How to be a great freelance writer

Freelancing is a beneficial field to get into, and many are finding that it can be a very successful endeavor. It is also a great way to utilize your inner creativity, and it’s a career path that you won’t get bored with either. Another great benefit? If you have a desire to travel, you can do that with freelance writing because all you need is an internet connection. The demand is high, and if you love writing, this is a career you can sink your teeth in. But what does it take to be a great writer, and how can you be different than the others in the same field?

Know the value of a pitch

The first thing that freelance writers understand is what is known as the pitch. The internet is a vast place, and because there are so many others that want to do the same thing you are, you are going to be hard to find. What this means is that you need to pitch to editors and sites for work. A surprising tip here is that you should pitch places that may not be looking for writers as well because this could work well for you. Other people will not have thought of this so that you will be breaking new ground. The good idea is to try and pitch at least seven times a day for a month, so you have a widespread net.

Don’t take things personally

When you are a writer, it is a business, and it needs to understand like one, and you need to make sure you are acting accordingly. If you get upset because of failures and let it stay with you, you won’t be willing to try to keep pitching for fear of being rejected. The key here is to acknowledge the failure but then move on from it and learn from it. When someone doesn’t like your writing, it doesn’t mean they don’t want or that they dislike you, and in most cases, it’s not really that they don’t like the way you write, it could just be that it’s not what they need for their brand or that maybe your pitch needs a little work. Both of these are easily fixable. Don’t let the words stick with you and make it hinder your performance. Have faith in yourself and know that you want to keep going with your goal.

Listen to your clients

This tip may seem pretty straightforward, but it’s essential. Your client is paying you for content, and you need to listen to what it is that they want. If they are not satisfied, don’t argue with them or lose your temper. Listen to what they are telling you and then try to fix it. Keep your emotions under control while making sure that you are respectful and polite. In the end, you’ll gain a client that respects you, which equals more work for you in the long run. It also means that you have a good reputation, which is extremely important in this business.

Know your values and what you stand for

This one is important. In a world where it is getting harder to survive to turn down a gig can be painful, and you don’t want to do it. However, the best thing for you to do is to make sure that you are not working on something or with someone that doesn’t align with your personal beliefs. If you feel like your compromising who you are or what you believe in for a job, that’s a good sign that you shouldn’t do it. Trust your instincts and let your gut tell you if you shouldn’t do something. As a writer, we have great instincts, and in most cases are instincts are sharp and well informing. We know that we can rely on ourselves to know when something doesn’t feel right and when we should back out.

Always be professional

Professionalism is the most important tip that people should take notice of and remember. Many a job gets lost for people because you post on Facebook or social media. A great example is there was a man who worked at his local church, and his girlfriend posted a picture of them drinking. That was something that didn’t coincide with the church’s beliefs, and they had to let him go. Another person posted that they were skipping work, their boss saw it and fired her on the spot.

The point here is that you are being watched by your clients, by your peers, by everyone.

When you don’t act professional, you won’t be taken seriously. When you do, they will. As long as you continue to remain professional and take this seriously, you will be able to have a successful writing career.

Get started

Now you are ready to get started for yourself. It may be slow at first trying to find work, but you will be able to find it, and once you show your clients your talent, you can be sure they will come back for more!