-
Introduction
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History
of Freelance Writing
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The
Benefits of Freelance Writing
-
The
Drawbacks of Freelance Writing
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Freelance Writing and the
Internet
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Using Freelance Marketplaces.
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How to Become a Freelance
Writer
Freelance writing has been around for many
years, and has enjoyed a recent resurgence in
popularity as more people have begun use it as a
primary or secondary form of income.
Freelance writers work with clients, or
“buyers”, on a contract basis. The client could
be a newspaper, magazine, charity, small
business, or individual. Freelance writing
assignments commonly include informational
articles, sales or marketing materials, books,
pamphlets, and newsletters.
The
Internet has changed the face of freelance
writing. Assignments are widely available, but
the field is competitive. Common Internet
assignments include blog posts, e-books,
newsletters, advertisements, and content
articles for web sites.
Freelance practice varies greatly. Some require
clients to sign written contracts, while others
may perform work based on verbal agreements,
perhaps enforceable through the very nature of
the work. Some freelancers may provide written
estimates of work and request deposits from
clients.
Payment
for freelance work also varies greatly.
Freelancers may charge by the day, hour, or page
or on a per-project basis. Instead of a flat
rate or fee, some freelancers have adopted a
value-based pricing method based on the
perceived value of the results to the client. By
custom, payment arrangements may be upfront,
percentage upfront, or upon completion. For more
complex projects, a contract may set a payment
schedule based on milestones or outcomes.
In most
professions involving creation of intellectual
property, "freelance" and its derivative terms
are often reserved for workers who create works
on their own initiative, then look for someone
to publish them. They typically keep the
copyright to their works and sell the rights to
publishers in time-limited contracts. In
contrast, workers who are hired to create a work
according to the publishers' or other customers'
specifications are referred to as "independent
contractors" and similar terms. They have no
copyright to the works, which are written as
works made for hire, a category of intellectual
property defined in US copyright law — Section
101, Copyright Act of 1976 (USC 17 §101).
Sometimes a freelancer will work with one or
more other freelancers and/or vendors to form a
"virtual agency" to serve a particular client's
needs for short-term and permanent project work.
This versatile agency model can help a
freelancer land jobs that require targeted,
specific experience and skills outside the scope
of one individual. As the clients change, so too
may the players chosen for a virtual agency's
talent base.
The
term [freelancer] was first used by Sir Walter
Scott (1771–1832) in Ivanhoe to describe a
"medieval mercenary warrior" or "free-lance"
(indicating that the lance is not sworn to any
lord's services, not that the lance is available
free of charge).
It
changed to a figurative noun around the 1860s
and was recognized as a verb in 1903 by
authorities in etymology such as the Oxford
English Dictionary. Only in modern times has the
term morphed from a noun (a freelance) into an
adjective (a freelance journalist), a verb (a
journalist who freelances) and an adverb (she
worked freelance), as well as into the noun
"freelancer."
In
decades past, freelance writers could expect to
type out a full article “on spec”, meaning that
they were only speculating that the newspaper or
magazine they wrote the article for would use
it. The article would then sit in an editor’s
slush pile for weeks or months before it was
given a full read-through.
If the
article was rejected, the writer would have to
start the process over again with a different
publication. If the article was accepted, the
writer would have to wait months or even years
before receiving a paycheck for their work.
Research was exhaustive (and exhausting), and
was done mostly in libraries. Wages varied
greatly by publication. Some magazines, such as
Good Housekeeping in the 1960’s, paid as much as
$5 per word.
More
recently, freelance writers have become hotly
sought after due to the explosion of content on
the Internet. According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor,
approximately 10.3 million workers in the US
(7.4% of the US workforce) are independent
contractors. In the past three years, companies
have increased their outsourcing by 22% on the
Internet.
This
has had both good and bad effects on the
freelance writing industry. Today’s freelancers
can expect very few start-up costs, as most
marketing can be done online for free. There are
numerous Web sites and freelance marketplaces
that put workers in touch with potential
clients. The freelance community is open and
honest about current rates and markets. Research
can be swiftly carried out with the help of
search engines and online encyclopedias. Best of
all, freelance writers can expect to be paid for
their services on a monthly or weekly basis via
PayPal or direct deposit.
But
today’s freelance industry isn’t without its
hardships. The global marketplace has driven
wages down. While freelancers could expect to be
paid more than $500 for a 500 word article in
the past, today’s writers are offered anywhere
from $5 to $100 for the same word count. The
market is extremely competitive, with skilled
writers from around the world bidding on
projects. Low wages and stiff competition scare
away many would-be freelance writers.
Freelancers generally enjoy a greater variety of
assigments than in regular employment,
and—subject to the need to earn a regular
income—usually have more freedom to choose their
work schedule. The experience can also lead to a
broad portfolio of work and the establishment of
a network of clients.
