Like many people, you may have dreamed of becoming a writer, spending your days in a quiet office or a cozy cafe, and being creative for a living.
While the world of being a freelance writer isn’t always as romantic as it may seem, there are thousands of ways to earn extra income as a writer, with the freedom and flexibility so many people dream of.
So here is a brief guide to starting a freelance writing business.
What Do Freelance Writers Do?
It may seem evident that freelance writers write, but dozens of different types of writing exist. Each has a different level of demand, a different clientele, and a different skill set. Here are just some of the things that writers get paid to create:
- Business websites, brochures, and marketing materials
- Company or individual blogs, vlog scripts, and social media content
- Journalistic articles
- Technical writing and white papers
- Press releases
- Fictional novels and novellas
- Travel writing
- Ghostwriting
- Scripts and screenplays
- Research papers
- Grants
- Reviews, opinions, and criticism pieces
- Biography and memoir
- Instructional materials and curriculum
Writers may also work in writing-related positions, like proofreading or copyediting.
There are three types of writing careers:
Staff Writer
A staff writer may get a job at an advertising agency to write copy for a wide range of ads, at a publication where they write on topics assigned to them by an editor, a software company where they create user manuals and support guides, etc.
Freelance Writer
A freelance writer works on individual jobs or for individual clients. For example, companies may hire freelance writers to create content for their business blog, a freelance writer may be contracted to write technical manuals or textbooks, or someone may hire a freelance writer to ghostwrite their memoirs or autobiography.
Creative Writer
Creative writers often write something and then seek to sell it afterward. Novelists, poets, screenwriters, fiction writers, and other types of creative writers often don’t work for clients but instead may work with agents, publishing houses, and the like.
Because these career paths, opportunities, and rewards are so different, we will focus on getting started as a freelance writer.
What You Need to Become a Freelance Writer
To become a paid freelance writer, you need:
- Excellent grammar, spelling, and usage in any language you plan to write in
- A laptop or computer with a reliable internet connection
- Excellent understanding of different writing styles (professional, technical, AP, etc.)
- The ability to independently organize and motivate yourself to consistently meet deadlines and exceed expectations
- The ability to accept and adapt to notes and feedback
- Online writers should understand writing for search and the basic principles of SEO, including the natural use of keywords
- It is also helpful to type relatively quickly and accurately, perform online research with high-quality sources, and negotiate good contracts and work agreements, so you are paid fairly.
- Writers typically use software like Word or online document tools like Google Docs.
How Much Do Freelance Writers Make?
Freelance writers usually compete for jobs in the global marketplace. However, because some writers live in low-cost-of-living areas, they are willing to work for below-market rates, which drives down client budgets and writer rates for everyone. Therefore, it is vital to research the going rates for the proposed work and negotiate a fair rate.
Freelance writers typically get paid in one of three ways:
By the Word
Many freelance writers who write blog posts and online content get paid by the word.
By the Character
Many print publications and magazines pay writers by the character.
By the Project
Many larger projects like technical manuals and websites pay writers a flat rate for the entire job.
Freelance writers need to pay their own taxes and benefits, and writing rates need to be high enough to include non-writing tasks, like communicating with the client, making edits and revisions, pitching jobs, etc. This is also why hourly rates can pose such a challenge for writers.
Some clients prefer to pay an hourly rate, but there are several reasons that this can backfire:
- Some writing tasks are easier than others. Because writing is essentially creative work, there are tasks (and days, and times of day) where it flows more easily than others. If you are having a great day and get the job done quickly, an hourly rate penalizes you for your productivity.
- Writing is thinking. Unfortunately, a lot of time writers spend “writing” may also involve simply staring at the page and thinking. This may look like a waste for clients who want productivity measured in time units.
- Administrative costs are higher. Writers who get paid by the hour must use accurate time tracking methods and share their records with the client. While all writers should track their time regardless, the need to create professional, accurate, shareable, billable time records is itself a time-consuming task.
As a freelancer, you can price your work and negotiate the rates that suit your style and the project. It may be helpful to track and compare several different rate structures to find the one that suits you best.
Because there is such competition and variation, here are some sample rates for different types of content:
Blog Posts
A standard blog post is 800-1000 words. Most blog posts are paid by the word or at a flat rate. Writers may make as little as $0.01 per word or as much as $100 for a finished post.
Web Sites
The average website has 5-7 pages, with 300-500 words per page. Writers who specialize in high-converting landing pages and can prove factors like conversions, clicks, and dwell times can charge up to $1,000 for a landing page. However, most basic writers charge less at $150-200 per web page or $1,000 for an entire business website.
Technical Writing
Writers with specialized technical, medical, or scientific knowledge, who are writing for an advanced audience, can charge more for their expertise. Freelance technical writers usually charge $0.75-$1.00 per word or $50-$100 per hour.
Social Media Writing
Many professionals want to maintain a presence on social media but do not want to spend the time creating their own content. Writers in this area should be experts in creating content for each platform, including hashtags and tagging, and creating high-value, shareable content. Social media rates vary, ranging from $10/post for creating short shareable captions to $250 for a thought leadership LinkedIn post.
Keep in mind that these rates are averages, and there will always be writers earning a tiny fraction of these rates and writers making many times these rates.
According to PayScale, the average US freelance writer earns $24.74 per hour, and Glassdoor says the annual average is $50,891.
Where to Find Freelance Writing Jobs
There are hundreds of sites with freelance writing jobs. It may be a good idea to start with a general freelance job board like Upwork or Fiverr to get some initial experience and positive feedback that will allow you to build a portfolio.
Once you have established your skills and expertise, you may want to transition to a specialized job platform for freelance writers. Some options include:
You can also find freelance writing jobs on sites like LinkedIn, Craigslist, and Indeed—almost anywhere that jobs are posted, freelance writing jobs can be found.
Over time, developing the portfolio, expertise, and reputation that lets you specialize, add value, and raise your rates is essential. You can also boost your rates by:
- Mastering specific skills. Becoming an academic, technical, scientific, or legal writer allows you to narrowly target certain subjects and clients and work at a much higher rate.
- Becoming more visible. Building a profile and a following on a public platform like Medium or Substack makes you stand out and allows you to charge higher rates.
- Completing a prestigious project. If you can get a byline in the New York Times, for example, even for a single article, it increases your market value for every other potential client.
- Proving success. It provides proof of your value if you can get the data to verify conversions or dwell times or prove high numbers of likes and shares.
Conclusion
Becoming a freelance writer can be an interesting and satisfying part-time job or develop into a lucrative and prestigious career. There are thousands of opportunities to turn your writing skill into an income and pursue freelance writing wherever it takes you. You may even realize that old dream of writing in a cafe in Paris someday.
Have a wonderful day!
