Choosing a career path as a freelancer writer is challenging but rewarding, with plenty of pitfalls and success along the way. If you’re reading this post, you’re considering it as a way to break free from the grind of working for someone else, and that’s a noble pursuit.
It means you’re a risk-taker and are willing to believe in your skills enough to venture out into the unknown. If you’re reading this article, it also means you realize establishing yourself in your freelancing career requires you to up your game and build your skillset.
Improvement is the path to success with your new career and worth considering. Understanding your limitations and where you need to reinforce your abilities will take your writing to the next level. Let’s unpack 7 tips to help you achieve more.
Tip #1 – Get Back to the Core of Professional Writing
If you’re a newcomer to writing or a seasoned vet, revisiting the basics is a worthwhile pursuit before launching your freelancing career. Understanding writing style, voice, syntax, and grammar rules help you hone your craft.
Start with focusing on your writing specialty and genre; what subjects do you excel at writing about? Find sources online discussing these specialties and bolster your foundational knowledge of them.
Relevant tasks involve the structure and length of novellas versus short stories, building your grammar skills, or understanding the aspects of character arcs.
There are plenty of grammar tools available to help you correct your work. They don’t replace a firm grasp of grammar principles and improve the structure and flow of your writing rather than relying on AI to handle it for you.
Tip #2 – Analyze the Masters
What writing style do you enjoy reading, and who are your favorite authors? There are probably more than a few instances where you recall reading someone’s work and wishing you could write like them. These books and novelists give you the inspiration to improve your writing.
For instance, if you want to be a great American storyteller, read through the work of Tom Wolfe. His masterful prose and creative expression are second to none and worth analyzing. What do you aspire to achieve with your writing? Use a critical eye and study the greats to find insight on how to build your skill set.
What do you appreciate most about that author’s work? Is it their use of metaphor, character development, or ability to stimulate imagination by creating a scene? Pick their work apart using an analytical approach that notes its best aspects. Then, take the time to explore these concepts and ask yourself what you need to do to elevate your writing to this standard.
Tip #3 – Treat Your Freelance Career Like a Job
Newcomers to freelance writing venturing into the space often find themselves lost in the glamor of being a self-employed professional. While they find the thought of writing for living on their terms appealing, they lack the discipline and structure they need to maintain a consistent workflow.
They end up watching endless YouTube videos during the day or doing worthless tasks around the house that do nothing to build their skills or earn money. As a professional writer, and that’s the keyword to focus on “professional,” you need structure and discipline to succeed.
Build a schedule for your daily grind, stick to it, and don’t allow interruptions in your workflow; stay consistent in your efforts to achieve success. Professional development involves dedicating time to pursuing your work and your goals every day. Reading, researching, and skills analysis are vital to improving your craft.
Tip #4 – Take an Online Writing Course
Freelance writing is like any other vocation; it requires constantly improving your work and skills. For instance, IT professionals must stay on top of technology advancements and how they relate to their industry and profession. It’s the same with writing; you must look for ways to continually improve your craft.
Signing up for short courses or workshops online is a great way to learn more about the specific components of writing and how to apply them to your career. There are dozens of platforms offering workshops at a minimal cost and many of them for free.
Tip #5 – Re-read and Edit Your Work
As a writer, you need to understand the “perfect first draft” doesn’t exist in this industry. You might finish your work and think it’s a masterpiece. You submit it to a client or publisher, and they send you a note requiring you to edit the material.
Re-read your work, and you’ll immediately identify missed mistakes and areas for improvement. There’s nothing more embarrassing or frustrating than receiving a request for editing, especially when a quick re-read could have saved you damage to your reputation.
Tip #6 – Use Grammar Tolls to Improve Your Writing
Writing tools like Grammarly go a long way to improving your work, credibility, and reputation. It’s astounding to see the number of errors you make in your writing when you input it into these tools.
It takes a few clicks to clean up your work and make it appear more professional. While they might cost you a few bucks for a subscription, they’re well worth it. When signing up for these tools, take an annual subscription and you’ll save. Most offer up to a 60% discount if you commit to a long-term subscription.