Have you ever thought about making money selling your stories, craft tutorials, or other writing? Making money freelance writing is a practical way to make money from home with limited expenses. This post is an introduction and includes tips for beginners.
When you’ve cut every expense possible from your budget, the only solution is to increase your income. Are you looking for ways to earn extra money on the side or a full-time income from home? This post is part of the How to Make Money from Home blog series.
Freelance writing
I’ve been working from home as a freelance writer since 2009. In the beginning, my income was pennies. I worked long hours for little to no pay and learned just about everything the hard way. {I still learn things the hard way, but I’m paid pretty nicely for my writing.} Today I want to share what has worked for me so that hopefully I can encourage a few people and help you get to the making money part faster.
Start professionally.
When you work as a writer under your name, it becomes your “brand.” That might sound scary, but it just means that people will associate your name with certain subjects, ideas, etc. Create an email address and social media profiles using your real name or your pen name, if you’re using one. It will be easier for people to find you and it’s a lot more serious sounding than I_Heart_Kitties99@gmail.com.
It’s also a good idea {and free} to set up a profile on LinkedIn. You can list all your skills and link to your published stories, like a virtual resume. This is what mine looks like.
You don’t have to have any experience to write for many smaller publications, but bigger ones will expect you to have a few clips – stories that have been published somewhere besides your own blog.
Be legal.
Research the laws in your area for freelance writers. It really depends on where you live. As a freelance writer, your contracts will probably all consider you an independent contractor, which means they won’t take out anything for taxes {but you still have to pay them}. You might receive a form 1099 in January that you need to include when you file your income taxes. It just says how much money you were paid. Companies are only required to send one if they pay you a certain amount, though, so keep good records all year long.
I use an Excel spreadsheet that includes: date paid, the name of the story, place it was published, and the amount I was paid. I also use this to keep track of who has accepted a story but not yet paid.
Learn how to write.
You probably have some pretty okay writing skills, but depending on where your writing is published, there are rules. Most newspapers use AP Style formatting, which includes rules for quotation marks and other tiny details. I could never memorize all of them, so I just search the Purdue OWL for things like, “How do you write a date range?” I also use an app on my computer called Grammarly, which is smarter at proofreading than Word and helps with everything from articles to emails and Facebook posts.
Keep a list of ideas.
Use a Word document or similar to make a list of story ideas. Every time you think of something, add it to the list. Mine is really messy, but I try to organize it into categories. Because I write mostly about family stuff, a lot of my stories are seasonal. Some of my best Christmas ideas come in December, but because most publications plan months in advance, it’s too late to email them then. When I add them to my list, I flag them as Christmas ideas so that I’ll remember to start sending them to publishers around Halloween {or earlier, more on that in a minute}.
What makes you stand out as a writer is finding the one subject you’re really passionate about. You’ll know you’ve found it when you feel like you have endless ideas on that topic. {Although everyone gets writer’s block!}
Email everyone.
This is actually the hardest part. When you send a story idea to a publisher, you have to sit and wait for them to reply. They might say no. In fact, a lot of them will. But that’s the worst thing that can happen! They aren’t all going to say no, which is why it’s important to email lots of people.
Who do you email?
Start with local publications – newspapers, magazines, and websites about your area. There are also national publications and smaller, niche magazines. A lot of that contact info can be found on the first page or so of the publication or on their website. Lots of big blog pay writers too.
Here are a few sources that I have used:
- Make Money to Write About Your Kids (285 Markets): Get Published in Regional, National and Online Parenting and Family Magazines by Kerrie McLoughlin {She also shares some info for free on her blog}
- Writer’s Market: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published by Robert Lee Brewer {They come out with a new edition every year. Check your local library.}
- Writer’s guidelines for 800+ magazines, etc. on Freelancewriting.com {A huge list that I haven’t completely gone through}
Tips
- Keep your pitch emails short. Introduce yourself, mention any experience and tell them what you have to offer.
- Ask for guidelines or requirements so that you’re absolutely sure about what is expected from you.
- Build relationships. Once you’ve had success with a magazine, keep sending them ideas. You might become a regular contributor.
- Remember that most magazines work up to 6 months ahead of time and newspapers work about a month ahead.
- Everyone is an expert at something. Find what you love to write about and focus on that area.
Okay, I know I’ve left out a lot. It’s taken me over five years to get to the point in my freelance writing career that I can offer any helpful advice, so I’m sure you have questions. Leave a comment or send me an email and I’ll do my best to help you out.
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