While a
freelancer’s workload can fluctuate from month
to month, boredom is seldom an issue. There is
always something to do, even if the freelancer
does not have an active project. Marketing,
promotion, bidding and networking are crucial
parts of a successful freelance career.
Researching new markets, polishing up the
portfolio, and creating new streams of income
are also important.
While
this is a lot of responsibility to take on, many
freelancers love the freedom of not being
chained to a desk for 8 hours a day. Their work
is often portable, allowing them to work from
home, from a comfortable niche in a coffee shop,
or even while traveling.
Compared to starting up a traditional small
business, starting a freelance business is very
low cost. A freelancer’s greatest commodity is
their writing skill. This skill can be displayed
online for no start-up cost at all. Free blog
software will give you everything you need to
put together a professional-looking site to
market your services. Free e-mail services and
freelance marketplaces let you get and stay in
touch with potential clients.
Many
freelancers save money on traditional
work-related expenses like fuel costs, work
clothes, and child care. They are more freely
accessible to their family and friends, and no
longer have to deal with the stress of a daily
job commute.
For
better or for worse, when you freelance for a
living, you are your own boss. Of course, you
complete projects for paying clients, but you
decide how you will spend your time. You manage
your own workload and client interactions.
Whether you succeed or fail, you have only
yourself to thank.
The
major drawback is the uncertainty of work and
thus income, and lack of company benefits such
as a pension, health insurance, paid holidays
and bonuses. Many freelancers, especially in
journalism, regard themselves as having greater
income security through the diversity of
outlets—the loss of any one of which leads to
the loss of only a proportion of income, rather
than its totality as with salaried employees.
The
importance of diversification cannot be
overstated. In the current economy, newspapers
and print publications are going out of business
at an alarming rate. Many Web sites have
followed suit. You do not want to put yourself
in a situation where you depend on one single
site or publication for all of your income. What
if it goes bankrupt?
Instead, submit your work to many different
publications. Web writers should bid for
projects at a number of freelance job sites, and
monetize their own blogs and web sites to create
new streams of income.
It is
important to note that being a freelancer is not
suitable to all people. Being a freelancer
requires discipline and self-motivation along
with other easier to acquire skills. If the
freelancer works at home they are prone to
additional stresses, that if not managed
properly, could prevent them from earning an
income at their profession.
Your
clients need to know that you value their time
and money, and that you will provide
professional-grade work with a professional
attitude. One sad fact of freelance writing,
especially on the Internet, is that writers are
a dime a dozen. Even very good writers must go
above and beyond expectations in order to stand
out from the crowd.
If you
feel that you are deficient in time-management
skills, work at improving those skills before
you leap into full-time freelance writing. You
must be able to be consistently productive,
manage your workload, and manage your stress
level. Otherwise, your work quality and
reputation will suffer, and you will be anxious
and miserable more often than not.
There
are financial considerations as well.
Freelancers often must handle contracts, legal
issues, accounting, marketing, and other
business functions by themselves. If they do
choose to pay for professional services, they
can sometimes turn into significant
out-of-pocket expenses. Working hours can extend
beyond the standard working day and working
week.
As a
freelance writer, you are largely responsible
for yourself. You market your services, make
bids for projects, finish and submit your work,
and request payment. You keep track of your
financial records and client database. If
scheduling conflicts arise in the middle of a
project, you are responsible for telling the
client and working out a revised deadline.
Since
most freelance writers operate as sole
proprietors, the cost of marketing and supplying
their business is usually an out of pocket
expense. Some of these costs qualify as tax
deductions. Always keep your receipts when you
make a purchase or pay for a service that will
be used for your freelance writing business. You
might also find it beneficial to talk to a tax
professional, since self-employed individuals
must pay taxes on a different schedule than
regular employees.
Essentially, freelance writing is a good job if
you’re comfortable with a certain level of risk,
don’t mind doing things yourself, and have
enough income or savings to get you through
times when work is sparse. If you need a regular
and reliable income and benefits, you might
consider doing some freelance writing on the
side, but keeping your day job until your
writing business really takes off.
The
Internet has opened up many freelance
opportunities, expanded available markets, and
has contributed to service sector growth in many
economies. Offshore outsourcing and
crowdsourcing are heavily reliant on the
Internet to provide economical access to remote
workers, and frequently leverage technology to
manage workflow to and from the employer.
Much of
the computer freelance work is being outsourced
to poorer countries outside the United States
and Europe. This has spurred conflict because
American and European workers are not receiving
the benefits. The compromise has led to student
freelancers who now provide a steady source of
cheap labor while keeping jobs American and
European.
The
global marketplace is much maligned by
freelancers who feel that their work is
undervalued and underpaid. While it is true that
most freelance writers cannot command the same
prices they did 20 years ago, the Internet has
provided countless job opportunities. It is no
longer necessary to pound the pavement and mail
articles to editors who may or may not want
them. These days, freelance writers have a good
idea of what sells and what doesn’t, and they
have direct access to millions of paying clients
all over the world.
