How to Make Money Through Freelance Writing for a Living
81FREELANCE WRITING FOR A LIVING
Many of you may be visiting this Hub thinking that it contains some invaluable tips about freelance writing for a living. You hope that it contains a magic formula for making money with little effort, the old ‘income whilst you sleep’ line. You know the score; write a few articles, post them online and wait for the Adsense to roll in. If that is what you are after, then you are sadly mistaken. This is not intended to be an uplifting post, telling you how easy it all is, or promising that you can make riches without actually doing anything.
It is a negative article, trying to put you off, because writing for a living is not easy, so I am cutting to the crux of the matter and saving you from future disappointment. I have no intention of apologising for my harsh tone, because 90% of you reading this Hub do not have the skill, or the drive, to commit to freelance writing for a living. I intend to dissuade you, much like Simon Cowell gently persuades people that they might not be cut out for showbiz. I am not trying to make friends here, so if you are offended by my words, tough – Go Away.
I am going to put forward nine questions that you need to ask yourself and, like the elimination stage of a reality talent show, intend to get rid of 10% of you at every stage. The ones who are honest with themselves have the attributes and drive to make it, and the next few Hubs will be a little more enlightening. I am also talking about freelance writing for a living – some of you may want to write a book, for example, so go for it. That is a completely different matter.
- Cris A
Cris A is the voice of Generation X, and can switch effortlessly between Pop Culture and Fine Art.
DILUTING THE GENE POOL
This is not just Sufidreamer being a mardy and cantankerous old sod, as there are a couple of good reasons for this. Think about it this way:
Scenario 1) Imagine that I am a builder, with many years experience of constructing nice houses. To my dismay, some clown down the road buys a trowel and advertises himself as a ‘top’ constructor. Unsurprisingly, he builds houses that fall over, burn down, or fall over then burn down. As a competent builder, I seek to stop him, before he damages everybody’s reputation, leading to all builders being labelled as cowboys.
Scenario 2) You buy some canvases and some oil paints, and decide to set yourself up as an artist. Nobody buys your paintings, because they are rubbish. To be an artist requires hard work, practice and a little natural talent. Writing is the same, and owning a pen or a word-processor does not make you a writer. Even a technical writer needs some creativity, so if you ain’t got it, you never will.
FREELANCE WRITING FOR A LIVING - FULL TIME vs PART TIME
Before we start, I must set a few things straight; I have a few advantages that make it a little easier to work full-time as a writer.
- I live in Greece, with a lower cost of living than Northern Europe, North America and Oceania.
- We own our house outright, so do not have a mortgage or rent to pay.
Freelance writing for a living, if I still lived in the UK, would be practically impossible. If you live in an expensive country, instead of looking upon writing as a career, look upon it as extra income. Working part-time can give you an extra $100 - $200 per week, once you have served your apprenticeship, so it can be a great income stream. Of course, if you have recently joined the ranks of the unemployed, then you have nothing to lose, so welcome aboard.
FREELANCE WRITING FOR A LIVING - THE NINE QUESTIONS:
I am now asking you to perform a little honest soul-searching. Answer these questions honestly and, if you answer no to any, then you do not make the grade, so think of another way of making money.
Am I Good Enough?
This is the most important question, so you need to be honest with yourself and seek the opinion of others. For example, people on Hubpages are very kind, and always leave lovely comments about your writing. Family and friends are the same, and do not want to hurt your sensitive, artistic feelings. It is time to get real and seek the opinions of those who matter. At the end of the day, clients judge you with dollars, the only real guide to ability.
If you spend two days writing a 5000 word article, and it is crap, the client will not pay, and I do not blame them. If your spelling and grammar is poor, forget it – go back to school and learn the basics before thinking about freelance writing for a living. Spellcheckers are great for picking up typos, but relying upon them to correct your basic errors is unacceptable. You might as well buy one of those programs that generate articles, written in some language vaguely resembling English.
Do I want it enough?
I have lost count of the number of times that I read profiles saying, “My dream is to be a freelance writer...” Sorry if I sound like Tony Robbins, but dreams are useless. Get off your arse (or is it more correct to say get on your arse?) and do something about it. There is no ‘dream’ about becoming a freelance writer – you either are, or you are not. Do something about it tonight, instead of watching Oprah or cheap reality shows. If you cannot be bothered, then remove the offending sentence from your profile. You fell at the second hurdle.
Can I take Criticism?
There is no room for sensitive ‘artistic’ types, who run off to the bathroom and cry every time somebody criticises their lovingly crafted words. Criticism is part of the process, and you need to learn to deal with it. One of my clients was very picky, but his criticisms were always very constructive, and I learned a lot from him. There are some people who criticise because they are smug arseholes, but most advice is helpful, and will help you to improve.
A little honest self-appraisal does no harm either. I look at things that I wrote a year ago, and find them to be riddled with errors. In a few months time, I will probably look at this article and say the same – like any career, writing is a learning curve. Strive to become a master of your craft and the idea of freelance writing for a living is viable.
Can I handle the downs?
As a freelance writer, you are going to get scammed. Surprisingly often, and despite your safeguards, people are going to take your work and not pay. At other times, you may go for long periods without work, and then suddenly become inundated with orders. This is normal and you must be able to take this in your stride. With the current economic crisis, sometimes I work 80 – 100 hours per week, and you have to be prepared to do this, if you are serious about freelance writing for a living.
Do I have expertise?
To be a writer, you must have an expertise, a field in which you are knowledgeable and enjoy writing about. My field is academic writing, and I know how to ‘write and cite’ for science and history papers. Some of you might be gadget freaks, builders, or superb cooks. This is all good, and gives you a good, solid base. You will probably end up writing about other things, but you always have one area where you can excel, and find clients. It is all about impressing clients and getting ahead of the pack – deep knowledge, in a certain area, helps you to do this.
