How do I start becoming a freelance writer?

Question

I love writing more than anything and want to become a freelance writer, but I have absolutely NO IDEA how to start, any tips or guidelines?

Answer 1

Check out the links below

Answer 2

Just keep writing! Write about what interests you, whatever you have a lot of passion & knowledge about. Make sure to do a lot of research, unless it's a personal essay or opinion piece. Read a lot. Get ideas & develop your own voice. If you write a piece that you think would fit well into one of your favourite magazines then look for the name of the editor or associate editor in the masthead at the front of the magazine, send them a letter describing the piece to see if they're interested, or just send the piece itself, depending how long it is and then hope for the best! If you send a self-addressed stamped envelope you're more likely to get a response & get your work back if they're not interested. Also, check to see if they have submission guidelines (they may only accept submissions in certain months, or certain lengths etc, or they may not accept unsolicited work at all.)

There are a number of publications for writers, explore the market that's out there.

Be prepared for a lot of rejection. It goes with the territory! Don't get discouraged. I had poems rejected many times before my first one was published but it was worth the wait. It's the best feeling on earth! It helps to have another job to fall back on. Depending on freelance writing can be pretty risky! Though there are certainly writers who do it (I envy them!)

Good luck! Keep writing & never give up on your dreams!

Answer 3

Start with magazines or other small, obscure publications. Send for guidelines from the publications of your choice. Pick one which allows you to write about something you know. Read and get to know your target publication well. Do all that if you want to get published. If you don't care about publication then just write what and how you want. Writer's Digest is a neat little book that may help, but make sure it is the most up-to-date version. Also, find a great low calorie diet you can live with for a long time. You will need it.

Answer 4

First, what are you interested in? Find magazines that use this subject.

I enjoy gardening and houseplants so wrote a short article about a houseplant. I sent it to a magazine that accepts articles such as this.

I now write for about 8 different magazines on horticulture.

I wrote romance stories for Black Jive magazines. I read many of these stories, caught their style and sent in stories. One was published as the feature story.

Write about what you know, what you love. Then research that subject for magazines that would accept your articles.

Nancy

Answer 5

well my mother is a freelance writer for 1 newspaper and 2 magazines and she started off by contacting local newspapers and magazines.Then you work off that ,if they say yes than start working and build off that!

Answer 6

go to www.writers.net it has lots of info on how to get started. but so far as free lance just pick some magazines that you find fits your genre then see if they accept unsolicited stories, if they do then follow their submission guidelines and then them in. sometimes if you get several it will lead to much bigger things.