How to Make Money Writing As a Freelance Writer: 6 Simple Steps

Freelance writers (like me) are often full-time writers. Writing is their livelihood (or they have passive income) and finding clients or writing opportunities is no problem for them.

Many writers, however, barely make enough money to replace their dead-end jobs. It is hard for them to get paid to write, and they don’t know how to get away from crappy freelance writing projects.

If you’re thinking about getting paid to write, you might want to write for money.

Here’s the thing – I was one of those writers.

I found myself stuck.

When I started writing content for a content mill, I had no idea what I was doing – let alone how to make money at it. I had been there.

All that changed when I discovered the world of freelance writing. There are writers who attract clients. There were writers who always landed gigs and writers with high rates.

What do you know? I am one of them. My monthly income does not worry me any longer. I can take a mini road trip any day of the week.

In this article, I’ve organized it into a series of sequential steps. I’ve done this so that you know exactly what to do and when to do it.

The steps to start your freelance writing business are:

  • Step 1: Pick your writing niche(s)
  • Step 2: Gather a writing sample
  • Step 3: Create a portfolio
  • Step 4: Source jobs
  • Step 5: Start pitching
  • Step 6: Land your first client
  • Step 7: Earn your first $1,000

In each step, we explain what to do and how to do it. We include concrete action items for you to follow. If you consistently take action, then you will see results. It may take 30 days or it may take 90 days. But you will earn $1,000 as a freelance writer. 

There is a demand for your writing skills. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2015 the median wage for freelance writers was $60,250. The top 10 percent earned over $114,530. Given that one in four writers work part-time, this is a healthy living for someone doing work that they love. 

Remember, you’re not alone. We and hundreds of other writers have already taken these steps and are living our dream. Don’t wait until tomorrow. Start today.

Step 1: Pick your writing niche(s)

As you explore the world of freelancing, you’ll discover many opportunities. This is good. It means more ways for you to earn a living as a writer. However, the options can be overwhelming. One way to overcome this is to narrow your focus. 

Pick a few subjects you’re comfortable writing about and search for jobs in just those areas. This approach helps you stand out. When you apply for a job, you can use your background to strengthen your pitch. For example, my first niche was Airbnb vacation rentals. I’d written an Amazon best-selling book on how to make money on Airbnb. 

When targeting businesses in the Airbnb space, I used my book as evidence of my expertise. Another advantage is that you develop your knowledge in your subject area. You gather resources that you can constantly draw upon and form relationships with relevant sources. As your skill grows, you write faster. 

And this brings me to the best argument for niching down. When you finish assignments in less time, you make more money for every hour you work. You can also position yourself as an expert and charge higher rates. Faster writing, plus higher rates, leads to a higher income. And what’s not to like about that?

How to Pick Your Niche(s)

You’ve decided to focus on a few areas. Next, you need to pick your niche(s). For most writers, the process looks something like this: 

  1. You select one or two subject areas based on your hobbies, interests, work experience, areas of study, or unique experiences. Don’t worry if you’re stuck on this step. I have more on this below. 
  2. You start looking for jobs in these areas. 
  3. As you land your first few jobs, you notice which ones you enjoy and which pay the most. 
  4. You start to focus on the higher-paying topics that also interest you. 

One word of warning—don’t get too attached to one niche. Be open to writing about other subjects as new opportunities arise. More often than not, your writing niche will find you. You land an assignment in an area. You use that job to get more work. Before you know it, you’re an expert on that topic.

Another Way to Niche Down

Picking subjects to write about isn’t the only way to niche down. You can also specialize in different types of writing. Many people new to freelancing are surprised by how many opportunities exist. A good place to start is writing blog posts or magazine articles. 

This is the type of writing we focus on in this article. However, there are other options. As you develop new skills, you can specialize in other forms of writing. Many of these pay four figures or more per assignment. Here’s a partial list of writing types.

  • Web Content and Blogs
  • Sales Copy for Websites
  • Newspaper and Magazine Articles
  • Catalog or Product Descriptions
  • Advertising Copy for Brochures
  • Grants for Non-profits and Other Organizations
  • Ebooks
  • Business Plans
  • Press Releases
  • Technical Manuals
  • White Papers
  • Case Studies
  • Email Marketing Campaigns
  • Résumés
  • Annual Reports
  • Trade Magazine Articles
  • Speeches
  • Video Transcripts

This is a long list and some of these areas require specific training or experience. However, it’s worth looking for new openings. You never know when a higher-paying and interesting opportunity might come your way. 

