Tips to Become a Freelance Writer

There are many stories of how people made it with freelance writing. There is no step by step guide towards success. The best thing is to have good ideas, get better at executing them, and put much of your time into finding publications that will give you money to sell them. Here are the tips for starting freelance writing.

1. Get education and training.
   You do not need to hold a formal degree to be in the circle. If you are a fresh beginner, you should get some education so that you give out quality work. You can look for an online course as they are cheap and flexible as you can work from home. You can take on an English major and other supplementary like writing, journalism, and communication.
2. Begin as a staffer
   Finding a job is an uphill task. There is constant competition from all corners of the world. One thing for sure is websites and publications tend to hire writers. When this opportunity lands on your doorstep, grab it. You will have the right kind of education when you get it. When you start working closely with other editors, you will become a better person in your craft.
3. Begin pitching
   In case you forgot, the only road to becoming a freelance writer is to start the writing process. You should apply for gigs and pitch to publications even if you lack the right amount of clips that are needed. Everybody begins at some point. There are numerous ways you can show your prowess in writing. The clients and employers will want to know your skills rather than where you got them.
4. Advertise your work on online platforms
   If you link your work to an online portfolio, you can attract attention, and other editors can have a glimpse at your job. You don’t have to go head over heels to achieve this milestone. Having a website is enough to play the trick. You can also start writing a blog and post regularly. It will assist you in polishing your craft, and you may start getting a following from it.
5. Figure out by yourself how you are going to get paid
   It may sound too obvious, but it can be a load of stress at the beginning. After getting a client and finishing the expected work, you need to find a way of how the money rests in your bank account. You can create invoices and forward them to your client and ask them for payment.
6. Hope for the best but expect the unexpected
   As a freelance writer, you will get jumbled up by low income, late hours, and short days. It can be a virtual roller coaster. You should also see to it that you get financially prepared for expenses, taxes, healthcare, and retirement. Understand that clients come and go, even for the best writers. Therefore, be ready to face the dry seasons.

Get organized in your work. You should have a place to work and a place to rest. To become a proficient freelance writer, you need to have dedication, curiosity and must accept rejection at any given moment or time. Also, believe in luck.