I decided this year I would take the plunge, give up a full time job with a steady steady paycheck to become a full time freelance writer.
I'm not new to the online world of writing. Writing and research, in one form or another, has been my life's career. Whether it was as a newspaper reporter, magazine editor, technology analyst or book author, the skills are the same.
What I didn't expect, though, is the plethora of freelance writing assistance online.
There is no shortage of help online to guide me into a very successful and six figure freelance writing career. Wow. The stories they tell about how they got started, the mistakes they made and then broke through the freelancers glass ceiling to become highly successful freelancers that command a boatload of money for their work.
So I wanted to research which of these successful freelance writing tutors had the best advice. Where would I choose to spend my hard earned freelance fees to get to a higher level of earning? Surely there had to be some differences. There are so many, it took time to make a list. I finally picked several to get started.
Here are just a few:
The Seven Secrets of Successful Freelance Writers
To Become a Successful Freelance Writer, Start Here
4 Things to Know To Be a Successful Full-time Freelance
The Secret of Successful Freelancing
How Do You Become a Successful Freelance Writer
4 Key Lessons from an Awesome Freelance Writing
How to Become a Freelance Writer - Leaving Work Behind
Being a Full-Time Freelance Writer: 2 Experts Reveal Their Secrets
25 Famously Successful People Who Started Off Freelancing
How to Find Success as a Freelance Writer
In reading through the various Websites, here is what I learned from all of them:
1. Build a Website.
2. Start a blog.
3. Set a regular writing schedule.
4. Pitch for jobs.
5. Be realistic about your knowledge of the freelance industry. Sign up for my newsletter or book to learn what you need to do.
6. Learn how to write a good query letter.
7. Be persistent about going after assignments.
8. Decide what you want to write about. Do you specialize or are you a generalist.
9. Do your research on your subject to be sure it is factual.
10. Promote your work on your Website.
The Websites tell me that if I follow their guidelines, I will be as successful as the posters. All of the posts sold books that explained in detail how to apply the advice. Some promised me I'd make $5,000 a month if I bought the book and followed the advice on how to be a successful freelance writer.
It's comforting to know there are some very successful freelancers out there. Hopefully when I'm doing well, I too, will promote my success and maybe write a book about how I did it and offer it on my own "How to" freelance writing advice.