I started out writing blog posts, but I gradually shifted into other areas. One of my favorites is creating case studies for technology companies. I landed my first case study by pitching the idea to an existing client. From there I was able to attract more work in this area.

Step 2: Gather a writing sample

Securing quality writing samples is instrumental when launching and growing a new freelance writing business. Put yourself in your prospect’s shoes for a moment. If you’re sitting down to review applications for a writing gig, you would probably focus on a person’s writing samples above anything else. 

It doesn’t matter how impressive their résumé is or how many references they list. What matters is that they can deliver on what they say they can do—write well and on topics, you’re looking to hire them to write about. 

But here’s the thing, if you’re a brand new freelance writer, you probably don’t have any samples. It’s a catch-22, right? You can’t get a writing gig without having samples, and how can you get samples without experience? 

Here are some ways others have built up their portfolio (myself included) that can work for you, too. They’re ranked in order of easiest to hardest, which means there is no reason you can’t start gathering your own samples today.

Search for Existing Writing Samples

Odds are if you enjoy writing, you already have numerous writing samples at your disposal. Maybe you’ve written fiction in the past (published or not), maybe you’ve won a writing contest or two or maybe you’re the go-to writer in your current or past company. 

I bet you have something sitting around that you could re-purpose into one of your first writing samples. If the above didn’t trigger anything right off the bat, consider this list of additional places you can find samples: 

  • Current or past volunteer opportunities (think newsletters, meeting summaries, etc.) 
  • Past high school or college papers (the closer to your niche, the better) 
  • Your (or your kid’s) current or former schools (fundraising campaigns, newspaper stories, etc.) 
  • Your local church or another similar organization (newsletters, member listings, etc.) 
  • A friend or family member’s website or business’s marketing materials (blog posts, white papers, press releases or website copy) 
  • A personal blog or website (see above) 

Obviously, this isn’t an all-inclusive list. But hopefully, it’s enough to get your wheels turning, to fire up your imagination, and figure out if there’s anything you’ve already written that can be used as one of your first writing samples. You can always change it out for something newer or more relevant in the future.

Write Your Samples from Scratch

One of the most overlooked sources of writing samples is creating them from scratch. If you weren’t able to find any (or any relevant) writing samples that you already have on hand, creating some from scratch should be your next step. 

It’s an easy and cost-effective way of securing your first few samples. Although it’d be great to have these writing samples on a website or blog, you don’t have to in order to get them in front of the right people. 

You can literally draft a sample blog post or article in Google Docs or Microsoft Word. And if you want to get all fancy, you can download each sample as a PDF file. With Google Drive, you can also get a sharing link and have them appear “web-based,” even if they don’t live on a blog or website. 

A Google doc, Word doc or PDF can still be a legit sample. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Remember, the goal is to showcase your sweet writing skills and provide a potential client with proof that you can write, and write well. That’s it. No need to overcomplicate things.

Step 3: Create a portfolio

You get to choose how you display your portfolio. You can use as much or as little creativity as you’d like so that you stand out from the pack. 

Let your freak flag fly (if you have one) and go with the option that best fits your creative expression and your budget.

While I believe it’s important to have an Internet home, someplace you can direct potential clients to see samples of your work, you don’t have to have your own website. Would I recommend that you do (at least eventually)? 

Yep. Websites are today’s equivalent of a business card. Of course, whether or not you have one depends more on what your overall or long-term goals are when it comes to online business

Do you just want to showcase a writing portfolio or are you interested in building a website you can monetize down the road? Having said that, you don’t absolutely have to have a website.

Now that we have that out of the way, let’s look at some ways that you can display your online writing portfolio and the costs associated with each.

Portfolio Method #1: A One-Pager

One of the simplest ways to house your online portfolio is by creating a one (or two) pager. Basically, it’s a Google or Word doc that you can download as a PDF and which has its own unique URL that you can easily share (ideally via a hyperlink) with others. What should you include? 

You can include whatever you want. I have some blogging statistics (which are great if you’re trying to convince a company or client to add a blog to a website that doesn’t have one), my headshot and bio, some general rate information, the services I offer, my main writing niches, and a call to action (CTA) at the end to urge them to get in touch.

Portfolio Method #2: A Hire Me Page

If you’re going to go for your own website, you need to secure your own URL (web address) and have it be self-hosted. That means a free Blogger or WordPress account won’t cut it. It doesn’t always look professional and you’re better off doing it right from the start. I set up my own website and Hire Me page right away. 

