Freelance Writer Needs Work

If you're a writer working from home, these days you might feel like taping a sign to your head that says, "freelance writer needs work." It's common knowledge that the economy is affecting most people right where it hurts: in the bank account.

Is your workload a little light?

If you've been a freelance writer for many years now, you've probably seen the writing industry inflate and deflate like a balloon. Some years you're able to make your mortgage payment every month and take a vacation, while other years you're scrimping to make sure there's food in the fridge. In general, most freelance writers fall somewhere in between, making a living while not striking it rich or starving to death. These days, however, all bets are off.

In times of economic downturn, many companies cut back by slashing their creative and marketing budgets that once paid for copywriting. Magazines lose advertising dollars, which means they have less to pay reporters and feature writers. Small-time clients flounder as well, and aren't willing to pay for writing they believe they can easily produce in-house.

Whether you're an editor, copywriter or feature writer, lean times call for you to step up and take control of your career.

If you're conducting your own "this freelance writer needs work" campaign, below is some advice that might help you find more business.

Marketing is probably your single-most important asset when it comes to drumming up business. Letters of introduction (LOIs for short) are great tools for finding work. LOIs beat cold calling because a phone call might be forgotten a minute after its over, while a physical letter and business card can be filed for future use. Once you've introduced yourself to a business contact, make a phone call one week later to make sure they received (and read!) the letter. Even if you don't get any business right away, that letter may pop up at a time when your contact needs help the most.

If you've got free time due to lack of work, take the opportunity to educate yourself. There is a whole world of new media out there that's just waiting for you to dive in, and as a writer, you're in a unique position to take advantage of it. The best part is that if you've got a computer and a connection to the web, all of this training is virtually free. Tutorials and webinars (Internet seminars) abound, and all you have to do is search for them.

If you're interested in learning about other avenues that can expand your writing career, the following areas will definitely increase your value in the Internet era:

• Writing concise copy for the World Wide Web
• Search engine optimization (SEO)
• Search engine marketing (SEM)
• Social networking strategizing
• Writing for radio
• Technical support writing
• Podcasting
• Video casting
• Web design
• Blogging

Help yourself find work.

Lean times are a great opportunity to expand your repertoire. If there are areas you're interested in learning about (such as those mentioned above) now's the time to jump in. The more skills you've got under your belt, the more valuable you'll be in a freelance market. It's invaluably handy to be a single-stop shop for all of your clients' needs, and if you can design their web page or optimize their web copy to drive Internet traffic to their product, you'll be in a better position than if you had to farm that work out to another professional.

Maybe this is a good time to take an internship at a larger company, learning a new aspect of the writing craft that you're inexperienced in. For example, if you're interested in taking your voice to radio, consider interning a few hours a week at a local radio station to learn the ropes.

Many freelancers don't like to think about it, but it is entirely possible to work part time to make up for the writing income that has disappeared. Working in a position that makes good use of your valuable communication skills can bring in extra cash and lessen the stress of not being able to hit your financial goals.

One thing to keep in mind about working for someone else is that it can afford you all sorts of experience that you can write about later – or even now! Pitch those stories about life back in the fishbowl after you've spent five years in your own private lake. Write some of your best comical fiction about the personal struggle of dealing with inane coworkers. Consider this a way to gain perspective on what you do, and see it as an opportunity to build on the career you love.

In an uncertain economy, one thing is for sure – you should not give up! Your motivation and perseverance are your most valuable assets when business is slow. If you keep your chin up, clients will respond to your confidence and drive. Through marketing, educating and diversifying, you can ride out these tough financial times.

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