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How to Become a Freelance Writer Without Experience: Tips, Jobs, and Opportunities
If you are considering full-time or part-time freelance writing work, do not let lack of experience discourage you. While an education background in writing and/or other formal writing training can certainly be assets to your career, many people become successful freelance writers without any prior experience. This article is designed to do the following:
- help you determine if this would be a good career option for you
- provide you with the initial knowledge that you need to start freelance writing
- give you tips for sticking with a full-time or part-time freelance writing career
Additional Freelance Writing Resources
- How to Be a Full-Time Freelance Writer
Learn how to become a full-time freelance writer. Explore the truth behind this career choice, income potential and pitfalls to avoid. - 25 Writing Resources For Online and Freelance Writers and Bloggers
- Writing Mistakes To Avoid So You Can Appear To Be Intelligent
These are some of the most common mistakes writers make. The fix is easy, so read on and find out how to avoid these boo boos.
Are You Cut Out For a Freelance Writing Career?
Before you seriously consider launching into freelance writing, considering the following questions.
- Do you have a strong writing background? You don't need to have a writing degree to have a strong background in writing. I don't have one, but my undergraduate and graduate degree programs still played a huge part in helping me develop my writing skills.
- Do you have a passion for writing? Not everyone may consider this a requirement for freelance work, but personally I would have a really hard time sitting down to work on something I really didn't enjoy for multiple hours per day. Even though I don't love every article that I write, the thought of getting up and writing every day is still very appealing to me.
- Do you have strong keyboarding skills? All of the keyboarding skills in the world cannot make up for weak writing, but they can greatly improve your overall efficiency . If you use the hunt and peck method or simply don't type very quickly, I'd strongly consider checking out one of a free typing program such as sense-lang.org or typingweb.com.
- Are you self disciplined? One of the best and worst parts about freelance work is that you are your own boss. There is no one to make sure that you're sitting at your computer, producing quality work every day. You have to be honest with yourself about whether this structure is a good fit for you.
How to Become a Freelance Writer : The Importance of a Website for Freelance Writers
Tips For All Freelance Writing Articles
The following tips apply to both client jobs and long-term earning articles.
- Research freelance writing web sites and magazines before signing up, sending applications, or writing query letters. This can be an overwhelming task, as there are a lot of opportunities out there. However, it will save you time if you can skip over the sites and magazines that won't be good leads for you.
- Prepare strong writing samples. A number of freelance writing sites require one or more writing samples as part of the application process. Take your time and submit quality writing.
- Before accepting client jobs or starting new long-term earning articles, consider whether you have the expertise and/or means to research the topic at hand. Typically you can cancel client jobs and delete long-term articles, but it's better to be prepared for the task ahead before you get started.
- Always double check spelling and grammar before submitting articles. Even if you can edit long-term articles later, it's important to publish with the best version of the article that you can.
How to Become a Freelance Writer : How to Find Freelance Writing Jobs Online
Tips for Setting Up a Home Office
Long-Term Earning Article Considerations
- Do your keyword research. I do keyword research for every article that I publish on HubPages. While it does not guarantee a successful article, it definitely makes a difference.
- Write articles longer than 500 words but shorter than 1,500 words. Search engines pay the most attention to articles of this length. This length requirement will allow you to provide quality content without overwhelming your readers.
- For HubPages, make sure to consider all of the possible article capsules. Most people have natural inclinations to some capsules more than others. For example, I don't watch a lot of videos online. When I started on HubPages, I almost never includes video capsules. Now that I understand how important they are, I frequently seek out relevant videos. Not all capsules will be applicable to all topics, but it's always worth considering all of your options.
- Don't be afraid to make revisions. I know very few people that have not taken the time to edit old hubs. There is nothing wrong with going back and making changes. However, it's important to know when to leave an article alone, too. You don't want to spend so much time revising that you aren't creating new content.
- Promotion. Building backlinks is a huge component of creating traffic for your long-term articles. It can be time consuming to learn new sites, but once you get into a routine, promotion will only take a few minutes each day. Figure out what the best promotional sites are for your content and concentrate your efforts there.
