studied, followed, or talked about.

When I lived in Baltimore, I liked to go to Dorsey Speedway on Friday nights to the stock car races. While at the track, being a friendly sort, I talked to a lot of the people there, including spectators in the stands, the track crew, mechanics in the drivers’ pit, and of course the racers, who regaled me with car talk.

I eventually turned all this chatting and observation into a feature article for the Baltimore City Paper, “It’s No Drag Racing at Dorsey Track.”

#5—Write about things you have already written about.

There are subjects you probably write about repeatedly. For me, those subjects include investing, alternative health, and science. Yours may be other topics, from gardening and pets, to coin collecting and home repair.

Invariably you will find it an enormous time-saver to recycle ideas, interviews, and research done for one piece into others on similar or related subjects for other publications and media.

One more thing: I apply the 80/20 in choosing my writing projects as follows:

That means 80 percent of the content and copy I write deals with things I have already written about—and I can (and often do) recycle, repurpose, and reuse some of this material in multiple projects. Which keeps my writing productivity—and my income—high.

But, the other 20% of my projects are on new topics that are relatively new to me. These pieces on unfamiliar subjects take me longer to write, because the learning curve is steeper for me. But, they also keep me—as a writer and also a reader—interested, fresh, and engaged.

For me, 80/20 is the right balance—but there is nothing magical about that ratio. And I advise you to choose the ratio that works best for you.

The post 5 Tips for Writing Better and Faster appeared first on Writer's Digest.

“Niching” simply means specializing. For a copywriter, your specialty is typically either a medium or type of writing (e.g., white papers, emails, social media) or an industry or product category (e.g. insurance, dietary supplements, consumer electronics).

(What Is a Swipe File for Copywriters?)

Why do I recommend niching? Because the evidence shows that in most fields of human endeavor, specialists make more money than generalists—and are more in demand.

For instance, who do you think earns more—your family doctor or neurosurgeons?

During my first decade as a freelance copywriter, I specialized in “industrial copywriting.” Meaning I wrote ads about equipment, systems, and raw materials used in manufacturing—everything from pumps and valves, to control systems and sensors.

I did so because it seemed a logical progression for me: I had majored in chemical engineering and been the advertising manager for a manufacturer of process equipment.

And, if you are able to use it, niching in an industry where you already have experience gives you an edge over other copywriters who do not.

For instance….

• Susan is a certified nutritionist. And this background makes her eminently qualified to write copy for dietary supplements—one of the best-paying and most in-demand niche markets for copywriters today.
• Gary became a marketing consultant and copywriter for eye doctors—a natural for him, because he had spent years working as an ophthalmologist in a private practice he owned with a partner who was also an eye doctor.

Although you are being hired as a professional writer, clients seek out copywriters who appear to know the business the client is in—how it operates, the big problems it addresses for customers, the technology, and how it works.

That being said, you don’t have to be a heavyweight to break into and succeed in a niche. Here are just a few of the shortcuts that can help you get up and running in a copywriting specialty fast:

1. You don’t need an MD to be a medical copywriter. But do take some adult education classes, workshops, and seminars in health care, biochemistry, and related subjects. Doing so can help you write better copy on those topics. Plus, it impresses potential clients in those fields.
2. Earn a certification or continuing education credits in the field. Sometimes you can do this by taking just a couple of courses. I took a single course to become a certified local area network administrator, which gave me significant credibility in IT, believe it or not!
3. Niche in an area in which you already have some work experience and training. For example, working as a salesperson in a car dealership will make you more interesting to potential copywriting clients in the automotive business.

Another tip: Join professional organizations in a niche to gain instant credibility, exposure, and even access to potential clients. For example, if you want to get into medical copywriting, join the American Medical Writers Association.

Even if you don’t meet the full membership requirements for a particular industry association, many trade groups will let you join as an affiliate member—which, when it comes to a credential, seems pretty much to most people the same as full membership. 

The post Niche Your Way to Freelance Copywriting Success appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(4 Key Places to Find Those First Freelance Clients.)

While there are a zillion markets out there, there isn’t one place to find them all, so it’s a matter of hunting and test-driving search guesses and reading a dozen different online newsletters (like FundsforWriters) to find them. Some markets don’t even post guidelines . . . anywhere.

The searches are time consuming. Not only do you pursue publications, but then you have to click around for their guidelines, and if the guidelines are not clear (or not even available), then comes the detailed study of past published articles for word count, voice, point of view, what is considered evergreen and what is extremely niche.

