Any Freelance Writers Out There? What Have You Learnt So Far?

little woman writer - little women - she writes
@browneyed (2522)
United Kingdom
June 14, 2008 7:52am CST
Hi I've been freelance writing (online) since the beginning of the year and, I tell ya, I've learnt a few lessons or two! I think the most important for me has been learning not to sell myself short. I'm getting better at it! I wanted to ask: How long have you been writing on a paid basis? What lessons have you learnt (or the most important)? take care...
1 person likes this
8 responses
@sdas86 (6076)
• Malaysia
14 Jun 08
Hi, I learn a lot of new knowledge about writing articles from other mylotters. A lot of them are making huge income from freelance writing. So, it gives me confidence to keep on writing and make money.
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@browneyed (2522)
• United Kingdom
14 Jun 08
That's good to know, sdas86. What's the most important/useful thing you feel you've learnt about article writing? What advice would you give someone who's just starting out? take care...
@browneyed (2522)
• United Kingdom
15 Jun 08
Thanks for passing by my blog, and for the congrats! I feel I must clarify that that $700 is how much I've made in total since the beginning of the year. I wish I was making that much every month! - that would be fab - but I do appreciate that it takes time. This June, I'm trying to break the $300/month barrier - I hope I do - and if not, there's always next month. That's good advice you've given there - reading other people's articles in an effort to study their writing style. take care and I wish you all the best...
@sdas86 (6076)
• Malaysia
14 Jun 08
Hi, I read your blog and your discussion that you are making around $700.00 from freelance writing. Congrats to you. If I am giving advice for beginners, I will tell them to read some of the articles written by success freelance writers and then try to write more articles. Practice makes perfect, so write more and read more can help to improve writing skills and make more money.
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@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
14 Jun 08
I've just now started to research about freelance writing, and I think I'm almost ready to take the plunge. I've learned quite a bit from this one particular writer's forum and if you're not a member yet, please go have a look. I've started a blog, and if you look at the last link on my profile, you'll find another link to the forum there. Where have you been writing? I'd love to see your work!
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@browneyed (2522)
• United Kingdom
14 Jun 08
Hi Ldyjarhead! Well done on taking the first steps - when you're ready to take the plunge, I wish you all the best with it. It's hard and empowering and you learn things about yourself along the way. I'm not sure of the forum you mentioned - can't find the link - could you message it to me? I've been getting most (if not all) of my writing jobs from a forum called Digital Point (have you heard of it?). I wrote a review of it on my blog so feel free to pass by and read it if you want. I do feel lucky to have gotten some of the gigs that I have and hope it'll continue. take care...
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
14 Jun 08
If you go to my profile here, go to Marie Anne's Missives. The link is in the first post there.
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@browneyed (2522)
• United Kingdom
15 Jun 08
Ok, thanks - will do.
@angelface23 (2494)
• United States
1 Aug 08
i was just skimming through your discussion. What exactly is freelance writing? What does that mean? I am a pretty good writer. Do these sites give you a topic and then you write about it?
@browneyed (2522)
• United Kingdom
21 Aug 08
Hi angelface Freelance writing is when you're hired to write on a project by project basis. Where you find people to hire you to write can be online and/or offline (a newspaper, magazine, a blog, etc.) Some give you a topic to write on, others are open to your own suggestions. take care...
@babostwick (2036)
• United States
14 Jun 08
I've been writing for over a years time and what I've learned is that it takes a lot of time and patience to come up with ideas and of course patience to earn a residual income. Now I'm trying to push it harder and my suggestion would be sometimes find a subject you are most familiar with and go with it.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Jun 08
I've earned from it. I've made a grand total of about $1265. .70 cents through Triond, though I haven't been there that long. Associated Content at $304 through some articles upfront early and the rest through performance bonus. $960 through the Helium Reward-a-thon. I'm working at trying to turn that into a strong income.
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@browneyed (2522)
• United Kingdom
15 Jun 08
Well done, you! Good on you. May your success continue. take care...
@browneyed (2522)
• United Kingdom
15 Jun 08
Hi babostwick Yep, that's true. It does take time and a part of you has to like (or love) doing it in order to press on. Picking a subject you're interested in or that you feel you might be interested in REALLY helps. Sounds like you're on the right track! Are you earning from it? And if so, how? take care and good luck...
