Randall Said:

I wanted to work from home as a freelance writer...any reliable firms that you know.?

We Answered:

hi..

i have been to associate content..but the chances of earning was very much limited..

Then i found another online content provider they are spotwriters.

www.spotwriters.com

They offer you regular work and they pay thru paypal or direct to your bank. Now i am working as a full time freelance writer for them.

Michael Said:

Wanting to know what a freelance writer career is like?

We Answered:

I was considering doing this as well. May still look into it because I simply love to write. And that's what you have to keep in mind! However, you know you gotta get started, so I would recommend doing it on the side. Basically, I wouldn't quite my day-job over this but you should always follow your passion in some form or factor. If you live at home or have a good setup where your bills aren't overbearing then I'd say go for it full-time and then work something on the side like a waiter job or Starbuck's. Plus you may want to surround yourself with other intellects that will inspire your writing capacity. Talk to people, get into spills.

Ron Said:

What is it like to be a freelance writer?

We Answered:

I've either been a freelancer or worked with freelancers most of my life. Here's a brief summary.

You need to be a good writer.

You need to be a good researcher. You have to be able to get background information for the articles you're writing. And you must be willing to talk to interview total strangers.

And in writing and research, it pays to be reasonably fast. The less time you spend on one article, the more time you'll have to spend on others.

But you can't be so fast that you sacrifice thoroughness or accuracy.

It helps to become an expert of sorts in a particular subject area. Many freelancers settle into one area, such as science writing, or travel writing, or business writing. That way, they can develop a reputation for themselves, which helps with the editors who will be clients, and a set of reliable sources and contacts, which helps doing research.

You'll need to keep current in your subject areas so you'll know what kinds of articles editors are looking for.

You'll need to become familiar with different magazines and newspapers, both mass market and specialized. That way, you'll know what kinds of articles they publish, what topics they cover, anad who their audiences are.

You'll need to be a salesperson. If you want to keep the assignments and payments coming in, you'll need to pitch your article ideas successfully to editors.

You'll need to be comfortable working in an unstructured environment. As a freelancer, there won't be regular office hours or even workplaces. You might spend some of your time traveling on assignment. And you might spend a lot of your time at home contacting people on the phone or via e-mail.

You'll need to be able to meet deadlines. If you miss one, you may find it difficult getting more assignments.

You'll need to be comfortable working for yourself. The definition of freelancer is that they aren't associated with any one publication.

For information on specific publications, their requirements, rates, etc., check out Writers Market at http://www.writersmarket.com/index_ns.as…

Bobby Said:

What is the average fee of a freelance writer?

We Answered:

There are so many variables missing from this equation that it makes it impossible to give a solid answer.

Publication/distribution size, location, their budget, your experience, your skills, how many words on average, how many articles per week or month, etc.

For a one time article depending on said factors I charge a rate of $50-$125 per article. Yes, it's a wide spectrum but allow me to break it down. I don't like charging by the word personally because if I charge $0.02 a word and only write 300 words I am only making $6. Not worth my time.

Company A is a small business who simply needs a 300 word piece one time for their web site. Their budget is small and it's only for the web for a local company that doesn't do much business outside of the city it is located in. For that I'd charge only $50.

Company B is a medium/large company. They need a 1,000 word piece (or a small collection of pieces for their web site plus brochure content. Their budget is much larger and they do business outside the immediate area. Typically I will charge between $100-200 for a project such as this, likely edging toward $200 rather than $100.

For the record, I am a former professional writer and have been on and off for around eight years. I have written business plans for a small firm, worked for a major touring company as their copywriter, and was also a journalist for a small publication in California.

You have to take a few things into consideration and consider writing up a proposal prior to this meeting. Be assertive but willing to negotiate. If you decide you want say $150 to write five articles at 300 words a piece and they can only afford $50, try negotiating so you're paid fairly.

If they want you to write one or two pieces for free to test you, be open to it but beware of them using this to try and get you to always work for free. And do NOT fall for the "This will give you lots of exposure!" bullshit line. Trust me, it won't.

I wish you luck. If I made little sense, I apologize. I'm still working on getting caffeinated. =)

Ricardo Said:

How can I build my career as a freelance writer?

We Answered:

I, as your friend , would love to help you, but thats a tough one. if you know one1 thing about freelance writing, then you already know more than i..sorry. i guess my only advice would be to be hard working and persistant..you will suceed!!!!

Pamela Said:

How does one become a freelance writer for card companies?

We Answered:

Every greeting card company has their own protocols and submission guidelines, so you will have to do your research carefully. Many of their websites have submission guidelines posted, or you could email them and inquire. Here are the creative guidelines for a couple companies to get you started:
http://www.designergreetings.com/Pages/j…
http://www.psgreetings.com/

Most of them will want submissions via postal mail, including an SASE. Do your research on how to write a professional cover letter as well! I would suggest taking a look at the book "Writer's Market" in your local public library also, it can be a wealth of information.

Christy Said:

Any tips for a new freelance writer?

We Answered:

I am a freelance writer and editor so I know how you feel. I'd like to know a little more about your education and work experience, however there are a few tips I can give that would work for anyone. It is easy to make a living doing freelance work so long as you are at least an above average writer. Do not let anyway deter you, they are likely not marketing themselves well enough (or not a good enough writer).

1. Read as much as you can. Anything and everything. Look at everything from brochures to bestsellers and think about what you would change and why.

2. Own the Chicago Manual of Style and the 2008 Writer's Market. Chicago is great for knowing the intricacies of editing. Writer's Market lists almost every industry contact along with contact information.

3. Volunteer to write and edit for your favorite non-profit organization. That is how I started. I built up my portfolio and helped a great cause all at the same time.

4. If you don't have a BA in English or a related field, get one. Even a community college degree will go along way in helping you find the right job. Plus you can edit your school's newspaper for experience.

5. Look at websites such as www.guru.com, and www.writerdigest.com for freelance work to help pay the bills and build your portfolio.

6. !!!Read the book, "The Well Fed Writer" by Peter Bowerman. This book convinced me to enter the industry and while I did not take all of his advice, it was a great help getting started!!!

The corporate and marketing world have a lot of need for good writers. Start slow (a few hours a week) in addition to your regular job and develop your experience and portfolio. Before long, you may be turning away clients. Before making the transition to full time make certain that you have saved enough to survive for at least 6 months. Business goes through fast and slow times so you need to be prepared.

If you would like to discuss it further feel free to email me. Good luck!