- Do your research to continue to improve your work. Take time on a regular basis to research new techniques and article tips.
- Pay attention to topics that do well and capitalize on your success. When I started writing for HubPages, I only intended to write the occasional craft article, but my first ones did so well that I stuck with it.
- Be realistic about the time it takes to start earning. I'm sure that it's not a surprise to many of you that it takes time to build earnings with long-term articles. While these earnings can turn into a significant portion of your monthly freelance income, this takes time.
Client Job Considerations
- Always double check directions. One of the most common reasons that you'll have to revise a client article is that something about your article doesn't fit with your directions. I try to read the directions one final time before I submit an article just to make sure I didn't miss anything.
- Don't be afraid to ask questions and/or request clarification for directions. If you want to write an article but aren't sure about some aspect of the directions, don't be afraid to contact the client. Most sites have a relatively easy method for contacting clients, and most clients are happy to communicate with writers.
- Don't get discouraged by revisions. Editing and revising is a natural part of the writing process. Many client revision requests are minor changes that can be completed in 5 minutes or less.
- Don't get discouraged by rejections. Most clients will allow you to revise an article and will not give a flat out rejection, but it does happen sometimes, even to the best of us. Try not to take it personally and to just move on to the next job.
- Be realistic about your earning potential and goals. Be honest with yourself about how much time you will be spending writing every day and how much money you want to earn. There is potential to make a competitive income with freelance writing, but it takes patience, time, and effort.
How Do You Stick With It?
Now that you're equipped with the tools that you need to start freelance writing, how are you going to stick with it on a long term basis? Here are a few tips that will help you.
- Set a schedule and stick with it. One of the best parts about freelancing is that you can set your own hours. Figure out what works the best for you and your family and establish a daily routine.
- Don't be afraid to mix up your routine to keep from burning out or writer's block. If you are tiring from your usual selection of client articles or are having trouble finding inspiration for long-term articles, take a break once in a while. Spend some time writing about new topics or researching writing opportunities (i.e. sites, magazines). Consider taking a mental health day once in a while, too. A long walk in the morning or a trip to the art museum in the afternoon can refresh and inspire you.
- Don't get discouraged by slow months. Some weeks it is easy to find all of the client work that you need and to get lots of views on long-term articles without much effort. Other weeks it's much harder. Having a variety of sites can help you find more work, but it still isn't always easy. Capitalize on the busy periods so you don't feel the decrease in slower months as much.
- Don't put all your eggs in one basket. You never know when one of your most profitable sources will dry up overnight. Having a small network of strong resources will prevent this possibility from having a huge impact on your earnings.
- If you write long-term earning articles, brainstorm on a regular basis. People frequently ask me how I come up with my ideas for articles. This answer will vary for different people, but one of my most successful methods is brainstorming. Often I think of my best ideas away from the computer or when I'm not ready to write an article. Recording them as they come to me ensures that I will have ideas ready when I do sit down to write.
© 2012 Rose Clearfield
Related
Comments
Thank you. I am just considering freelance writing, and I certainly don't have a degree in journalism. Voting up!
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I'm so glad that this is helpful for you, Julie!
Very useful! I'm trying to launch my freelance career so I don't have to go back into the corporate type rat race, but I'm getting discouraged. There's so much out there that I have a hard time focusing on what direction to go. I think I need to set a schedule and stick with if. Perhaps I have too many distractions around me. I'm trying to set up an office in a bedroom so that I'm not tempted by other things, like the TV. Thanks for the article. It's encouraging.
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Thanks Vicki! I'm glad that this is encouraging for you. I have a hard time staying focused, too. My mind is always going in about a billion directions, and it can be tough for me to sit down and get one thing done a time. I'm trying to set realistic goals for each day and stick with them. Good luck!
I agree it takes time, patience, definitely effort and above all, a real desire to write. I know people who hate to even write a simple note...definitely not candidates for earning income from writing! :)
Very fantastic advice here, randomcreative. You've given a wonderful outline for folks to follow.