@PearlGrace (3171)
• United States
16 Jun 08
Hello browneyed. I have been doing online freelance writing since August 1, 2007. I had no idea about how to go about it when I first started. Although I have been published in professional journals, used to write the newsletter for a nursing college, and was published in a state publication several years ago,none of that prepared me in any way for internet writing. I have earned about $600 since last August, which is not much, in my estimation. That is among 4 writing websites with the bulk of the money earned at 2 of them. I must say that the only thing I've learned is not really new in the publishing field: it's the importance of somehow, making contacts with the "right" people. And I still haven't done that. Right now, I'm not doing much writing as I sort of burned out after one of the websites had a contest that I concentrated on every day for 2 or 3 months. Although I feel like there's at least one website out there just waiting for me to write all their stuff, finding them and making that connection is another story. PearlGrace
@browneyed (2522)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun 08
Though all in all, it's not a lot, $600 is more than you had before - and you never know, maybe this time next year, you'll be in a much better place in terms of earnings. Is one of the sites you're with Helium by any chance? At least you're aware of what you need to do to up the ante - when you've recovered from your burn-out, that would be the thing to do. Do you know of these websites - www.chrisblogging.com, www.thewritersmanifesto.com/blog, www.hopewrites.com, www.quietrebelwriter.com - I've found them quite helpful - maybe you will too. take care and all the best...
1 person likes this
@browneyed (2522)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun 08
You're welcome :-) take care...
• United States
16 Jun 08
Hi browneyed. Yes, Helium was one of the sites where I made some money writing. I can't hardly stand to spend any more time there rating, and my stars are gradually disappearing. No, I've not come across the websites you've provided, as far as I can recall (I've been to so many!), so I thank you for those. I will definitely check out each one of them. Those are very much appreciated. Yes, you are right--$600 is better than not earning anything at all. Thanks for your support. Happy writing and take care. PearlGrace
1 person likes this
• Philippines
25 Aug 08
I have tried freelance writing that which has deadlines, wordcount, seo requirements and i thought it was easy! It was quite tiring and i couldn't do other things. That was why i ended up quitting the job and now i only write here, in my blogs and submit articles to triond where i can write in my own pace.
@browneyed (2522)
• United Kingdom
25 Aug 08
Hi summersent! Yes, it can be rather time consuming. However, what I'm trying to do is aim for higher-paying opportunities as I'd rather spend my time writing a 500-word article for $50 than more time writing 5 x 500 articles for the same amount. I guess the ideal condition would be to write for yourself and earn from that. That would be fab! Thanks for contributing to the discussion. take care now...
@nishdan01 (3050)
• Singapore
15 Jun 08
I have been writing for sometime. My interest vanished on the way. But still I will continue. I think iT requires hard work and much dedicattion. Also income will be less but based on one's talent.
@browneyed (2522)
• United Kingdom
15 Jun 08
Hi nishdan01 Why do you think you lost interest? Yes, your potential income can depend on your writing skill, but that can always be learnt/improved upon with hard work and patience (and being kind to yourself, patting yourself on the back for every milestone you cross). Writing is just part of the equation, though. Your income also depends on your marketing, communication, negotiation and organisation skills (how you make yourself visible, how you communicate with a client, how you negotiate a fee and other terms with them, and how you organise your time to meet the deadline). It's definitely a learning curve/a journey that shows you things about yourself. I've learnt that writing about topics I don't enjoy IS TORTURE. Whatever you do, try and pick topics you like or you think you'll like. (Keep an open mind about topics you've never written about 'cos you might end up enjoying them. However, if you've tried it once and you don't like it, leave it be. At least you've tried it and you know you definitely don't like it.) Yes, it's hard work, but it's doable, achievable and can be enjoyable along the way. take care and good luck...
@compumom (738)
• United States
16 Jun 08
I started taking freelance writing seriously in April of 2007. Before then I had a couple of websites that I created and played around with. I decided to throw my hat into the freelance writing arena and found that it takes dedication and consistency. I started out ghostwriting for a couple of dollars per article and realized that the pay wasn't enough so I began to look around for other opportunities. Since getting serious about writing in April I've earned about $9,000. Not enough to live off of, but not bad for working in my jammies. My recommendation would be to spend time writing and time searching for new opportunities. When higher paying gigs come along, leave the lower paying ones. Always look for ways to earn residual income. It pays off in the long run. You seem to be on the right path.
@browneyed (2522)
• United Kingdom
16 Jun 08
Hi compumom Thanks for adding to the discussion. $9000 is definitely not to be sniffed at. Good on you! Sounds like you're certainly on the right track too! I recently got a higher-paying gig and I'm thinking of dropping one of my lower ones - very nice client though, so I'm giving it a lot of thought. Passive income would be a dream, but I appreciate that'll take time. take care and I wish you every continued success...