Many of you may be thinking – I want to be a creative writer, so I do not need expertise. Wrong! The good creative writers have read the work of great authors, studying how they construct great books. Others are great observers, and can write about reality, making you feel as if you are part of the story. Only a tiny minority of people have the natural talent to write without study and analysis, so do not fool yourself. Under the photos, I have included links to some Hubbers who are experts in their field.
Can I make a financial commitment?
I am not trying to panic you with this one, as there is little initial outlay required. You do, however, need to speculate to accumulate. We are talking about spending five dollars a month on a domain name and hosting, plus 30 or 40 dollars for a website template, if you are not HTML proficient. Add on 20 dollars for some business cards and you are ready to go.
This gives you a professional look that free website hosts and free business cards cannot. There is no such thing as free, so cutting corners will backfire, horribly. As an example, Google Adsense now insists upon top level domain names and a six-month trial period, in an attempt to get rid of some of the ‘article spinning’ mills. Freelance writing for a living is a business, requiring some expenditure.
If you are really skint, you can wait until you start earning, but be aware that you need to put a little money aside for your business. This is not to be spent on beer or doughnuts.
- Marissa
Marissa is a good source of information for the creative writers wishing to publish.
Do I have a high boredom threshold?
Most of us have these dreams of writing, and creating things of beauty. Sometimes, you have the privilege of working in an area you love. However, there will come times when you are short of money and you have to write about boring things. I have written articles about incontinence products, shipping containers and concrete - all very dull, but I had bills to pay. Even writing books is no exception – try reading through your e-book for the sixth time as you perform the final edit. The ability to thrive through boredom is the key to freelance writing for a living, as with any other profession.
- JimmytheJock
Jimmy is a writer who also understands how to make a passive income through Adsense. This is something we will return to in future Hubs.
Am I prepared to learn?
In writing terms, we covered this with the constructive criticism bit – learn from experience, practice and study. I am talking about thinking sideways here, and improving your skill set. Learn a little HTML or basic graphic design. Teach yourself the principles of SEO keywords or desktop publishing. This all sets you ahead of the crowd, and makes freelance writing for a living much easier
Imagine sending an application to a client wanting a ghost-written e-book. If you can say to them….not only can I write the book, but I can do the interior artwork and cover, convert it to a PDF and make it available for download. You do not need to be a programming Guru, as possessing a little basic knowledge goes a long way. You will push yourself to the front of the queue and you should be able to charge a little more.
Do I hate mediocrity?
This is the final question, so well done for making it this far. The final thing to ask yourself is whether you are a perfectionist. You are your own quality controller, and you need to be extremely thorough. Whether an assignment is for one dollar or twenty dollars, you must strive to produce the best work that you can. I usually leave a paper overnight and check through it the next day, often rewriting large parts.
Reputation is everything, so no final copy should leave your desktop until it is as perfect as you can make it. If you cannot do this, then you crashed and burned at the last fence. Sad, really - so near, yet so far.
- Julie-Ann
I have not touched upon marketing yet, but Julie-Ann is an example of a talented writer who also knows how to play the game.
YOU ARE NOW A FREELANCE WRITER
If you have made it this far, congratulations are in order, and I will start being nice again. You have shown that you have the skill and dedication required to start freelance writing for a living. The next few hubs will be about getting yourself started, now that you have proved that you have the mental side in order.
Below the photos, I have included a few links to some of the top writers on Hubpages, so make sure that you visit and pick up a few tips. I offer apologies to anybody I missed, as there are many fine writers here; these are just the tip of the iceberg.
I stuck to the people on jimmythejock’s Writers for Hire hubs, because these Hubbers have already passed the ordeal of nine questions. I promise to include the other featured writers in future Hubs about freelance writing for a living.
You are now ready to face the challenge of freelancing for a living. Please visit the next hub in the series, about finding your first assignment and navigating the freelance sites.
Freelance Writer Editor
Freelance writer editor is my personal site, where you can see how hiring a professional writer can make the difference. From web articles to ghost-writing, I offer a wide range of services.
Making an Active Income - Starting as a Freelance Writer
Freelance Writing with oDesk - Filling out your Profile
Sign Up With oDesk
How to Become a Writer – The Tools for Developing a Writing Career – Many people, swayed by the explosion of online writing, are considering developing a writing career, as an author or freelance writer. This guide explains the mentality of the writer, showing you the dedication and skills needed to become a writer. The foundations of success are built upon hard work, as well as talent, and this advice will help you take the final step and turn the dream into reality.
Freelance Writing for a Living – This Hub provides a stern test of whether you have what it takes to become a freelance writer, questioning whether you have the desire or talent to take up freelance writing for a living. In reality TV style, the article gets rid of contestants until only the best, brightest, and most dedicated remain
Freelance Writing for a Living - Active Income – This article explores some of the options for making money from writing, showing you to turn your skills into money. From freelance boards to seeking private clients, this Hub gives a broad picture of the various options.
How to Become a Writer – Article Writing and Avoiding the Article Mills – As part of developing a writing career, many aspiring freelance writers make the mistake of becoming sucked into the article mills, which specialize in churning out generic content. This article shows you what to look out for and how to avoid them, instead concentrating on building a private client base.
Freelance Writing With oDesk - Filling Out Your Profile – This article guides you through the process of joining oDesk, one of the leading freelancer sites. It shows you how to fill out your profile and apply for jobs, chasing the better paying jobs rather than becoming bogged down in the article mills. Freelance writing with oDesk is a great start to developing a writing career, and this advice will help you to take the first step.