"...It takes patience, time, and effort."
Couldn't be truer!
- S. and Chris
All these tips look great! Especially the idea about setting a schedule. I think this is going to be my growth area for the moment. If I really want to write, I need to schedule some time and stick with it! Even though I keep telling myself that, I'm happy to hear it affirmed by someone else.
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Scribenet, I'm glad that you agree with me about that. Some people seem to think that it's a get rich quick scheme that anyone can pick up without considering the amount of time actually devoted to writing.
Thanks so much, S. and Chris!
Elle, one of the toughest parts about generating steady income as any type of freelancer is setting a regular schedule and sticking with it. As I mentioned in the comments above, lately I've been setting realistic goals for myself each day, which helps. Best of luck to you!
Tons of information and great tips! I just got started on here and am continuing my education for writing this fall. I enjoyed your advice.
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Thanks, RunningDeer! Best of luck with your education!
Oh, I love this hub! I'm considering writing as a career change, along with my digital art and teaching Spanish part time. THe best of all my loves! :D Thanks for sharing this. Many votes. :)
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Thanks Cyndi! I'm so glad that this is helpful for you. One of the amazing parts about freelance writing is that isn't easy to pair with other part time careers. Best of luck to you!
Wonderful article - there are so many useful tips here! Thanks for sharing all this useful information and videos.
Great Hub, thank you for sharing the information. Voted up and shared with followers.
These are great tips for aspiring writers and those of us that have been doing it for years. Very helpful! I know a number of people without formal training that are doing quite well as online writers. There are still a number of viable writing opportunities out there (like Hubpages), so I say anyone who has a passion for writing should go for it!
Freelancing is a great option for people who want to work from home. Thanks for the info.
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Thanks Kris and jainismus!
Linda, I also know a lot of people who do well with online writing who don't have formal training. You are right about the number of opportunities out there. If you have the time, it's well worth it at least on a part time basis.
hubcloud, you are definitely right!
This is a terrific article. Very useful information and articulate writing style. As a rookie, I'm looking forward to using these suggestions. -K
These are great tips - especially the tip to expect slow months and great months. Many articles increase/decrease with views seasonally, while others are more constant. And then there is the big G that has wreaked havoc on many writers! I love the free typing links, too - I type very quickly, but I'd love to teach my six year old how to type!
Great article and very informative. I am working on the self discipline part! Voted up.
Great ideas and pointers to become a freelancer. Useful and informative.
Great tips you have here! Voted +
Love the comment in the photo!!!
Thank you so much for this article. I am very interested in freelance writing. I am having a very hard time the past few years with working a "real" job (physycal and mental illnesses). I love to write and have been told that I am good at it. I am usins hubpages to build my skills until I try getting some "real" writing jobs. I have been a hubber for 3 months and I think I am improving. You have highlighted a few things that I have not yet been doing. Thank you! I will get right on it
VICKI -
Setting up a home office is a perfect idea. I have set up a spare bedroom to work in and it makes such a big difference. Make sure you set it up in a way that helps you work AND in a way that it is a room you like to be in. My office is bright and sunny and lately it is my favorite room in the house! I have those disouraged moments too. Try to remind yourself how great you feel when you write and that it is going to take time to get established. That helps me get through it. Good luck on your budding carreer!
There are a lot of encouraging ideas and positive direction in this hub. I think your idea to be patient and to be diligient is key when beginning any business. It takes time to develop clients. Great hub topic and voted up!
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krsharp05, I'm glad that this is a helpful article for a rookie!
Leah, you are definitely right about hub traffic. A lot of my most popular articles are seasonal so they have large traffic swings through different times of the year while other hubs do have more consistent traffic year round. You are right about the big G, too! Almost anyone who has been writing for more than a few months has seen the effects of that.
I'm glad that the typing links will be helpful for your kids!
meloncauli, self discipline is one of the toughest parts about any kind of freelance work. Best of luck!
vellur and unknown spy, thanks!
Shawn, I'm glad!
