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.

(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.

Click to continue.

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!

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It just might be! But why turn down a writing opportunity? You’ve been around the (writer’s) block and earned your stripes. Any decent-paying gig is worth the effort, right?

(How to Manage the Submission Process as a Freelancer.)

Not in my book, figuratively and literally. In my freelance writing journey, I’ve experienced missteps, wrong turns, and dead ends. If only someone had warned me about the potential hazards! Here are pitfalls I encountered and how I’ve learned to avoid them.

1. The project is inadequately planned or unorganized.

Writing a history and promotional book for a wildlife conservation agency was a tempting lure. But although I was offered an all-expense paid trip to the African nation to meet staff and tour the facilities, with good pay, I couldn’t travel at that time. The director sent copies of newsletters and agency records with a promised future interview.

From the materials, I developed a book outline and the first few chapters, which the ultra-busy director rejected, saying they too closely replicated the original documents. I thought she wanted the media material reframed for the book’s background. Lacking clarification, guidance, and the long-awaited interview, the project fizzled.

A comparable situation involved a retired woman who recorded her memoir assisted by an adult niece. In their audio file conversations, the pair disagreed about dates, names, and events so that little progress was made despite my numerous questions. We parted ways after I recommended they organize an outline for the memoir’s future development.

Lesson learned: I should have realized the projects were beyond my capabilities. I knew what the clients wanted but was unclear on how to develop their stories. The authors weren’t sure what to include, and I was at a loss to collect the relevant information. Now, I decline projects that require skills or material I don’t have. Or I request materials like diaries, letters, photos, and interviews to develop the content.

2. The project is too demanding or time intensive.

I often schedule phone calls or video consultations with prospective clients to discuss the project. These meetings give an idea of how our personalities “click” for clear communication and reliable cooperation. My discussion summary notes help to determine the project’s length, tone, and style before getting started. I typically decline projects without this preliminary information.

Some people at first describe their project clearly, leading to a signed agreement. But soon, they stray from their original idea, forcing us to change the book outline and revise the completed chapters. This requires extra time and cost that frustrate clients and me, so I emphasize from the start that we need a specific scope of work for the project.

One author decided to expand his book beyond the contract length, and pay for it, but the extended timeline would disrupt my other projects. The revised idea required additional research and planning. I was paid for my work to that point, and the client agreed to reassess his ideas and develop a new plan before moving forward.

Lesson learned: From the start, I ensure that new clients clarify and commit to their project specifications. If the description seems fuzzy or unwieldy, I help them establish structure and order to complete the writing assignment on time and on budget. Those who aren’t sure of their target may doom the project to failure.

3. The pay is not worth the workload.

Clients often request weekly telephone check-ins to discuss progress. These can range from 15 minutes to an hour or more. Recording the call to listen again may be useful, but it requires additional time and possible transcription. One client wanted me to interview a dozen sources around the country, but limited information was gleaned from these persons. A client may have grandiose ideas to enhance the project and ignore the writer’s advice that such information will require more time but won’t add much value.

Lesson learned: While estimating a project, I calculate weekly time and information retrieval. I request clients to send organized, readable material. Scribbled handwritten notes or disordered documents are frustrating and require extra work. I estimate the fee accordingly or reject the project if it appears time intensive and minimally beneficial.

4. The client is uncooperative or overly critical.

Sometimes clients only have ideas and are not ready to develop the project, and the writer’s suggestions are rejected. Or the topic might represent an insensitive or inflammatory viewpoint. Another problem is a client who communicates infrequently.

Busy or uncommitted people can disappear indefinitely. When we finally reconnect, we must review and revise the previous work. By then, the client might have forgotten the book’s premise and need coaching to get back on topic—only to disappear again.

Despite my credentials and experience, a few clients have disagreed with my editing corrections, saying they want the project to read “as is” despite improper grammar, faulty diction, or flawed punctuation. A business manager dismissed me for using the word “supply” in a perfectly suitable way because he felt it was too “informal” for his company handbook. (I am a certified business and technical writer.) A company CEO refused some grammar corrections (like a possessive apostrophe) in his business book and insisted on maintaining his personal style!

Lesson learned: I now include a checklist for new clients that includes diction and style preferences with a disclaimer that I am not responsible for rejected corrections, explaining the style and conventions typically used. I do not accept projects from clients who cannot accept those terms.

5. The subject matter is questionable, unethical, or immoral.

As freelancers, we all have different values and standards. I’ve accepted projects that seemed fine at the beginning but discovered in subsequent content the use of controversial language, violence, sexuality, or prejudice. Stories about difficult experiences like drugs or prison have revealed incidents I never expected (or wanted) to encounter! Some projects introduce perspectives that I or certain publishers may find objectionable. I suggest ways of revising graphic content while maintaining the story arc, character description, or event impact. I reject projects based on content I don’t want to work with.

Some people write a memoir as a confessional. A senior lady’s life story dragged her ex-husband’s reputation through the mud. She ended disparaging chapters with something sweet like, “But he was a great kisser” possibly as an antidote! I suggested she might want to revise harsh sections for their grown children’s sake, and she toned down some revelations. When the book was published, she expressed regret over the critical content and apologized to her ex, who forgave her. Not everyone is as forgiving to find themselves criticized in print!

Lesson Learned: In negotiations with clients, I clarify boundaries about topics I work with. For sensitive issues involving morals, relationships, and finances, I remind people that once published, books, speeches, and other documents often cannot be recalled or edited. I urge careful consideration of content that might lead to regret, hurt, or defamation charges.

6. Writing scams.

Swindles victimizing freelancers are spiraling. Yet, some mishaps are unintentional. Understandably, sometimes a person cannot pay a writer to complete the project due to an unexpected financial strain. Others stop paying (I use a three-step payment structure) for various reasons, and that’s fine if my completed work is paid. I don’t accept future projects from previous non-paying clients unless they had a valid reason.

I was almost swindled by a LinkedIn scammer who contacted me about writing a presentation for a medical conference in Chicago. As always, I checked the person’s name and employer online, and it matched a well-established European company. The potential client offered a handsome sum by overnight mail if I could expedite the project for completion in two weeks. I agreed. The next day, she contacted me again and offered to double the payment for two presentations—similar but for different conferences. Busy with other projects, I agreed and signed a professional-looking Agreement and scanned it to her, which was signed with a copy returned to me.

The next day, an overnight packet arrived with a check for the amount promised—but no attached letter, invoice, or other document. I checked the return address—a non-English name in Texas. I inspected the originator of the check—a construction company in Minnesota. Bingo! Rechecking the original information online that was likely stolen, it still appeared valid. I typed in the contact person’s name and employer while adding the word “scam” afterward—Bingo again! Another writer had posted concerns about the same alleged person but had not received payment. I emailed the person in Europe whose identity was stolen but did not hear back.

I assumed that if I deposited the check, the crooks could hack my account while their check bounced. I contacted the local sheriff, and he advised against depositing the check, indicating such scams were prevalent.

Lesson learned: I’m extra cautious about accepting writing work from unknowns. I double- and triple-check contacts and cross-reference sources. I often work with agencies that vet incoming projects and collect up-front payment. This precaution is working well.

Writer scams are increasing. The Authors Guild published a helpful article on December 6, 2024, about freelance writer scam reports: Publishing Scam Alerts – The Authors Guild

Bottom line:

Freelancers need clarity about what to do—and how to do it. Likewise, writers should provide explanations about services, restrictions, and fees while also requesting information when needed. Detailed descriptions and clear communication help to establish a meaningful process for a successful project. 

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