Freelance Writing on oDesk – Finding Assignments – You have finished your profile, and now seek to find a paying gig on oDesk. This article shows you how to find the best assignments on oDesk and build up your reputation. Like most freelance boards, there are cheapskates and bad clients on there, and this article will help you to avoid the cheats and wasters.
Freelance Writing on oDesk - Hourly Jobs vs Fixed Rate Jobs – This article explains the oDesk trade off and the difference between fixed price and hourly rate jobs, highlighting the pros and cons of each. Some freelance writers prefer the flexibility of fixed rate, others the guaranteed payment of the hourly model. This guide will help you to decide.
Freelance Writing With oDesk – Cover Letters and Interviews – Sometimes, despite filling out your oDesk profile and applying for good jobs, many freelancers cannot seem to make the final step. Most of the time, this is due to weak cover letters or interview techniques, and this Hub gives a few pointers to finding that first assignment and starting your freelance writing with oDesk career.
How to Become a Writer - Business Website Design and Marketing for Freelance Writers and Editors – As you develop your career as a professional writer, you will eventually need to create your own website, for maximum impact. This article shows you how to develop a business website design for freelance writers, from purchasing a domain name, to designing and marketing the site.
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Thanks, Sweetiepie - not trying to scare people, but it is a profession and needs to be treated seriously. The freelance sites are full of unqualified writers 'trying things out' and the genuine writers have trouble promoting themselves.
Too many 'dollar an article' jobs, at the moment - if there was a magic bullet for making riches, we would all be doing it! Did you ever get around to signing up on Jimmy's list?
One of the problems with the existance of the internet and with the avaialbility of cheap on-demand printing is that the financial incentives for publishers, the traditional gate keepers and judges of the quality of writing, is dwindling rapidly.
A lot of garbage online.
And hey to make billion dollars a day online doing nothing but writing articles just click here! :)
Bloody link isn't working, BDazzler - I want my billion dollars a day!
That is very true - the internet is too easy sometimes. Most of my work requires a lot of research, and I hate typing in a search term that brings up the same pages on different websites. I am all for the new Google Adsense restrictions, as this should stop a lot of the 'article spinning' and allow quality to win. Too many marketers and 'backlink' programs rather than concentrating upon content.
As a professional writer working with freelancers all the time, this is a great way for them to self-weed themselves out if they just don't have what it takes!
thanks for sound advice
Thanks, Julie-Ann. I think that too many people are swayed by the 'Make Money Writing' scams. It is not easy, and most of that is Adsense based - not writing, but marketing. The freelance sites are falling apart, so I am glad that I developed a base of private clients last year!
Thanks for visiting, Lgali
I hear most "writers" survive the early years, if they survive it and push forward, eating oranges, starving, locking themselves up in a room...but I never had that will. I'm very lucky I can write just to write and without any financial purpose. I think your hub is well done and I wish you could be the guy at the front of hubpages, sayin' nope this is crap, will not post, or yep, this is good, carry on. I'm on the maybe, someday I will write a book group, myself, and have no idea what makes for good adsense content.
Thanks for stopping by, GT - always a pleasure.
I can testify to the eating oranges part! Last year, I averaged about 200 Euros per week, which is decent money - especially with no mortgage or rent. The Wall Street mess up has hit hard, and some weeks we get by on 50, so the orange trees keep us alive. Too many poor and inexperienced writers hitting the freelance sites, driving down the prices. Mind you, most clients end up getting what they pay for, and have to pay a proper writer to fix the mess.
Hubpages bouncer - I could live with that, although I suspect that Shadesbreath is eyeing up the position. Hubpages is a great place to write for fun, although a little adsense never hurts. You have the right idea, writing for a hobby, because it is like any other job - long hours and little pay. There are no 'make thousands a day through writing' schemes.
I am officially ordering the first copy of the book - should be a rollicking yarn :)
Hey, Sufi-Even if one does have all that it takes to be a freelancer, I know some of the reasons why one would choose not to! For me--I know I don't want to work for little sums of money for, frankly, what has been an expensive education and experience. And the freelance sites seem packed with just JUNK. You are lucky to have found a niche that absolutely requires skill and expertise.
I think niching is very, very important if a writer decides to go for it. I will go after writing a book(s)again once I am more settled in my day writing/PR job for many different reasons.
Hey! That would be a great hub someone could write--finding a niche! Thanks, Sufi...
Hi Lita - always good to receive feedback from a professional!
You are totally correct about the niching and junk. I am with oDesk and Pam Grundy is with Elance, and the job quality has plummeted on both sites - $1 for a five-hundred word article spun three times and similar rubbish. Technical and academic writing jobs have disappeared. I will be glad when Google's Adsense restrictions kick in!
For a western writer, competing against good writers in countries with a lower cost of living, niching is the only way. I am lucky in that few writers can do what I do, but the economy is a problem - most of my clients are in the US, and they have no money. I am owed over $800, with little chance of ever seeing it.
Look forward to seeing you write more books once (if!) the economy settles down.
A hub about such things will be forthcoming - hopefully once I have written another health tourism hub.
I have to admit that I had this great idea that I'd earn money through online writing because I was an abstractor and indexer for about a decade. So I set myself up, bought a laptop, got a regular ISP, but then I didnt know where to start. Cris A pointed me here to hubpages just to give me a feel of what its like. So far most of what I've put out here are all my personal stuff with nothing to offer at all hehehe. I couldn't fully commit because I still need my day job.