I made the mistake of buying my domain name and hosting services separately. Although there weren’t any lasting effects, it made it more confusing than it had to be. From what I’ve gleaned over the last several years, there aren’t many differences between large web hosting providers. The total cost was under $100 for the first year (and every year thereafter). 

This is more than worth it since we make all of our household income online. I update my Hire Me page periodically (more frequently when I was building my client base or breaking into new niches) to keep it fresh and relevant. 

Just like how a blog’s About page isn’t about the blog owner (it’s about the reader and confirming they’re in the right place), your Hire Me page is more about your potential client than it is about you. Your goal is to make them feel welcomed, assured they’re in the right spot, and intrigued enough that they’ll read through your service offerings and hopefully click on your CTA. 

I start mine out with a compelling headline/question, benefits that the prospect should be interested in, highlight the various niches I write in (including samples underneath), and end with another CTA to get in touch with. 

Just like on the one-pager, I have a photograph. Clients want to connect with a real person, not a secret possible human. They want to get to know who they’re hiring and what better way to do that than show them a photo with your pearly whites? 

One thing that is different on my Hire Me page (than on my one-pager) is that I advertise social proof in the “As Seen On” section. These are high-profile sites that I’ve been published on in the past. Social proof is powerful, which is why my website also has a Client Testimonials page.

Portfolio Method #3: Pinterest

When I started my freelance writing business, my Hire Me page was my main portfolio. But it wasn’t much later that I learned that Pinterest was a viable (and aesthetically pleasing) option for also displaying an online freelance writing portfolio. 

I added a second portfolio via one of the hottest social media platforms of the decade. I’ve received a lot of compliments on my Pinterest board and I’d recommend starting one either way. It’s free and it’s easy to set up. 

And there’s the added bonus that your samples can be re-pinned and shared socially. Who doesn’t chomp at the bit at the possibility of one’s work going viral? Plus, the more social shares your work has, the more desired you’ll be as a writer. It’s another way to prove your writing skills and market yourself. There’s not much you can do with a Pinterest board beyond pinning the links or images of your articles and re-pinning them. 

Of course, you’ll want to make full use of your bio and each pin’s description. Beyond that, there’s not a lot of customization allowed on the platform. 

Again, I’d recommend you start a Pinterest portfolio and play around with it. Even if it doesn’t remain your main online portfolio (mine isn’t), my guess is that you’ll learn a thing or two about Pinterest. This will translate positively into your new freelance writing business in one way or another.

Step 4: Source jobs

Now that we’ve determined you’re as ready as you’ll ever be, the next question you should be asking is where to find jobs. 

Again, I’ll address all of your questions about what your pitch should look like in the next step, so let’s just focus on where to find opportunities and start compiling a list. I’m going to give you some distinct ways to prospect for clients. You in? Awesome, let’s get started.

Job Source #1: Networking

Have you ever heard, “Your network is your net worth?” It’s kind of true, right? The premise is that who you know is more valuable than the money you have sitting in the bank. You can tap into your existing network to find a new job, connect with new clients, and more. 

That’s invaluable. If you have successful businesspeople in your sphere, I recommend that you take them to lunch, to coffee or at a minimum ask for a quick phone chat (try to avoid email as much as possible for this exercise). 

See if they have a few minutes available so you can pick their brain about marketing or business advice in general. Don’t ask them for work, but instead ask for their help. 

Let them know who your ideal clients are (refer to the niches you selected in step one) and ask that they keep you in mind if a relevant opportunity crops up. It’s not about finding an immediate job, but rather planting the seed and letting them know exactly who you’re looking for in a client. People love to help. 

Don’t worry if you don’t know the right people. I didn’t (and probably still don’t). And I was still able to build a successful freelance writing business. Even if you don’t have an existing network to tap into, it doesn’t mean that you can’t build one. 

Research your local Chamber of Commerce, attend a few applicable Meetups where you can get in touch with your target market, or check out networking groups in your area. Again, the goal isn’t to land immediate business. It’s to start the relationship-building process. To become an authority in your niche and the go-to freelance writer around. It takes time, but it can pay off for years to come if you do it right.

Job Source #2: Job Boards

A second way to source writing gigs is to work online job boards. I’m not gonna lie, there are many freelance writing experts who hate job boards. And for good reason—they don’t always offer the best rates, there are hundreds of other freelancers submitting pitches, and once in a while there’s a scam listed. 

