So, you’ve been wondering how to get into freelance writing. You have a lot going on in your life, and a work-from-home gig seems like the right fit. Whether you want a side hustle to supplement your 9-to-5, a flexible work schedule to meet your family’s needs, or the ability to travel while still earning a living, freelance writing may be just the thing for you.

The great thing about freelance writing is structuring your days to fit your goals and needs. I work odd hours between family obligations and pesky life problems because that works for me. Maybe you especially like the idea of working in your pajamas. Whatever your reasons and objectives, you can start working in freelance content creation without prior experience.

7 Tips for How To Get Into Freelance Writing

As a freelance writer, you can write stories, blogs, articles, emails, instruction manuals, technical documents and more. Try the following suggestions to obtain work that meets your skill set, interests and schedule so you can launch your new career getting paid to write.

1. Plan and Prepare

As with any career, you need to do some background work and outline your success strategy. Before looking for writing jobs, consider following these tips:

• Make time to learn about the freelance writing industry.
• Read about the types of work available to help you find your niche.
• Educate yourself about different style guides and current writing conventions to get a head start.
• Increase your grammatical knowledge and work on improving your writing skills by writing more often.
• Determine how you will stay organized and on task once you find writing jobs.

2. Set Up a Website

As a freelancer, you need a way to show your work and abilities to potential clients. Creating a site to showcase your writing samples can help you acquire jobs. Without previous professional writing experience, you are unlikely to have published content online. That’s OK! Start a blog on your site creating the type of content you want to write for others. You can link your website to potential clients so they can see what you offer. The more you write, the better your chances of success.

3. Find a Content Creation Company

Applying for work with a content creation business is an excellent way to jumpstart your writing career when you lack previous experience in the industry.

When learning how to get into freelance writing, working with an existing content writing operation helps you gain experience, learn the ropes of content creation and ensure ongoing work opportunities. It also allows you to become familiar with the ins and outs of the industry.

4. Post on Job Boards

​Search online for freelance writing job boards to find work that fits your interests and goals. Many job boards cater specifically to freelancers and make finding suitable opportunities for full- or part-time writing jobs easier. By perusing job postings, you can find options for many writing gigs, such as web content, instructional papers, ghostwriting, technical writing and more.

5. Write Guest Posts

Become familiar with blogs that write in your niche. Look for opportunities to create guest blogs on other bloggers’ sites. Perhaps they are going on trips or want additional submissions for certain sections of their blogs. Reach out to the site owner with your bio and a link to your work so they know what you offer upfront. Consider including a sample post in your email so bloggers have something they can use right away. When you secure a guest posting on an established writer’s site, you gain visibility and traffic to your website. Additionally, you have more published works to include in your professional profile.

6. Network Using Social Media

Connecting with others in your industry is a great way to accelerate your writing career. Social media platforms make finding and building relationships with other writers easy. These connections help you,

• Expand your network.
• Build brand awareness.
• Learn valuable tips and tricks.
• Find opportunities.
• Attract new clients.

7. Write for Friends and Family

Get your foot in the door by reaching out to people you know and offering your services. You likely know people close to you who would benefit from a blog, email newsletter or consistent social media content. Contracting with family and friends enables you to publish more work, increasing your chances for growth and opportunities.

Learn How To Get Into Freelance Writing Today

Take the time to research and educate yourself about the freelance writing industry and make a strategic plan for your growth and success. By doing so, you can jumpstart a new profession writing content and allow yourself to work from anywhere on a flexible schedule. If you have tips on how to get into freelance writing, share your thoughts in the comments!