Hey there! First, kudos for the drive to get started. I won't lie and say writing is an easy way to get rich. Hell, I don't know if it's even a good way to do it haha. But if you put the time and effort in, it's more than possible to make a comfortable living working for yourself. You're right, essays aren't really it. People want to see that you can write the type of content they need. So, first step is to narrow down what type of writing you want to do. There are tons of viable avenues... copywriting (email, ads, website), B2C content (blog posts, product reviews, "how-to" guides), B2B content (case studies, white papers, technical documents), ghostwriting (e-books, video scripts, grant proposals, essays, journal articles, etc.) to name a few. If you don't know what you're good at, pick something interesting and start there. You'll start to get a feel for where your skills are best suited. A lot of writers start with blogs, but that's very competitive (and on a downswing rn) so you'll be competing for pennies on most sites. If you're starting from scratch, I recommend learning email copywriting, case studies, and/or white papers. Reason being: brands can afford to pay well for great writing. See #1. It depends a lot on what type of content you're writing and what market you want to write for. Some are easier to break into than others. Lots of people say the market is saturated. The marketing sector is worth TRILLONS annually. There's room for another writer. If you can write competently and show it, you're ahead of 95% of your competition. Don't be intimidated. 2b: You have more experience than you think. "On paper" stuff like degrees, certifications, etc. is nice but not essential. Think about life experience. What have you done? What are you good at? What interests you? Hobbies? Jobs? Location? 3. See above. My biggest tip is to just go for it. Don't let imposter syndrome beat you before you begin. If you're willing to put in the work and adapt your style to the market's demands, you'll always have work. Finding your first client is the hardest. From there, it all gets easier. Testimonials, referrals, and word-of-mouth are your best friends. Don't want to plug too hard, but I post advice regularly on my blog. You can find a link in my profile if you're interested. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Wish you the best! Answer from Staroson on reddit.com
Elna Cain
elnacain.com › home › blog › how to become a freelance writer – no experience needed (2025 complete guide)
How to Become a Freelance Writer - No Experience Needed (2025 Complete Guide) - Elna Cain
July 5, 2025 - Their goal is to get a lot of content for cheap. After I earned a measly $2 from my first writing work, I gave up. This wasn’t for me. My time wasn’t worth that. I had twins to take care of and a house to run. I almost quit for good back then. But, I didn’t. I re-grouped and started fresh. I started a writer website, searched for freelance ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/freelancewriters › looking to get into freelance writing— what kind of things do people look for?
r/freelanceWriters on Reddit: Looking to get into freelance writing— what kind of things do people look for?
December 30, 2024 -
I was an English major at a local university up until about two years ago, when I had to drop out due to personal and financial reasons. I do think I’ll probably go back, but it’s just not in the cards for me right now. I always excelled in writing essays and research papers (which I guess you probably should if you’re an English major) and often edited work for friends. My skills are probably a little rusty (considering that I haven’t written any real papers in these two years) but I write for myself frequently and would still consider myself relatively skilled.
Anyway, I’ve recently fallen on hard times and have been looking into freelancing. Just made a Fiverr account and might try to find little jobs like essay/blog editing, cover letter writing, etc… My questions are:
What kind of work would people want to see proof of if I were to build an online portfolio? Something tells me my college essays probably wouldn’t be enough, but honestly I have no idea. I’m willing to write essays/articles just for the sake of building a portfolio but I’m not sure where I would start.
How long does it typically take to find work? I’m not picky, I’ll write just about anything at this point but I’m worried the market may be oversaturated or people won’t be inclined to hire me because of my lack of degree and formal experience (outside of academia).
What are some things you wish you knew when getting into freelance writing? Currently trying to gather as much information as I can, so any advice is appreciated!
Sorry if this sub gets posts like this all the time, I just stumbled across it while doing research and thought it would be good to hear from real people who have experience with this.