The reason I like them, though, is that job boards are what I used to land 90 percent of my freelance writing gigs in the beginning. For many, including myself, it was easier to pitch clients who had an active listing. 

They were looking to hire a freelance writer for a specific writing project. This is also a great way to practice your pitching skills, such as experimenting with your subject lines to see what gets the most open rates and following specific directions. 

This helps you to get to know what clients are looking for in a writer. You can tweak your pitch based on your response rate, you get to practice negotiating, and it’s low risk. Job boards are not content mills, which try to get writers to do large volumes of work for low pay. 

If you want to give job boards a try, here are four that I recommend. Three are free options and one is paid.

Job Source #3: Social Media

I got one of my earliest freelance writing clients via a Facebook group. In hindsight, it wasn’t the best gig of my portfolio (I ghostwrote some gluten-free blog posts). But I learned a lot through the experience. It was one of my first paying clients, it was my first ghostwriting project, and she wanted to work through UpWork (then Elance) for payment protection. 

That experience forced me to set up a profile on the platform and learn how to use it. Even though I wasn’t super active on Elance, I did get a great client off the platform a few months later—and they sought me out! Regardless, social media can be a great way to source job leads. 

That early opportunity came about because I put myself out there. I let people know that I was a freelance writer and kept my eyes open for leads. As opportunities popped up, I jumped on them. And that would be my main advice to you, too. 

If you don’t tell people that you’re a writer-for-hire, they won’t think to hire you or refer you to someone they know who’s looking for one. It’s not good enough to do it just once, either. You should regularly (and creatively) let people know that you’re taking on new clients (without looking desperate). Some freelance writers will comment on a project they’re working on. 

Others will share valuable articles with their target market. There are a host of ways to connect with prospects socially. Figure out what platforms you want to be on (less is more) and learn how to use them to your full advantage as a new freelance writer looking for work. 

Constantly keep your eyes and ears open for new opportunities. This is how I snagged that gig in the Facebook group. And it’s what you should do, too. If Facebook is your thing, join some applicable groups in your niche. 

Then peruse them regularly for opportunities (you can also use the search function) to respond to a need or just be authentically helpful. This is a great way to start building relationships so you’ll be remembered. If Facebook is not your thing, figure out the trending hashtags on Twitter or search terms in LinkedIn. 

There’s a platform (or two) for everyone, so figure out which one suits your needs, learn the ins and outs of it, and then plug it into your schedule to do a little recon/relationship building on a daily (or at least weekly) basis.

Step 5: Start pitching

Having a great pitch is what will separate you from the crowd when competing against other freelancers (in the case of job board ads) or against yourself (when cold pitching, for example). My pitch has come a long way since I began sending it out in May of 2014. 

It has gone through dozens of revisions. In fact, I probably updated it weekly for a while. Why? Because as I learned what was working, or more accurately what wasn’t, I modified it accordingly. 

I kept track of my “batting average” and wanted to get it as close to 1,000 as possible. I thought you’d benefit most from a timeline of sorts, so here are three different pitch examples that I actually sent out. The last being the closest to the one I’m currently using.

Pitching Tip #1: Accurately Portray Your Experience

One main part of my pitch hasn’t changed much over time. I highlight that I’ve been blogging since 2010 and it’s completely true. I just haven’t been blogging for money since 2010. I started blogging socially in March of 2010 to chronicle my experience through the P90X workout program. 

I had been reading other health and fitness blogs for some time, and I loved to write, so I thought, “Why not?” The truth of the matter is that I only blogged for socialization and accountability. I wasn’t trying to get paid for my writing or develop a huge following. 

Even though my blogging wasn’t income-producing, it was huge in helping me learn some of the basics of writing for the web. And now I can say that I’ve been a blogger for over six years.

Pitching Tip #2: Personalize Your Pitch

If the hiring manager includes their name in the pitch details, or it’s obvious via their email address, make sure to address them accordingly. If it’s a job that you’re especially interested in, it doesn’t hurt to do a little research on the company and add a specific compliment or two either. 

Do your homework and strategically show that you did by personalizing your pitch. The key here is that you’re authentic and you know what you’re talking about. 

Don’t go to their website, read the first paragraph of their last post, and comment without knowing more about what they have going on. Look a little deeper than that.

