12 Things to Do BEFORE Applying for a Freelance Writing Job
October 6, 2008 by Deb Ng
Filed under Freelance Writing
by Deborah Ng
We receive a lot of questions here at Freelance Writing Jobs. The most popular are “how much should I get paid?” and “what do I do about writer’s block?” Coming in a close third are those who want to know how they get started. We covered this a few times throughout the years, but we’re still getting new readers who want tips for beginnng a freelance writing career. Behold
12 Things to Do Before Applying for a Freelance Writing Job
- Brush up on your writing skills: Now that web writing and blogging jobs are commonplace, many people who didn’t set out to become writers are jumping on the bandwagon. That isn’t a criticism, because it’s very roomy up here, but if your background isn’t in writing it’s always a good idea to take a refresher course. I do so once a year using some free online courses. I’m guilty of using too many commas and other goofs so trust me when I say I know the importance of a brush up grammar/English usage lesson.
- Research submission and application processes: It’s not always as simple as submitting your details to a website. If you’re writing for print, there’s that whole query process. If you’re writing for the web, different sites have different criteria. For example, most employers don’t want attachments and many prefer links to your writing than your cutting and pasting to the body of an email. Research best submission practices to know what you’re getting into beforehand.
- Decide which type of writing is best for you: Blogging, online article writing, newspapers, magazines and corporate writing all follow different formats. What best suits your personality? Before seeking out work, decide what topics you’re equipped to write and which format you’re most comfortable with.
- Research pay rates and determine the best for your situation: Want to avoid being lowballed? Do your homework. Learn what the average payment is in your chosen field so you can quote and negotiate with confidence. Granted, new writers don’t get paid as much as more established writers, but you should still be able to judge an appropriate rate vs. one that is insulting.
- Browse the job ads to see what is out there. Before applying for jobs, find all the different job boards and check out a the different types of job ads available. Do this for a week or two (at least) before you start applying. This will give you an idea of the types of jobs available, what kind of work the different writing jobs entail and give you time to formulate questions, responses and prepare.
- Visit freelance writing forums: Freelance writing and blogging forums provide a goldmine of information. The residents discuss rates, employers, best practices and more. Besides, establishing yourself in these communities is good networking!
- Visit freelance and freelance writing blogs: The best way to learn the tips of the trade and where to find the best jobs is to visit different writing, blogging and freelancing blogs. Most of this information is better than anything you’ll find in books.
- Research potential employers: When you visit the job boards on a regular basis, certain names and businesses become familiar. This can be because they’re a good reliable name or they can have a high turnover rate. Research. Learn the best companies to work for – and the worst.
- Get together a list of samples: The people who are hiring want to see what your writing is like so they know if you’re a good fit. Gather together samples of your writing. If you have no experience, write a few articles on your favorite niches. Have a good selection available for when you’re ready to apply.
- Research sample cover letters: If you’re not responding to a job ad via an online application form, you’ll need to send in a cover letter briefly outlining your experience. Most employers agree the cover letter is an important bit of information. It’s the first glimpse they will have of you. Check out sample cover letters and best practices before you write up your own. There’s nothing like getting it right the first time, eh?
- Get your resume in order: If you don’t have many samples to show, you might want to put together a writing resume to show how and why you’re qualified to apply for a particular job. You may not have articles published in a legal journal, but if you worked for years as a paralegal that might be good enough to get in.
- Create a writers website or blog: Rather than scramble for writing links and samples, why not put everything together on one website. Having a writers website, in many cases, can eliminate the need for a resume and attached samples. Employers appreciate being able to see all of your information at a glance. A writers website or blog might list links to samples, experience, contact info and more.
What items can you add to this list?
Related posts:
- Applying for Freelance Writing Jobs: It’s All About Following Directions
- Doing Your Research: Learn About Your Client Before Applying for the Gig
- What’s in Your Clip File?
- Back to Basics Part 3: 11 Things NOT to Do When Applying for a Freelance Writing Job
- On Cover Letters, Quotes, Attachments and Whether or Not the Gig is Worth the Effort
I would add that once you find jobs to apply for, you should do a little research on the publication that you’re applying to. You should be able to mimic their style and tone, then showcase that when applying.
Deb, Thanks so much for these practical tips.
Do you have any suggestions for how to narrow down a niche when somebody is still experimenting with different types of work?
I started out a few months ago and thanks to this website and a couple of others, I have landed a few average paying, steady gigs. But they’re all different- ranging from online catalog writing to SEO copy. Since I very much wanted to add a few solid projects to my beginner’s portfolio, I jumped at every opportunity I saw fit and now am quite happy with the way things are turning out. I still don’t make enough to support myself with freelancing income, but I do enjoy the variety and the experience I am gaining along the way. Besides, the variety helps me tackle writer’s block too and I feel like I can confidently take on more work in any of the categories if one or more of my clients were to cut back on projects.
