How to Become a Freelance Writer From Home [+ Success Story]

Are you interested in becoming a freelance writer from home? I often get emails from folks asking me how to kickstart their journey as a freelance writer. Regardless of where you live, the steps to becoming one are pretty much the same.

It’s a fantastic way to make some extra money and even turn it into a full-time gig. That’s why I decided to put together a guide to help new freelance writers get their business off the ground.

Anyone can be a freelance writer. You don’t need fancy degrees or tons of experience.

It’s an ideal gig for bloggers, stay-at-home moms, or anyone tired of the usual 9-5 grind.

Pros & Cons of a Freelance Writer

Well, like anything in life, there are good and not-so-good parts to it. Let’s break it down:

The Good Stuff (Pros):

• Flexible Schedule: You call the shots on when and where you work.
• Be Your Own Boss: No one telling you what to do – you’re the captain of your own ship.
• No Restrictions: Say goodbye to non-compete agreements. Write for whoever you want.
• Unlimited Earning Potential: Your income is up to you, just depending on how much time and energy you put in.
• Feel Like a Badass: You’re a paid writer, and it kinda feels like being a wandering knight from the Middle Ages.

The Not-So-Great Stuff (Cons):

• Variable Income: Some months you’re rolling in it, others not so much.
• Hustle Mode: You gotta work hard to cover your bills, rent, and all those streaming subscriptions.
• Tax Headaches: Being your own boss means tackling your own taxes.
• Benefits Hustle: Health insurance and retirement plans? Yep, you’re on your own.
• Income Takes Time: It might be a while before you’re fully living off your freelance writing.

According to a survey, freelancers rake in anywhere from less than $15,000 to over $100,000 annually. Sure, the income can swing, but guess what? More freelancers say they’re loving their work compared to office employees (73% vs. 66%). So, weigh the pros and cons, and decide if freelancing is your jam!

How to Become a Freelance Writer From Home

Step 1: Decide What Type of Content You Want to Write

This step is super important! There are different kinds of writers, and they all fall under the big umbrella of freelance writers.

First things first, think about what kind of writing you find interesting. What topics do you like, and what are you good at? That’s a good starting point.

Here are some common types of freelance writing:

• Article/Feature Writing: This is the usual stuff you see in magazines or newspapers, whether online or in print. You share stories or info.
• Blogging: You can make money by starting your own blog. But how does that work?
• Ghostwriting: It’s like being a secret writer. You write things for others, and they put their name on it. Blogs, articles, social media stuff, and even books – you stay behind the scenes.
• Copywriting: As a freelance copywriter, you write creative stuff to help businesses and entrepreneurs build their brands and sell their stuff.
• Social Media Content: With social media being a big deal, content writers help brands plan, write, and schedule posts and digital stuff on different platforms.
• Technical Writing: This one’s about taking complicated ideas in specific fields and making them easy for everyone to understand. If you’re an expert in science or other complicated stuff, you can make good money explaining things to regular folks.

Step 2: Choose Your Niche

The next step is to pick a specific topic or a niche.

Surprisingly, calling yourself a general freelance writer might not be the best idea. See, most folks looking for a writer want someone who knows a lot about their specific project.

If you try to be good at everything, clients might think you’re not really an expert in anything and might not pick you.

Start by thinking about topics you find interesting and have some experience in. You can even break it down into sub-topics to add more variety.

For example, if you like writing about food, you can also cover specific things like recipes, restaurant reviews, or healthy eating tips.

Here are some good and money-making topics for freelance writers to think about:

• Personal Finance
• Business and Freelancing
• Technology
• Travel
• Marketing
• Parenting
• Dating and Relationships
• Food
• Fitness
• Fashion

Step 3: Sharpen Your Writing Skill

Starting out as a freelance writer from home can feel a bit much. When you begin, it’s important to be ready to put some effort into improving your skills and investing in yourself.

For instance, you can invest in the writing course that covers everything you need to know to start a successful freelance writing business. It not only teaches you the writing skills you need for today’s digital world, like crafting great blog posts, website copy, and scripts for podcasts and videos, but it also guides you on finding paid writing gigs and marketing your services to make good money.

Aside from a writing course, it’s also smart for new freelancers to think about upgrading their gear.

This might mean getting a better laptop or creating a cozy home office to get your work done efficiently.

Here are some useful tools you might want to consider using as a freelance writer:

• Grammarly: This helps with checking grammar and spelling in your work; there’s a free version too.
• ProWritingAid: It’s a free grammar editor that can evaluate your writing level and overall sentence structure.
• Wave: This tool can assist you in sending invoices to clients and keeping track of your payments. The best part? It doesn’t cost a thing!

Step 4: Build Your Writing Portfolio

Having writing samples (aka. writing portfolio) is crucial when starting a freelance writing gig, and it’s tough to land jobs without them.

Think about it – would you hire a dog walker without knowing if they’ve walked dogs before? Probably not. Clients are kind of the same. They want to see that you’ve written stuff before and get a vibe for your writing style.

