The first step to any writing career is just that, writing. In order to build a viable portfolio that will help secure you some clients, you need to have something to put in it. This is where writing for free comes in. If you have no current work experience then you may have to do some low pay or non-paying jobs just to get those samples. Of course if you have articles on http://www.associatedcontent.com/ or http://www.helium.com/ those may serve as work samples as well, depending what the project is that you are going for.
Find a place that you can host your portfolio online. If you have your own website that's great. Just add a link that you can refer clients to. http://www.freelancewriting.com/ also has a section where you can put your portfolio online for potential clients seeking a writer.
Keeping a blog is also a great way of showing off your personal writing style as well as keeping a continuously updated source of writing. Provide clients with a list of links to various types of writing rather than just one to show that you can excel in more than one area. If you focus only on one type of writing that's fine too. But make sure that you are well informed and on your way to being an expert. Flexibility is best when freelancing.
Marketing your work is just as important as the work itself. Start by preparing the best portfolio you can. You want to market the best representative material possible. Dedicate time to your portfolio and it will help do some of your marketing for you.
~Trina M. Lee
www.tmlwritingservices.info
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Choosing to Take the Writing Plunge
Making the decision to pursue writing as a full time career can be nerve wracking hell. Getting up each day to head to the job you hate makes you feel like time is being wasted, because it is. Not all of us can decide to ditch our job and "be a writer". It's isn't so cut and dried...unfortunately.
If you're like most of us then you don't have the funds to quit everything and take a risk. Some things have to start small. Ease into it. If you really have the desire and the skill to write then start small doing part time work during the evenings and weekends. Even if it doesn't turn into a lucrative writing career, a decent amount of writing jobs could add a nice extra chunk of change to your monthly income.
New writers may have a hard time figuring out where to start. Weeding out the scams from the real jobs is usually the first challenge, especially if you're looking for online writing jobs. A tip is to limit your use of the term "work at home". It turns up more sites trying to take your money than pay you any. Avoid them completely.
A writing site like www.freelancewriting.com is a good place to find jobs adequate for most breaking into the writing industry. Keep an eye out for low ball jobs though. There is such thing as a low paying job and then there is such thing as highway robbery. Don't settle for any $1 an article jobs if you want to make money.
Market your services everywhere you can as well as your website. If you don't have a personal site up and running then it's time to get one. Html illiterate types can get free hosting and website layout help at www.bravenet.com.
When it comes to choosing to go full time, take your time and really think about it before making a rash decision. If you're making significant money and have a steady stream of clients then by all means consider it. However, patience is key. Don't expect it to happen over night.
~Trina M. Lee
www.tmlwritingservices.info
If you're like most of us then you don't have the funds to quit everything and take a risk. Some things have to start small. Ease into it. If you really have the desire and the skill to write then start small doing part time work during the evenings and weekends. Even if it doesn't turn into a lucrative writing career, a decent amount of writing jobs could add a nice extra chunk of change to your monthly income.
New writers may have a hard time figuring out where to start. Weeding out the scams from the real jobs is usually the first challenge, especially if you're looking for online writing jobs. A tip is to limit your use of the term "work at home". It turns up more sites trying to take your money than pay you any. Avoid them completely.
A writing site like www.freelancewriting.com is a good place to find jobs adequate for most breaking into the writing industry. Keep an eye out for low ball jobs though. There is such thing as a low paying job and then there is such thing as highway robbery. Don't settle for any $1 an article jobs if you want to make money.
Market your services everywhere you can as well as your website. If you don't have a personal site up and running then it's time to get one. Html illiterate types can get free hosting and website layout help at www.bravenet.com.
When it comes to choosing to go full time, take your time and really think about it before making a rash decision. If you're making significant money and have a steady stream of clients then by all means consider it. However, patience is key. Don't expect it to happen over night.
~Trina M. Lee
www.tmlwritingservices.info
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