Freelancing 101

Finding Your Next Stint as a Freelance Writer

Team Pepper
Posted on 16/05/225 min read
Finding Your Next Stint as a Freelance Writer

As a freelance writer, it’s important to understand that this field takes a lot of hard work, excellent time management skills, and the constant hustle to find new projects and clients. While the climb may be tough, building and sustaining a freelance writing career can be very rewarding.

How to Find Your Next Gig as a Freelance Writer?

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Here are some tips to help you find your next gig as a freelance writer.

Create samples and publish them

It is critical to demonstrate to customers that you can deliver what you promise, which is why you must be published. So, take your pick of a subject and write a solid long-form essay (2000+ words) about it.

After editing and thoroughly proofreading your article, you can either save it as a copy on Google Docs or publish it on your free WordPress blog.

Since this is your first time writing a blog post, select a particular niche that you’re the most comfortable writing. Understand that since you have no prior experience, this blog post aims to let new clients know your skillset. After getting your first client, make sure to create a portfolio of all the copies you’ll be working on so you can showcase it to future employers.

There may be a possibility that potential clients may want to see more than one blog post. So, we recommend writing as many sample blog posts on the subject matter you’re most comfortable with, in your free time. Though you may not earn from these blogs directly, look it at in a way that it could potentially bring in more revenue in the future.

Determine your rate like a pro

The internet is awash with information on determining your freelancing rate, which may be overwhelming at times. Here’s all you need to know about determining your rates:

The majority of freelance writers get paid on a per-word basis. That is something you can accomplish as well. The initial fee that you may charge your prospective customers should be based on the subject matter and your expertise. As a beginner, you may be tempted to simply offer low rates to get a writing assignment. However, do not undervalue yourself to the point where your work is exploited.

Do ample research on what new freelance writers are getting paid and meet with multiple clients to get a sense of the industry standard for new freelance writers. Ensure you keep raising your fee with each new client you get.

Alternatively, you can also charge clients on an hourly basis. You may be required to complete tasks that include extensive research and interviews from time to time. As a result, it is preferable to charge an hourly cost to pay for your time adequately.

Constantly finding new writing opportunities

If you are looking for recurrent employment, we recommend that you arrange a daily search for work on various job sites. Continue looking for new opportunities even once you’ve secured a client. You never know when a great opportunity may present itself.

When it comes to finding new opportunities, you don’t need to search too far. You can start your freelance writing career with Pepper Content. Simply sign up with Pepper as a creator and find yourself working on blogs for various clients based on your skillset. If you have the skill to be a good writer, we are certain that you will be able to make a decent living with Pepper Content’s freelance writing opportunities.

Top Books to Read to Enhance Your Writing Skills

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It’s crucial that you are constantly sharpening your skills to bring the best forward for your clients as a writer. You can do this by constantly reading. In fact, certain books will give you a headstart to being a better writer, and these include:

  • Word Castle by Vaibhav Kakkar
  • On Writing Well by William Zinsser
  • The Successful Author Mindset: A Handbook for Surviving the Writer’s Journey by Joanna Penn

Top 3 Platforms to Help You Become a Better Writer

As great as a writer you are, you can always be better by taking advantage of the countless writing tools that can help you write more effectively and efficiently. The following are three platforms that may assist you in improving your writing skills.

Grammarly

As the name suggests, Grammarly is an excellent online tool for checking for grammatical errors. You may use it for free for basic grammatical correction. Still, if you want more sophisticated recommendations, it is ideal to opt for the premium version by paying a monthly or yearly fee. The Premium version may be a bit pricey, but it’s definitely worth the money if you’re working on multiple writing assignments throughout the year.

Hemingway Editor

It is a completely free online tool. All you have to do is put the URL into your browser, copy and paste your content, and it will highlight all of your difficult-to-read phrases, passive voice, and other issues so you can repair them.

Udemy

The website provides an endless list of courses from various professionals, and you can purchase them for as little as $10. Take your time and consider the different courses available. If you come across one that can assist you in your writing by enhancing your skillset, you can always consider considering it.

Conclusion

As a new freelance writer, there’s no denying that finding your next writing stint can be a difficult task. In fact, in freelancing, rejection is something that you may have to deal with regularly initially.

However, don’t be afraid of it. While working on boosting your portfolio, also ensure you’re constantly applying for new opportunities. That way, your chances of securing a solid freelance writing job are much higher.

FAQs

1. Is being a freelancer a wise career choice?

Freelancing has its share of advantages and disadvantages, but it provides tremendous benefits in terms of independence, money, and peace of mind when done properly. There is no employer, no regulations, no set hours, and you may work from anywhere.

2. What are some of the best websites to find freelance writing gigs?

As we mentioned earlier, Pepper Content is an excellent website for freelance writers looking for consistent writing assignments. Additionally, you can also check out freelance writing websites like Upwork, Fiverr, and even LinkedIn Jobs, among others.

3. Is freelance writing a good option for students?

Yes, absolutely. Freelance writing is an excellent source of income for students. Since freelancing comes with advantages like work timing flexibility and a set amount of work, students can work on projects during their free time to not affect their studies or school hours.

4. Is it possible to get wealthy via freelancing?

Because you have more access to customers, you may normally make more money. As an independent freelancer, you are frequently responsible for finding customers on your own and pursuing cold leads as necessary.
That said, it’s important to understand that as a new freelance writer, you cannot expect to become rich overnight. It takes years to build a good portfolio and the necessary experience high-paying clients are looking for. So, ensure that you work consistently and hard to reach that goal.