If you’ve just stepped into the “freelance writing for beginners” adventure, you’re probably wondering where to find all the action.
You know…clients in your niche ready and willing to pay you money for writing articles, blog posts, case studies, white papers…anything really. Right?
Here’s the thing when you’re new at this…Freelance writing for beginners can feel kind of like stepping into total darkness without a flashlight, flaming torch, or even a tiny wooden match to light the way.
Where do you go and what should you do to find freelance writing clients?
It’s kind of like Inigo Montoya in The Princess Bride uttering the words: “I need you to guide my sword, please.”
You need a little help. You’re willing to do the work, even chase down the Six-Fingered Man if you have to. But you need to know where to look.
Wondering how to jump-start your freelance writing career and get clients? Check out these tips to shine some light on how it’s done:
1. Leverage your work experience

Emily Omier
If you don’t have a portfolio of work to show a potential client, leverage your work experience.
Maybe you’ve worked in retail, the insurance industry, healthcare, education, the restaurant business, or construction. Pitch a prospect in your niche by letting them know you already understand their industry.
“Find something that allows you to leverage pre-existing experience,” says freelance writer and Den 2X member Emily Omier.
“Like my first real client was an immigration tech company that was impressed by the fact that I had worked as a paralegal for an immigration firm…10 years prior.”

Carol J. Alexander
Is there a regional or community magazine in your area? That’s a great place to start.

Sherri Ledbetter
“If I was just starting out, I’d approach marketing folks at companies in the industry that I previously worked with,” says freelance writer Sherri Ledbetter.
If you’re part of the “freelance writing for beginners” club, you might wonder how long it’s going to take to ramp up, land your first client, and get paid to write. It’s different for everybody. But the sooner you get started, the sooner you’ll be on your way. Put these tips to the test, and go find your first assignment. You can do this.
Need help getting freelance writing clients? Let’s discuss in the comments below.
Evan Jensen is the blog editor for Make a Living Writing. When he’s not on a writing deadline or catching up on emails, he’s training to run another 100-mile ultra-marathon.
Thank you for sharing your tips and strategies. We can all use this when initially starting out.
Making connections on LinkedIn is such an obvious tip, but somehow I waited for years before actually doing something about it. Once I did, I found some great clients there.
I meet a ton of writers who are ignoring LinkedIn… and I think they’re nuts! THE platform for getting found and hired, if you know how to work it. 😉
Wonderful bunch of ideas. I had no clue I could do few of them to atleast start getting noticed and sharing my work. Will give it a try. Any more tips I can follow. Please share
Just went through the article, and I felt that this offers some ideas to writers to showcase their write-ups. Today, it is very important to have the creativity to a certain extent. We have to move along with the latest trends as well. People love up to date data, and a writer should find out a better way to present his ideas complying the technical aspects of this era. Let me raise this article for a discussion on various platforms. People may have different opinions on this.
I have broached the subject of ghost writing a book regarding Speech Pathological issues with local grad students and professors at ASU. I got a wall of “we just ask grad students to do the writing”. Any suggestions? I am considering moving onto my insurance work experience. Also, how do I approach speciality niches with a pitch idea?
Lot of complex questions there, Pamela, where we’d need to know a lot more about your situation — which is why I created the Freelance Writers Den and its 24/7 help forums! Feel free to check out the community — especially our upcoming Pitch Clinic, which would DEFINITELY answer that last question!