Friday, February 13, 2009

Just Do It- Getting Your Freelance Career Started

by Kelly Kilpatrick

Many people dream of a career in freelance writing for various reasons and motivations. While there are countless writers who are capable of being successful freelance writers, certain things ultimately end up preventing them from achieving success. Starting off a career as a freelance writer can be a challenging endeavor, but it is not impossible. Here are a few tips for people who are interested in freelancing that will help get things moving forward.

Write About Everything. As a freelancer, you will rarely be able to actually pick your topics, except during the initial bidding process. In order to make sure that you are marketable, you must be versatile. This means that you need to be able to write about as many topics as possible at a moment’s notice. Start working on building up your repertoire while honing your skills on topics and subject matter that lies outside your comfort zone.

Write Frequently. If you want to pound those keys full-time, you are going to be a busy person indeed. Expect to spend some quality time with your favorite coffee cup come three in the morning. Writing frequently will keep you in practice and on your toes so that you will be well-trained for the day when you have more assignments that you know what to do with.

Compile a Portfolio. A good portfolio highlights you abilities and your range, emphasizing style and professionalism above all things. Whatever you do, take time when selecting pieces to include in your portfolio that will speak to your potential employers about your abilities. Do not include everything you have written; rather, select the pieces which have earned you acclaim or that you are particularly proud of.

Submit Your Work Often. Getting the ball rolling regarding a freelance writing career involves perseverance above all else. Rather than waiting for someone to pluck you out of the crowd, you need to go out there and get it. This means that while you are waiting to get into the field, you need to submit a lot of articles and pieces often. The internet is a great place to start building a name for yourself, so start there as soon as you can.

This article was contributed by Kelly Kilpatrick, who writes on the subject of online schools. She invites your feedback at kellykilpatrick24 at gmail dot com

1 comment:

lindaballoutalkingtoyou said...

You don't ask you don't get is a basic precept of mine. It's how you ask the question that makes the difference.
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