Freelance writing involves an insane amount of research just to figure out who you can pitch. If only you could break into a publication, you could strive to stick with them and write regularly for them, the dream of most freelancers, but what if that was only part of the trick? What if once you land that article you open up a way bigger door?

What Are Magazine Families?

Writers can find one magazine and turn it into two, or six, or even a dozen. Most magazines belong to families, or to say it another way, they belong to a media group that publishes multiple magazines.

For example, you can write for a landscaping magazine and quickly learn they are published by an umbrella company that produces five other magazines. Chances are, they are in some way a cousin in style, voice, and word count to the original landscaping magazine that published your one article. The topics may be turf management, gardening, or small farming. Or the themes may be construction, home improvement, or home décor.

If you stop and think, they usually reach markets that overlap in readership. Break in with one, and you have your foot in the door with better odds of being accepted by the others.

Writing for a media group means more than writing an article for one magazine. These editors know each other. Seeing the one credit with one of their sister publications makes them consider you twice. You are more of a known commodity, and there’s nothing an editor likes more than to do business with someone who has already been vetted to a certain degree. Some writers become regular contributors to these publishing families.

But you don’t stop there.

Moving Beyond Just Magazines

The door opens a little wider to write not only for these other magazines, but also their blogs, their newsletters, and their commercial publicity departments. Magazines are more than magazines these days. They practice in social media.

You have the advantage of pitching not only the print publications for these families but also their blogs, newsletters, and online communities. They maintain online libraries which gives your writing evergreen potential.

The Spruce, for instance, is a how-to publication for home and gardening. Per their website they are 20 years old with an online library of more than 14,000 pieces of content that “helps you spruce up your space, spruce up your yard, and spruce up your home.”

There’s potential for you to write about multiple areas of home life.

(The Basics of Jumping Into Freelance Writing.)

But they are more than one lone entity. They consist of a family of sites, including The Spruce Eats, The Spruce Pets, and The Spruce Crafts, covering home decor, home repair, recipes, cooking techniques, pets, and crafts. They utilize experts in these areas as regular contributors. One of these might be your niche, or maybe you are gifted in ferreting out said experts who aren’t keen into writing who might be willing to offer you an interview.

Great. Let’s say you broke into one and they published your work. Did you realize they are part of the DotDashMeredith family of publications consisting of over 40 iconic brands?

Not only do they produce The Spruce, but they publish Better Homes & Gardens, Verywell, Food & Wine, Allrecipes, Real Simple, Southern Living, Lifewire, and The Balance. These magazines, and their online blogs and communities, cover many of the topics used at The Spruce. You get almost giddy at the potential. Not only will you find guidelines at each magazine but also the parent company gives you direction about their preferred style and professional flavor of writer.

And all this came from researching just one magazine.

Media groups are everywhere. We just don’t pay attention to their logos and links at the bottom of each website.

They all aren’t as top shelf as DotDashMeredith, either, in case that intimidates you. Sure there are others just as big, like Conde Nast with its 23 magazines like ALLURE, GLAMOUR, Bon Appetit, GQ, epicurious, and House & Garden, and Hearst that represents Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Country Living.

Still More Magazine Families

But there are others that are more regional, more trade related, or more mid-level in terms of readership and advertising. To the entry to mid-level freelancer, these others might appear more approachable.

Palm Beach Media has over a dozen regional publications about south Florida from lifestyle to decorating as does Lifestyle Media Group, another Florida family. On the other side of the country you’ll find California Media Group.

Are those markets still too daunting for you?

AKC Magazine represents two publications, Family Dog and AKC Gazette. Redstone Media Group handles only animal magazines like Canadian Dogs, Animal Wellness, and Equine Wellness.

PMMI Media Group heads up titles like Packaging World, Automation World, Healthcare Packaging, and ProFood World about the latest solutions, trends, and innovations in packaging and processing. Recycling Today Media group produces five magazines on recycling.

Media groups exist in almost any niche, hobby, sport, or professional vocation.

Maybe you already have a niche or simply want to enter a niche. Then you learn who publishes the niche. You could wind up with a handful of media groups publishing several dozen publications at your fingertips. You not only see magazines in the area you wish to specialize in, but you also find out how they are published, and what others are published alongside them.

Look at your favorite magazines and study their origin. You’ll find yourself going down a rabbit hole, only you gather so much along the way you never want to stop. Your world opens up to freelance opportunity you never fathomed.

