Here’s to Writing . . .
So, I really hope I didn’t scare anybody off the idea of being a freelance writer. It is a great occupation; I just wanted to make it clear that it isn’t for everybody.
Being a writer can be a little tricky at first. There are a great many things to learn and know before you can be a successful writer. Thankfully, most of these things are easy to find out and learn. Having an idea of where to start is really the first step in the entire process.
One of the first things I will put forth is: Don’t join up with a site like Elance.com or Guru.com! I’ve been on those sites, and in my opinion, they are not for beginners! I know some professional writers make good money off sites like those, and for some people they can be a great place to find work. These sites are especially nice for those who have a specific talent or specialty.
But for the basic beginner, these ‘bidding’ sites are too full of other people who are willing to work for ridiculously low rates just to get the job. You will most likely either be undercut by someone, or the client will decide you don’t have the required experience. You don’t want to be the lowest bidder either. If you work for low pay, you may just be happy to have the work at first, but it will soon sink in that your time is not worth the effort you are putting out. These sites can quickly lead to frustration, which is not where you want to put yourself in your career!
A good thing to do is find a couple writers who are making money with their career. There is no substitute for getting experienced advice. Trust me, I know! The only reason I’m making any decent money writing is because I found a mentor and asked for some advice.
If you have some experience writing, this is good. Even if it was just the high school paper, it is better than nothing. If you don’t have any, poke around and find a way to get some.
I realize I said not to work for low pay, and there is a thin line you may have to walk here early in your freelance writing career. There are many websites that will try to scam writers into writing articles for less than a dollar each. This is sickening! Nobody should work for that little.
But a site that pays somewhere around a penny a word is often a good starting point. If you find a writing gig you really like, but it doesn’t pay great, consider taking it for the sake of gaining experience, but not at the expense of taking better paying jobs.
One place for basic experience is paid forum posting. Again, be careful. There are some sites that do not pay their writers. But sites like paidforumposting.com pay a decent rate (usually around 20 cents a post) and pay ON TIME! I am a member of this site, and it is a great place for a few extra dollars. Paid forum posting is also great if you just want to work as a writer part time. It is a way to feel out the lifestyle without devoting your life to it.
Another place to look for work is a place like onlinewritingjobs.com This site shows many freelancing jobs from all over the country. Freelancejobopenings.com is a great place to find work if you have some experience. These job applications require a resume, but don’t be scared to look into them.
Only you can figure out what the optimum writing job is for you. Don’t be afraid to take some time and look around. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions! Asking questions is the only reason I’ve gotten to the point I’m at!
–Lindsey Rainwater
Elsoft said,
April 23, 2009 at 11:23 am
Hi.Thanks for a very interesting and useful article.I find some of the sites listed by you are good.Just wanted to add that there are some writing tasks available at http://www.surefirehire.com as well.If someone finds them interesting.
dragondreamz said,
May 1, 2009 at 6:45 am
Nice article! Thanks for posting it, and for supporting writers who wish to move beyond the low-pay (and no-pay) sites and into a realm of better income.
I know your mentor … a real gem, and a smart move on your part! Congratulations on your successes, you’re an inspiration.
lindseyrainwater said,
May 1, 2009 at 8:53 am
Thank you both for your comments. I am glad you are finding these posts helpful.
Hearing from you is encouragement for me to take the extra time to write these posts. When I first started on this, I was wondering who on earth would want to read what I had to say. I guess I underestimated that. : )
Thank you for visiting, and I will try to make good posts more often.
And to Raven . . . if you read this, Thank You. I wouldn’t have started this blog if it wasn’t for you pushing me. : D
dragondreamz said,
May 1, 2009 at 10:20 am
The pressure is on … you’re being watched! LOL
No, seriously … I look forward to reading more of your thoughts! I’m glad I decided to stop by and visit this morning.
–Gayze–
Bianca Raven said,
May 1, 2009 at 4:54 pm
Nice post Linz. You’re a great writer (I’ve seen your articles! I know!) so there’s no possible way I could have allowed you to wallow down in the slave-labor writing sites. That would have been such a waste.
You should be proud of what you’ve achieved so far. There are thousands and thousands of writers all over the world that still haven’t earned enough to total $10, so you should be proud of being a major contributor to your household income each week.
You remind me of when I was just beginning in freelancing. I never would have gotten anywhere without asking questions about freelancing from my own mentor, Lee. That was 6 years ago and I’m forever grateful for her pushing me in the right direction.