With the internet at your fingertips, it is a lot easier nowadays to become a freelance writer. However, there are a few tools you may want to consider having at your disposal before you begin looking for writing assignments.
1. An Online Portfolio – This would be a website that portrays your skills as a writer. If you are just starting out and do not have any formal experience, you can still use a site to display writing samples. Samples alone are sometimes enough to get you hired. When it comes to building a portfolio for your writing, you can choose to purchase a domain name and hosting or go the free route. Sites like Weebly.com allow you to sign up and create web pages for free.
The advantages of having your own website domain name and web hosting are greatly worth the price you will pay for them. For one, it makes you look more professional. You have more flexibility in choosing the name, and you won’t have to settle for a subdomain (Such as yourname.weebly.com). Also, you can create a professional email address off your domain that will allow you to correspond with your clients. Some people find Yahoo and Gmail accounts to be spammy, so having your own domain name in your email address can be much more beneficial.
2. Word Processor – This is the software you will be using to create your samples as well as content for your clients once you start receiving orders or assignments. Most computers come with a word processing program such as Microsoft Word. If your computer does not have this type of software, consider downloading Open Office, which is a free alternative. Make sure you familiarize yourself with the software before you begin writing content with it. You never know how beneficial all the added features are until you get in and play around with them!
3. Organizational Skills – The third “tool” isn’t a materialistic one like the previous two are. However, if you cannot stay organized, you will find it difficult to find success as a freelance writer. You must be able to keep track of your clients, deadlines, and order specifications. Failure to do so can lead to missed deadlines and loss of high paying clients. Using a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel (or an alternative spreadsheet program) or having a planner near your computer will make it easy for you to keep track of things so that you can be professional and on time with your work.
