Freelance Writing with guest blogger Mocha Writer

I have a guest blogger today! Jamie Fleming, the author of Mocha Writer has agreed to share some advice on freelance writing. She's has some great tips. Be sure to check out her blog! I have included  her link.


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If you enjoy writing and love the idea of being an entrepreneur, freelance writing is definitely a career to consider.




What exactly is a freelance writer? It’s a writer who works for a company or individual on a contractual or project basis. The positions may or may not require a formal contract (even though it’s a good idea) and are usually projects or writing assignments with a specific period of time and goal. After it‘s completed, the freelancer moves to another assignment, or he/she may have continuous work with a specific company or publication.



Types of freelance writing include business writing, marketing writing, web writing, writing for magazines, anthologies or newspapers and writing for non-profits through grant writing and proposal development.



Here are some things to think about before taking the freelance plunge:



Can you work alone?

Yes, working from home can be a treat (some perks include sleeping in, working in comfy clothes or taking a nice walk whenever), but it can be lonely as well. Fortunately, there are ways to deal with this including visiting your local coffee shop, volunteering a few hours during the week and getting involved in online communities.



How much experience do you have and can you afford to freelance full-time right now?

If you don’t have a lot of writing experience, now might not be the best time to try freelancing full-time, but you should definitely go ahead and start.

If you’ve been getting work frequently and are paid fairly well, you can probably take the leap. If you are unemployed or under-employed, this is something you really want to do, and writing is your thing, I say make a go at it. The key is knowing where you are, where you want to be and mapping out a reasonable plan to get there.

Additionally, evaluate your budget and see where you are financially. It takes time for freelance work to begin coming in, so it might take a little while before you actually see the money. Take the time to work out a financial plan before making a quick decision.



Are you flexible and organized?

A freelance writer’s life can be uncertain so make a schedule that works for you but that also allows sudden changes.

And when it comes to organization, you’ll have to keep up with your budget and manage your schedule, notes from interviews, research and other material. Being the “Chief-Do-It-All” in your business can be daunting, but it’s important to stay on top of everything.



Can you separate work from the rest of your life?

Working from home can be overwhelming, and if you really love what you do, it can be difficult to turn off work mode. However, problems can arise when you spend every waking moment staring at your computer screen, and work is all you think about. You have to keep a good balance between work and the rest of your life.



Are you able to promote yourself?

As a freelance writer, you have to do a lot of self-promotion to be successful. If you can find the best words to illustrate your ideas and abilities, you’ll be on your way to a thriving career.



Can you say no and handle it when someone else tells you no?

Accept every project presented to you? You might end up with more work than you can manage. And if you can’t handle rejection, then this probably isn’t the career for you.

Don’t take on too much work just because you think you can do it, and don’t get discouraged if you don’t get the assignment or client. Initially, you will hear ‘no’ a lot more than ‘yes’; just remember that it’s only temporary.



Check out these resources for more information on freelance writing:

Freelance Folder

Freelance Writing Gigs

Sure Fire Writing

Quips and Tips for Successful Writers

A productive Pen

Absolute Write



Sources: Get a Freelance Life: mediabistro.com's Insider Guide to Freelance Writing


Check out Jamie's blog http://www.mochawrites.com/