Freelance Writing - An Excellent Career Opportunity

FREELANCE writing is a profession you can undertake from your home, your office - or indeed, from anywhere in the world. It may be a full time occupation, a part time hobby, a second job or a lucrative career for you. Whatever your reasons for looking at freelance writing as an opportunity, being a paid writer is a demanding role, but also a rewarding and fulfilling activity.

Many companies only employ graduates with at least a 2.1 degree in one of many subjects. Many freelance writers are professionals with experience and/or qualifications in teaching, lecturing, editing and marking. They may include lawyers and business consultants, as well as several well-respected authors who also contribute to popular journals.

If you have a degree at 2.1 standard or the equivalent, research skills, a good standard of writing and some time to spare, freelance writing could be for you.

The freelance writing process

As a writer for a freelance research company, you will usually receive regular emails with details of writing projects that customers need to be completed. You select which writing projects you are interested in, based on the details of the project, the fee and the due date. The research company then assigns the project to the most suitable writer.

Why be a freelance writer?

There are many benefits of being a freelance writer.

• Freelance writing is completely flexible - work if and when you want
  


• Freelance writing is one of the few jobs where you choose how much you work for
  


• As a freelance writer, you'll get to learn as you write - some research companies even pay extra for you to take on projects that are not within your specialism, to account for the additional work required in learning about that area of study.

You'll gain knowledge and experience dealing with both simple and complex projects and you'll have the satisfaction of knowing that your well-researched, well-written work is helping to further the knowledge, understanding and advancement of both undergraduate and post-graduate academics, and other business professionals, worldwide.

How much money can I make as a freelance writer?

This really varies and depends on the company you work for. A reputable company will pay pay an average of £40 per 1,000 words, increasing to £120 per 1,000 words for higher level work. The average freelance writing order is around 2,500-3,000 words. Most companies undertake long and complex projects up to PhD standard, which can attract fees of up to £3,500 for completion. The more established research houses will have an in house quality team who looks over your work and has the ability to award you a bonus on successful completion of a quality freelance project - some companies even offer customer bonuses and 'requested expert' bonuses. Of course, as you choose which projects you take, you also are able to set the amount of money you are prepared to work for.

A major research company recently reported that around half of their researchers undertaking writing jobs as a supplement to their existing income. According to their statistics, these writers earn on average £1,000 - £1,500 per month - increasing to around £2,500 per month during the busy months. Around 25% of their freelance writers undertake the occasional brief, earning around £250-£500 a month on average. The remaining 25% (approx) of writers undertake freelance writing as a full time career. These writers earn on average £3,000 - £4,000 per month - which increases to around £5,000 per month during the busy period. According to that company, these income figures are realistic and attainable - they state that 10 projects at £400 per project, each taking 3 days for completion, will result in a monthly income of £4,000 before bonuses. On these figures, freelance writing is a lucrative job and an excellent way to make money from your writing skills.

Are there other projects as well as freelance writing?

Yes! As well as writing jobs, some research houses offer a variety of projects, including presentations, programming work, mathematical work, technical writing, the production of reports, sample job application letters, the drafting of documents, creative writing projects, proofreading, editing and marking customers' work, the production of academic resumes, web copywriting, brochure writing, graphic design, the production of revision notes for exams, and a whole host of other freelance projects.

Why you should become a freelance writer

As a freelance writer, you will join a global community of researchers, writers, lecturers and tutors - most of whom are professionals and graduates. It is an elite position to hold, and an enjoyable, rewarding opportunity. If you're an academic that would relish the chance to help others succeed, then freelance writing is probably for you. As a freelance researcher and writer, you'll have the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects in many subject areas and disciplines. You decide when you want to work and how much work you want to take on. You also choose which projects you're interested in, based on the nature of the project and the fee offered for completion.

Midlands based company Academic Knowledge (a subsiduary of registered company Academic Answers Limited) is currently recruiting for freelance writers. To apply, complete an application form online at http://www.academicknowledge.com/writer-apply.php

Author: Jennifer Wiss
About the Author:

I am a F.ILEX (Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives) specialising in property law, civil litigation and company law.

I hold an LL.B with first class honours as well as qualifications in criminology and philosophy. I acquired over six years of experience working in private practice in the Midlands, dealing with both English and American law. Prior to qualifying as a Fellow, I worked in various positions and gained a variety of experience in different business sectors. I have also provided support as an Associate Lecturer on the Open University LL.B course. I now works for a private company in Nottinghamshire, although I still have a current practising certificate.

I have written over 130 research papers in various areas of law over the past three years. If you are looking for similar, well paid, freelance writing work (writer jobs), click here to apply.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Freelance Writing - an Excellent Career Opportunity

* If anyone wants any advice or information on a particular subject, please click on the 'envelope' below and email me.

Breaking In To The Freelance Writing Market

YOU have dreamed of the freedom of being a freelance writer for some time. Being able to set your own schedule, choose your own jobs and write the material that you want to write - yes, it certainly has its perks. I love being a freelancer writer, and I wouldn't change it for anything in the world. Well, I would change some things, but, I digress.

As I search the freelance writing job boards for someone to help me pick up some extra writing assignments, I notice that there are a lot of novice freelance writers trying to break into the market. I was there once, and I didn't like it much. I started doing this back when the whole search engine article craze and the e-books weren't around - to be a freelance writer you had to do it the old fashioned way - query. This wasn't so bad, and I learned a tremendous amount along the way. And still, if you want to freelance write for most major (and minor) publications, they still require a query letter. But, we aren't going to get into that yet.

One of the biggest roadblocks facing a freelance writer who is trying to break into the market are credits - or as many in the business would call them - bylines. Many of you out there just wanted to be a freelance writer but you have never been published anywhere except your community newsletter. Well, funny as it sounds, that's not a bad place to start. And that is where I come to my first tip: To get a start, write for anyone. Of course, exercise good judgement in deciding what you write, but if you are serious about being a freelance writer, then it almost doesn't really matter.

You can write for your church newsletter, the high school paper, even a well written letter to the editor of your local newspaper is a good clip to keep. When clips are hard to come by as a novice freelance writer, then each one of these counts. Not only that, but each time you write, you learn and you get better at your craft.

As an example, I have been writing since I was 16-years-old. I have written short stories, plays, essays, and even couple of notebooks full of poetry. I never really tried to submit any of it anywhere - always the fear of rejection to stop me (every freelance writer has to deal with it, so get used to it early). But, I learned how to write, and I kept on writing more. When I got my first job as a reporter for a local newspaper, I did it using my short stories and a couple of editorial pieces as my portfolio, along with one magazine credit. I had no degree and I had no post-secondary education whatsoever to fall back on. I was as green as they get. But, I got the job. I had clips that proved to publisher and editor that I could produce quality writing.

I eventually made it to editor of that paper, and penned over 1,000 articles in two years. Now I have all of the clips that I want. Not only that, but it was the springboard for me to make the successful jump into freelance writing. As far as freelance writing goes, I would have to say that I took the long way. But, I wouldn't change anything.

Earlier I alluded to the freelance writing market for search engine articles, e-books, and there are also web articles. In my freelance experience, these types of assignments are two things: 1.) A dime a dozen, and 2.) Not from major publications. You can find hundreds of people looking for freelance writers, just because they can't write these articles or e-books themselves.

So, how can these assignments help you break into the freelance writing market? Again it boils down to credits. Sure, once you write one e-book you aren't going to turn many heads. But, once you have written over 50 e-books like I have, people start to notice that you are a capable freelance writer.

The point here is, you can build your portfolio and you skills by doing work that isn't necessarily glamorous. The only downside is that these jobs typically don't pay great wages.

For a freelance writer to make it today is a tad easier than it was a decade ago. Anyone who does keyword assignments, web copy, and short e-books calls themselves a freelance writer. And that is perfectly OK - it gets you the freelance writing credits you need to land the bigger assignments. Hopefully, they endeavor to be more than a keyword lackey for the rest of their lives, though. And most good freelance writers will rise above that in their career. Keep writing!

By Darren Krause

Darren Krause has been writing for 16 years, with thousands of published credits - in print and online. His website - http://www.imaginethiswriting.net helps new authors with tips and insight into the world of freelance writing. His blog is also updated several times a week.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Darren_Krause

Freelance Writing: Working From Home

IT goes without saying that most freelance writers work from home. However, it is important that, no matter how small or constrained the space, your work and home life is clearly delineated.
When I first started freelancing I set up my computer in the sitting-room. This is great, I thought, I can work and watch television at the same time. Big mistake. Take it from me, re-runs of Frasier and researching the current curriculum for primary schools do not mix. I still got my work done, but it was hard to concentrate and my work slowed down as I periodically broke off to watch Frasier and Niles sparring - or Jessica Fletcher solve another mystery - or Homer Simpson eat another donut.
Principle number one: Treat your working space as a real office with no distractions. If possible, turn a room into an office; somewhere you can close the door on the rest of the house.

The second lesson I learned was to be strict with friends and family. When I was employed, no one phoned me at the office unless it was urgent. No one suggested a shopping trip on a working day and no one dropped in unexpectedly expecting coffee and a chat. But they did all those things as soon I started working from home. In the end I had to be strict. I stressed that I had to make a living and to do so had to be disciplined and work a full week without unnecessary interruptions. It's best to start as you mean to go on and lay down the ground rules from the outset. It's harder to have the conversation after a few weeks of daily socialising.
People with children might find this harder. You may have to break off to do the school run, for example. But my kids know that if the office door is shut, mom is working and mustn't be disturbed unless there's an emergency. Occasionally, when I'm up against a deadline and there's no other responsible adult in the house, I leave the office door open and try to work and supervise at the same time - a bit like simultaneously watching Frasier and researching on the internet! But this is the exception, not the rule. I'm either working or housekeeping, not doing both. Just as I had to be strict with my family during working hours, I also had to make sure I wasn't taking work phone calls and visits during my family time. As soon as my working day is done, I switch over my work phone to answerphone. I never make appointments or arrange interviews during family time unless there really is no alternative.
Principle number two: Separate your working and your personal life.

Another lesson I learned was to separate my personal and working communications. I have separate work and private emails. In this mobile phone era, it's easy to have separate work and personal telephones. I have my own work computer that no one else uses so I know that my eight-year-old daughter isn't going to accidentally delete my 3,000-word Word document that I have sweated blood and tears over all morning.
Principle number three: Have your own office equipment and communications systems.

* If anyone wants any advice or information on a particular subject, please click on the 'envelope' below and email me.

Freelance Writing - Take a Step Forward

IF you are still serious about becoming a freelance writer you will be keen to take the next step. My advice at this stage is not to give up your job (unless you have another source of income), but if you have no job - if you're a stay-at-home parent or just been made redundant, for example - then it's all systems go!

First, decide what you want to write. I was personally lucky as I had worked for newspapers for many years so knew all about writing factual articles, but I also fancied trying my hand at some fiction. I knew I wasn't ready, or had the time, to embark on The Great Novel which I hoped (still hope!) was lurking somewhere within me.

However, I had always found writing short stories a satisfying creative outlet. I had also written a few stories and craft articles for children. So there I was, jack of all trades (articles, short stories, children's fiction, 'how-to' pieces) and master of none! And I'll let you into a little secret. I'm still a jack of all trades but I'm now, hopefully, master of them all. That's the way I like it - writing in lots of different genres for diverse publications. This may not be for you and there's absolutely nothing wrong in specialising. In fact, if you become an expert in one particular subject - and can write knowledgeably and entertainingly about it - you will be in hot demand.

So it's time to take an honest appraisal of your skills and interests.

Are you passionate about a particular hobby? If you are, become the biggest expert on that hobby on the planet! For example, you may love ballroom dancing. Find out about its history, become a technical expert, keep up to date on latest trends, find out about all the ballroom dancing competitions, find out who the top dancers and judges are - how did they get where they are? What are judges looking for? All this will make great subjects for articles and interviews.

If, like me, your interests are more superficial, then always find an unusual angle so that your article stands out from the crowd.

Then, be realistic about your skills. Is your grammar and spelling letting you down? Do you need to take a correspondence course or evening class? Would you benefit from a writing course? See what adult classes your local education authority is offering.

Lay the groundwork, test out the market and when you are confident that you can make some money - go for it! As I said, there's no need to burn all your boats. Start off by writing in your spare time, then as the contacts build up, you can go part-time. Soon that glorious day will come when you can leave the job and go full-time.

Good luck.

* If anyone wants any advice or information on a particular subject, please click on the 'envelope' below and email me.

Time To Look Ahead To Christmas!

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PITY the poor editor. It’s coming up to Christmas and every day a pile of unsolicited manuscripts on a festive theme arrives on his/her desk. The themes range from decorations to recipes to using up leftovers to Christmas parties to ……. you can fill in the blanks yourself.
Were you one of those writers who seized on the holiday season and thought it would be a good idea to send off a Christmas article?
I’m not implying that your article was any worse than those that were finally printed but I suspect those which ended up in the publication were commissioned rather than unsolicited. Not only that, most of the decisions about articles for the Christmas edition were probably made in June.
This year you will do things differently.
If the publication’s guidelines (or if it has no guidelines) do not state a deadline for Christmas articles, you will phone up and ask.
You will NOT write a straightforward article on a straightforward subject unless you have been commissioned to do so.
You MAY, if you wish, take a straightforward subject and think of an unusual angle.
You will write a query letter and get a provisional OK before sending off your article.
My Christmas successes include an article (with pictures) on making decorations out of “rubbish”; a piece about people’s worst Christmases ever; a comic piece based on The 12 Days of Christmas; and an article on how other cultures mark this time of year.

I began researching these articles in the spring and they were all signed, sealed and delivered by the end of June.
So, even if you are still eating those turkey left-overs, it’s time to start looking ahead to Christmas 2008!

How To Write A Great Covering Letter

YOU have researched the market, thought of a killer title and written a killer article. Now you need to persuade an editor to read it and buy it.
The covering letter you send with your manuscript is the first piece of your writing that an editor gets to read… so make it perfect. Make sure it’s grammatical with no spelling mistakes. Sounds basic, I know, but you’d be surprised at how many covering letters I have read that can’t even spell the sincerely of Yours Sincerely! The editor might think if you can’t write a decent covering letter, how on earth can you manage an article?
The purpose of a covering letter is to introduce yourself, detailing your relevant experience and to give a brief précis of the article you have enclosed. Note the word “relevant”. No editor will be remotely interested that you once had a job as a Butlin’s Red Coat – not unless your article is on a related subject.
Sell your strengths, minimise or ignore your weaknesses and explain your background. So first things first. Use proper headed notepaper. Anyone with a computer can produce a professional-looking letterhead. Most word-processing software has its own letter templates. Pick a clean, unfussy style. Find out the name of the specific editor who will be reading your manuscript. A quick phone call or a search through the magazine’s website can elicit this information.
Write in proper, formal letter style. Begin Dear (Name) and finish Yours Sincerely. Tell the editor a little bit about your article and what makes it different from other articles on the same subject.
List your most recent publishing successes and relevant experience and qualifications. If you have a website, mention it here.
Don’t worry if you are a complete novice. Play up your strengths. What makes you an expert on this particular subject? Have you ever won any writing prizes? Do you belong to a particular club or organisation that gives you insight into the subject? When you have finished your letter, double check for mistakes. Make sure your have included your name, address, date, contact number, email and, if you have one, website address.
Be polite. Thank the editor for their time. Show you are flexible and conclude by saying: “I would be happy to discuss any changes you may think are necessary.” Sometimes a little flattery doesn't go amiss! You could add a sentence that says: "I would be delighted to be published by a magazine I have so long enjoyed as a reader."

How To Get Writing Assignments

THERE are several ways in which a freelance writer can get work.

The most common are:

1. Write your piece and then send it off to its destination with a covering letter.

2. Send a query letter first and then write your piece secure in the knowledge that if it's good enough, it will be accepted.

3. Referrals: Get good contacts in your chosen field. Network for all you're worth and then when a job comes up, one of your contacts may suggest your name.

4. Respond to advertisements for writers.

5. Get a commission directly from the editor.

6. Take part in a online auction.

Over the next few days I will go into each option in detail.

As for number 1 (write your piece and then send it off to its destination with a covering letter), I have already covered some of this topic in Study The Market And Hit The Target . You mustn't even consider sending off a piece without knowing that it's suitable for your chosen target. Even if it's the perfect piece, you still need an attention-grabbing covering letter to accompany it. My next post will show you how to write one.