10 Important Things to Consider When Applying to Freelance Writing Jobs

Though I have no regrets, I know I made quite a few mistakes as a freelance writer, especially when first starting out. I like to use these experiences as opportunities to do better. As far as I’m concerned negative situations can be used as reminders and tools to aid us in seeking positive opportunities. I think I made most of my mistakes because I was so gung-ho to get started. When I began, freelance writing blogs weren’t a dime a dozen like they are now. I did read a few books and articles but most of it was trial and error. Fortunately, brand new freelancers have more  free resources available than ever.  Before you rush into a freelance writing job, take these things into consideration:

1. Rates: Most newcomers expect they’ll have to start out low. However, there’s low and there’s slave wages. If you wouldn’t accept work below minimum wage in the real world, why would you accept this while working as a writer? Something else to consider is that your knowledge in various topics might pull you out of the “beginner” stage and enable you to start out with a better rate of pay than you think. Remember, no one should have to work for free and no one should feel an insultingly low wage is necessary for starting out. Find the jobs that fit your level of expertise and take it from there, you may be surprised by how much money is in that first paycheck.
2. Deductions and expenses - No, you don’t have to commute or buy fancy clothes but there are still deductions and expenses to consider. For example, taxes. Before deciding whether or not a job is a good opportunity figure out how much will have to be deducted for your taxes. Also, will you be paying for healthcare? Childcare? If there’s no money left after paying for all these items, you’re probably not finding the right kind of work. Figure it all out before signing the dotted line so you don’t do a whole lot of work for nothing.
3. Research: Before you accept any project, work out a research stragey. If you’re being paid for original content, the Google and rewrite method doesn’t cover that. So if you’re expect to interview experts and read a lot of books, ten bucks probably isn’t a good enough wage.
4. Time: Those twenty articles about silkworms look easy enough, and the pay is decent, but is really worth it? The client wants those articles in two days. Do you know, without hesitation, that you can really write twenty articles in two day? Be realistic about how your time is spent and what your time is worth. Sure, some projects don’t take long to write, but many take longer than you think.
5. Perks: What are the hidden perks? Working at home is a perk, of course. Not having to pay the babysitter or deal with commute are definitely icing. There may be other perks too, for instance, maybe the client has a reputation for giving bonuses for jobs completed ahead of time requiring no edits. Think about the perks and decide whether or not they make the gig a worthwhile opportunity.
6. Reputation: Some clients or websites don’t have a very good reputation and this may not work out in your favor. For example, I know one editor who automatically rejects writers who only lists a certain content site for a client. She feels that because this place hires anyone without even seeing samples, there are some poor writers there. Consider whether or not your client is giving you a good place for your byline. The pay may be nice but the hit to your reputation might do some damage.
7. Subject matter: Come on. Can you really promise to write 20 blog posts a month about peat moss? It may seem like an easy gig but after a few weeks you’ll be bored. Trust me, unless you absolutely and truly love your topic, you’ll burn out writing about the same thing day in and day out. If you don’t know the subject matter, don’t apply for the gig. People are researching that topic for real information, not recycled content. If you don’t know a thing about the subject matter, it will show.
8. Location: If you live in New York and have a client in California, the web will close the gap. However, that client won’t be around when you want to work at 9:00 a.m. You may have to wait a few hours to receive answers to your questions. Also, that client may have questions at 4:00 his time, just as you’re sitting down to dinner with your family. Having clients in another part of the country isn’t a bad thing as long as you make sure you establish guidelines regarding your time.
9. The Client: You can tell a lot about a client by his job ad. For example if his job ad is nothing but an angry sounding laundry list of unreasonable demands, you just know this person will be worse in real life. Consider whether or not you have the personality to take on a difficult client and still love your job.
10. You can always do better: If you’re a good writer, you can always do better. Yes, you can start out for $15 an hour, but there are jobs paying $30 an hour too. You can get your start writing for websites, but private clients can be very lucrative. Always remember you can do better. Even if you don’t have the time or inclination to research the better opportunities now, know they’re there. Keep telling yourself you can always do better.

What are some of the things you consider before applying for freelance writing jobs?