Freelance Writer Assignments

From LoveToKnow Freelance-Writing

When you're trying to begin your business, finding freelance writer assignments can seem very difficult. However, approaching the task with patience, persistence, and a positive attitude will help ensure your success.

Resourcefulness is the key to finding jobs for freelance writers.

Finding Freelance Writer Assignments

There are many different strategies a freelance writer can use to find work. For example:

Team up with a local graphic designer or Web developer to offer comprehensive services for businesses in need of marketing materials
Start a cold-calling campaign to let businesses in your community know you are available for writing jobs
Send out query letters to magazines that interest you in the hopes an editor will like your article idea
Bid on projects listed on sites such as Rent a Coder or Guru
Answer requests for freelance writers on sites such as Craig's List
Look for jobs posted on sites such as Freelance Writing Jobs, a popular online community for freelance writers

It's worth pointing out that most writers use several different tactics to find work. For example, a novice freelance writer who gets the majority of her assignments through bidding Web sites may also be busy sending out query letters to try to break into higher-paying magazine markets.

Single Projects vs. Repeat Assignments

Jobs for freelance writers generally fall into one of two categories: single projects or repeat assignments. There are advantages to each approach and many writers do choose to build their business based on a mix of both single projects and repeat assignments.

Single Projects

Since you'll be working on a variety of projects, you'll never be bored. In fact, it's pretty much guaranteed you'll learn something new every day!
In the process of completing your work, you'll build up an impressive portfolio filled with samples from many different publications.
Having a diverse source of income for your freelance writing business provides you with a bit more financial security, since the loss of one client won't significantly impact the amount of work you have available.

Repeat Assignments

Once you've built a good working relationship with your client, you'll be better able to anticipate what type of writing style is needed for a particular project. This should lead to fewer revision requests.
It is easier to plan your schedule when you know where your next assignment is coming from.
If you struggle to market yourself effectively, knowing that you have a semi-steady source of income each month can take some of the pressure off you in this area.

Rules for Successful Freelancing

The easiest way to ensure a steady supply of freelance writer assignments is to build a reputation for being professional and easy to work with. Freelance writers and editors frequently talk to each other via online message boards and informal networking. If you get a reputation for being flaky and unreliable, it's going to be very difficult to find work.

To boost your odds of having a successful writing career:

Complete every assignment to the best of your ability, even if the pay isn't the greatest. Many smaller publications do boost their pay rates as they become more profitable, which could mean a raise for you if your work is high quality.
Never badmouth a client. Posting a vent about a difficult client on your blog or a favorite message board may seem like a great way to blow off steam, but it's important to remember that your words could come back to haunt you.
Pay attention to deadlines. Punctuality is very important as a freelance writer. Always deliver the project on or before the deadline.
Don't plagiarize. This is a huge ethical violation when looking for freelance writer assignments. Additionally, in the field of Web content writing, there are several software programs companies will use to check your work.

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