new writers

7 Faulty Assumptions That Derail New Freelance Writers

Posted by: Carol Tice — 37 Comments ↓

Steer Clear: Faulty Beliefs of New Freelance Writers. Makealivingwriting.com

NOTE: Want to know how to think like a successful freelance writer? It’s starts with getting a few things straight, beginning with this advice I shared a while ago. Enjoy! —Carol.

The Internet has brought us many gifts, as freelance writers.

But it also brings with it a lot of misinformation and confused notions as to how to go about building a successful freelance writing career.

If you make assumptions off the bat about how freelance writing works, you can waste a lot of time and energy.

(Here’s a hint: If you’re just starting out, don’t assume anything. Ask successful freelance writers and find out what’s really working today.)

Frustrated? Confused? Spinning your wheels about how to be one of those successful freelance writers?

Let’s iron this out right now.

Take a look at my top seven wrong-headed notions that leave new freelance writers floundering in their quest to get paid:

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3 Simple Ways to Find Better-Paying Freelance Writing Jobs

Posted by: Carol Tice — 78 Comments ↓

Smart ways to find freelance writing jobs. Makealivingwriting.com

Note: If you’ve been looking for freelance writing jobs on content-mill sites and job boards, you’re probably frustrated. Most pay bottom feeder rates. It’s something I’ve been  hearing from writers for a long time. But great freelance writing jobs are out there, you just need to know how to find them. Check out this post from the past to learn how. —Carol.

Do you feel like it’s a pipe dream to find freelance writing jobs that pay pro rates?

I hear a lot of comments like this from writers who are about ready to give up on their writing dreams.

They write me to say:

“It just seems like there aren’t any good-paying clients out there.”

Have to say, I disagree. But whether you think freelance writing is a land of unlimited opportunity or a field no one can earn a living at seems to depend on your personal experience.

If you want to start landing well-paying freelance writing jobs, you probably need to do two things. Here’s what you need to know:

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How to Ruin Your Freelance Writing Career

Posted by: Carol Tice — 43 Comments ↓

Afraid you'll ruin your writing career? Makealivingwriting.com

If you’re feeling stuck, thinking, “Maybe I’ll screw this up and ruin my writing career,” read this post from a couple of years ago. Face your fears, learn from your mistakes, and keep going. –Carol

When I asked readers recently what’s holding you back from breaking in and earning big as a freelance writer, I got many different answers. But one I heard a lot:

Fear.

Melissa: “I am terrified. Of succeeding, of failing, of just simply doing!”

Kifayat: “Fear of getting things wrong and also selling myself short.”

Cindy: “I fear looking like a fool.”

DeAnn: “I just don’t want to start out on the wrong foot and jeopardize my career before it really gets going.”

Jane: “The idea of succeeding (or even testing myself) too quickly just scares the living hell out of me. Without faithful cheerleaders freelancing success is just too scary (because the bigger success the bigger the failure that might follow).”

To sum up: Many of you are afraid of doing something so awful that it will ruin your freelance writing career.

So today, we will confront these fears. I’m going to tell you something shattering:

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3 Guest Post Pitch Emails That Got the Gig

Posted by: Carol Tice — 21 Comments ↓

Guest

EDITOR’S NOTE: Ever wonder what the secret sauce is to writing a guest post pitch that gets accepted? This was a popular topic on my blog five years ago, and it still is. Study these examples to learn how to pitch a guest post and land an assignment. Enjoy! –Carol.

A few weeks back, I talked about bad guest post pitches I’ve received, and outlined some of the elements of a good one.

One writer asked if I would show some examples of pitches that were accepted here — so here are three.

One needed a little back-and-forth and refining before it was accepted, as you’ll see.

I also noticed that each of these pitches had weaknesses to them, too. Guest post pitches don’t have to be perfect — but they do have to convey that you have a strong, unique idea, know how to execute it, and have some experience in freelance writing.

The idea also needs to be something I haven’t written about before, and probably wouldn’t have thought to do otherwise.

Want to learn how to write an effective guest post pitch? Here’s what you need to know.

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4 Top Obstacles Young Writers Face — and How to Beat Them

Posted by: Editor — 53 Comments ↓

Young writers make these moves to overcome obstacles. Makealivingwriting.com

When you’re trying to build your freelance business in a sea of young writers and seasoned veterans, there’s a good chance it feels like you’re floundering. I know I did.

When I first started writing, I spent a ton of time worrying, procrastinating, and making excuses for why I couldn’t make a living doing what I loved. I wanted to break free from the corporate world and find success on my own terms.

For the first 6 months, I let my fear of being underqualified hold me back. As one of those young writers, I thought it might take me years to earn well as a freelancer. But I desperately wanted to find a way to speed up success.

I took courses, read freelance blogs like this one, and tried to learn everything I could about being a successful writer. The only problem was that I didn’t know how to get out of my own head and actually do the work.

Today, I make six figures, have a full client list, and teach other young writers how to overcome the same roadblocks I struggled with. As I’ve coached students in my Earn Big as a Young Writer course, I realized that my obstacles were very common.

Here are the top 4 obstacles young writers face (including me), and how to overcome them.

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How to Become a Freelance Writer: My Best Resources

Posted by: Carol Tice — 21 Comments ↓

How to become a freelance writer: My best resources. Makealivingwriting.com

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.

There’s so much to know when you’re getting started as a freelance writer — how to find and approach clients, what to charge, how to negotiate, and more.

But now that there are nearly 900 posts on the blog, it’s increasingly difficult to find the most useful posts that answer your particular question. Sure, I’ve got those categories in the ‘we talk about’ sidebar, but it’s still a lot of slogging given how many posts there are, and you end up looking at the most recent posts on the subject, not necessarily the best ones.

My best new writer resources in 1 spot

That’s why I’m finally getting my act together and creating resource pages that bring together the very best Make a Living Writing posts of all time on popular topics. The first page is now up, which offers my best resources for new freelance writers:

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