Changes
to the publishing industry since the 1980s have
resulted in an increase in copy editing of book
and journal manuscripts and proofreading of
typeset manuscripts being outsourced to
freelance copy editors and proofreaders. The
troubled economy has made it unprofitable for
publications to keep an in-house staff of
editors and proofreaders, so publishers often
view freelance outsourcing as a cost-effective
alternative. Many freelance writers supplement
their income by providing these editing services
in addition to writing.
Freelance marketplaces (or outsourcing
marketplaces) are websites that match buyers and
sellers of internet-provided services. Buyers
and sellers of these services each setup
profiles on the marketplace website. Seller
profiles provide a description of the range of
services offered, sample materials, rates, and
details about the provider. Buyer profiles
include descriptions and specifications of the
work sought. Buyers and sellers are able to rate
each other and provide positive and negative
references/feedback
Some
freelance marketplaces, like Elance.com, provide
escrow services that hold the buyer’s funds
until project completion. This service protects
both the buyer and the seller, ensuring that the
funds are available and that they are released
in a timely manner once the project has been
completed according to the buyer’s
specifications. If the freelancer does not meet
their obligations, the funds are returned to the
buyer.
Freelance marketplaces have their pros and cons.
The primary benefit of using a freelance
marketplace is that there are often hundreds or
even thousands of jobs available. Clients create
job listings and list the details of the
project, the project deadline, and the
characteristics they are looking for in a
freelance writer.
There
is a record of all on-site communication between
the freelancer and the client. This protects
both parties if disputes arise. Also, most
freelance marketplaces offer arbitration
services when the client and the freelancer
cannot resolve a dispute on their own.
For
these services, freelance marketplaces charge
modest fees. Some require a monthly
subscription, while others keep a percentage of
the project price. Some sites do both.
While
writers should be wary of scams that require
them to pay for the privilege of working, most
freelance writers consider the price of a
marketplace subscription to be a cost of doing
business. The subscription fee actually saves
them time and money because their profiles are
listed on highly visible websites with millions
of visitors.
The
global nature of freelance marketplaces can be
problematic for freelance writers living in the
US and the UK. International writers can usually
provide their services for lower prices, and
some clients will always award their projects to
the lowest bidder. This has led to discontent
among freelance writers, some of whom feel that
the global marketplace is driving down wages.
Western
writers can overcome this hurdle by carving out
a niche for themselves. Writers who have
specialized knowledge in medical, technical,
legal, or other professional fields can command
higher prices. Native English speakers are
sought after as well. Some writers emphasize the
high quality of their work, or their rapid
turnaround times, when bidding on projects. A
long history of positive buyer feedback can also
help a writer win projects for a reasonable
price.
To
become successful on a freelance marketplace,
it’s important to possess good interpersonal and
communication skills. Communication is vitally
important to prevent misunderstandings. You
should also be aware of your strengths, and
emphasize them in your profile and resume.
You
might be nervous the first time you bid on a
project, but rest assured that even the most
seasoned freelance veterans felt the same when
they were starting out. There are some
techniques you can use to improve your chances
of winning the project.
First,
structure your bid in a way that grabs the
buyer’s attention. Keep it concise; most buyers
will sort through numerous bids before settling
on one. Give them the maximum amount of
information in the minimum number of words.
Start
with a friendly introduction. Then briefly
explain why you are a good candidate for the
project. For example, if the client needs a
series of articles about landscaping, and you
have personal experience in that area, tell
them! If your portfolio includes an article
about landscaping or a related topic, attach
that article to your bid so that the client can
easily decide if your writing style is
compatible with their project.
Finish
up with a proposed schedule and a breakdown of
your fees. Buyers like to know that you’ve fully
read through their project description, and that
you’ve put some thought into your bid amount.
Invite them to ask questions, and provide
additional writing samples if you have them.
Always
be courteous to the client. Just because they
choose another freelancer today doesn’t mean
they won’t consider you for a future project.
They might even refer you to a friend or
colleague. It pays to be polite.
It also
pays to do some research before you decide on a
bid price. Look at the amounts other writers are
charging for similar projects. You might have to
bid lower at first until you establish a
reputation as a trustworthy and skilled
freelancer. Once you have successfully completed
a few projects, you can raise your rates.
Note
that freelance marketplaces vary in quality.
Sites like Elance and Guru have name recognition
for a reason: they have many rules in place to
protect buyers and sellers. Other freelance job
sites might not provide escrow or arbitration.
Always read the fine print (and worker reviews)
before you sign up with a freelance marketplace.