Dana, I'm glad that you were able to get some new insights from this article and from Vicki's tips about setting up a home office. Best of luck to you!
Thanks Dianna! You are definitely right that patience and diligence are key components for the initial stages of any business.
I voted this up! I'm still very new to HubPages (in fact, I need to get another one done...) and this was crazy helpful.
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Thanks Paige! I'm so glad that this was helpful for you.
Very thorough and well written.
This is a great resource for new writers.
Great information Rose. You have many useful tips in this article. I can handle the effort and time, it's the patience that I struggle with! :) Keep up the great work!
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Thanks bworthington!
Thanks Cara! I struggle with the patience sometimes, too. It's tough to put in a lot of effort day after day and have weeks or even months where earnings are slow.
awesome work....i enjoy writing and this article is really help full. keep up d good work :-)
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Thanks so much dghbrh!
Extremely useful hub. Well well written & researched. Many practical tips which will help with my own writing.
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Thanks spartacusjones! I'm so glad that this is helpful for you.
This was a very great article. It help me out towards my goal of becoming a freelance writer. I will take your advice to heart. Thanks!
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Thanks Bishopdown! I'm so glad that this was helpful for you.
I have read a lot of writing guides during my young freelancing career and I must say I rate this to be one of the best. You have given some great tips and I must say I have learned some tricks the hard way. A great hub for aspiring writers!
If anyone want to write about anything or any specific area, he has to knowledge and keep update yourself such as he must study related books, magazine, articles, and keep update with current affairs.
To write something don’t need to have an experience before, only good relation with other, knowledge sharing capability and ability with others and good basic education to write something, when he will write first time anything and have published, he will get more feedback to correction and weakness.
Just one word. Great. Voted up + share. Thank you very much.
Thanks! Great information!
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moiz, thanks! That means a lot to me.
parvezjabri, great advice about writing for specific areas! Thanks for sharing that here.
Thank you much, ssiddhanta and michememe!
Wow, this Hub is filled to the brim with good advice! Your tips on persistence and self-discipline really ring true for me- the folks I see really succeeding exhibit these characteristics in spades.
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Thanks so much, Simone! I definitely agree with you about that!
Thank you very much for this great advice. Voted up and useful. Happy weekend randomcreative.
Great hub. I know I am zero in writing. But I am writing. My confidence level increases when I write something and people accept the same.
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Thanks Thelma! Happy weekend. :)
Thanks naimishika! You have to start somewhere and build from there. I'm glad that your confidence level is increasing.
Excellent advice for someone who is just entering the writing field, thank you for sharing this :)
Fantastic hub! I bookmarked it for future reference. Your tips for preventing burnout and writer's block reminded me that I really should take some time away from the computer a few times a week. The inspiration may start flowing again if I do.
Voted up and awesome, and shared.
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Thanks much, MelChi!
Daughter of Matt, thanks! You're right that it's important to take time away from the computer a few times a week. Even when you have a good rhythm going, it's important not to push too hard and burn out.
Very nice indeed, thanks for all the wonderful information, very useful!
There are some writing software that works well with researching online like IAW. I once tried the free version when it is in beta. I still can't afford to have it.
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Thanks Ruby!
noenhulk, it's good to know that. Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for the informative article! It's interesting that you pointed out including videos. That's something that I rarely do in my hubs, either. I'm going to have to work on that. Also, I was wondering, what site do you use for your keyword research?
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Thanks Jen! I'm glad that this is helpful for you. I highly encourage you to start researching videos for all of your hub topics. They aren't a huge interest for me personally, but they can be a big boost for search engine results. I almost always get comments about the video content I include.
I use Google Adwords: Keywords Tool for my keyword research.
Just saw your last comment, random....I don't care for videos either. I'd rather read than watch, but it does seem to make a difference with the search engines, huh?
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Pretty much the only time I watch videos if I'm seeking out a tutorial for a specific skill (i.e. a new jewelry technique). It's really rare that I click on one at random in an article. A lot of people do, though. At least 1-2 comments in every article I write here anymore includes something about the video content. And you're right about the search engines.