Great hub as usual sufidreamer, you don't need to be the hp bouncer cuz you've become the educator
Yeah, Sufi-- One thing Hubpages has done is got me writing 'just because' again. For, you know--I have not accomplished that much overdo book of poems that is written in my stars as of yet. Not, I think for any other reason than something just needs to settle down, yes. :)
Eh, I'm owed more than $800. I'm a designer, too, and freelanced when I was in NYC--was stiffed a couple times. And yes, the sites you mention scare me! Writer-slavery comes to mind!
Hi SD,
I guess even those of us who can write well (or think so) need to get a reality check now and then, something more than a gentle reminder. Your hub does exactly that!
In addition to all these points, I think one also needs to have a genuine love for writing. I also need to enjoy my writing, or else the writing will rapidly degrade into a chore. I might just as well continue my 9 to 5 schedule in that case.
Wow, thank you for the link--and all the great advice!
I think you nailed it. It's not easy, and at any of your 10 steps half the people who try to do it give up because....It's not easy!
Thank you for this hub. It's so refreshing to read something HONEST about how it really is to do it. Writing for money is not glamorous at all, it's just really hard work. I sure love working from my house though. It would be so hard to take an office job after doing working at home. Lucky for me, there aren't any! lol! Thanks Sufi! :o)
Hi Buddy - Thanks for dropping in.
Your dream may not be so far away - I have worked with a few writers from the Phillipines, and they make a decent living as a writer. The lower cost of living helps - I will be writing a couple of Hubs about freelance sites. The only problem with living in the Phillipines or India, for example, is that clients assume that 50 cents an hour is 'doing you a favour,' instead of judging you by the quality of your work. Stay with me, and you and Cris could easily make it as writers!
Hi Lita - Sadly true. Somebody paid half of the money for ghostwriting an e-book, but I have not heard from him since. I have decided to market and sell it under my own name, to try and claw back the cash. Not the biggest poetry fan (apart from Icelandic sagas!) but look forward to the book.
Hi Pam - Always a pleasure.
Times are hard - oDesk advertised on US daytime TV, and became inundated with tens of thousands of writers. Hopefully, the vast majority will become disillusioned and disappear, so things shoul return to normal ;)
Agree with you about working from home - I have mobile internet, so can take off to Crete for a week and still work. Have to raise the money for that, though. I should be writing a Hub about setting up your own website, so stay tuned!
Sufi- Thanks for the reality check. And to think I was under the impression I could quit my day job to enjoy full time at hub pages (alas now not meant to be so) :-(
Hi CW - Good to see you.
Little chance of a full time income at HP. You could make a nice part-time income, if you wanted, but it takes a while to get started. ;)
Sufi- I was just kidding..LOL. I am here to enjoy more than anything else. If I ever have to sit full time at home maybe I might take some writing courses to prepare for that career(I know with my present skill level I stand little chance as you rightly pointed out in this hub).
You never know, CW - you have a wonderfully uplifting style of writing, which is a niche in itself. Give the freelance sites time to calm down, and you never know ;)
You are going to hate me for saying this, but your first sentence seems to be missing a word. "Many have you may be visiting this Hub thinking that it has some invaluable tips for freelance writing for a living." Please don't hurt me.
lol - that, of course, was meant to check that you were paying attention!
No excuse, it was down to incompetence - now fixed, so thanks for pointing that out. Constructive criticism is always welcome, so I am not going to hate you and you do not have to worry about big hairy men attacking you whilst you sleep. :)
There are a lot of full time writers that never took a writing class in college. It is funny that it used to be really hard to get a job as a writer and now it is one of the easiest jobs to get.
Information publishing online is in such high demand now.
Rick
Hi Rick,
Easy to become a writer, difficult to make a full time living.
Too many internet marketers more interested in using software for short cuts, rather than writing quality content.
Yesterday I had to remind three of my regular customers to pay me. Only one was nice about it. Just thought I'd put that on your comment list for anyone thinking about the glamorous writing life.
You and Lita are right. The job boards are getting really crappy. But where I live there are no "real" jobs. It's pretty bad here.
Great hub - and I agree with all of it.
In some areas of work, writing all the time and being self-employed is worth it, though.
In my real job, I'm a barrister. That means I'm self-employed (we all are at the independent Bar in England). I am instructed by solicitors to go to court and represent clients, and I also do a lot of advisory work.
In an average week, I probably write 12,000 to 15,000 words, in advices, grounds of appeal, and skeleton arguments. Sometimes a lot more.
However, unlike many areas of writing, this one pays (-:
Thanks for dropping by, Pam.
Clients love taking work, but when it come to paying....not so happy. This is the problem with online work - there is no legal redress. If a local refuses to pay, I know where they live, and can take positive action.
One British guy still owes me half the money, about $700 for an e-book I ghostwrote - he owes the other freelancers too. If he does not contact me, I have threatened to release the book under my own name - let us see if that works!
The job boards are going downhill, but nobody on there seems to care. Good buyers become pissed off at the sheer number of low quality writers they have to wade through, and go elsewhere.
Hope that you manage to get things sorted out - sounds like things are really tough :(
Thanks, London Girl.
That is true - if you have a speciality and training, life is easier. I am lucky in that I know how to write academic papers, so can charge a little more, but even that is drying up. One of the next Hubs will be about developing a niche and writing style. I will be a little less angry ;)
I have a sneaking feeling that internet habits are beginning to change, and surfers want quality instead of the 'keyword soup' articles currently dominating the search engines.
Hopefully, that will sort out the wheat from the chaff.