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Hey there! First, kudos for the drive to get started. I won't lie and say writing is an easy way to get rich. Hell, I don't know if it's even a good way to do it haha. But if you put the time and effort in, it's more than possible to make a comfortable living working for yourself. You're right, essays aren't really it. People want to see that you can write the type of content they need. So, first step is to narrow down what type of writing you want to do. There are tons of viable avenues... copywriting (email, ads, website), B2C content (blog posts, product reviews, "how-to" guides), B2B content (case studies, white papers, technical documents), ghostwriting (e-books, video scripts, grant proposals, essays, journal articles, etc.) to name a few. If you don't know what you're good at, pick something interesting and start there. You'll start to get a feel for where your skills are best suited. A lot of writers start with blogs, but that's very competitive (and on a downswing rn) so you'll be competing for pennies on most sites. If you're starting from scratch, I recommend learning email copywriting, case studies, and/or white papers. Reason being: brands can afford to pay well for great writing. See #1. It depends a lot on what type of content you're writing and what market you want to write for. Some are easier to break into than others. Lots of people say the market is saturated. The marketing sector is worth TRILLONS annually. There's room for another writer. If you can write competently and show it, you're ahead of 95% of your competition. Don't be intimidated. 2b: You have more experience than you think. "On paper" stuff like degrees, certifications, etc. is nice but not essential. Think about life experience. What have you done? What are you good at? What interests you? Hobbies? Jobs? Location? 3. See above. My biggest tip is to just go for it. Don't let imposter syndrome beat you before you begin. If you're willing to put in the work and adapt your style to the market's demands, you'll always have work. Finding your first client is the hardest. From there, it all gets easier. Testimonials, referrals, and word-of-mouth are your best friends. Don't want to plug too hard, but I post advice regularly on my blog. You can find a link in my profile if you're interested. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Wish you the best!
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Starting a professional services business without training, experience, reputation, or contacts is not something people who have fallen upon hard times should consider. You'll have a lot more success (and remuneration) getting a good part-time job.
What is Freelance writing?
Freelance writing isn't a steady full-time type writing job, but one where you compete to get hired to write a particular piece and get paid for it. r/writing , r/writingadvice might be more specific, helpful subs to ask this about. I would suggest you assemble yourself a portfolio of works you've written. It needn't necessarily be stuff that's been commercially published, etc., but stuff that showcases your writing style and ability. You could include essays, blog posts, revised and polished school research papers, even, given you say you've no experience presently. To potentially earn some money and practice your writing you could sign up on sites like Fiverr and offer your writing skills there, then add those pieces your customers rave about to your portfolio to show those off. More on reddit.com
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July 10, 2024How to get into freelance writing with no experience
Step 1: Get experience. It sounds dumb, I know. But when it comes to freelance, you're running a business so you need to ask yourself a few questions: What do you want to / plan to write about? Generalist writers, on average, struggle to find consistent work compared to writers who niche down into specific categories or industries. Are you aiming for blogs and websites, publications, or something else? These all have different writing styles and needs. Do you have a portfolio of written work? If not, you'll need one if you want to get eyes on your work. Freelancing means you need to market yourself, so take some time to set aside a plan (if you haven't), and be prepared to take some time to get it off the ground. I saw on your profile that you were calling yourself a copywriter nine months ago, has it been that long and you haven't gotten any leads or work? More on reddit.com
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October 13, 2023There are no secrets to being a successful freelance writer - Here's almost every step you need to take - Updated! [very, very long]
Your portfolio is the single most important way you will win clients and work. Thank you for saying this. I very commonly see people fretting about formal education or certifications when, in reality, they should be worrying about a portfolio instead. More on reddit.com
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November 28, 2022How do you start freelance writing?
I’m curious as well. I’ve done a couple things on Upwork and have a couple really good academic pieces, but Upwork is a pain due to most being low paid jobs alongside 20% being taken out and academic writing isn’t helping very much in terms of experience or samples. More on reddit.com
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August 18, 2020How do I become a freelance writer?
Because freelance writers are typically self employed, freelance writers will want to search job boards and email companies about work. Freelance writers will want to ensure they are self starters with excellent written and communication skills.
study.com
study.com › english courses › essay writing: help & tutorial
Freelance Writing Definition, Types & Examples - Lesson | Study.com
What exactly does a freelance writer do?
A freelance writer works on a contractual basis for a company. The writer will write a different type of writing depending on the needs of the company.
study.com
study.com › english courses › essay writing: help & tutorial
Freelance Writing Definition, Types & Examples - Lesson | Study.com
What skills do you need to be a freelance writer?
Freelance writers are professional writers from a variety of backgrounds. While some freelance writers have English, journalism, or marketing degrees, two key skills all have are the ability to write and communicate well. Another helpful skill for a freelance writer to have is the ability to self promote.
study.com
study.com › english courses › essay writing: help & tutorial
Freelance Writing Definition, Types & Examples - Lesson | Study.com
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Freelance Writing vs Freelance Copywriting: What's the Difference?
Rn2writer
rn2writer.com › blog › how-freelance-writing-works
How Freelance Writing Works
Most writers (myself included) approach prospective clients by email. In the industry, this is called a “letter of introduction” or LOI. You do have to become comfortable marketing yourself. When I was starting out, I spent more time on marketing than I did on writing. But, again, don’t let that put you off. Don’t say, “Oh, I can’t do sales.” It’s not a squeamish thing, like used car sales, because the entire freelance industry is set up for this type of “selling.” Marketing directors and editors are constantly looking for good freelance writers, and they appreciate it when you take the time to contact them.
Location Rebel
locationrebel.com › freelance-writing-for-beginners
Freelance Writing for Beginners: 30+ Things You NEED to Know
April 23, 2024 - Ok, so you’ve decided you want to become a freelance writer…great! I truly think freelance writing is the best way for beginners to get started building a business online.
Study.com
study.com › english courses › essay writing: help & tutorial
Freelance Writing Definition, Types & Examples - Lesson | Study.com
March 16, 2016 - Freelance writing is writing for money while not employed solely or completely by one organization. The term freelance comes from the middle ages. A knight or a mercenary would sell services to a lord and become a free lance.
Medium
mattkendu.medium.com › is-freelance-writing-worth-it-from-a-freelance-writer-monastic-spaces-693b931fc445
The Truth About Freelance Content Writing: Is It Still Worth It? | by Matthew Du | Medium
April 21, 2023 - I also spoke a little on how you can expect to charge if you just started as a freelance writer. ... Don’t let the large numbers and high rates fool you. There are two sides to freelancing writing: the creative writing side, where you get paid to craft stories and string together words and sentences, and the grueling business side, where you have to deal with client networking, late payments, and, worst of all, taxes. This is also true for every other freelance profession.
Upwork
upwork.com › resources › articles › {name}
12 Types of Freelance Writing Jobs and What They Pay - Upwork
October 31, 2024 - Clients are looking for these in-demand ... is the job of a professional working independently for clients, providing their writing services on a contract or project basis rather than full-time for a single employer....
Thefreelancewritersguide
thefreelancewritersguide.com › blog › how-to-start-freelance-writing-the-ultimate-guide
How to Start Freelance Writing: The Ultimate Guide The Freelance Writer's Guide
August 16, 2023 - That’s why your niche is focused towards a particular industry, not a subject. If you can’t think of clients in your niche, it’s probably a subject rather than an industry. For more info, read How to Choose Your Freelance Writing Niche. Choosing a niche will position you as an expert, which allows you to make more money. Cha-ching! No, you don’t need professional writing experience to become a freelance writer.
Quora
quora.com › What-is-a-freelance-writer-What-do-they-do-What-do-they-write-about-Where-is-there-a-high-demand-for-freelancers
What is a freelance writer? What do they do? What do they write about? Where is there a high demand for freelancers? - Quora
Answer (1 of 5): I’m a freelance ghostwriter. I work primarily through the freelancing site Upwork. I contract mostly with professional e-book publishers, writing romance novels. My name doesn’t go on these novels. The e-book publishers set up a fake ‘flagship’ identity on places like ...
The Freelancers Year
thefreelancersyear.com › blog › get-started-freelance-writing
Get started as a freelance writer
Lots of new freelance writers run into trouble when they are trying to decide if they should brainstorm ideas for stories or whether they should look at a particular publication first. Personally I come up with an idea for an article first. The I look and see which publication I could see it fitting in. I know freelancers who do it the other way around – both is fine – you just need to make sure you cover off the next two points.
Acadium
acadium.com › blog › what-is-freelance-writing
What is Freelance Writing? [+ 9 Ways to Become a Freelance Writer] – Acadium
Freelance writing can be a great way to make money on the side, or even as a full-time career. But what is freelance writing, exactly? Freelance writing is when you write for clients, rather than for an employer. As a freelance writer, you can choose your own hours and work from anywhere you want.
FreelanceWriting
freelancewriting.com › home
Freelance Writing | Helping Freelance Writers to Succeed since 1997
May 31, 2016 - Freelance Writing is the most comprehensive hub for both businesses to hire top quality writers, and freelance writers to make more money writing.
Indeed
indeed.com › career guide › career development › how to become a freelance writer: a guide to getting started
How To Become a Freelance Writer: A Guide To Getting Started | Indeed.com
3 weeks ago - Figuring out how to become a freelance writer can be daunting at first. Freelance writing is a job anyone with the interest and dedication can do, but it is especially attractive for self-motivated individuals who want more flexibility in their day-to-day lives.
See Jane Write
seejanewritebham.com › home › blog › what is freelance writing?
What is freelance writing? - See Jane Write
November 13, 2020 - First and foremost, let me explain that “freelancing” is NOT another word for “writing for free.” Freelancers get paid — or at least they should. You may write for free when you’re first starting out or you may write an article for free about a cause you’re passionate about, but you shouldn’t be writing content for a publication (that’s not your own blog) or for any other type of business on a regular basis unless you’re getting paid with actual money — not with “exposure” or with coupons to Ulta.
Jill Wise
itsjillwise.com › home › blog › how to become a freelance writer (2025 update)
How to Become a Freelance Writer (2025 Update)
January 15, 2025 - I did both in the early days, but my career as a freelance writer grew more from the later option. When working directly with business owners, I was able to show my value in how I helped them gain traffic to their website and better connect with potential customers. Blog writers of that kind are extremely valuable to businesses because good traffic is key to increasing online sales.
Scribophile
scribophile.com › academy › freelance-writing-basics-introduction
Freelance Writing Basics: Introduction
April 30, 2010 - She was candid not only about the publishing process, but about the other writing she has had to do to make ends meet. She is a contributor to a public radio program and writes articles for various magazines. Aspiring authors have dreams of writing for a living. Those dreams are a very real possibility. Freelance writing is a veritable way to make a living.
Make a Living Writing
makealivingwriting.com › what-is-freelance-writing
What Is Freelance Writing? Answers to the Awkward Newbie Questions
January 25, 2023 - Just about anything you can think of that staff writers, communications specialists, or marketers do, freelance writers also may get assigned. Here’s a starter list: ... As you can see, the world of freelance writing offers a wide variety of writing types to suit every taste. There’s also freelance writing for businesses in every type of industry, from aerospace to washing machines. And publications covering every imaginable topic. Yes, it can be overwhelming! The trick is to narrow it down so you can focus, and find clients.
Aelyn
beaelyn.com › what-is-a-freelance-writer
What is a Freelance Writer and How Can I Become One?
A freelance writer is a writer who works for themselves, not a single brand or publication. This means, they can write for whoever they want, but likely only do so on a part-time or occasional basis.
Writingrevolt
writingrevolt.com › freelance-writing-business
How I Built a $5,000/mo Freelance Writing Business in 4 Months (Month-by-month Breakdown!)
As far as what I actually did to build my business, I spent most of April (after getting fired) building and working on my freelance writer website and soaking up as much knowledge as I could on how to market myself. ... Writing copy for IT service providers and technology companies. I’ve said it a million times on this blog already, but I’ll say it again because it’s just that important: Picking a high-paying niche is one of the most important things I did – if not THE most important thing I did – to grow my freelance writing income fast.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/nostupidquestions › what is freelance writing?
r/NoStupidQuestions on Reddit: What is Freelance writing?
July 10, 2024 -
Hello sir, madame, or anybody this may concern. I'm a young freelance writer (to be), and I have no experience in anything at all. I've been told that this is a great place to engage with other people of your field, and I need some advice from more experienced writers. Could anybody share some knowledge, experience, advice, anything that could be useful?
Top answer 1 of 2
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Freelance writing isn't a steady full-time type writing job, but one where you compete to get hired to write a particular piece and get paid for it. r/writing , r/writingadvice might be more specific, helpful subs to ask this about. I would suggest you assemble yourself a portfolio of works you've written. It needn't necessarily be stuff that's been commercially published, etc., but stuff that showcases your writing style and ability. You could include essays, blog posts, revised and polished school research papers, even, given you say you've no experience presently. To potentially earn some money and practice your writing you could sign up on sites like Fiverr and offer your writing skills there, then add those pieces your customers rave about to your portfolio to show those off.
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Making your writing not sound like you're an AI spambot would be a good start