I’ve been reading Anne Wayman’s stuff for a long time beginning with her About.com page for writers. Then, I followed her to The Golden Pencil and About Freelance Writing. I don’t know how she finds the energy to manage two sites, do her regular writing work, post at least 40 writing gigs every couple of days, and provide sage advice about writing. Whatever she does, I thank her for helping writers.
How to Become a Freelance Writer
People seem fascinated that I earn my living as a freelance writer. They are surprised I don’t write fiction, and often confused when I tell them most of my income comes from ghostwriting. I suspect the picture most people have of freelance writers is someone huddled in a garret (do we have garrets any more?) struggling all night to get some deep fiction down on paper in hopes of a great (name your country) novel.
It’s a lovely fantasy, and so far from my own reality, it’s almost laughable. Maybe my story will give you some hints about how to carve out a freelance writing career for yourself.
The family story is I started talking about writing way back in the 6th grade. I don’t remember that, but I do remember the 7th grade typing (yes, typewriters, manual typewriters) class that allowed me to write for the high school newspaper. It was also in high school that I started sneaking off to buy the magazine, Writer’s Market.
It wasn’t until my early thirties that I dared submit something – two articles, one each to Family Circle and Woman’s Day. Both were rejected, as they should have been, but I learned that I could survive rejection. In fact, I posted those two slips to my bedroom wall with pride.
I’d also discovered that while I’m a darn good worker, I’m a lousy employee. I hate the structure and the interruptions and all the office politics. I want to get my work done and go home. So I kept writing and submitting and trying different jobs. I finally landed a freelance job as a tech writer. I hadn’t done any tech writing, but by this time I did have a computer (an Apple II+ with a CP/M card, WordStar, and two single-sided drives!) and convinced someone I could explain how to hook up and use a computer. I did, and parlayed that into a staff tech writing job.
During the tech writing gig, I gathered together three others and we began to write third party software manuals. I also submitted my first piece to Hazelden, the drug and alcohol recovery publisher, and it was accepted! I can remember sitting at my desk hardly breathing.
I’d love to tell you my freelancing was profitable from then on. It wasn’t. A lot of that had to do with personal issues of self-worth, which is why I’m always telling my readers to consider charging more. But even though my view of myself was shaky at best, I kept writing and I kept telling people I was a writer. I stumbled into my first ghostwriting job — I said “yes,” rather than the truth which might have been something like, “I don’t know how, but let’s try it,” and it worked. I was referred to my second ghostwriting job.
I began to write for what’s now About.com and eventually figured out how much to charge for ghostwriting. (A lot!) I blog because it helps me find clients. I qualify my clients carefully and generally now make a pretty fine living.
There are three secrets to a successful writing career:
1. Write
2. Rewrite
3. Market
It really is that simple – not easy, but simple.
About the author: Anne Wayman is a freelance writer, grandmother, cat lover and gardener.
Anne:
Love this line, “It really is that simple – not easy, but simple.” When it comes to freelance writing, I think many confuse “easy” with “simple”. You worded that perfectly — proving that you are indeed a great writer — which is why I was glad to read you charge “a lot!” 🙂
Yuwanda
The Freelance Writer’s Blogs last blog post..How to Make Money Blogging by Selling Your Blog Posts
Anne, I love peeking into the lives of other writers and never fail to learn something from their stories. I also stumbled into my first writing gigs and kept saying “I’m a writer” until I actually believed it (and some days I still need the reminder!). Congratulations on your success and thanks for sharing your lessons with us. I am newly inspired. 🙂
Karen Swims last blog post..A Divine Slap on the Head
I really enjoyed reading this, because I just started freelancing a year ago and I’m not at the point where “I charge a lot.” I want to get there!
I do make a nice return on some of the writing that I do for other websites, so I’m slowly but surely building up to the point where I can command more for what I write.
Karen Putz / DeafMoms last blog post..Identifying the Deaf Gene
What nice comments! Thanks to each one of you.
A
Anne Waymans last blog post..Freelance Writing Jobs – 58 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs
Anne,
Thanks for sharing these ideas with a would-be writer. I’ve always found that I communicate much better in writing than one-on-one. My dissertation work nearly killed my desire to write, but it is slowly coming back (no, the dissertation isn’t finished yet). I’m working on a book titled, “Real Men Raise Girls” that details the humor and humiliation that comes from raising three daughters. After reading your post, I’m thinking of offering a chapter to some magazines for rejection, er, consideration. Thanks again!
You’re doing great, Karen! On the right track and already interviewed a nationally-known celebrity! Don’t think I’ve done that.
Karen, nice post!
There are also lots of pointers here:
http://internetfreelancer.blogspot.com/