Hi randomcreative - thanks for such a great hub. I have been toying with the idea of taking my writing to the next level, but so many things put me off. The main one is my confidence (especially against more experienced competitors) and actually biting the bullet and contacting potential clients.
You have provided some excellent advice - thanks.
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Thanks Emma! I'm so glad that this is helpful for you. There will always be more experienced competitors out there, but if you're a strong writer with discipline and ambition, you have the potential to make this career option work. Best of luck!
really great information you gave us...I can see you really took your time as well as a lot of facts....thank you!
Your hub is power-packed with just about everything a newbie can ask for. Thank you very much!
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Thanks so much Rodni and caribbean! I'm so glad that this is helpful.
Great info. I never thought of using the video capsule but I am going to try it on some future Hubs and see how it works out
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Sounds good! Best of luck. :)
Thanks 4 your suggestion, i'm a newbie at here. Please, help its !!
Cheer...
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I'm glad that this is helpful for you!
This is a good hub. It encourages reader on the first read.
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Thanks, I'm glad!
I am very fond of doing research on any topic. Is there a career in this, besides the obvious one of writing articles.
Very useful article! I will be re-reading this from time to time so things will really sink in. I love this!
Hi, I am new in this field and i find your hub is very helpful...
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Anuch, there may be! I don't have much experience with research outside of freelance writing, but I would look into this.
Sonny, that's great!
M K, thanks, I'm glad. :)
Very helpful information. I am trying to break into the writing field without any type of journalism degree. Appreciate the article!
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Thanks Michael! I'm glad that this is helpful for you. Best of luck.
Thankyou so much for your tips i would absoloutly vote you up if i knew how to. fantastic article loved it
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Thanks! The voting buttons are right underneath the article text.
I wish I had been able to access this information at the beginning of my freelancing writing career. It would have saved me a lot of time spent searching for good opportunities. Very well put together and informative. Voted up and useful! :)
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Thanks brsmom68! I hope that you'll still be able to use some of these tips and resources.
Hi Rose! I was wondering, if you decide to do freelance writing do you usually write about things that the magazine tells you to write about or can you write something and try to sell it to a publication? How does that work? Can you tell I'm a real newbie? haha.
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Hi StellaSee :) Currently I don't do freelance writing for magazines so I can't help you with that particular area. I do all of my client writing right now through web sites.
I see..hmm. Have you ever written from sites like Elance? Are those gigs pretty legit?
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I haven't written for Elance. I do almost all of my client writing through Textbroker and Interact Media/Zerys.
this is a great hub and I'm reading it over and over for the information. There is a lot more opportunities than we are aware of. Thank you very much.
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Thanks eHealer! I'm so glad that this is helpful for you.
Thank you for writing this. It's all very useful and fruitful information. I have considered becoming a freelance writer. I just recently joined Hubpages and I've noticed that it has helped me to begin building a network and a foundation to encourage me to stick with a schedule, which is what I seem to struggle with the most.
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I'm glad that that this is helpful for you, Davio04! That's great HubPages is helping you build a network and a schedule. Getting a solid routine in place in one of the hardest parts about freelancing, especially when you're just getting started and don't always have reliable work loads.
This is exactly the sort of information a newbie like me needs to get started. Your article has given me lots to think about but I'm glad about that because I didn't want to go headlong into writing and get nowhere fast. Thanks
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Thanks, Alan! I'm so glad that this is helpful for you.
what a wonderful hub I really like it. The points you have mentions in these article are useful for everyone who have new entry in these writing zone like me.
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Thanks Rschauhan! I'm so glad that this is useful. Best of luck with your writing.
Hey, lots of good info. Do you have any suggestions on good freelance websites to try?
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Thanks, TripleAMom! I do most of my client freelance writing through Textbroker and Interact Media/Zerys. If you're looking to do long term earning writing outside of HubPages, check out Helium.
Great informative hub! Thank you!
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Thanks!
Thank you! This is exactly the help I've been looking for. Very informative, great information. Thumbs up on an awesome hub!
