Tips and Advice for Aspiring Freelance Writers

I went from working as a full-time bartender to working as a full-time freelance writer within six months. When I told my friends and family that I was going to quit my "real" job to pursue a career in freelance writing, they assumed I'd lost my mind. In a way, they were right to be skeptical: freelance writing is a competitive field that requires a considerable amount of responsibility and determination. However, contrary to popular belief, pursuing a career in freelance writing is not akin to chasing hopeless dreams. In fact, with a few tips and a little advice from a successful freelance writer, you'll be on the road to achieving your goal in just a few short months.

Before considering pursuing a career as a freelance writer, you'll need to make sure that your Internet research skills are refined. The only thing I'm an expert at is researching. I've written on so many different topics that it's ridiculous, from mortgages to pharmaceuticals to cell phone covers to rap music. I had no prior knowledge on any of these topics, so I employed the services of Google to inform myself. Unless you specialize in a field that has a desperate need for writers, you need to become an expert at researching.

There are many different jobs for many different types of writing. You'll need to decide up front which type or types of writing you want to offer to employers. After you've decided on the type of writing you want to do, you need to produce a few samples of this type of writing. Even if you have an ideal resume, a potential employer is likely to ask for a sample of your work. If you want to write articles, a good place to publish is at AssociatedContent.com. After signing up with Associated Content, you'll be able to write articles on topics you choose, and you'll be able to choose a distinct URL that you can direct employers to when they ask for a writing sample. Best of all, Associated Content will pay you for your work.