How I Started Freelance Writing (and how you can, too!)

If you had told me 7 years ago that I could start freelance writing from home and make enough money to:

• Pay off student loans &
• Stay home with my kids

I don’t think I would have believed you! However, I am living proof that it is totally possible.

Have you been thinking about ways to make money from home so that you can reach your financial goals? Let me share with you how I’ve been able to do just that for the past 6 years and counting!

How I got my start as a freelance writer

My first freelance writing gigs were found the old-fashioned way, through a friend. I was just blogging for fun while staying home with my baby, trying to keep myself entertained in between diaper changes and trips to the park. I wasn’t looking to make money blogging, but getting paid to write sort of fell into my lap.

When the opportunity came up to make some money at home I thought, why not?! I already knew I enjoyed blogging and writing. Earning a little money was like icing on the cake!

That first writing gig didn’t pay well at all. In fact, it paid very poorly, and looking back on it, I can’t believe I accepted so little! However, it was my first foray into the world of writing online and getting paid for it.

That first lousy gig showed me that it was, in fact, possible to get paid for doing something you love. It opened my eyes to the possibilities of making money online.

It also proved to be a good way to gain experience and start navigating the world of writing online. On the plus side, the work was very steady, so my ability to earn was only limited by how much time I had to write each day. While the money I was making from that first client wasn’t great, I set a goal for myself to pay off my student loans with my earnings.

Hitting my goal

In just a few months, I had earned enough to pay off those loans, and it felt amazing!

Reaching a financial goal was an incredible feeling, and I was absolutely hooked on freelancing. I realized that my passion for writing could translate into real earnings, and that was so exciting. I still got to spend my days with my daughter, I just had to hustle hard during naptimes and after she went to bed. Seeking out new opportunities for freelance writing was the next step to turning this freelance writing gig into my full-time focus.

7 years later, I’m still able to stay at home with my kids and make money freelance writing online!

How You can Start Freelance Writing Today

Have I gotten you excited about the idea of being a WAHM on your own terms? I sure hope so!

There are so many ways that you can start writing for money online. I would suggest that you first decide what exactly you want to get out of it. Set some simple goals for yourself, and be realistic.

Ask yourself:

Are you hoping to make freelance writing a full-time thing to replace a day job? Are you just looking for a side hustle? Is freelance writing something that you’re able to commit a lot of time to, or just a little time here and there?

How you answer these questions will influence where and how you begin to search for work.

One of the best ways to get your start as a freelance writer online is by setting up your own blog. This will allow you to hone your writing skills and create a portfolio to show potential clients.

 

I started my blog years ago and it’s been well worth the investment!

Start a Blog

I highly recommend either creating a website to promote your writing skills or adding a Hire Me page on your own blog. Starting your blog gives you a place where you can direct potential clients when they want to see examples of your writing style. It can also help to bring clients directly to you.

If you don’t have a blog already, it’s so very easy to get one started today! Since you want to look professional, I highly recommend opting for a self-hosted website. It’s important to note that if you want to make any money with ads on your blog, you need to be self-hosted.

Blogging also provides the opportunity to hone your writing skills. By getting familiar with the WordPress format, you’ll open up more possibilities. Many small business sites use WordPress, and they want you to have experience blogging on the platform.

 

Writing for Content providers

If you’re looking for an easy side hustle, you may want to consider working with a content provider. I do have to tell you that these sites usually offer lower pay, and are referred to as “content mills”. If you just want simple work for quick cash, consider checking them out. Here are a few that I know of, but do not have personal experience with:

• iWriter
• Textbroker
• Scripted
• WritersDomain

A great resource for finding jobs is the ProBlogger job board. Keep in mind that there’s probably a ton of competition for those jobs since it’s a popular site, but it’s worth a try. I scan it every week or so to see if there is anything up my alley, and I send out an email if something seems like a good fit.

Freelancing Websites

Another option is to check out companies that cater to freelancers, like Upwork and Fiverr. I have used Fiverr for many years with a lot of success! If you’re looking for an easy way to get started with a freelance writing side hustle, I recommend checking them out. It can be a great way to start getting experience in dealing with clients. I have a full review of Fiverr here.

Read More: My Top Fiverr Tips for Sellers

How to Set Freelance Writing Rates

One of the things that you need to do at some point is to set your freelance writing rates. You can’t settle for making pennies per post. Value your time and your skills.

Don’t just pick a number that sounds good, though. You want to be sure that you are truly valuing your time so that working from home is worth your while.

If you’re writing for content creation sites, you won’t get to dictate your rates.

Most sites base their payment amounts on your writing skills and the word count. Eventually, you can increase your pay rate by being promoted to higher levels within their system. It’s an ok way to start freelance writing, but it should absolutely be your goal to move beyond content mills quickly if you do start there.

Spend only a few weeks at most on those platforms, if at all.

When calculating your freelance writing rates, take research into account. It isn’t just about how long you spend writing a piece and how many words are in it.

Consider the time that you’ll spend communicating back and forth with the client, researching a topic, sending the files, etc. These are the things that I keep in mind when setting my freelance writing rates.

You can always adjust your rates. Don’t sell yourself short! You may complete a few projects and realize that you need to charge more in order to make freelance writing worthwhile for you.

When it comes to clients, seek quality over quantity. Dealing with a few great clients who know your worth is far better than dealing with many clients who don’t truly value your time and skills.

Freelance writing online can be competitive, but there’s plenty of room for more voices. If you’ve been thinking about giving it a try, go for it! Put yourself out there and see what happens. Start a blog, start writing, and set goals.

Are you interested in freelance writing? Would you like to make it a full-time gig, or just do it as a side hustle?