Great reality check. Which serves again, to remind me that I write for myself and because I enjoy it. I try to write a hubmob each week as a form of dicipline particularly i n view of th fact that some of the topics are indeed challenging. My day job keeps me busy and I produce thousands of words as part of that job which at least keeps me active and employed. I am certainly not an adsense dreamer and hub pages gives me somewhat of a creative outlet. I certainly don't believe Hub pages is a money spinner. Although it keeps me mentally stimulated and I enjoy some of the iteractions through the comments section. a kind of writing for applause due to the instant feedback in some of the comments.
I've seen a real decline on the boards over the past year. I got freelance work easier and was better paid for it a year ago. It should be the reverse--I have a big fat resume now and I get questions like, "Give me your lowest rate on 1000 words. How low will go?" To which I generally reply, piss off--only in nicer language.
I've only been stiffed twice but they were both really big projects that I'd already written pages and pages on. So now, I don't even bid on those kinds of projects unless I can set up escrowed pay at regular intervals. Mostly I only bid on stuff I can get done in a day or two at most, because that way, if I get stiffed, I haven't lost as much. Amazingly, it's only the two no pays though in an entire year. I think that's not bad. More common are the people who keep tacking on demands after the initial agreement for no extra money. That's annoying.
It's interesting--some of the most demanding customers pay the slowest and the most poorly. Every so often I fire the ones who are really getting on my nerves. What is the good of working for yourself if you can't do that?
I'm not doing so bad really. Bill has a good job, and we keep our expenses low. It's just the general atmosphere here is getting so ugly. I'll be looking forward to your upcoming hubs. I finally got my website up and haven't touched it. I'd like to spend more time on that and on my own work. :o)
Thanks, sixtyor so - Hubpages is certainly a great place to write for pleasure. I am a great believer in writing as therapy, and it is wonderful to read random articles from all corners of the planet. The problem is that writing is a different ballgame when you have to do it for a living, like any other business.
Pam - The job boards are indeed becoming dire. oDesk stupidly sought publicity on mainstream TV reports, and was completely unprepared for the resulting stampede. This swamped out the professionals, who spent a long time building a portfolio and reputation, and the good buyers have gone elsewhere. I hope that it improves when people realise that you cannot make $20 per hour as a writer unless you are at the top of the tree. I am less polite than you with people seeking lowest price. I had one guy offering $2 for 500 words - I told him where and how to shove it.
Demanding cutomers are the worst - the guy who owes me for the book wanted so much extra, and I even did some of the internal graphics. I have one great client, for the science site, who is perfect and keeps putting my wages up as his adsense earnings increase. I wish that they were all like that.
Hopefully, things will improve. I reckon that writing resumes could be a growth market ;)
Yeah or shakedown letters! lol!
lol - Always a way to make money out of the misery of others. Wall Street has been doing it for years.
It is a tough gig to get into at first, especially when you do need to be employed. There are some topics that it is flat out tough to write on and be creative with and of course those are the only ones you will get at first. But if you can stick with it and tough it out you will get better offers and you can eventually turn down the tough subjects to write about.
Very informative Sufi,
It does help alot to have a low cost of living. It also helps alot to have the ability to do odd jobs that can generate income during the slow times without having a real restrictive schedule. Temp companies and a construction background used to be real handy for that, but this beautiful economy has pretty much squeezed that out. I think, at this point Craigslist is the top spot.
I always do marvel when I get those notices from Constant Content that request a 2000 word article on some incredibly technical subject, that would probably require a week of research, and they are offering $4 for the job.
Thanks, EYE.
The lower cost does help - the one good thing about the economy is that even though I earn less in dollars, the improved exchange rate has helped a little. Still a struggle, but making enough to get by. Not had to resort to Craigslist yet, and I should have a little part time job taking English language exams in the next couple of months.
Totally with you about the flexibility - I would never go back to a 9 - 5 or wear a suit. We also have a few olive trees, grapes and a house that needs constant repairing, so I can fit work around that.
$4 for 2000 words seems to be about the going rate - these people usually end up getting exactly what they pay for - crap.
$4 for 2,000 words? Jesus wept. That's appalling.
Sadly, it is true. I saw one assignment on oDesk offering 75 cents for a 500 word article. Any western buyer offering that sort of money needs a smack around the head, for exploitation.
Hard to believe but I actually felt better after reading your opening "rant". I don't have a problem with not getting rich from writing. I've been doin' it for free since fire was brand new. The problem is staying focused with all of life's distractions. Your advice is sound, practical and to the point. Any further advice or constructive criticism on my new hubs would helpful. I'll be adding to my poems and lyrics hub after dusting off the cobwebs.
be....... (insert where needed) see what I mean about "focus"?
:-)
Hi, Deanomax - Welcome to Hubpages. It is a great place to share ideas and write for fun. A good set of folks, here, and people are always willing to share ideas and give advice.
I had a look at your Hubs and left comments - some nice work there, although I will be little help with poetry Hubs! The Poetic Muse passed me by, I am afraid.
Interesting article Sudidreamer, it's one thing to dream and another thing to take action on your dreams. I've thought about writing for some time now so with hubpages I've decided to do something about it!
I am pleased with what I read. I am one of those "old" people who appreciates work, quality work, and wants to learn a variety of things. My health may slow me down at times, but I will get there.
Thanks for the encouragement and references for help.
Thanks fadyboy - There is a great community spirit on Hubpages. The next few Hubs should be a little more positive and give some tips about writing.
Thanks for dropping by, Feathermelightly. I wish that there were more people like you. So few people take pride in their work, nowadays.
Sufi I have written several hubs on the subject of people thinking that they could make money easily online - which of course you cant do In fact I do freelance writing to fill the gap until my websites kick in.
