what is the first steps in becoming a freelance writer?

Answer 1

Write for your school paper.

It seems like a sucker deal, working for free and towing the establishment line; but that's the way the real world works. Selling out young will prepare you for selling out in the future. It's better to be a well-paid hack than an unpaid loser.

I'm an unpaid loser, BTW. I'd like to write for magazines, but I lack the social skills required. I look at magazines and see nothing but pretentious and/or ignorant ****. It's really an elitist and poisonous worldview. I'm totally out of touch with the reasons why people write and read articles.

You may think you want to be a rogue genius, but most rogue geniuses end up dead in the gutter. Even being a professional writer requires one to be in the top 1%--maybe top .1%--of the population in terms of writing ability. Being a professional writer who expresses unpopular opinion ups that to, like, .0001%. It's much, much, easier to work from the inside.

Stay in school, get a paycheck, and then submit articles.

Establishing relationships with editors is probably your best bet at becoming a freelance writer. Prove to them that you can produce quality material on topic and on deadline, and they will give you work. I'm just saying that your mental attitude is very important.

Another possible answer: Start thinking like a freelance writer. If your ideas come to you in the form of articles, you'll probably generate material that can sell. It would be bad to think primarily about short stories and novels if you want to be a freelance writer.

You might also try writing letters to the editor or filler. I've read that magazines are in constant need of filler. If you can provide that, it might parlay into more substantial assignments.

Another answer: The first step, when you want something, is to ask. Ask editors what they need. (Prove to them that you can provide it first, by providing clips or quality submissions.)

Another answer: Basic training. Try to be always "on" in terms of professional level writing. Don't make grammatical or typographical errors. Ever.

Answer 2

Learn to write, including grammar and punctuation and vocabulary.
Practice writing, by writing everyday.
Read and study the writing of writers you like and admire.
Take course on writing.
Go to college and major in writing and literature.
Figure out what subject matter you want to write about and find writers who work in that area and study what they do.
Read books on freelance writing, particularly on how to succeed.
Subscribe to writers magazines. Like Writers Digest and the Writer.
Then don't quit.

Answer 3

Write and buy the Writers Market. It really helps.
Also, you should write what you WANT to write about and even consider not getting paid for your work for a while. After people see how good you are, they will start paying you.

Answer 4

Many wanna-be writers are starting with sites such as
Associated Content.com and
Constant-Content.com:

http://www.constant-content.com/?area=writertutorial

Associated Content.com:
accepts material from new writers. Associated Content pays $10 or $12 for each article they accept and publish on their website.

Answer 5

at the starting up do not placed all of your writings in a weblog. If there's a scoop on hand the newshounds will locate what you've written by using having warm words for his or her RSS feeds. it is how they are so warm on the ball to inspite of there is going on in the smallest aspects of the rustic or international for that remember. keep your fairly reliable thoughts to your self, and write them up ASAP only so it remains information. then you actually can contact any community or nationwide paper with the tale, and ask to be paid for it no matter if it really is a scoop.

Answer 6

Mastering subject-verb agreement.

Answer 7

Ahhhhh....writing perhaps?

Answer 8

write and show ur writings...