Pitching Tip #3: Follow Directions Implicitly

If a pitch says to submit three samples and your résumé, you’d better submit three samples and your résumé. Read directions (a few times if you need to) and make sure to respond to each job listing with exactly what they want from you. 

Many potential employers will weed out applicants this way. They’ll ask for a specific email subject line or for you to include your fee or something else. If you’re going to take the time to apply for a job, you might as well do it right. 

Step 6: Land your first client

It’s time to talk about what happens once you have a prospect interested in hiring you. One of the first things a prospect is likely to ask you is, “What do you charge?” Imagine sending out tons of pitches, and samples at the ready, and getting a one-sentence reply like this. 

What do you say? You don’t want to bid too high for fear of scaring them off. But you don’t want to bid too low and end up resenting the work because it doesn’t pay well. So, how do you know what to charge?

Freelance Writing Rates

If you Google how much freelance writers get paid or how to set your rate, you’ll get varied and, in many cases, generic advice. The rule of thumb is that the more specialized the niche, the higher the pay. This isn’t a hard and fast rule, mind you. 

You can find clients in every niche looking to pay well in return for quality work. You can also find clients in every niche that are looking to pay as little as possible and still expect value. This last group of clients are the worst. 

You don’t want them. From my experience and research over the past few years, I’ve concluded that a starting rate of $.10 per word is respectable. That means for a 500- word piece you’d be earning $50. And $100 for a 1,000-word piece. 

Now, you might not start out at $.10 per word—I didn’t. One of my first clients paid me $7.50 per 150- to 200-word WordPress theme review (if you know me at all, you’ll probably laugh as I’m not the most “tech- savvy” individual, but it didn’t prevent me from pursuing the work). The math equates to more like $.04 to .05 per word.

Most articles and blog posts range from 500 to 1,000 words. I used to quote a range of $.10 to .30 per word. This lets potential clients know that I’m a serious writer and jives with the above advice. For a 500-word piece, I wouldn’t take less than $50. 

The reason for the range was that if an assignment was easy for me to write and didn’t take much additional research, then I was fine with a lower fee. Likely, it wouldn’t take as much time and I’d make decent money.

Negotiating

One of the reasons that I suggest $.10 per word as a minimum rate (after you get your feet wet) is because working for less makes it very difficult to build a sustainable business. You need to be able to make a living, pay for self-employment taxes, your own benefits, vacation time, sick time, and more. 

You can’t do that if you’re working for peanuts. And if you’re working for peanuts, then you’re perpetuating the myth that writers shouldn’t be paid well. That’s crap, because writing is a big part of marketing…and marketing is what sells a product. 

Another reason for quoting a range is that it allows you to bid higher if you think you’ll need to negotiate. You can then settle somewhere in the middle or even toward the lower end and your client will think they’re getting a deal. 

The next step is to stick to your guns. Don’t let clients negotiate you down in fear that you’ll lose the gig. If that’s the case, say “pass” and spend the time prospecting for someone who is willing to pay you what you’re worth.

It can be hard to settle on a fee with a client and then later ask for a raise because you bid too low in the first place. That’s why you need to use the first two tips to ask for a livable wage from the get-go. If you don’t, you’re shooting yourself in the foot. Trust me, it’s easy to get resentful if you’re working for less than you should.

Contracts

Now that you’ve pitched your prospect and they’ve agreed to your rate, what do you do? You want to get a contract in place. I know, I know, contracts are awkward. 

Especially when you’re just starting out. Ironically, you don’t usually enter into the conversation about contracts with a prospect until right when you start to feel like you’re hitting it off. They’re kind of a buzzkill that way. 

While bringing up the subject of contracts with a new client will seem intimidating at first, once you’ve handled a few of these conversations you’ll realize it’s not that big of a deal. After all, contracts are a common part of the freelancing world. 

Almost everyone you write for will ask you to sign one and formally agree to their terms. In our world, you’re only likely to see two types of contracts. The most common one you’ll see is a standard Writer’s Agreement. The second is called a Non-Disclosure Agreement.

Once you’ve got a client to agree to your rates, it’s time to get a contract in place. Technically, any oral or written communication can hold up in court, but written contracts trump all.

Step 7: Earn your first $1,000

You’ve secured your first client. Congratulations! Now, it’s time to knock their socks off and win more work. It’s possible to earn your first $1,000 from one employer. But more often than not, it takes several gigs and multiple clients. 

This is why this first job is so important. Impress your client and they may reward you with more work. You’ll also end up with a valuable writing sample that you can use to attract additional clients.

