Create Your Ultimate 2016 Freelance Success Plan (For Newbies and Pros)

Are you ready to earn a heck of a lot more from your writing in 2016? Good!
You might think it would be impossible for me to write a single post that tells every freelance writer out there how to find better clients and get paid more in the coming year…but that’s exactly what I’ve got for you.

7 Reasons You Have More Writing Clips Than You Think

Here’s a common lament I hear from freelance writers:
“I don’t have any writing samples! What should I do to get clips for my portfolio?”
Well, wait just a minute there. Because often, when I ask more questions, I find out you’ve got clips.
You just don’t think you have any.

How One Freelance Writer Made $11K in Her First Two Months

When I decided to take the leap and leave my corporate communications job for a full-time freelance writing career, I knew I’d make most of my money writing for businesses. So I spent entire days creating a spreadsheet of hundreds of potential clients to pitch.

How Freelance Article Writers Can Find Facts Fast — And Make Sure They’re True

The strongest magazine articles usually include data from a reliable source to back up the points you’re making. Without solid information, your article doesn’t come off as credible.

Why Super-Short Articles Can Build a Big Writing Career

Writing short can be refreshing — like ice in your underwear.
It’s also a practical way to build a writing career.

Readers’ 2015 Picks: Most Useful Posts for Freelance Writers & Bloggers

Need a shot of freelance writing knowledge to start the New Year off right? I’ve got it for you right here — our annual list of the most popular new posts that went up this year here on Make a Living Writing!
That’s right, many of the all-time most populars you see over in the sidebar from past years are out of the running for this fresh list.

Is Freelance Writing a Sure Thing? Scam Alert

Do you think freelance writing is a sure thing?
If so, there’s a newly minted online writing ‘expert’ who’d love to take your money.
You may have heard that if something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is.

How One Freelance Writer Found a $3,000 Gig — On Twitter

I thought Twitter was dead. I had pretty much abandoned it for the bright colors and changing landscape of Instagram. I mean, Instagram pretty much has a built-in Snapchat feature and allows for way more than 140 characters. So what else do you need? Certainly not Twitter.

What IS Freelance Writing? Answers to the Awkward Newbie Questions

I post a lot of tips here on Make a Living Writing for writers looking to earn more. But recently, a look at my Google Analytics revealed a surprising phrase writers commonly search on:
“What is freelance writing?”

6 Basic Steps to Score Your First Freelance Writing Gig

The biggest problem I faced as a new freelance writer was wondering when I’d ever feel ready to make the leap to marketing myself effectively, and getting that first freelance writing gig.

Young Writers: Earn Big With These Vital Mindset Changes

I quit my corporate job in February 2015 with $300 in the bank. I had no idea what I wanted to do besides make a living writing. I was 25 years old, and a total newbie in the writing world. There wasn’t a lot of demand for young writers, I thought.

How to Become a Freelance Writer: My Best Resources

Every day, writers email me and ask how to become a freelance writer. Where is the door that you go through where you can start earning a living as a freelance writer?
Well, I’ve created a door.

21 Ways to Market Your Writing Services

In my mentoring work, I often find myself introducing my mentees to a basic fact of life for freelance writers: If you want to earn more, you’re going to need to market your business aggressively. Answering Craigslist or Kijiji ads is unlikely to get you $1 a word or $100 an hour gigs. To find really good-paying work, you will have to prospect.

The Critical Networking Step Many Writers Miss

It’s confession time. This past week, I made a tragic error.
I washed a pair of my husband’s pants.
No, I do laundry around here. It’s not that.

10 Reasons Why You’re Bombing in Social Media

Social media — is it getting you gigs? If not, let’s take a look at some possible reasons. Social media takes a pretty substantial time investment, so if you’re putting in the time, it darn well better bring you some real business. Or you should send direct-mail letters instead.

7 Networking Tips for Cowards

Does the idea of going to a live networking event make your stomach queasy and your palms greasy? We’re going to solve that problem right here, with some tips on how you can use in-person networking to grow your writing business, even if you’re petrified of meeting people face-to-face, hate crowds, or have full-on social anxiety.

How to Get the Most Lucrative Writing Clients, Part II: 5 Ways to Connect

Last week, I discussed how to identify really great-paying clients. Now that we know the shape of the elephant, let’s discuss how to locate and bag that big game.
Here are some of the techniques I’ve used in the past year to connect with clients that pay $1-$2 a word, $100 an hour, and more:

GUEST POST: Five New Realities for the Beginning Freelance Writer

By John White
The freelance writing life, as my colleague Jim Schott points out, is “a hard way to make an easy living.”
I often quote him because freelance writing does seem like a hard way to make a living (easy or not), especially if you’ve never spent time around people who are in business for themselves.

Market Your Writing 40 Kick-Ass Ways — Learn How in One Hour

How do you market your writing? Some freelance writers might use a few different methods — maybe you’ve sent a query or two, used social media, and hit a networking event. Or maybe you don’t do any active marketing at all.

How a Writer Can Move Up From Content Mills — Mailbag

On this edition of Mailbag, we tackle a question I get a lot: How can a freelance writer kick the content-mill habit and move up to better-paying clients?
On the recent post about Demand Studios’ IPO, reader Mike Biscoe was concerned about the revelation that DS doesn’t make a profit, which puts them at risk for going bust. An excerpt of his comments and questions: