The journey toward becoming a freelance writer can be exciting and adventurous. It’s a career path that offers great rewards and allows individuals to profit from their creativity and talents as a wordsmith. While no two timelines are the same, it can be helpful to know what to expect when embarking on such an endeavor.
The general timeline can take anywhere from a few weeks to a year, with several factors playing a role in the process. If you’re interested in parlaying your writing skills into a successful new career, read on to learn more about what to expect.
Timeline for becoming a freelance writer
The general timeline for becoming a freelance writer can take as little as a few months or as long as two years. Several factors can affect timeline, including full-time pursuit or using writing as a side hustle. Here’s a closer look at the biggest factors to consider.
Experience level
A writer’s experience level plays a big role in determining how long it takes to get a freelance career up and running. Writers with extensive past experience will have a much easier time connecting with potential clients and selling them on their ability to complete briefs.
A writer with no experience will require time to build a portfolio and demonstrate a solid grasp of different writing styles. It’s fair to expect a beginner’s timeline toward a successful freelance career to take longer.
Writer’s niche
Specific niches also factor into how long it takes for someone to become a freelance writer. A writer with extensive experience in the financial, healthcare, or legal field can convert that knowledge into new writing opportunities, taking in-depth pieces and making them easier to understand for the audience.
Writers with experience writing about technical topics are more in-demand and can receive higher pay. It’s fair to expect a writer with technical knowledge to have a shorter timeline toward becoming a successful freelance writer.
Time commitment
Writing as a side hustle will cause the timeline to grow longer for individuals interested in working as freelance writers. It’s difficult to get up to speed when attempting to grow a new career while focusing significant time and energy on an existing one.
Writers who choose to take on freelance writing as a full-time pursuit can shorten the timeline significantly, with some writers creating a successful career within six months.
Growth strategy
There are several strategies that prospective writers can take to grow their opportunities and success. Marketing themselves through networking, job boards, and cold pitches can be more effective than working for content mills. Having more time to put into marketing is essential for a shorter timeline.
Ways to accelerate the timeline
1. Find your niche
The first thing a freelance writer should do when shortening the timeline toward success is find a niche. Technical niches are in-demand and can lead to a quicker road toward freelance writing success. Areas worth focusing on include Software as a Service, Financial Technology, and Business-to-Business services and sales. With more experience, a writer can establish themselves as a genuine authority within the niche.
2. Build a portfolio
The next step in the process involves building a portfolio. The portfolio is a one-stop shop for potential clients to read previous works and determine if a writer is a good fit for a project. It’s a good rule of thumb to include between three and five high-quality writing samples. Past projects or mock clients can be the source for these samples.
3. Optimize your online presence
Aspiring writers can optimize their online presence by updating their LinkedIn profile. Those with extra time can create a writing website and add the link to it on their LinkedIn page. It’s an effective way to promote one’s skills and become easier to find for potential clients.
4. Make your pitch
Making consistent pitches is essential to keep the momentum going for a new freelance writer. It’s helpful to set aside time each week to put toward pitching projects and articles to clients who exist within one’s niche.
5. Utilize job boards
Job boards are a fantastic resource for writers who wish to make freelance writing a career. Platforms like ProBlogger, Upwork, and LinkedIn can help up-and-coming writers connect with clients and discover projects that align with their experience and niche. Writers can get started by applying to work for Words of Worth, with applicants completing a trial article, and upon acceptance, receiving the chance to begin earning money by writing from home.