The Successful Freelance Writer – 1

If you like writing, you can be a freelance writer, but if you love writing, you can be a successful freelance writer. I am not an expert, but I am experienced. And after over 6 years of writing ‘freelance’, I decided to take the plunge as an independent writer.Here are a few first steps and guidelines for anyone – a homemaker to a teenager to a working woma – who wants to start out as a Freelance Writer and then proceed towards a successful career.

1) Draft your samples: If you want to start out as a freelance writer, you got to first have your samples ready. So think of 3 topics which you are comfortable with first – it could be anything – from Art to Sewing to the latest fashion in lingerie! Write about 500 words with a focus on the topic. And it could be in any language which you want to write it ultimately

2) ReWrite your sample: After writing the first sample, sleep over it and the next day read it over again. If you are hooked on to it, chances are the reader might like it too. If not, you might need to rewrite it. So write the same piece till you begin to like it.

3) Read,read, read: The best way to learn writing is to read some good writing. Look up the magazines / media you aim to write for and try to adapt the style. Mind you, if you are not comfortable, do not try to force it else it would appear me too. So adapt the style you are comfortable in

4) Feedback: After your samples are ready, you could show a few trusted friends around – they are your sample target readers. Get some feedback from them as well. Take criticism sportingly, and try to improvise on them. Rewrite the sample if need be.

5) And now, if your sample is ready to be shared, look up the contacts of editors / sub-editors and write a nice mail to them, like a covering letter – with your resume and the 3 samples attached therein.

Usually it takes a few days for them to respond. Especially if its the issue closing time, they might be incommunicado so don’t get depressed. Wait for the revertal – and whether it is positive or negative, don’t take it personally. There’s room for everyone…

Part 2 will take you further down the road. Till then happy writing!