I think a lot of people miss the point about dropping your expenses so that you can afford to live on a reduced income - in fact I have been amazed how much I save just my not working outside the house: lunch - gone, petrol - slashed - clothes- dont need them anymore! On the other hand coffee, milk and toilet paper bills have gone up!
I looked at odesk about a year ago and then took a job cleaning - it paid a lot more! Now of course there are fewer cleaning jobs and it sounds like the already low rates have gone even lower.
At the end of the day you have to have contacts and an on-line prescence to get work - Ive got my best gigs all thru contacts at hubpages
Hi Lissie
Thanks for honouring us with your presence - always a pleasure.
I read your hubs about making money online - it appeared to be far too difficult, so I stuck with the writing.
Agree with you about the expenses - we live a frugal life here, and do without things. If something breaks, I fix it until it breaks again. We can manage on less than $150 per week if needed, so it is a little easier to survive than in the UK. No 'Keeping up with the Jones's' here! You could earn a thousand dollars a day, but if you spend it on stuff you do not need, then you are no better off!
Working on the online presence (must write my profile - I find it difficult to write about myself!) I have had one client through Hubpages, so it has proved worthwhile so far!
Great advice. I was going to give Odesk a chance, I am signed up there but I never check it out. I know I could drop my expenses but not enough to pay my rent with freelance writing alone :)
Thanks, Uninvited Writer!
oDesk has been crap for a while, but there does appear to be a slight rise in the quality of the jobs - hope that it continues.
That is the other advantage we have here - no rent or mortgage, so living as a freelancer is a little easier. It is amazing how much of your earnings in the UK disappear before you even see them. A relief not to have a pile of red bills on the doorstep every morning
Sufi: I value integrity above everything, and you are not misleading anyone with your hub; all would be freelancers need to read this hub, including moi!
If you haven't checked Pam's hub on the same topic, I recommend it. It's hilarious and also very blunt. hehe.
Thumbs up!
This is a great hub, Sufidreamer! It presents the reality of what a writer needs to successfully be in business as a freelancer. All those search ads that promise anyone can make a killing, even if they don't know how to write, are annoying. I feel kind of bad for anyone who falls for them.
A hearty thumbs up for you, sir!
I am bookmarking this to come back to read thoroughly - thanks and cheers
Thanks, Violet Sun - Always good to see you.
Sadly, it is not an easy profession. Don't get me wrong, I love my work, but it is like any other job, and has little romance attached.
I read Pam's Hub - Bittersweet humour does not come much better than that. I linked to it in my other Hub - maybe I should put one here, too.
Thanks Shirley - your input is always appreciated.
Ironically, one of the Adsense capsules on the Hub proudly proclaimed that YOU can make $100 EVERY day through FREELANCE WRITING. If I had any morals, I would take Adsense off this Hub, but I am becoming too cynical for morals!
Mind you, if anybody reads this hub and still falls for the hype, then I have no sympathy - they kind of missed the point.
Thanks ajcor - There is now another addition about 'How to get started on the freelance sites."
Nice job there friend. I REALLY need to upgrade my hubs - they're SOOO bad :) I thought I knew what I was doing when I started but now eechh...my writing is SO much better today LOL
Great hub :)
Thanks, Doreen - coming from you, that is praise indeed!
I know what you mean about the older writing - I look at things I wrote a year ago and I seemed to have a comma fetish. Getting better, but then I will probably say the same in a year's time!
I guess I've always been a bit of a dilettante Sufidreamer. I'm very good at a lot of things but really expert at none.
Fact is, I really don't care much about getting paid to do things I love. If you wouldn't do something for the joy of it then, IMHO, you don't likely deserve payment anyway.
I have found the greatest reward for me comes from the responses of people who appreciate what I've done. They're not paying me for helping them make a buck. They're thanking me for enriching their lives for a moment in some small way. I guess that's just a function of my ego. The single greatest high I have ever experienced has been as a performing musician. I never made any money but the most fulfilling moments of my life have come while on stage. When all the factors are right, when the stars are aligned correctly (just kidding), the connection between performer and audience creates a euphoria that is simply indescribable. I think, had I become a famous rock star, making millions and touring all over the world playing night after night, I would have soon lost that.
Sometimes writing provides a similar, if less intense connection with readers.
During the years I worked as an apprentice to a potter I found a similar sense of gratification in transforming a lump of inert clay into something useful and beautiful.
If someday, for whatever reason, someone decided they could make money from something I did and were willing to pay me for it that would be OK. I'm just not going to torture myself in an attempt to become "legitimate" or "successful". I don't like deadlines and I don't like to put anything out there until I think it's right. Frankly, I'd rather minimize my requirements, live within my means and be true to my muse than become a wealthy, proficient and passionless professional machine in any activity. Fortunate indeed are those who can hit upon a formula that allows the achievement of both even if only briefly.
Or perhaps I'm just making excuses for my laziness or lack of real ability and ambition. Bottom line: as long as I'm surviving and finding those moments of reward and gratification from my connection with others I'll be satisfied being an amateur.
Thanks CWB - always good to see an old friend!
With you on a lot of what you say - the simplifying things is the most important. The economy is forcing most people to trim back the excess, but we are a little ahead of the curve, so it is less of a shock
I never intended to be a writer - I have always enjoyed writing, but never considered it as a profession. Circumstance drove me to it - we were in a different country, with only a basic grasp of the language and no income. I tried my hand, and here I am. Rock-bottom is where the human brain is at its most creative, looking for solutions!
I like the clay analogy - it does feel like that sometimes. I try to have three areas of writing - purely for the money, paid jobs that I enjoy and, most importantly, pleasure. Whilst I have some 'commercial' Hubs, Hubpages gives me a place to write for sheer pleasure - that is the most important part, or it would be an unendurable job. If I can persuade somebody think a little differently about things, even better.
