Today’s economy is constantly shifting, and it can be hard for anyone who is just starting out with writing as their chosen career. It is possible to make a living by one’s pen, and it may really pay off to do some initial groundwork before you get started.
Taking stock
Before you decide to give up your day job, it makes sense to decide if being a writer is really right for you. Whether you are interested in writing the next great Canadian novel or exciting advertising copy, it’s a career that may not be for everyone. You have to have a thick skin and be prepared to blow your own horn.
Is freelancing a good fit?
Many writers get their feet wet in the virtual world by freelancing. There’s lots of sites out there that will be happy to help you get started, but they are not all the same. Freelancer, Fiver, and Upwork are just a few of what’s out there in the online world, and these may be a good choice for anyone who doesn’t mind bidding on posted jobs.
Perfect your pitch
One aspect of freelancing that some may find difficult is pitching themselves to potential clients and having their efforts fail. Most writers have faced the challenge of being rejected, but you have to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep forging ahead. Keep your pitch polite and professional, even if you’re submitting it for what feels like the hundredth time.
Don’t be afraid to show off
Just as with many careers, writing shares the catch 22 of how you often need experience to land a contract, but how can you gain experience without landing one in the first place? This is where blogging and social media may come into play. There’s lots of sites such as WordPress that can help you to create professional looking blogs that show the world what you can do, and you can opt to appeal to a wide audience or a niche market.
Share your skills and knowledge
If you have expertise in a certain field, technical writing may be great for you. This tends to work well for those who are good at translating jargon into everyday language. Ghostwriting offers a way for fiction authors to flex their creative muscles, while those who are detail oriented may find editing and polishing the works where they excel.
Exercise caution
While online writing may sound like an ideal job choice, it does come with pitfalls. The income isn’t always steady, and there are sites that say they will review your work to see if it has potential if you pay them upfront. These tend to be scams.
It also makes a lot of sense for a writer to learn the legal basics of their craft. The online world makes plagiarism of metadata and even whole books easy, and it can be hard to remedy this. It’s a good idea to build a support network of other writers and to protect yourself by copyrights and other methods. Always read terms and conditions and be leery of vanity publishing.
Build your team
Creating a team that includes a good editor as well as a knowledgeable cover artist will help your work to stand art from the crowd. Everyone likes being appreciated, so remember to give them credit in your work
Writing can be a lucrative career choice for those who have been bitten by the literary bug. At Words of Worth, we offer our writers steady work, interesting topics and a supportive editing team. Contact us today to learn more about how to earn writing from home.