Content area
Full Text
According to a study conducted by UpWork and the Freelancers Union, 35 per cent of America's workforce is made up of freelancers. The majority of the 55 million people freelancing are doing so by choice, however a career as a freelance writer is not an easy, "get rich quick" scheme that anyone can fall into. It takes more than a pen and an opinion to be successful in this field. The best freelance writers are dedicated, determined and detail-oriented. They know how to follow instructions, write in different voices and styles, meet deadlines and they present second draft work as their first. They also understand that the nature of freelancing means that they are not always guaranteed work. They know that a publication, company or blog may not have a need for their services on a regular basis.
Freelance writers, therefore, should know how to handle rejection. Not everyone they want to work for will be able to take their pitch or send them assignments. There are periods of low need in many industries that use freelance writers for online content, so it's important for freelancers to keep their options and lines of communication open and to grow a rapport with their clients. Reaching out to the freelance manager or equivalent for their clients with a quick note asking about work is a good way to stay fresh in the manager's mind, even when the answer is a no. When work is available, the freelancer who has touched base and shown that they are able to take on more is often the first one contacted.
Freelancers are self-employed and may have several clients for whom they write at any given time. Some of these clients look for writers who can pitch a story and produce an article without much instruction. Others have specific needs and send writers outlines with the information the piece should cover. Then there are some who use a blend of both; they have the ideas, but they allow the writers to make the piece their own. Anyone looking at freelance writing as a possible career should know how to write for all kinds of clients.
Pros and Cons of Freelance Writing
Pros
More flexibility to work when and where the writer...