The post How to Find Freelance Writing Success Pitching to Magazine Families appeared first on Writer's Digest.

(Oakland Public Library Exhibits Items Found in Returned Books)

You don’t realize how many ways there are to be measured and paid until you become a freelancer. Sometimes the market is flexible to your preferences, and at other times you must be flexible to theirs.

So, what are these different options to earning a living as a freelance writer?

Flat Rate

Just like it sounds, you and your customer negotiate one flat rate for a product. You go into the gig with an estimate of the time it will take you to produce a particular word count and agree to one price. But what initially sounds simple can become complicated with an inexperienced or manipulative client.

Does that rate include multiple edits? With a magazine, the editor may make changes and you suffer the results, which could be anything from altering voice to nixing the article altogether and paying a kill fee.

With a company hiring you for website copy, you may find yourself editing multiple times. Your customer might consist of six different sets of eyes you aren’t aware of, or some boss in the mix changes their mind in the middle of it all. You may be writing a commercial guidebook or an e-book, a one-time article or a long-term series of posts. The longer the project, the more chances for rewrite requests or changes in direction.

Have some sense of editing parameters when deciding on a flat rate, and in more complicated cases, calculate in time for these changes, or tell the client there will be add-on costs after a certain point.

Hourly Rate

Writing material like newsletters, business copy, or commercial scripts can pay per hour. Companies hire all sorts of writing and editing, from white pages to employee handbooks, website updates to social media updates, in which case you bill hourly to avoid a lengthy contract with different prices for different items. Know what you are worth and be sure to be attentive to travel, research, and collaboration meetings in the mix.

Per Word

Getting paid per word is conducive to certain projects like most levels of editing, writing a script, translating, or ghostwriting. It’s a simple method, but be prepared to have a word count range up front so nobody gets surprised, and a reality of how long it will take you to complete that count.

Per Page

Some magazines pay per page, giving you a sense up front how much goes on a page. They are paying based on the cost it takes them to print, which is often defined per page. Online work like SEO/keyword writing/editing is estimated per page as well. Again, a simple task that doesn’t merit a lot of back and forth isn’t difficult to negotiate, but with a longer, more complicated project, you work in some ancillary time for back-and-forth discussions.

Per Post

Social media updates, product reviews, blogging, or work that entails an uncertain quantity of repetitious work can pay per post. Try to learn ahead of time an estimated range of work so that you aren’t turning away other jobs for work that doesn’t occur or accepting other gigs and suddenly finding yourself swamped from an unexpected deluge from your per-post client.

Retainer or Monthly

Some clients may prefer having you on retainer or on call. They aren’t sure how much they will need you, but they want you handy for when they do. While being on retainer is a handsome gig demonstrating confidence in your work, you still need a handle on your hourly rate, your per word rate, or a particular project rate so that calculations can be articulated clearly in your bill. Sooner or later, either side will scrutinize what they got for the time invested and how much work available on that retainer.

You may be required to carve out 10 hours a month for this client, or be expected to run an entire operation, and anything in between. Of course, hammer down a contract with clear understanding as to what is expected if the work exceeds or does not meet expectations. On the good side, retainers can seriously level out the uncertainty of a freelancer’s income.

Added Value

This method is geared toward the more seasoned freelancer with years of experience. They know their worth from the value they’ve added to many other clients and their projects. Strong negotiations are involved, and you emphasize the results you can guarantee the project based upon your track record.

In your professional world, your proven skillset builds value over time. You may tout that you can help a potential customer save or make money, improve efficiency, or better saturate a market. You can take work off their plate, save them staff, or increase the bottom line. The better you know the client, the better you can calibrate this. But again, it takes a very seasoned writer with a history of success to pull this off.

Commission

Again, like added value, you must have a solid idea of what you are worth in terms of aiding a client in being successful. A commission is more attuned to writing, say, a sales campaign or website sales page, and asking for a percentage of the sales.

Pricing yourself properly takes a degree of stress out of your career. It’s as much effectively managing your time as earning the bucks. Some of this savvy takes the often painful journey of a learning curve. It means studying the market to know what others are charging and learning what clients in the business normally pay. But once you’ve developed a reputation, don’t be shy to ask what you are worth . . . in whatever capacity you want to use to best suit the deal.

Click to continue.

The post 8 Ways to Charge for Your Freelance Writing appeared first on Writer's Digest.