img src='http://rss.buysellads.com/img.php?z=1259904k=f7b7931ec28da9e4ff2580bfd4eddb18a=20311c=2003667749' border='0' alt='' //a/pbr /pimg src="http://freelanceswitch.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/antique-preqwerty-typewriter.jpg" alt="" title="Antique pre-QWERTY typewriter" width="550" height="257" class="aligncenter imageborder size-full wp-image-20313" //p
pa href="http://freelanceswitch.com/blog/explore/getting-started-as-a-freelancer/"Starting out as a freelance writer/a is not as easy as it appears. Learning how to become a freelance writer requires business considerations, not just writing chops./p
pBeyond getting out there and securing contracts, you need to be self-motivated and organized. This is a difficult transition, especially if you don?t have colleagues or friends who have been in the field and can help you along./p
pIf you?re just starting out and hoping to make your livelihood writing, take a look at the seven tips below. Keep in mind that these are geared toward beginners who are pursuing freelance writing as a full-time job?not for those who simply do a little extra writing on nights and weekends.span id="more-20311"/span /p
h21. Find A Space to Call Your Own/h2
pAlthough you may think that all freelance writers spend their days on the couch in front of the TV, you will quickly discover that motivation is tied to physical surroundings. It is of utmost importance that you have a space set aside where work happens?not a space where loafing happens, with a bit of work sprinkled in here and there. /p
pSome freelance writers are fortunate enough to have space to build a home office where it?s easier to focus and feel accountable. If this isn?t an option for you, search for a suitable place near your home. /p
pSome libraries, especially if you live in a larger urban area, provide ample room and an atmosphere made for focusing. Other options are community centers, coffee shops, and even public parks (if the weather obliges). /p
pKeep in mind that if you set up in a coffee shop you?ll need to give it your business; buy something at least every two hours, if not every hour. If you can?t afford to do this, you shouldn?t set up in a coffee shop?it?s as simple as that./p
h22. Develop a Regular Schedule/h2
pSimilar to creating your work space, you?ll need to create your daily freelance schedule. Some writers like to work in time blocks?say, wake up and work for 3 hours; take a 2 hour break for exercise and errands; come back and work another 3 hours; eat dinner and have nightly activities; then, get in 2 more hours of work before bed. Others like to be more regimented, and treat their freelancing as a full-time, 8-to-5 affair. /p
pObviously, your time schedules and strategies can vary depending on what kind of work you?re doing. What?s important to remember is that you need to set up a system that holds you accountable every day (even if your schedule holds you accountable to take a day off!)./p
h23. Remember Self-Employment Taxes/h2
pWhile your dollar-per-hour wage may seem high, you have to remember that being a freelance writer means you will need to pay quarterly self-employment taxes. You will be held accountable for your taxes. Federal self-employment tax rates are higher than tax rates for W2 workers./p
pThis means, beyond having to remember to send a check to the government every quarter, you will need to save a substantial amount of money from your paychecks. One easy thing to do is simply save the same percentage from every check you get. The specific amount is between you and your accountant, but for many it?s wise to save at least one-quarter of your earnings for tax purposes./p
h24. Buy Yourself the Things You Need/h2
pHowever much you should think about saving, you should also be practical about spending. Acknowledging what equipment and tools you need is crucial to your success as a freelance writer. Make sure you have a fast, working computer. Typically, freelance writers use laptops so they can work at various sites./p
pAdditionally, many freelance writing jobs are last-minute?someone wants a press release edited, a company?s new website needs further unforeseen content, etc. Investing in a Smartphone is a good option so that you may pursue every freelance opportunity available to you./p
h25. Get to Know Others in Your Field/h2
pNetworking is obviously a big part of being self-employed. You need people in your field to recognize your name and respect your work. But networking shouldn?t be limited to just other writers./p
pGraphic designers are great people to buddy up with?if you recommend them to your employers, they can recommend you to theirs. Additionally, having experience working with designers can make you a shoo-in for future projects. Employers believe there is a greater chance of receiving a cohesive, well-constructed project, with you involved./p
h26. Update Your Invoices in Real Time/h2
pIt#8217;s important to accurately log your time as a freelance writer. Getting behind leads to mistakes, which can lose you money. /p
pEven if you spend ten minutes researching for an article in-between other projects, that is ten minutes of time you should bill for. If you have a Smartphone, there are even apps available to help you log your time and create invoices on-the-go. /p
h27. Look at It One More Time/h2
pLastly, when you send final content to your employer, you have to be absolutely certain that your work does not contain errors. You don?t need to be obsessive or neurotic, but you do need to be vigilant about editing; a rough draft is good, but three to five rough drafts are better. /p
pSet up a rule of thumb. For instance: never send anything to an employer without giving it three final looks. Your polished work will help you gain trust, and help you become a better writer. /p
pemPhoto credit: a title="Attribution License" href="http://photodune.net/wiki/support/legal-terms/licensing-terms/"Some rights reserved/a by a href="http://photodune.net/item/antique-preqwerty-typewriter/619893"backyardproductions/a/em./p
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