Freelance Writing - Ten Characteristics of Successful "Working" Freelance Writers

By Suzanne Lieurance

Anyone can become a freelance writer. But successful "working" freelance writers all share ten characteristics. If your freelance writing career isn't what you'd like for it to be, maybe you need to develop a few more of these characteristics.

1. A "working" freelance writer writes on a regular basis. That should be no surprise. But it's probably the number one difference between people who dabble at freelance writing and those who make a living at it. "Working" freelance writers write every day. Even if they aren't working on a particular writing assignment they're usually writing something, even if it's just updating their blog, posting to their website, or writing promotional materials for their writing and writing services.

2. A "working" freelance writer knows how to study the freelance markets. He takes the time to get to know the publications he wants to write for BEFORE he queries them. He studies each publication's guidelines, reads several months' worth of back issues, and digs around online to find the editorial calendars for publications so he knows the best times to "pitch" his article ideas.

3. A "working" freelance writer knows how to write winning query letters and book proposals. He knows editors want to read a query that "hooks" them in the first paragraph and is written in the same style and tone as the proposed article. He knows all the components of a winning book proposal and he also knows how to find an agent and/or a publisher to submit it to.

4. A "working" freelance writer knows how to write for specific markets. He knows that an article he writes for AARP Magazine should not have the same tone as an article for TEEN magazine. Obviously, the subject matter for these publications should be different, also.

5. A "working" freelance writer knows how to find many lucrative writing assignments. He doesn't sit around waiting for jobs to fall in his lap. He knows how to find jobs at online job boards. He subscribes to a variety of ezines that list freelance writing jobs. He also knows how to develop relationships with editors so they call him back for assignments over and over again.

6. A "working" freelance writer always has a weekly marketing plan for his writing and writing services. He knows that marketing his work, and developing a "platform" for himself, is just as important as his actual writing assignments.

7. A "working" freelance writer has a network of contacts that help him promote his writing and writing services. He knows writers all across the country (and even across the globe) and networks effectively with these people.

8. A "working" freelance writer has developed a focus for his writing career. That is, he knows where he wants to go with his writing. He doesn't waste his time writing a slew of short articles each week that pay peanuts and eat up his time. He goes for larger, more lucrative projects, and also develops presentations, courses and workshops that pay him well for his time and expertise.

9. A "working" freelance writer knows how to stay focused so he lives the writer's life of his dreams. He has a plan that keeps him focused. When he can't stay focused alone he hires a coach to help him stay on course.

10. A "working" freelance writer has developed his own informational products to market and has other people marketing them for him as well. Most top-notch freelance writers know a LOT about the subject of freelance writing. They use that knowledge to create articles about writing, tips booklets about writing, and books and courses about writing. They market many of these items themselves but also have affiliates who sell the items for them as well.

Develop all ten of these characteristics and it won't be long before you're a "working" freelance writer, too.

For more helpful tips for writers, visit http://www.workingwriterscoach.com and sign up for the mailing list. When you do, you'll receive a free ebook for writers, plus every weekday morning you'll get The Morning Nudge, a few words to motivate and inspire you to get a little writing done.

Visit the National Writing for Children Center at http://www.writingforchildrencenter.com and find out how you can learn to write for kids. Suzanne Lieurance is a full time freelance writer, children's author, and founder and director of the National Writing for Children Center.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Suzanne_Lieurance

Grab The Bookmarketer For Your Site

Should Freelance Writers Have a Minimum Wage?

With election season here, raising the minimum wage is a hot topic. This got me to thinking about freelance writers - severely underpaid professionals, in my humble opinion.

Freelance writing is a profession where competition is fierce - so much so that many of us work for far below the minimum wage. So, I want to propose a minimum pay scale for web writing, as this is one of the most severely underpaid niches in freelancing.

While I recognize that we live in a free market society, as professionals, I think we should at least have MINIMUM guidelines in place to begin to raise the pay standard across the board.

Proposed Pay Scale for Web Writers

Following are minimums that I think web writers should accept for assignments. My hope is that a standard will begin to be developed for this field (and all freelance writing).

E-ZINE CONTENT: What is this? Content for online newsletters/e-zines. In the last 6-7 years, this form of marketing has really taken off. Some organizations have internal staff to handle this; many more outsource this job to freelance writers.

Many times you will find assignments like this posted on freelance bid sites. I'm astounded at how little some freelancers are willing to accept. I've seen bids as low as $2.50 for 500 words. Hence, I propose the following:

Proposed MINIMUM Pay Scale -- Up to 500 words: $10; 500-1,000 words: $17.50; 1,000-2,000 words: $25; $3,000+ words: $40.

SEO ARTICLES: What is this? SEO is the acronym for Search Engine Optimization. SEO articles are written to drive traffic to a website. How? By using certain key words and phrases to attract search engine spiders.

When a website is "spidered," it picks up on those key words and phrases so that when a web surfer is looking for something, that website will show up in the searched results.

As an example, say you wanted to search the web for copyediting jobs and you used Google as your search engine of choice (does anyone use any other search engine?). So, you go and type in "copyediting jobs."

In the list of results, InkwellEditorial.com is second out of over 1,100 sites.

The reason content is king on the Internet is that it drives visitors to a site - it gets you in front of potential customers. SEO articles are usually 250-400 words, and are "keyword rich."
I've seen rates as low as $1.50 offered for these types of articles, which can be some obscure topic that you know nothing about and therefore have to research.

Even the best writer is going to spend at least 30 minutes on the simplest of articles that require no research. Doing two per hour is only $3.00. The minimum wage in this country is $5.15.