I have read about why it’s important for writers to find their niche or two. But, I am wondering what are the disadvantages of not having one? And how long can a beginner go without a niche? I know this depends on the person, but, do you know of any successful niche-less freelancers who are Jacks of all even after years of writing? Thirdly, what is the best way to determine one’s niche? I am thinking, the first factor should be how much you enjoy writing for that niche. Followed by rates, competition and potential for growth…
Would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks again.
Thank you this advice. I will search the site for information on “how much should I get paid?” I developed a price list for my services but it took me awhile. There is a lot of “conflicting” information on the internet. I think it comes down to “what do I think I am worth?” and “am I confident that I will get paid the amount that I ask for?”
Rupa:
I do all kinds of writing, but I have different sites and marketing methods that I use for specific niches. So it is possible to be “niche-less” in one way, but reap the benefits of having a niche in another way. Niching is really the best way to identify your target market, set rates, and market to potential customers. I have different sites for medical, legal, real estate, and SEO writing, so I appear to be a niche writer while still accepting assignments on several topics.
“if you’re background isn’t in writing”? oops…
13. Get a website. Or a blog. Or both. Neither is expensive in this day and age, and having a web presence singals professionalism.
14. Get a professional email address. Plenty of sites (Gmail, Pobox, etc.) offer a very cheap or free service. Would you want to do business with lazydude101@yahoo.com? Does funkygirlNY@hotmail.com inspire confidence?
The post is really good which gives the new comers the path if they want to do a career in writing.
Here’s something I never thought of and now find myself in this situation. My mom’s from England and three of her four sisters still live there. I hadn’t seen my aunt in 12 years and she’s here with her husband for the week. I have four contracts and none of them stated anything about the necessity of taking time off.
Now that I need a week off, none of my employers are thrilled to give me a week’s break and some have said if I blow a deadline, I’ve voided the contract and they’ll replace me. I live 40 miles from my parents, so it’s not that quick a jaunt to take a lunch break and spend time with them. In the end, I got to spend time with this this weekend, but it looks like that’s it.
When signing a contract, I highly recommend considering how you’ll take time off and if it is something your employer is willing to work out with you when the situation arises.
Thanks, Leigh. That’s an interesting approach. I guess it would require a lot more investment in terms of time and effort to establish different niches, but in the end it allows you the freedom to work in any area you want to.
@ Ann G. Wow! Most of my clients are awesome about giving me a break, as long as I give them lots of notice. Of course, I usually end up putting in longer hours before I leave and after I get back to get everything done, so it doesn’t really work out that I get much extra time off, if that makes sense. Still, I’m grateful they’re all so flexible.
Can anyone suggest any good freelance writing forums?
I look at craigslist’s and it was a bit of a no-go in terms of what I’m looking for.
Great advice on the writer’s website (with samples, etc.). I think it’s where I got the idea. I found an easy (and free) way to do that on Google Pages. I was able to list my experience on one side of the page and links to samples on the other. I add links to Linked in and Twitter, etc. as I go. I even have a hidden (free) counter (StatCounter) so I can see who is checking out my page. When I apply for jobs all I have to do is send them a link.
I have a suggestion to add: Get a book on freelancing.
Most freelance writing blogs offer great advice, but the time spent searching and loading pages and browsing in general can lead to wasted time for one, and books often have a certain level of authority that you can trust, whereas on the web sometimes bad advice is circulated or suggested.
I picked up “Six Figure Freelance” by Kelly James-Enger first, and then picked up “The Writer’s Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing” to brush up on some skills; it’s phenomenal… to the point, and very comprehensive.
I also started reading magazines differently when I started, looking at everything I regularly read as a potential opportunity. You have to keep your eyes open when you are selling yourself in business, because no one brings opportunities to you as they might in a bigger company. You have to find them yourself. If you watch CNBC weeknights at 10pm, The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch (I recommend this to everyone), you’ll get the right opportunistic, go-getter mentality; that show is very informative, and its extremely motivating!
And I would also say, have good ideas when you submit yourself. They don’t have to be full pitches, but one or two mentions of “I would suggest a piece on…” or “another idea I think would be good for your readers/publication” in each cover letter goes such a long way, because editors like writers with ideas.
My goal if I really want to work with a client and get regular work with them is to become indispensable to my editor, because of my skill, ideas, follow-through, and the fact that I think ahead and often go a bit above and beyond. Part of my job is to make their job easier. So, I have this alert mindset of “have ideas,” “be indispensable,” “think ahead,” ETC. These types of philosophies have proven very successful as I’ve implemented them.