The Writing Process

Whether you’re an experienced writer or a newbie, it’s worth revisiting the basics. These days, most writing is for the web. However, my tips apply to all types of writing. Before you start writing, you want to get to know your client. 

Study their website, articles, and other published material. Get a feel for their tone and style. Also ask whether they have a style sheet or writing guidelines. 

Many blog owners expect you to include links to their previous articles, follow certain grammar rules, and more. Make sure you know your client’s requirements. 

Second, become familiar with the audience you’re writing for. Are you targeting parents, teachers, scientists, academics? Different audiences call for different writing styles. Unless you’re writing for academics, a good rule of thumb is to keep your writing at sixth grade reading level. This may surprise you. 

Some people believe that good writing is complex. The opposite is true. Clear and simple writing is always best. Most word processors, such as Microsoft Word, have built-in tools that assess the reading level of your work. 

You can also use an online tool such as Readability-Score.com. Once you’re familiar with your client and your audience, make sure you have a clear goal. What benefit does the reader get from reading your piece? Clients love it when you ask them questions like:

  • Who is your target reader?
  • What is the objective of this piece?
  • What do you want your readers to get from reading this article?

These kinds of questions show that you’re a professional who knows how to write for a specific audience. Once you have all of this information, but not before, you’re ready to begin writing. Everyone’s writing process is different. 

This is what mine looks like… First, I create an outline. I use mind mapping to get all of my ideas on paper. A mind map has a bubble in the center of the page. Around the bubble, I write all of my ideas. Once I have everything down, I organize my thoughts into a logical sequence. This is my outline. 

Next, I sit down to write. I usually write the entire piece, which can be anything from 500 to 5,000 words, in one session. I write fast and don’t edit as I go. I don’t stop to look something up or do additional research. If I need a quote or reference, I leave a marker in the text and return to it later. My goal at this stage is to get the words down quickly. 

The result isn’t always pretty. I often cringe when I re-read my first draft. But that doesn’t matter, because the next step fixes any problems. I usually spend more time refining a piece than I do writing the first draft. 

During the self-editing phase, I complete research, check grammar, and review for readability. Below is an overview of my full self-editing process. You’re welcome to copy this and adapt it for your own writing process.

My Self-Editing Process

When editing my own work, I hold a picture of my reader in my mind. This is a real person who represents my target audience. I then review my writing twice. The first review is to make sure the piece achieves its goal. I ask myself: 

  1. Is each sentence clear, complete, and concise? I eliminate unnecessary words, including “really,” “very,” or just about any adverb. 
  2. Does each paragraph make one point? Are there relevant examples or evidence? 
  3. Does the introduction make a big promise? Does the conclusion leave the reader satisfied? 
  4. Does the entire piece have a logical sequence that achieves the end goal? Does each paragraph flow easily into the next? 

The second review is to read the piece out loud. I listen to the rhythm, tweak words to improve readability, and correct any spelling or grammatical errors.

Article Structure

Something else that can help you write quickly, especially if you’re struggling to create an outline, is to follow a template. As an example, here’s a template I use for a standard blog post. Again, feel free to adapt this for your own use.

  1. In the first few sentences, tell the reader what’s in it for them. Also make your reader feel safe. You can do this by offering a roadmap, building a connection, or showing vulnerability. 
  2. Next, include three or four subheadings. Each subheading should have one main idea that is compelling to your reader. For example, be controversial, share an emotional story, rile up the reader, or counter an objection. Back up your ideas with statistics, expert references, testimonials, or case studies. 
  3. In your conclusion, restate the hook or promise. If appropriate, include a call to action. Examples of a call to action include: subscribe to an email list, leave a comment, or share this article. 

Not every article needs to, or should, be structured the same. But when you’re new to freelancing, it’s useful to start with a template that’s proven to work. You can use the above structure or study successful blogs. Then create your own templates based on the layouts they use.

Final Words

My journey wasn’t simple. I encountered many challenges along the way. Some of these I overcame and some I learned to live with. 

As you contemplate starting a career as a freelance writer, you probably share some of my concerns. You don’t know how to get started or how much to charge. You’re afraid of failing. 

You don’t want to tell friends and family that you followed your dreams for nothing. You’re scared of rejection. 

You ask yourself, what if you can’t find clients? What if your clients hate your work? I’ve faced all these fears and more. 

But I’ve learned that if you want something enough, you can get past your doubts.

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