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How To Get Started As A Freelance Writer From Home

Updated on September 24, 2013

Freelance Writing From Home

Online Freelance Writing Business Guide to Resources.
Online Freelance Writing Business Guide to Resources. | Source

Freelance Writing From Home

Are you thinking about starting your own Home Based Freelance Writing Business but don't know where to start? This Article serves as a Basic Guide for Learning What It Takes to be a Freelance Writer from your Own Home and How To Make the Best of your Space and Time. Get started as a Home-Based Freelance Writing Professional Today!

Do You Have What It Takes? Ask Yourself Some Questions.

Before you invest in any new venture, you need to make sure that you are a good fit for the industry. Many business fail in the first year because there is not enough research or experience by the person who started the business. Don't fall into this trap!

Before starting a Freelance Writing Business in your home you need to ask yourself a few questions:

  • Are You Self Motivated?
  • Do You Use Your Time Effectively?
  • Can You Separate Home and Family Life from Work?
  • Do You Have the Skills and Experience To Write Professionally?

If you answered Yes to those questions, you might want to consider the Freelance Writing Field. If you think that working from home may be a distraction because of your environment, then Freelance Writing might not be for you!

What Do You Need to Start Freelance Writing?

The most important skill you need as a Freelancer is your Writing Skills. You need to be a master of the English Language (or whatever language you choose to write in) and you have to have perfect Spelling and Grammar.

Another skill that is important is Time Management. Can you stick to a regular schedule on your own? It is very easy to get distracted while working at home. You need to be able to separate family life and work while maintaining a sense of balance with both.

A great suggestion for anyone starting in the Freelance Writing from Home field is to start part time. Don't quit your current job and try to start from scratch. You may find after a few weeks that you don't enjoy the field like you thought you would and you need to always have a back-up plan.

One of the most important and often most difficult things about starting any home-based business is getting your family to understand and support you during the transition. You should always communicate with your family and explain to them what your goals are and how you need them to support you in this exciting venture.


Writing a Business Plan

For anyone who wants to start a business, they need to have a plan and it needs to be in writing. This is particularly important if you are requesting funding or investments from outside people. They will always want to see your written business plan.

Here are some things that should be written into your business plan:

  • Specifically what you plan to write: what products will you offer?
  • How do you plan to Market your work?
  • How will you get clients?
  • How will you advertise?
  • What equipment do you need and what is the cost of your start-up?
  • What laws and regulations should you be aware of, particularly for setting up a Home-based business in your area?
  • How will you keep track of progress, finances and taxes?
  • What is your Mission Statement?

This is just the tip of the iceberg! Many Business Plans are at least 25-30 pages long and a great deal of concentration should go into recording the financial aspect of your business, including keeping track of profit and expenses with the aid of Financial Software such as a spreadsheet.

Get The Tools For Online Freelance Writing Success!

Source

Do You Have Adequate Space to Work?

Setting up a Home Office is one of the most valuable tools of a Home Based Freelance Writer. I am sure there are Freelancers out there that work from their kitchen table, but if you were to take a poll, you will most likely find that successful Freelance Writers have a Home Office that is separate from the rest of their house.

Organizing Your Office and Work Space

Organization is key to being successful as a Freelance Writer. If you are cluttered and messy it will be reflected in your work. Having Reference Books organized neatly in a bookcase is a great way to start. Every Freelance Writer should have the following References always available:

  • Dictionary
  • Thesaurus
  • Grammar and Style Book

Obviously these are just a few of the tools that you will need to start Freelance Writing. One of the most important tools you need is a Computer that is connected to the Internet. You should have some type of Word Processing Software such as Microsoft Word.

Stay Organized! Avoid Clutter!

Source

Setting Up an Organized Home Office Is Important To Be a Productive and Profiting Freelance Writer

Learn How To Get and Stay Organized As A Home-Based Online Freelance Writer!
Learn How To Get and Stay Organized As A Home-Based Online Freelance Writer! | Source

Different Types of Freelance Writing Assignments

Typical Writing Assignments
Newsletters
Resumes
White Pages
Brochures
Technical Writing
Creating Instructional Videos
Website Creation
Ghost Writing
Blogging for Companies
Product and Business Reviews
Editing

How To Get Freelance Jobs

There are many ways to get Freelance Writing Jobs and there is no shortage of them online. Always take caution when responding to online job offers. Beware of scams and of people that solicit your services only to steal your content once you create it for them.

