Hot Occupations: Freelance Writing
By Michele Blandino
The ease of communication afforded by the Internet has made it possible for people to trade in their traditional 9-5 job arrangement in favor of less traditional types of employment. This is particularly true among professional women who wish to continue to contribute to the family’s income and/or keep their skills sharp while at home caring for their children.
While there are many ways to make an income while working from home – bookkeeping, web design, and telemarketing are but a few – one of the most popular pursuits among this group is freelance writing.
Why it’s Hot
There are a number of reasons for this. First, writing provides a creative outlet. Second, there is little (if any) overhead or start-up cost involved. And third, most freelance writing assignments can be done at the writer’s convenience, provided the agreed upon deadline is met.
While actual figures vary among writers, seasoned professionals can command $50 per hour and more for their writing services. And yet, for all the appeal of this occupation, there are not many writers who actually succeed. There are many reasons for this, but perhaps the most important one is that many aspiring writers don’t realize that getting a by-line in a national publication or penning the next great American novel is not the only way to make money by writing. And, unfortunately, these writers begin to lose heart after spending weeks or even months sending out query after query and not landing an assignment.
Think Corporate
One way to make money writing is to hook up with a company that needs help. Countless companies outsource work everyday to freelancers. Admittedly, the subject matter may not be as stimulating as writing for a national magazine, but the pay is usually decent. And, while the competition for these assignments is fierce, once you land one, chances are the work (and money) will keep rolling in.
For example, if you have experience as a corporate trainer, you can put your skills to use developing distance learning courses, preparing study guides and even writing examinations. The playing field becomes even bigger if you have training as a technical writer; there are always companies looking for someone to write user guides, construct specifications or develop help files.
If you have a background in teaching Language Arts, you can find work as a proofreader or a copy editor. For example, there are some companies who pay people to compare audio transcripts to the written version to ensure each is a verbatim copy of the other.
Join Discussion Groups
One of the best ways to find out about new writing opportunities is to join an Internet discussion group. There are literally thousands to choose from and they run the gamut from groups that cater to writers specializing in fiction to those targeted toward women who are trying to start a writing career while home with their children. The only potential pitfall to groups such as this is that far too often, members get so caught up in reading and responding to posts that they don’t devote enough time to their job search or writing assignments.
For More Information:
There are hundreds of Internet sites devoted to freelance writers that carry job postings. We’ve chosen some of the best for you:
