Resources for Freelance Writers
As a freelance writer, you can use many resources to find jobs, improve your writing, manage projects, find topics to write about, get s ideas on freelance writing rates, and get support on your freelance writing journey. I’ll discuss some of those in this article.
A website
A website is an essential resource for freelance writers because it makes them look professional quickly. People who start a website and use it to market their writing business gain more clients and make more money writing.
Think of your writer's website as a storefront. Strangers will see this when they come to your “store.” What does your store sell? Why is it better than the one down the street?
Your writer's website needs to show prospects who you are, what you do, and why you are the best fit for them. It’s a tool to help you sell your services.
A good editor
No, you don’t need to hire an editor or proofreader, especially if you’re starting. However, you need a good editing tool and a good process. I use Grammarly, and I recommend it to any freelance writer just starting. It’s a robust tool that integrates with Google Docs, WordPress, and social media sites.
The best thing you can do for your editing process is let your writing breathe before you start editing, and don’t self-edit as you type.
A project management system
If you write for multiple clients or blog posts for multiple sites, you need a system to keep your clients or websites in order and know where and when you’ve pitched or which projects are due. You can do this a few different ways. Some people choose to use a freelance writing planner, others use a website like Trello to create one or multiple boards for tracking their projects.
Who Pays Writers
Who Pays Writers is a freelance database of the rates for different publications. If you want to write for a certain publication, you can check Who Pays Writers to see if it’s mentioned.
Another freelance writing friend
You can’t do this alone. Networking and meeting other freelance writers are essential. You can do that by finding networking events in your area, or through Facebook and LinkedIn groups. One of my favorite ways to network with other freelancers is through Shaunta Grimes’ Ninja Writers Group – I’ve learned a lot from talking to the writers in that group over the years.
Google Trends
An easy way to follow your clients is to include trending topics in your blog post. You can use an essential resource like Google Trends to check whether or not your topic or subtopic is trending.
Zotero
This is something I found out about from another Ninja Writer. Zotero is a tool to keep track of sources for articles or blog posts. It’s great if you need to include citations or a bibliography at the end of whatever you’re writing. Additionally, it integrates with Google Docs and Microsoft Word.
These are just some resources freelance writers can use to find and manage jobs, find inspiration for their writing, track their sources, and network with other freelancers. If there are any I haven’t mentioned here, feel free to comment.