I read your insights ... it is very helpful... thanks a lot .
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SkySlave, I'm so glad! Thanks!
Thanks, fjohn! I'm glad that this is helpful for you, too.
Super tips and sound advice. Getting started can be a challenge, and it is easy to be discouraged. You are right on about strong writing samples, they are a must.
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Thanks so much, Jeff! You're right that getting started can be the toughest part of freelance writing. I'm glad that you agree about the writing samples.
Thanks randomcreative, very helpful. I've been trying to do research and getting advice from others. You've got a lot of good advice.
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I'm glad that this is helpful for you, TripleAMom! If you ever have questions, don't hesitate to ask.
Hi Rose! I just checked out the Textbroker website you mentioned and I was wondering, for that site, do you just submit an article you wrote, and if people like it, they'll contact you? Is that how it works?
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On Textbroker, clients submit titles and descriptions for articles that they would like. Once you've been accepted to the site, you can browse these jobs and accept the ones that you want. There are other sites out there where you can write articles and see if anyone will buy them. If you're interested in that kind of writing, check this out: http://www.ghostbloggers.net
Well said, thanks for the hub!
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Thanks!
Thanks for this article......i am afairly new hubber.
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Thanks, Nikki! I hope that this is helpful for you.
Great Information. I also want to try freelance writing so it will help me a lot.
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Thanks, Mittalmailbox! I'm so glad that this is helpful for you. Best of luck.
Great hub and all great tips. I love to write and have a passion for it. I think that I drive my facebook friends nuts with my long posts - lol. I have a story for everything.
But that's just me. I wish that I had read this before I jumped into it a year and a half ago, because I needed to work on my grammar. I have excellent typing skills, the passion and the love for writing, but my grammar really needed work. I realized this AFTER I built a 76 page website and started blogging.
A nice lady on a work at home forum clued me in. I accepted her constructive criticism. Now, when I write anything, I am obsessive about making sure that my grammar is correct, etc. Sometimes, I'll go back to something that I already checked and still find a mistake that I missed.
There are many online sites to brush up on grammar with. Thank God for them!! Any time that someone is unsure about something, all they have to do is hit "google." So, again, great hub!
Like my long comment? Lol.
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I'm glad that you're taking the time that you need to work on your grammar. It makes all the difference when you're publishing anything online and want to be taken as a professional. I'm glad that you're finding some good resources for grammar and that this article is helpful for you.
Hi again Rose, thanks for the link! Looking at ghostbloggers, I think I like the sound of Textbroker more..I might give that one a shot. Thanks again for all your help and advice :)
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I think that the Textbroker model of writing for specific client topics is more productive. If you want to write your own topics, you might as well publish here or another long term earning platform where your articles will keep earning. I'm glad that this was helpful! Best of luck.
Thanks for the great tips!
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You're very welcome! I'm glad that they're helpful for you.
So much great information that I have bookmarked this for future reference. Voted Up and Shared & now following.
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That's great, grandmapearl! Thanks. :)
one has to wonder whether it is worth commenting on an article with this many comments, I just wanted to thank you, it was very helpful
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Thank you, A K Turner! You can never have too many comments. :)
Very useful and helpful . Thank you very much!
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Thanks, ignugent17! I'm glad.
Thank you for sharing! Already hard at work putting this to good use!
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That's great, Linda!
Thanks for the advice. Will definitely use
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That's great, Joanmaynard!
This has a lot of great advice! While I have some experience with writing, I wouldn't know where to start with freelancing if it weren't for hubs like these. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks, Dreamhowl! I'm glad that this is helpful for you. Best of luck with your writing.
Thank you for the advice. I'm considering becoming freelance for a while and I definitely came away from this feeling more confident about it.
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You're very welcome! That's great.
Great hub and definitely useful for inspiring freelancers (or for inspiring hobbyist like myself.) Keep up the great writing.
Tyler
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That's great, Tobin! Thanks. :)
Practical and encouraging! Voted up.
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Thanks so much, literatelibran!
