There’s no delicate way of putting this, but entering the freelance writing market can be daunting and frustrating. While there will be writers who secure their first job with relative ease, many freelancers will find the experience highly stressful.

When a writer is researching a possible career transition into freelance work, it is easy — and frankly tempting — to focus solely on the positive aspects of freelancing. If you Google “becoming a freelance writer,” you’ll likely be inundated with successful freelancers testifying about their unbelievable earnings. Often, however, that testimony concludes with the phrase, “find out how I did it by signing up for my freelance course.” While this doesn’t discredit their achievements, one should approach these types of blogs and articles with caution. They are selling a product and not necessarily the stone-cold truth.

With the abundance of these kinds of ‘how-to’ guides, it is understandable why some automatically believe that the freelance writing market abounds with wealth and opportunity. Sadly, this is not the reality for many freelancers and this is particularly true for those just starting out.

The heartening reality is that while a writer can find success and earn a living wage, freelancing is not always as lucrative as one might expect. Indeed, A 2018 survey conducted by The Writer’s Market, found that of the 1000+ freelancers who responded, 58% made less than $10K in 2017. In fairness, however, part of the low salary average could stem from the disproportionate number of part-time over full-time freelance writers within the market. A significant majority of freelancers write as a part-time or side job rather than as a full-time career.

This figure is not meant to discourage but rather provide a basis of what to expect when you’re starting out. The key ingredient to any freelancing career is time. Success is unlikely to happen overnight. One needs time to build up a client list and develop a positive reputation. For some this may take months, for others it may take years. If you’re serious about freelance writing, you’ll need grit and determination to stick it out.

As with any new career endeavor, getting your foot in the door when you have little or no experience in the market will likely prove to be your first major hurdle. For many new freelancers, starting out is overwhelming and nerve-racking.

If you’ve decided to make the leap into freelance writing, welcome! The first question most new freelancers ask is, “how do I land my first job?” The truth is there is no one correct way of doing it. What works for one freelancer won’t work for another. That being said, there are some basics steps you can take to secure your first paying freelance job.

Job boards

Just as you would do in any other job hunt, it’s time to hit the job boards. You should focus your search on boards that are targeted specifically at writers. ProBlogger, BloggingPro, JournalismJobs, and FreelanceWriting are all frequent go-to sites for many writers. LinkedIn has also earned a solid reputation within the freelance community for having reputable job opportunities posted.

Just as you would while reviewing any other job posting, if it seems too good to be true it probably isn’t legit. It is safe to avoid any post that promises you a small fortune in earning potential. Another red flag is any posting that doesn’t contain any identifying information about the company or client. Most job postings should provide the company or client name, details what they are looking for, how and what is needed to apply, and ideally a link to their website or social media.

Avoid the temptation to join content mills like Upwork. Many clients on these sites are looking for maximum output at the lowest possible cost. For hours of work, you stand to walk away with a few extra pennies rather than any serious income. These sites are unregulated and geared more in the client's favor than yours. They provide you with very little control and many writers have raised concerns over their punitive attitude and policies towards writers.

Create a portfolio

Frequently when you read a how-to guide on becoming a freelancer, it will recommend that you create a website. While a web presence is helpful, the time and expense required in creating a website isn’t necessarily the best investment when you’re first starting out. In truth, most clients will ask you to email or upload writing samples directly to them. In the early stages of your freelance career, you’ll be seeking out clients rather than clients searching you out. You may wish to hold off on a website until you have several jobs under your belt.

A simple portfolio with some samples of your writing and social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn) are more than enough to start. There are several good portfolio sites such as Clippings.me which will provide you a certain amount of space for free.

To niche or not to niche?

Some experienced freelance writers will recommend that a new writer select three niches as the primary focus of their freelance business. The theory of niche selection is sound as you become more established, but it can be limiting when you’re just starting out.

It is likely that there are topics you have a great deal of knowledge about from personal or professional experience, and you may wish to use these as the primary focus for any writing samples. That being said, you shouldn’t limit your job search just to these niches. Many freelancers begin their career accepting jobs that are on the periphery of their fields of expertise. In the digital age, many writers adopt the notion of being an expert ‘on the go.’ If you feel that with a little bit of research you could write about the topic a client is requesting, you should strongly consider applying even if it isn’t one of your predefined niches.

Competition is can be high in the freelance market, and some niches have an oversupply of available writers. This is why an open mind is important when applying for writing jobs. Getting your foot in the door is key and you can always redefine your prospects after you have garnered more experience.

Ghostwrite

Ghostwriting is controversial for some freelance writers as it carries nefarious connotations of an individual taking credit for a book they didn’t write.

The reality is that there are numerous reasons why a client or company may wish to hire a ghostwriter. Frequently it is a matter of branding where they want it to appear that all their content is being generated by a single person. It is also the case that many ghostwriting jobs deal with more mature content that some writers are hesitant to put their names to.

Ghostwriting offers freelance writers the opportunity to gain some professional experience and develop client relation skills. Some clients may allow you to list them on your writing CV, while others could have you sign a legally binding contract that prevents you from specifically naming them.

Network with other freelancers

Finally, regardless of whether you’re completely new to freelance writing or you have years of experience under your belt, networking with other freelancers is massively important. Many experienced freelancers are open to mentoring newcomers. Freelance groups on Facebook or LinkedIn also provide a good space to discuss the market, rates, or experiences with clients.

These groups are also a great place to ask your questions and receive experienced feedback. Many experienced freelancers will know exactly where you’re coming from and can provide you with leads, tips, and even warnings.

Occasionally some freelancers with large client rosters may also look to hire fellow writers to help supplement their writing. While this can be a valid opportunity, approach them with caution. Before you agree you may want to visit some other freelance groups and make sure the writer in question doesn’t have a dodgy reputation of using inexperienced freelancers for their own gain. Freelance writers aren’t shy when they believe one of their own isn’t playing fair. If you sign on to this kind of job, ensure that their client knows you’ll be assisting, that you are being compensated fairly based on the amount of work expected from you and that you are allowed to put the experience on your CV.