Guide on How to Become a Freelance Writer With no Experience

Freelance writing is an excellent career option for people who love writing and want to work on their own terms. However, starting a freelance writing career with no experience can be daunting. 

I was there three years ago. So I understand exactly how it feels. That’s why I decided to share the steps I took to build my freelance writing career.

Here, we’ll go over how to become a freelance writer with no experience. I’ll provide you with everything you need to jump-start your freelance writing career, including helpful resources. 

Who is a freelance writer? 

Before we dive into how to become a freelancer writer with no experience, let’s look at who a freelance writer is. 

A freelance writer is someone who writes for clients on a project basis rather than being employed by a single brand or company. As a freelance writer, you can walk on several writing projects, including landing pages, articles, blog posts, social media posts, ebooks, white papers, and marketing materials. 

You can work for one client or multiple brands. Again, you can choose to specialize in an industry or topic. In general, freelance writers have the freedom to choose who they work with, project type, and rate. They often work remotely from their office or home. 

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How to build a freelance writing career with no experience 

Now that you know who a freelance writer is, it’s time to explore the process of venturing into the profession. 

1. Research About Freelance Writing

When I started as a freelance writer, I did a lot of research. I followed established writers on social media, downloaded and read books from PDFdrive, and studied. That made me learn as much as I could about writing and the business aspect of the career. 

 You can visit the AWAI website to learn about freelance writing. The site houses plenty of high-quality writing materials, both free and paid. You can as well take writing courses on Alison.

However, you should keep in mind that freelance content writing is something you continually learn about. The learning process doesn’t end. I started learning about freelance writing in 2018, and I’m still learning about it.  

2. Assess Your Writing Skills

Before launching your freelance writing business, it’s advisable to assess your writing skills. Doing so will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses and determine what areas you need to work on. Below are a few ways you can assess your skills:

• Write pieces in the style that you want to specialize in. This will give you a sense of your writing abilities and help you identify areas for improvement.
• Ask friends and family members to read your writing and provide feedback. This can help you identify areas where you need to improve your writing.

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3. Build a Portfolio

After assessing your writing skills, the next thing is to build a strong portfolio that you will show to potential clients. A portfolio is simply a collection of your best writing pieces that showcase your writing skills and style. Having a portfolio is important for freelance writers because it helps clients and editors evaluate your writing and decide whether to hire you for a project. Below are some tips you can use to build your portfolio:

• Pick a topic you know and write about it — One of the ways to build your portfolio is to write about topics that you feel will appeal to your potential clients and save them on your Google Docs. From there, you can share it with potential clients. 
• Write guest posts — You can find blogs in your niche and pitch guest posts. This will give you an opportunity to get your writing in front of a new audience and add to your portfolio.
• Create a personal blog — Creating a personal blog is a great way to showcase your writing skills and style. This can also help you establish yourself as an authority in your niche.

4. Network and Build Relationships

Networking is an integral part of freelance writing. Building relationships with other writers, editors, and publishers can help you get more writing opportunities and establish yourself as a professional in your field. Some tips for networking and building relationships include:

• Attend networking events — Look for networking events in your area or attend writing conferences. This will give you an opportunity to meet other writers and editors in person.
• Connect on social media — Connect with other writers and editors on social media platforms like Twitter and LinkedIn. This can help you stay up-to-date with industry news and connect with potential clients.

5. Pitch Your Writing

Pitching simply means reaching out to potential clients who may need your writing services. This is an important part of a freelance writing career because it’s how you land new clients and writing opportunities. 

You can pitch them via email or social media like LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. You’ll need to craft a strong pitch that resonates with your potential client to avoid sending out thousands of pitches without responses. Below are a few tips for crafting a strong pitch include:

• Research the client or brand — Before sending out a pitch, you’ll need to research the business and its customers. This will help you tailor your pitch to the brand’s needs.
• Customize your pitch — You’ll also need to customize your pitch for each brand you’re pitching. Doing so, will help you stand out from other writers who are using generic pitches.

6. Set Your Rates

As a new kid on the block, setting your rates can be challenging since you may not know exactly how much your writing is worth. I have been there. Where You want to charge enough to make a living but don’t want to price yourself out of the market. You can check the AWAI pricing guide for web copywriters to have an idea of what you can charge for your writing services. 

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Continue learning and improving your writing and marketing skills

As a new writer, the best thing you can do is learn and constantly improve your skills. Whether it’s improving your writing, pitching, or even managerial skills, that’s the only way you can stand out in the industry. That’s how the writers that you admire today were able to get to where they’re now.