Great tips. Points such as facing rejection are difficult and can rattle me but I am trying to remain strong. Your hub will help many writers. I vote up and share too.
Very comprehensive hub with lots of useful information. Thanks for sharing your ideas and experience!
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Thanks, Christy! I'm not sure that rejection ever gets easier for most of us, but it's an inevitable component of freelance writing. Stay strong!
Thanks, Jan. :) I'm so glad that this is helpful for you.
What a great hub! There's a lot of great advice and information in here. Thanks for sharing your wisdom with the rest of us!
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Thanks, Kathy! I'm so glad that it's helpful for so many people.
Thank you for this information. Gives me a little boost !
Voted up, useful !
It is a little bit difficult if you have no experience at all. Learning from experienced people is a good idea.
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That's great, livingsta!
iefox, it is tough to get started without any experience, but there are so many great resources out there to get you on the right track.
I read this several months ago, but it was worth a refresher. Great information!
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That's great, Vicki!
Such a great article, I'm so thankful for the confidence that you've helped to give me in that freelance work really can pay the bills if you work hard at it!
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Thanks, missionfashion! It takes time and patience, but you can make a competitive salary with freelance writing.
Good suggestions, what every new writer really needs to know. Great work here, thanks so much for enlightening info. Voted up, thanks for the hub.
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Thanks, shai77! It's great to hear that. Best of luck to you.
Great advice! All good points to consider going forward. Thanks so much for sharing!
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That's great, kimberlie! Thanks.
I've been writing for HubPages for less than a year (mostly as a hobby) but have been considering putting more effort into it and trying to make some actual money at it. You have some good suggestions that I will follow. Voted up and useful.
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That's great, mperrottet! Best of luck to you.
Nice
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Thanks!
Fantastic article Random I wish I'd found this before I started...great suggestions, so helpful..lot's of votes...thanks so much...cheers
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Thanks, Carter! Hopefully it will still be helpful for you.
This was packed full of helpful information and encouraging to new writers wanting to branch out. I think, I'll give it a try soon. Thanks for sharing. Voted+++
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That's great, HoneyBB! Best of luck to you.
Here is a lot of useful things that I need to read. Thank you very much for the effort
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So glad to hear that, finefay!
This are very useful tips on becoming a free lance writer. I'm still working on building a strong portfolio here, but I do hope to branch out to other sites so that I can hopefully build it into a career.
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Thanks, Shasta! I know that it is tough to branch out, especially when one site is going so well. However, ultimately it's best not to have all your eggs in one basket. I've been able to get some great jobs through other sites and hope that you'll be able to as well. Best of luck.
I hardly had any experience when I decided to become a writer and freelance. But I used many of your ideas in this Hub and they truly do work. (A writer definitely needs passion for the long haul.)
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creativegenius, it is great to get that validation! I'm so glad that so many of these ideas are working for you. You're absolutely right about the passion, too. I'm not sure what else would keep me going some days. :)
This is great! I read it many months ago but never watched the videos. I watched all 3 of them this time and found them very helpful. I feel a bit more motivated and focused; I jotted down some ideas. Great hub--thanks!
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That's awesome, Vicki! Best of luck. :)
Excellent tips! Voted up and useful.
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Thanks so much!
You make some excellent points that are encouraging and realistic at the same time. I am afraid I have gotten off track with setting a schedule and sticking with it. You've sort of given me a second wind to get my act back together with my online work which is part writing, part web/graphic design. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
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Thanks, ktrapp! It's great to hear that. It is really tough to make that schedule and stick with it, but it makes all the difference for publishing regular work of any kind online. Best of luck to you!
Awesome, awesome tips! The most important, I think, is finding good sources and then making sure you have discipline. Writing is not easy, neither is setting your own schedule. I find that writing through is best for me, with only very small breaks. I have difficulty returning to the task if I deviate.
Thanks for sharing your suggestions. Sharing this article.
Unbelievable! I'm not sure I've ever seen so many comments on a hub. My finger cramped about halfway down. :) Well done, Rose!
