So your big goal for 2020 was launching a freelance writing career. Perhaps you jotted it down in your bullet journal or put it on your moodboard: 2020 is the perfect time. New year, new career! (Ah, remember January? Such innocent memories…) But here we are, well into 2020, shell shocked by all that’s unfolded in the wake of a global pandemic that shut down many businesses and left people scrambling for solutions. How are you…
Launch a Freelance Writing Career
Launching a freelance writing career can be overwhelming. Explore actionable tips to help you find your first clients and start getting paid.
(Looking for advanced tips? Visit Grow a Freelance Writing Career)
Hitting $100K: How to Make Consistent Freelance Writing Income on Upwork
When I first wrote this post I was celebrating making $60K on Upwork. Since then I’ve used these exact techniques below to pass the $100K threshold. This stuff works, I promise. Ah, Upwork. Perhaps the most debated topic in the freelance writing world. Some writers swear by it. Others spew venom across the room and short circuit your laptop at the mere mention of it! As this particular freelance marketplace has evolved with the times,…
How To Get Your Very First Freelance Writing Client—Even If You Have No Experience
One of the most common questions new freelancers ask is, rightfully, “how do I get my first client when I have no experience?” Concerned that their lack of previous clients will deter all future clients, they become convinced that they’ve been slapped with a big neon sticker that says “NEWBIE”. They feel sure they’ll be laughed out of the room when they attempt to do business. This “what comes first, the chicken or the egg?”…
The Ultimate List: 80+ Websites to Find Freelance Writing Jobs in 2021
As we careen into spring 2020, in a year originally shimmering with promise as all of them do, and things couldn’t be any stranger. We’re in the midst of a global pandemic, facing all kinds of uncertainty (to the extent that many of us never want to hear the word “uncertainty” again), and to top it all off, we have this feeling of urgent competition permeating the freelance community—a fear that there may not be…
Dreading Your Next Client Call? 6 Tips to Feel More Confident on the Phone
Feel more confident on the phone with these tips designed for freelancers. Your next client call could be a breeze, even if you’re usually nervous!
How to Write a Cover Letter That Gets Writing Jobs
A friend of mine sent me her cover letter this week, asking for feedback. She’s a talented, experienced, and confident person… but she wasn’t getting any bites. Once I took a look, however, I knew why. The cover letter debacle is one of the most common themes amidst freelancers and job-seekers. These pesky intros tend to be an aggravating, confusing part of the client/job-securing process. The templated stuff we were fed in school doesn’t work…
Video: How to Get Freelance Writing Clients With No Experience
Not sure how to get freelance writing clients with no experience? You’re not alone. Many freelance writers find themselves frustrated with their circumstances as a beginner. Clients are looking for writers who know what they’re doing, but how can you prove it to them if you’ve yet to secure work? *…crickets* Every freelance writer had to start somewhere, including that dreaded “never had a client” phase. And there are thousands upon thousands of successful freelance…
Freelance Writing 101: The Beginner’s Checklist (A.K.A. Everything You Need to Get Your First Client)
What do you really need to get your freelance writing career off the ground? With the conflicting info and all-in-one “hacks” floating around online, it’s hard to know how to get your ducks in a row… or which ducks you even need. After 10 years of freelancing and helping other freelancers get their careers moving, I’ve taken plenty of notes on the dos and don’ts of a solid start. I created this freelance writing…