Always research the company or person asking to use your services. Never give any work unless it is a short sample without first obtaining a fee. Whether it is 10% or even 50% of the total, you should always require a deposit before submitting any work. You may choose to make the deposit refundable or non-refundable depending on your preference.

Many Professional Freelance Writers offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and some include a small portion of a non-refundable fee for their time should the client decide not to purchase your product. Always be careful that a client doesn't decline your work and copy it themselves.


Do You Have What It Takes?

Is Freelance Writing From Home a Good Fit For You?

See results

Make Your Own Money At Home! Legally!

Be Your Own Boss! Work From Home As a Freelance Writer!
Be Your Own Boss! Work From Home As a Freelance Writer! | Source

Charging Fees and Rates For Your Work and Time

Obviously the point of Freelance Writing from home is to make enough money to support yourself. You will have to come up with a system of fees that is beneficial to you for your time and effort while maintaining a competitive price for your clients.

One of the best ways to decide what to charge for your work is to research what similar businesses in your demographic area charge for similar work. There are also several online resources that help in planning how much to charge.

There are 2 basic ways to charge clients:

  1. By the Hour
  2. By the Project

Many Professional Freelance Writers use a combination of both. If you are writing particularly short (500 words or less) projects such as business reviews, Ghost Blogging, etc. you may want to use the Charge Per Project instead of using the hourly rate method to maximize your earnings.

Don't sell yourself short! Many people who enter the business either charge too much or too little for their services. Many new Freelancers are willing to work for next to nothing just to get writing jobs. Although this could help build your resume it will not build your bank account! Be selective when charging a client. Each client is different and you may need to negotiate a price for your services.


Additional Reading

The following articles may be of help to those who are interested in starting a Home-Based Freelance Writing business.

You Can Make Money as a Freelance Writer!

http://jsmatthew.hubpages.com/hub/How-Do-I-Earn-Money-On-Hub-Pages-Making-Cash-Profit-Through-HubPages-Affiliate-Advertising-Programs
http://jsmatthew.hubpages.com/hub/How-Do-I-Earn-Money-On-Hub-Pages-Making-Cash-Profit-Through-HubPages-Affiliate-Advertising-Programs | Source

Hit a Wall In Your Writing?

Source

Where Do You See Yourself In 5 Years?

Source
Source

There Is An Ocean of Opportunities Waiting For You Out There!

Source

Conclusion: Where Go From Here

So where do you start? Here are some helpful tips for getting started Writing as a Home-Based Freelance Writer:

  • As with any business venture, starting a Home-Based Freelance Writing Business requires a lot of time, effort and research. You will need some start-up money, time to write your Business Plan, and the support of your family.
  • If you think that Freelance Writing from Home is a good fit for you, start by writing down your goals and what you want to accomplish in your first six months. Start writing your Business Plan and do some online research to find out what other Professional Freelance Writers are charging in your area.
  • Remember to check with your local laws and make sure your business is legal! Many cities and towns have regulations for setting up businesses in their home. Do your research before you set everything up to avoid getting into legal trouble!
  • Always use good Accounting Practices! Keep track of every detail of your earnings and expenses. Home Based Businesses are one of the highest fields of work that are subject to IRS Audits. Keep receipts and client invoices and always keep your books up to date! It would be a shame if all your hard earned money and time were to be jeopardized because of careless accounting errors!
  • You can start soliciting your services to local companies by creating a brochure for your business. Mailings and door to door calling do work but remember that businesses are very busy and often don't like cold-call soliciting. Sending a letter or making a call to set up a meeting time is often the best non-invasive way to get leads.
  • Never take on a job that you are not comfortable with! If a job is too big or complicated or you don't think that you have the time or experience to complete it, don't take the offer! You can always explain to the client that you appreciate their offer but you do not have the time to complete the task and you may even want to refer another Freelancer from you area. There is nothing wrong with referring business to others in the field. There is no shortage of work for a Freelancer who is looking for work.
  • Don't get overwhelmed! Do not take on too many responsibilities all at once! Pace yourself and expect delays (electricity is out because of a storm, no Internet connection for a day...) Allow yourself enough time to get the job done.
  • Respect Client Deadlines! Often times clients have specific deadlines for their projects and if you can't keep a deadline, you will lose future business and also get a bad reputation. Never take a job that you can't finish on time!

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