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Thanks, Cyndi! Finding good sources, staying disciplines, and setting your own schedule are all important components of freelance writing. It's great to figure out what does work best for you when it comes to a writing schedule.
Haha Bill, I'm sure that I'm not winning any contests, but it's great that so many people have visited and commented on this article.
Great tips! I do all of these things. I was looking at your notebook and looking off to the side at mine. HA! I have to write an idea down immediately or I lose it. I usually follow up with list of connected ideas and go from there. If I don't have my notebook, I put it in my phone and e-mail it to myself.
A great hub! Votes and shares! :-)
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Thanks, sholland! It's great that you are already taking the advice in this article. I am the same way with my ideas. You never know when inspiration will strike, and it's important to record those ideas in one form or another before you lose them.
I never would have thought I could make a living online in my 40s and without a four-year degree. The Internet has made so much possible. Very good tips here.
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That's great, nybride. :) Thanks!
Very good tips mentioned here. One of my negative point is that I get discouraged very easily, if I don't get proper response to my articles.But now I will try to improve it.
Voted up Useful and Shared!
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Thanks, rumanasaiyed! I think that is an inevitable issue for virtually any freelance writer and something to work on continually throughout a career. Best of luck!
andomcreative, thank you for your useful and informative article, I will definitely follow your tips and hopefully become a proper writer as I am only over a month here on hubpages. Still learning for more.
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Thanks, liesl! Best of luck to you!
Wow.......very insightful! Great article! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for this article. I have no education nor consider myself to be a great writer but I certainly have the passion, which I believe can boost up all missing :-) Your article is soo well written. Thank you soo much for sharing it.
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I'm so glad, rose-the planner! Thanks.
HappyMikeWriter, passion is certainly an important part of being a successful freelance writer. Best of luck to you. I appreciate the feedback. :)
This is a very well thought out and useful article. It was a pleasure to read, and I will definitely be trying out some of your suggestions. Thank you for sharing your expertise!
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I'm so glad to hear that, Nancy! Best of luck to you!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the specific advice, right down to the number of words for a long-term earning article. Awesome!
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You're very welcome, April! I'm so glad that this article is helpful for you.
I'm glad I came across this hub randomcreative. The more information we have the better we will be able to face the task. It is certainly not something we are familiar with but the more we read, hubs like this, the easier it will be.
Voted up, useful, and interesting.
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Thanks, tillsontitan! I'm glad that this article is helpful for you. Best of luck. :)
Great suggestions to help get organized. Though I have been writing professionally for over a decade, I've never done freelance, and it is overwhelming trying to figure out how to proceed. Thanks for sharing these tips.
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Thanks, Crystal! I'm so glad to hear that. I am still fairly new to the world of freelance writing, and you're right that it's overwhelming figuring out how to start.
I learned some good freelance tips from your article. Especially worth noting is the fact that it was written over a year and a half ago and you are still getting comments. That says to me that quality and subject matter are very important. Thanks so much!
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I'm glad to hear that, Donna! It's definitely true that quality and subject matter are both key to long-term earning. Best of luck to you. :)
I enjoyed this article, especially the video because it is true if you direct people to a hub where your article is mashed between other writers'- readers may go elsewhere and away from your articles.
So my goal is to continue to promote my words via my site more so than any other place.
Thanks for this hub!
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Great point, Erica! Glad you enjoyed and thanks for sharing. :)
I have been told by several people over the years that I have a knack for writing. Whether this is true or false I guess I will find out shortly. I so enjoyed reading this hub that I intend to try my luck at freelance writing, following your advice and tips throughout this article. Thank you so much!
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I'm glad that this article is helpful for you, edwhite! Best of luck. :)
I like your article and there are some good tips in there. I think the hardest thing for most people is to come up with new ideas. Then again the world is endless. Each time we wake up something new happens, it's up to us to take notice and think about it.
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DeviousOne, thanks! You're right that for a lot of people, one of the hardest things about writing for a living is coming up with new ideas. You have to establish a routine where you write down every idea that comes to you and constantly stay on the lookout for new topics.
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