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Five Simple Steps to Making Your First $100 as a Freelance Writer

A guide to getting your first big paycheque from your Freelancing Career in 2020

By Ciarán ColemanPublished 3 years ago 5 min read
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Freelance writing sounds great on paper, but for many of us it can be a job riddled with disappointment and stress. That first paycheque seems like an impossible feet sometimes so that's why I made this article, just for you. Tired of wasting your talents for little or no pay? This is the guide for you.

How to make your first $100 as a freelance writer.

1. Be persistent

Consistency is your greatest strength as a freelance writer. You have to respect the fact that everybody has to start from the ground up and your first payment won't come overnight.

It's not the nicest tip to start with but I feel it's too important to put anywhere else. Your first $100 genuinely only comes through being persistent, both with your work and your attempts to find some.

It's easy to get discouraged after multiple pitches get turned down or your blog garners few views, so remember;

Nothing worth anything comes without a little hard work.

You have to be prepared to get practically nothing for the first few weeks or even months, no matter your skills or abilities. It's a saturated market in general so only the most consistent rise to the top.

Don't be discouraged, though. By dedicating just a few hours a week, you'll find yourself above the average and quickly gaining the big bucks.

(If you find yourself in a bit of a rut, turn to websites and blogs that share magazines, websites, etc. looking for pitches. Spend some free evenings sending your work and pitching articles for them. Write Jobs Plus+ has worked wonders for me.)

2. It's a Job, not a Hobby

Too many people treat freelance writing like a hobby and the honest truth is that you won't get anywhere with that mindset. People want to hire professionals and read blogs that look and sound reliable. To stand out amongst the rest today and get that first $100, you need to make a distinct effort with your personal presentation.

This means treating freelance writing like any other job and that means building a resume, putting in the hard work at the start, making investments, etc.

The plus to freelance writing is that it's something many of us would do (and have done) for free. The money is just a bonus. That being said, you wont get that first $100 without a professional mindset, so try to keep a high standard continuously throughout your work.

3. Write about what you're passionate about

Whether you're writing an ebook, pitching for websites and newsletters or starting your own blog, never write about a niche that doesn't interest you. You'll grow tired of it before you even see a single dollar and you'll end up back at square one.

It's important to make sure what you write about is profitable so you can garner that first $100 and make above the double digits consistently, but you wont get a single dime if hate what you're writing about.

It's important to note people can genuinely tell when you're passionate about something through your writing. Normally these people are only reading what you have to offer because they themselves are passionate about its content, so respect your audience enough to make sure your work is always 100%.

Pick a niche you'd happily read and write about. Freelance writing should be fun as well as profitable so don't go into it with your eyes shut. If you're in this for the long run, make sure you're passionate about your niche.

4. Don't undersell yourself

Sure, it's unlikely you'll get a big fat paycheque out of nowhere but smaller editors often take chances on newbies granted they do a decent pitch. Plus, once you get the ball rolling your resume will grow and experience goes a long way in this line of business.

In short, don't be afraid to send your pitch to as many editors and websites as possible, just make sure you put a little bit of effort into each one. Nobody wants to read a manufactured, uninspired pitch so put a little character into each one.

Also, don't be afraid to price yourself at a decent rate, as long as that rate is reasonable. Underselling yourself is underselling your writing so respect your abilities and accept jobs with a pay grade you feel are acceptable.

(Don't get cocky though. If you're starting out your options will be far more limited than later on in your career, so take the opportunities that pay, even if they're a bit low as they'll also expand your resume and give you experience.)

5. Write on Vocal or similar websites

This may not sound ideal for everyone but it certainly worked for me. Writing on Vocal is a great way of seeing which stories and niches you excel at, so you know whats best to share elsewhere, while also getting a little side money if your articles do well. It's free and doesn't put you in any boxes, so you're able to change your niche and style whenever you please.

Vocal has given me an outlet to help others in their freelance writing journey, while also experiment with sharing my own passions. You may feel like this wont benefit you but having a place you can share your work regularly and for an already present audience is a terrific way of getting organic feedback.

And there you have it. Five simple steps to receiving your first $100 as a freelance writer.

Here's all of them in one neat place:

  1. Be persistent
  2. It's a job, not a hobby
  3. Write about what you're passionate about
  4. Don't undersell yourself
  5. Write on Vocal or similar websites

Like this? Wanna see more? Check out my page for more content just like this. Feel free to leave a like or even a tip. Merry Christmas! - Ciarán

how to
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About the Creator

Ciarán Coleman

'There's no time for hatred, only questions

What is love, where is happiness

What is life, where is peace?

When will I find the strength to bring me release?'

- Jeff Buckley

Interested in me writing for you?

Gmail; [email protected]

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