Who knows what all the factors are that opened your window of opportunity? As you mentioned, not having a mortgage payment put you a bit "ahead of the curve". You state, "I tried my hand...". Sounds pretty much like what I said, "If someday, for whatever reason, someone decided they could make money from something I did and were willing to pay me for it that would be OK.". Although it does sound to me that you made a more conscious effort to turn your skill into a source of income.
More power to you Sufidreamer. I admire your flexibility. Sometimes compromise is an acceptable means to achieve a worthy goal. I've always been too hard headed for my own good. Compromise has always been difficult for me, especially when it comes my creative side.
lol - Your hard headed nature is why we like you! People may not always agree with you, but they accept that your opinions come from a good place. It is good to have an old-school warrior keeping us all honest.
I must admit that I have to censor myself, sometimes. Because clients/potential clients may read my Hubs and postings, I have to be careful not to cause offence, or take certain positions. In that respect, my opinions are always going to be compromised - that is the cost of seeking publicity/advertising. I do reject some jobs as conflicting with my personal beliefs (mainly some alternative therapies), but I do have to compromise on a few things.
Enjoying life is the only real guide, as long as you are harming no-one else. Greece is a good place to be, and has forgotten more about freedom than we in the 'Anglo-Saxon' countries know. They were under occupation for so long that they know what it is like to be without it!
I understand. I make no effort whatsoever at being "politically correct" under any circumstances. I'm willing to live with the consequences and limitations that entails.
That is why your Hubs are always interesting - you provoke debate but only throw abuse at those who deserve it, such as bloated corporations. Any man throwing the odd verbal grenade at Wall Street and the White House is just fine by me.
Bang go my Republican and corporate clients ;)
In my home, back in the North of England, we appreciate people who tell it how it is.
eh, lad, d'you call t'spade a bloody shovel, then?
Aye, Lass - We speak reet proper in't North. I dug this old poem up the other day, by a guy called John Richardson:
Ya winter neet; I mind it weel, > Oor lads 'ed been at t' fell, > An' bein' tir't, went seun to bed, > An' I sat be messel. > I hard a jike on t' window pane, > An' deftly went to see; > Bit when I ax't 'Who's jiken theer?' > Says t' chap, 'It's nobbut me!' > > 'Who's me? says I, 'What want ye here? > Oor fwoak ur aw abed?' - > 'I dunnet want your fwok at aw, > It's thee I want,' he said. > 'What can t'e want wi' me,' says I; > 'An' who the deuce can 't be? > Just tell me who it is an' then' > -Says he, 'It's nobbut me.' > > 'I want a sweetheart, an' I thowt > Thoo mebby wad an' aw; > I'd been a bit down t' deal to-neet, > An' thowt 'at I wad caw; > What, can t' like me dus t'e think? > I think I wad like thee' > -'I dunnet know who 'tis,' says I; > Says he, 'It's nobbut me.' > > We pestit on a canny while, > I thowt his voice I kennt; > An' than I steall quite whisht away, > An' oot at t' dooer I went. > I creapp, an' gat 'im be t' cwoat laps, > 'Twas dark, he cuddent see; > He startit roond, an' said, 'Who's that?' > Says I, 'It's nobbut me.' > > An' meanny a time he come ageann, > An' menny a time I went, > An' said, 'Who's that 'at's jiken theer?' > When gaily well I kent; > An' mainly what t' seamm answer com, > Frac back o' t' laylick tree; > He sed, 'I think thoo knows who't is; > moo knows it's nobbut me.' > > It's twenty year an' mair Sen than, > An' ups an' doons we've bed; > An' six fine barns hey blest us beath, > Sen Jim an' me war wed. > An' many a time I've known 'im steal, > When I'd yan on me knee, > To mak me start, an' than wad laugh > --'Ha! Ha! It's nobbut me.'
Enjoy!
Worringly, I have no trouble reading that (-:
You must have a drop of Lancastrian blood somewhere!
I have many a drop. From all over Lancashire, Cheshire, and Cumberland.
I was puzzled when I started school that no-one else knew what the word "moider" meant.
My partner uses moider all the time - I taught her well! Glad to hear that you hail from the North-West, and not the dark land over t'other side o't' Pennines!
Anyway, must go to sleep - we are a couple of hours ahead of you. Have a great evening, what is left of it, anyway!
Oy, if you carry on with that Yorkshire stuff, we're going to fall out (-:
Sorry, did not realise that you were from Yorkshire.
Still, we all have our crosses to bear, and you must live with the burden. ;)
I jest, of course - I lived in Keighley for a while, and enjoyed it!
No, born and brought up in London, parents born and brought up in the NW. I meant if you carry on calling me a Yorkshire lass, we'll fall out....
Bravo Simon...I mean Sufi! I give you a standing ovation and two thumbs up! There's nothing wrong with telling it like it is, and it may seem harsh, but we all benefit way more from the truth.
You've done such a marvelous job with this hub, and I think it's a must read for anyone who has the desire to be a writer. Goldentoad actually has a great idea for you being the HubPages gatekeeper. :) I can see you being the Simon of HubPages and saying things like, "This is crap. Are you sure you wouldn't rather be a dancer or mime artist?" And I mean that in a very good way because I adore Simon's honesty.
As far as hubbers leaving nice comments, that's so true. The good thing about it is that it's so helpful to people with low confidence levels who really have something to offer. As for me, I tend to leave nice comments only if I really enjoy a hub, because there are too many good writers here who would easily recognize false praise and call me out! lol! :) However, if someone actually asked for criticism, I'd give it. ;)
Fabulous job Sufi!