If your portfolio is a bit empty, you might need to do a few freebies to show what you can do. It’s not a forever thing, just a way to build up 3-4 solid pieces to flaunt.

Here’s the game plan:

1. Find websites in your niche that let guest writers contribute.
2. Drop them a quick email asking if you can write a trial article for them. Make it clear it’s on the house.
3. When you pitch your ideas, keep it short and sweet.
4. Briefly introduce yourself and explain why you’re a hotshot in that niche.
5. Propose a couple of catchy article ideas.
6. Before you hit them up, read some of their content and tell them why you dig it.

Once you’ve got those freebies published, you can use them to charm new clients for paid gigs.

While you’re building up your portfolio, keep in mind three things clients want to see:

1. You can write well – think of spelling, grammar, and clear thoughts.
2. That you know your stuff in your chosen niche.
3. If you’re doing free guest articles, ask for a little review from the site. It’s like a reference for your writing skills; you can add these kudos to your portfolio!

Step 5: Get Your First Freelance Writing Client

Getting your first client can be a game-changer when you’re starting out as a freelance writer from home, and there are some great ways to make it happen.

1. Job Boards

One cool way to find freelance writing jobs is by checking out job boards. Two of my favorites are ProBlogger and FlexJobs.

ProBlogger is like the go-to place for all kinds of writing jobs, not just for blogs. FlexJobs is awesome too, especially if you want to work remotely. It has a small fee, but trust me, it’s worth it for the options it gives you.

2. Cold Pitching

Another way to land gigs is by sending a cold pitch. If you find a blog or website you’d love to write for, shoot them an email. Check if they have other writers and make sure their content is fresh.

Following their instructions is key, and it’s smart to connect on social media before pitching. Send over some sample articles and titles to show them you’re serious.

3. Freelance Service Marketplaces

If you’re just starting and want clients to come to you, try online service marketplaces like Fiverr, Upwork, etc. Despite what some say, you can make it work with a few tricks. Use your account as a showcase for your writing skills.

Don’t race to the bottom on prices—good clients appreciate quality. And here’s a little tip: ask a friend or family member to make your first purchase and leave a shining review. It’s like a little boost to kickstart your success.

Remember, getting your first client might take a bit, and rejection is normal. But keep at it, and soon you’ll be rocking it as a freelance writer!

How to Boost Income as a Freelance Writer From Home?

To really kick it up a notch and bring in more cash with freelance writing, think beyond just putting words on paper.

The writing world has so many layers, and the more you dive into them, the more moolah you can make!

Here are three ways to boost your income as a freelance writer:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): In the digital age, being SEO-savvy is like having a superpower. Many clients, whether they need articles, blogs, social media stuff, website content, or whatever, love writers who get how search engines work. They’re ready to shell out for content that’s SEO-friendly.
• Proofreading: Knowing how to spot spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes and making sure everything reads smooth as butter before it goes live makes you a writing superhero. Plus, you can boost your writing income by doing freelance proofreading on the side.
• Make Money from Your Blog: If you’ve got a blog alongside your freelance writing gig, why not make some dough from it? You can check here to learn more about blogging.

Success Story from a Work From Home Freelance Writer

Meet Ashley Eneriz, a work-from-home mom and successful Freelance Writer, juggling the joys of motherhood with a thriving writing career.

Her journey began in 2006, a time when online writing wasn’t as lucrative, but Ashley embraced every opportunity, earning $4 for 400-600 words. Despite the modest pay, it taught her to write faster, surpassing her earnings from a barista job.

Over the 12 years of her official freelance career, Ashley refined her approach. Now, she charges $100-150 per hour, aiming for $300-600 for more intensive projects. Payments vary, with some platforms paying upon submission, others bi-monthly, and some monthly, processed conveniently through PayPal.

Finding clients evolved from diligently responding to job boards to a more passive approach. Today, most clients discover Ashley through her past work, portfolio, or LinkedIn. Currently, she manages eight clients and utilizes tools like Google Docs, Contently, or Skyword for efficient collaboration.

Despite being nine months pregnant with her third child, Ashley strives to wake up at 5 a.m. for an hour or two of work. The day includes homeschooling her two girls, aged 5 and 3, intertwined with moments of devotion, crafting, and play. After the girls’ nap time, Ashley balances her roles as a stay-at-home mom with cleaning, dinner prep, and quality time with her husband.

Acknowledging the challenges of freelance writing, Ashley notes the mental energy it demands, the thick skin required for dealing with editors and readers, and the hustle during slow work periods. Despite these hurdles, she loves her job, finding it worth the effort.

Working 15-20 hours a week, Ashley maintains a healthy work-life balance.

Her secret? Defined priorities. Family comes first, leading her to turn down lucrative job offers to prioritize homeschooling and raising her kids. She encourages aspiring freelancers to maintain a similar focus and even offers a free 7-day email course on landing the first writing client.