This hub is based on a series of posts on my blog, where I answered questions from new freelance writers. With 20 years as a writer, and quite a few blogging and writing web content, I've picked up a thing or two. Check out my freelance writing questions series for more information.

What's the first thing you should do if you want to be a writer? The answer is simple - it's to write. So, how do you get started? First of all, don't worry when you start about whether your writing is any good or not. The important thing is to have an idea and follow through by getting something down on paper. You may throw it away, but psychologically you will have taken a big step.

Find a publication that you want to write for and study it. This will help you to identify important elements about the content and style. Then try to write something again.

One of the first things to do is to present yourself professionally. These days, that means having a decent website that includes:

* your name and contact details (either an email address or a contact form) * a resume or CV which shows your education and writing background * some samples of work * some real testimonials * a photo and some text about you that makes you human * your rates (this is optional; not all writers do it)

That's only the beginning. Once you've got an online presence (I always recommend that you buy your own domain), it's time to let people know. You can do this by optimizing your website and promoting your site through article marketing.

If you're looking for writing work, a key place to start is with sites such as Guru, Elance and Ifreelance, which offer projects to writers. Successful bidding relies on a combination of things, including: * choosing the right projects * matching your skills to the client's requirements * having or creating appropriate samples * clarifying what's required * delivering on time

It's always difficult for new writers to know what to charge for a writing job. Luckily, there are a few resources which can help. This article provides some guidelines.

Beware of the client who wants you to write a large batch of articles without payment. If you are going to do a lot of work, you should get paid.

My policy is to ask for a 50 per cent deposit up front. Clients who are not willing to pay this usually melt away. I might lose out on a job, but it separates the clients who value my work from those who don't. Once a client becomes a regular, then I can afford to be a bit more flexible.

However, clients are within their rights to ask for proof that you can do the job. I approach this in one of two ways. Either I use something that I have already written and mention that it has already been sold, or I write a fresh sample and post it on my blog. That way I can use it to promote myself, even if I don't get paid. (Incidentally, that's what I plan to do with the last article I didn't get paid for.