How to Start a Freelance Writing Career in 10 Simple Steps

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Are you ready to start your own profitable freelance writing business? Here’s a beginner’s guide to help you get started!

Do you want to earn extra money from the comfort of your home? Are you a busy mom looking for a flexible side hustle?

If yes, I highly recommend starting a freelance writing business. When I launched mine back in 2015, I had no idea it’d completely change my life.

But I’m so thankful I pushed past my fear and said yes…

To help you get your business off the ground, here are the most essential steps:

1. Decide to Start

This one almost seems too simple to even list. But, it’s the most crucial!

Before you can make money online, you have to start.

Make the decision, and then take action. Do not get stuck in information gathering mode for too long. Learn the basics, and then try them out.

2. Write Down Your Why

Why do you want to start a freelance writing business? Do you want to get out of debt? Or retire your husband?

Maybe you just want to relieve some of the pressure from the family budget.

Whatever your reason, it is important. It is your why.

It’s important to have a why, because this will get tough. Your why will help you stay motivated.

I shared my why here.

3. Talk to Your Family

If you’re married and/or have kids, your business won’t just affect you. You will be spending more time in front of the computer, and it’s important to tell everyone why.

Share your why. Share your goals. Let your family see that there’s a purpose and a vision.

For more help getting your family on board with your new business read this post:

How to Get Your Family on Board with Your New Business

4. Use Free Information to Get You Started

When you first start looking for paid work, you may not have a ton of money to invest in a comprehensive course like 30 Days or Less. That’s okay!

There is so much information online. You can find enough of the basics to help you start your freelance writing business.

Then as you grow, you can save money to invest in a course. Or a website.

Here are three of my favorite resources for freelance writing:

• Elna Cain
• Horkey Handbook
• The Write Life

5. Look for Freelance Writing Jobs

I found my first gig on the  ProBlogger Job Board.

I highly recommend this free job board when you’re first starting out. It’s a great place to find gigs.

Look at the requirements, but remember you don’t have to meet them all. Shoot for jobs where you know you hit at least 75%, and give them a try.

For more information on finding your first freelance writing gig, read this post:

Where to Find Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners

And remember that scams are out there. To help keep your information and money safe, read this one:

Red Flags for Freelance Writing Gigs: What I Learned from Being Scammed

6. Send a Pitch

When you find a gig, you need to apply. In the freelance world, that’s known as a pitch.

Your pitch has a single purpose:

To show the client why they should hire YOU instead of all the other candidates.

You want to shine. But you don’t want to be wordy. Don’t make them fall asleep or read pages of info. Remember they’re sifting through lots of responses.

Show why you’re a great fit.

And if you don’t get it, don’t despair.

Try, try again.

7. Do Good Work, On Time

Once you land a gig, you need to do great work. I don’t care if you’re writing a 1500 word blog post for $25. If you agreed to the terms, do your best work.

Follow the client’s directions. Write in the correct format.

And please edit your work.

Then turn it in on time. Make sure you know if you’re submitting a Google doc, a Word doc, or uploading a piece directly to WordPress. Each client will have different preferences.

8. Remember to Invoice

Freelance writing isn’t like having a 9-5. No one is going to magically send you a paycheck every other Friday.

Instead, you need to invoice for your work. I’ve used Wave for years. I love that it’s free and like how my invoices look since you can add your logo and use custom colors:

To make sure you get paid, put “Send Invoices” on your business to-do list. And then sit down and get those sent.

Invoices = money!

9. Invest In Your Business

Up until now, you’ve bootstrapped your business. Now that you’re earning money, it’s time to invest in it.

Investing in your business can help you scale.

Here are three things I recommend investing in for your freelance writing business:

1. A course – free information can only take you so far. To save time and help you dive deeper, taking a course can help. Here’s the one I took and recommend: 30 Days or Less to Freelance Writing Success (which is now part of Gina Horkey’s Fully Booked VA system. You’ll get so much value out of it!)
2. A freelance writing website. You don’t need one to get started, but having a place to host your Hire Me page and portfolio can help greatly. I use and recommend FastComet for web hosting!
3. A PO Box. Since sending your real address all over the internet as you search for gigs seems like a really bad idea…

I’ve found that when I invest in my business, and myself, I bring in more revenue.

Sometimes you really do have to spend money to make money!

10. Repeat

Keep looking for gigs and pitching. Continue building your client base and turning in excellent work.

Marketing is an essential piece of a profitable freelance writing business. \

Don’t make the mistake of getting so busy with your work that you forget to drum up new business. That’s how you get stuck in the nasty Freelance Famine Cycle.

Just keep putting yourself out there and challenging yourself to grow.

You Can Start a Profitable Freelance Writing Business as a Busy Mom!

Now that you have the basics for how to start the business, here are some posts that will help you find time for it!

• How to Get Started with Family Writing Time
• An Ages & Stages Guide to Working at Home with Kids
• How to Use Sibling Playtime to Get Stuff Done
• How to Gain Time to Blog with a Large Family Mindset

You can do this!!!