Taking this into account, why isn't there more of an outcry against the wages offered freelance writers?

Proposed MINIMUM Pay Scale -- $8.00 (If you're going to do an article, why not receive at least the newly proposed minimum wage ($8.00/hour)).

FORUM & BLOG POSTING: Now that blogs and interactive forums are so popular, many sites hire freelancers to monitor them and/or post content to keep it fresh. Fresh content is what drives traffic.

The word length of these postings is usually not stated. Most pay by the post. Eg, at least 5 posts a week.

Proposed MINIMUM Pay Scale -- $10/assignment (as this doesn't go on word count, why accept an assignment like this if they're not going to give you enough work that you can at least expect $10).

REVIEWS: Reviews come in many types, eg, restaurants, websites, movies, products, etc.. The pay can range from as little as 5 cents on up to $10 or $15. Most usually top out at a few dollars ($2-$3/per review). They are usually only a few paragraphs long.

However, you have to do the research (ie, eat at the restaurant, read the book, etc.) before you can write the review. This is time. Again, even if you only spend an hour between the writing and the research, how many do you have to do to make it worth your while?

Proposed MINIMUM Pay Scale -- $8.00/reviw (same argument as above).

Freelance Writers: The Education & Wage Gap

Consider this: According to the article, "Freelancers UNITE! Can writers get it together?", (Clamor Magazine, Author: Nick Mamatas), "The average member of the Authors Guild earns less than $25,000 [annually] and one has to sell work pretty regularly to top markets to even qualify for Guild membership."

The Author's Guild is a "Society of published authors, an advocate for fair compensation, free speech and copyright protection."

According to careeroverview.com, "most writing and editor jobs require one to have received a bachelor's degree..." And, according to The U.S. Census Bureau, workers 18 and over with bachelors degrees earn an average of $51,206 a year.

While I couldn't find stats that state exactly what percentage of freelance writers hold at least a 4-year degree, I know that when I ran my editorial staffing agency in New York, we REQUIRED that candidates hold at least a Bachelor's degree. Most employers wouldn't even consider candidates who didn't have a degree.

So, if we consider even the possibility that many freelancers tend to be educated beyond the high school level - why are so many of us willing to accept such low pay?

Chasing the Freelance Dream & Bracing for Change

How do we turn this around? I think that many of us have to stop chasing the dream of "maybe."

Maybe if I can get my foot in the door with this one assignment, then it will lead to others that will pay better; or

Maybe they won't go that high; or

Maybe because competition is so stiff, I shouldn't ask for that much; etc.

While there are circumstances under which all of these maybes can be justified, it should not be your norm. I discuss this in a past article entitled, Writing for Free: When & When Not to Do It.

We, the writers, are the only ones who can raise our pay standard. And, like voting, that means that we are individually responsible for casting our ballots; for just saying no to assignments that don't pay enough.

This starts with adhering to a minimum pay scale.

Author note: The figures mentioned are nowhere near what I think freelancer writers should be paid. I stress that these are minimums I think we should begin to adhere to.

May be reprinted with the following, in full: Yuwanda Black is the publisher of InkwellEditorial.com: THE business portal for and about the editorial and creative industries. First-hand freelance success stories, e-courses, job postings, resume tips, advice on the business of freelancing, and more! Launch a Profitable Freelance Writing Career

Grab The Bookmarketer For Your Site

How to Create a Writing Portfolio Before You Have Writing Clients

If you're thinking about becoming an online freelance writer, you might be concerned that you don't have a writing portfolio to use as samples of your work. Even if you've never had a writing client before, you can quickly and easily set up a nice portfolio to show off your writing ability with the following steps.

Things You'll Need:
- A computer with internet access
- Ideas of things to write about

Step 1: Set up a blog or website. This does not have to be anything fancy at this time, but you should have a blog or website that provides your contact information, a brief bio and your writing experience (or why you enjoy writing if you have no writing experience to speak of), and if you like – you can include prices or a form that allows people to request a quote for their writing needs.

Step 2: Write a variety of articles. Choose topics that interest you and write a few articles about them. You can write about anything you want! For this purpose, you can write articles that are around 500-800 words, give or take. Start with about 10-15 articles.

Step 3: Create a writer's bio. At the bottom of each of your articles, you can include a paragraph or a few sentences about you. Make sure to include your name (or the pen name you plan to use to promote yourself and your writing services), a link to the website or blog you set up in step 1 (use link text of a keyword that someone would type into a search engine to find a writer). An example of an author's byline or resource box would be:

Debbie Dragon is a freelance writer specialising in writing content and search engine optimised articles for the web.

When you set up your link to your blog or website, in this example, you would link the words “freelance writer” to your website.

Step 4: Publish your articles on your blog or website.

Step 5: Submit your articles to various article directories online. Each time you submit an article to a directory you want to include your author's byline with the link back to your blog or website. This not only enables people to click on the link and visit your website, but it also helps you optimise your website or blog for search engines.

Step 6: Start applying for work. Congratulations, you're a “published” author! When you start applying for writing jobs online, you can now link your potential clients to your blog/website, as well as the articles that are published through the article directories online to show a sample of your writing.

Tips:

Use a free blog or website and host to start out, you can upgrade later after you've made some money writing.
Try submitting your articles to www.ezinearticles.com, www.ehow.com, www.isnare.com and www.goarticles.com to get started as they have a lot of exposure

Article written by Janet Beckers


Grab The Bookmarketer For Your Site