Freelance writing is a competitive field, but
there is always room for new talent. After you
make the decision to become a freelance writer,
the next step is to brush up on your writing
skills. You need to have a good command of
grammar, spelling, and logical sentence
structure. It helps to be able to write in a
variety of tones, like conversational,
persuasive, humorous, and formal.
If you
will be writing for the Internet, it is
important to learn how to write for search
engines as well as for a human audience. This
type of writing is called “search engine
optimization”, and incorporates keywords and
phrases that will help search engines find and
index the pages you’ve written.
Experienced Internet writers have learned to use
keywords and phrases in a way that looks natural
to human eyes. Their words flow smoothly to
capture the reader’s attention, and their choice
of words attracts the attention of search
engines. This is a valuable skill for Web
writers. Mastering it will make you much more
marketable to clients.
Web
writing differs from print writing in another
important way: paragraph length. While readers
might not mind reading a long paragraph in a
book, they tend to better digest information on
the Web when it is presented in smaller blocks
of text.
Fortunately, there are plenty of print and
online tutorials which can help you get the hang
of writing for the Web. Look them up at your
local library, or do an Internet search for
“writing for the web” or “writing for the
Internet”. Read all you can, and then write some
practice articles using the techniques you
learned from the tutorials.
After
you’ve sharpened your skills (or developed new
ones from scratch), it’s time to create a
portfolio. A portfolio is a collection of
written pieces that you can show to potential
clients. The pieces should represent your very
best work, and should cover a number of topics.
Write 5 to 10 articles, approximately 500 words
in length. Carefully check your spelling and
grammar. Too many errors will make your work
appear amateurish, and may cost you a job.
Many
freelance writers create a personal blog to use
as their portfolio. Potential clients can simply
visit the blog, read the posts, and decide if
they like the blogger’s writing style. If you do
not wish to create a blog, you can host your
portfolio online through various freelance job
sites. If you intend to submit your work to
print publications, you’ll need to keep a hard
copy of your articles to show around.
Next,
you’ll need to find work. This is often the most
challenging step for new freelance writers, but
it will become the most rewarding step as soon
as you land a paying project. Newcomers usually
find writing assignments through online
publishing portals, freelance job sites, and
print or online advertisements.
Publishing portals are places where anyone can
write articles about any topic, and make money
through upfront and/or residual payments for
those articles. Some of the best-known
publishing portals are Associated Content,
Demand Studios, and Suite 101. While the
payments are typically quite small, sometimes
just a few dollars per article, these sites have
high search engine placement and can serve as
highly visible platforms to host your portfolio.
Online
personals like Craig’s List are another source
for freelance writing assignments. These sites
give writers the opportunity to advertise their
services for free, and many clients look through
the listings to find a skilled service provider.
Clients also post their projects on these sites.
The
primary drawback of sites like Craig’s List is
the prevalence of scams. Unscrupulous people ask
writers to demonstrate their skills by
proofreading several pages, or by creating a
writing sample specific to the project.
Inexperienced writers often fall for these
tricks, not realizing that the work they are
submitting is the actual project, and not a
test. The scammer, having received the project
for free, never contacts the writer again.
Never
submit work unless you have a signed agreement
from the client that outlines the scope and
deadline of the project, what you are expected
to provide, and the date and amount of payment
for the completed work. If a client asks you to
create a writing sample, move on to someone
else. Honest clients won’t mind looking at
previously-written samples of your work,
especially if the samples were written about
topics related to the prospective project. These
rules apply whether you’re responding to an
online ad or a printed one.
Magazines are another source of work for
freelancers. Most magazines list their article
submission guidelines somewhere in the
publication or on the magazine’s official web
site. Do some research to come up with a dozen
or so magazines featuring topics of interest to
you. If you have expertise with animal training,
write and submit a piece to a magazine for
animal enthusiasts. If you are a fitness buff,
write and submit an article to a health and
fitness publication. There are print
publications for every niche and genre, so don’t
get discouraged if your first submission doesn’t
pan out. Persistence is the key.
Print
publications tend to pay significantly more than
Internet work, but it can take months for you to
receive your paycheck from a magazine. In
contrast, the Web writing you do is often paid
for within days of project completion. Many
freelancers produce work for a variety of
clients, both print and digital, to maximize
their income.
Once
you’ve established yourself as a good
freelancer, you will land more projects. This is
the point where time management skills become
very important. If you overextend yourself, you
will produce shoddy work and possibly burn
yourself out. If you don’t schedule enough work
for yourself, you could have a long wait between
pay periods.
Just
keep writing, and never stop learning. Reach out
to other professionals for support and advice.
Web sites like Pro Bloggers and The Freelance
Writing Jobs Network contain thousands of
articles to help new freelancers break into the
field with a minimal amount of pain. Remember,
you are boldly going where thousands have gone
before, and their accumulated wisdom can help
you stay motivated through the rough times and
grounded during the boon times. |