LondonGirl: lol - Sorry about the grave insult!
Of course, it is all a friendly rivalry now, and all meant in good humour.
I remember swapping banter with a few of my Yorkshire mates, and a Londoner decided to butt in. Cue one episode of Northern unity and one southerner leaving with his tail between his legs! Pure comedy - only Lancastrians can take the mick out of Yorkshiremen, and we fought hard for that right!
Thanks for the kind words, Pam - always good to hear from you.
I might have to see if the bouncer position is vacant - I rarely leave bad comments about style or English because mine is far from perfect. Most people are here for enjoyment, which is great, and giving encouragement is fantastic. If somebody writes an interesting article, picking up on their language is pedantic and unfair!
I am not the biggest fan of 'keyword soup' articles, blatantly designed for promotion and Adsense, but that is just a personal opinion.
Like you, I am always happy to give an appraisal if asked, although I tend to do it by PM rather than in the comments or on the forums. It is possible to make a little money through writing, but you need to practice and master the language, an ongoing process. It is easy to become a writer - to become a good writer.......a lot more difficult.
hey sufi
i was accepted to two online magazines last year but had to back out, guess i wasn't prepared. but the good news is that i referred both to my account here so i guess HubPages is quite a credible site as writers' pool. just last week i was accepted by another group and yes, i referred them here if they wanted to check out how I write and I guess they liked what they saw. so there. just wanted to share :D
"Hubpages is a great place to write for fun, although a little adsense never hurts"
I was trying to figure out how I felt, and then I stumbled on this. I think that personally I am writing for fun and HOPING to make a few buck while I do so. Good luck with becoming the HubPages bouncer!!!!
"I rarely leave bad comments about style or English because mine is far from perfect. Most people are here for enjoyment, which is great, and giving encouragement is fantastic. If somebody writes an interesting article, picking up on their language is pedantic and unfair!"
I think the exception is, though, if you are asked to look at a hub, say on the hubmakeover page, perhaps?
Great stuff, Cris - Glad that you are getting offers.
Hubpages is a great place to have a portfolio, and you have the talent! I have had the fortune to work with some excellent Filipino writers, and they rarely disappoint. You certainly have the talent, and I enjoy reading your informative Hubs - you seem to be carving out a niche for yourself.
Give it a few months, and the whole writing gig should change - internet users increasingly look for quality, so it is just a matter of toughing it out. I am lucky to have a couple of great long term clients, and they are like gold-dust!
The Real Truth: That is a good way to approach it. Write what you enjoy, and if you can make a little money through Adsense, then that is an added bonus. You are now officially on the 'Guest List!'
LondonGirl: Agree fully, although if I somebody asks me to be ubercritical, I tend to PM - a lot less likely to cause misunderstandings! In addition, even if somebody has asked, anybody reading the comments might think that I am a complete and utter b@$t@rd!
Ah, Sufi, but you are nicer than I am.
I tend to think if someone's asked for criticism, they want it. If they don't, that's their problem.
I'd always rather be told about typos and stuff - then I can change it. The reverse, to me, seems like letting someone wander around with her dress tucked in her pants, or flies undone.
lol: You are very nice, although you don't suffer fools - I guess that is essential in your line of work. :)
It is a difficult one - if somebody asks about layout or typo's, no problem. For the ones who really want to make a living as a writer, but their grasp of the language is awful, I try to be a little more gentle. I suppose that it is like the difference between a teacher criticising in front of the class or taking you aside for a pep-talk.
This is a great hub, Sufidreamer! It presents the reality of what a writer needs to successfully be in business as a freelancer.
Interesting lens - a lot of the advice could really be applied to any profession, but it just happens to be well-tuned for freelance writing. But the fundamentals are very much the same for entrepreneurship in general. It did give me some things to think about, not so much as a freelance writer, but rather, as a writer in general.
Thanks, Gracy - Very glad that you enjoyed the Hub.
Thanks for dropping by, Intuitionzone - you are right. I believe that it takes two years of hard work to set up a viable business, so I agree with you fully.
At the end of your post, you got it right on target regarding the need to be a perfectionist, when you start getting paid for your writing.
I have been writing articles for some months now and I get excited/impatient to send the finished work, but of course every piece needs to be re-read and editted once or twice---so I need to stop myself from sending files immediately :).
Self-control at the end of each work is so important!
Celinamac
Hi Celina
Thanks for dropping by!
Good to see that you are doing well - your care and attention to detail always pays, in the end.
Had a read through a few of your hubs, and you have a lovely writing style!
Great hub! Loved your down to earth advice.
My partner and I run an editing and writing co. We are both former full time journalists but we have found out that making good money is tough!! I left a full time job for personal committments and it helps that mine is the secondary income, or i would have to work much harder! :)
I am not very active on the hubs but my partner is better (feline prophet).
Thanks Minilady - it is hard to making a living, even for professionals like yourself! It is like any other business and takes a couple of years to build up a reputation and client base.
Good luck with it - I have seen feline prophet around, so will check it out!
Exellent article Sufidreamer . I really like the fact that you are not promising the world or mass riches like some of the other never to be named hubs! I am very fortunate to work for one of the best writers around( in honest my opinion). If it hadn't been for her time and effort I would have NEVER kept my head above water.
Thanks for dropping by, Mardi - Glad to hear that you are managing to make a living as a writer: Quality always wins! A good mentor really helps you to avoid the major pitfalls.
Good luck with the career.
This is a great hub. I am planning to free lance write when I retire and this hub is an eye opener.
Thanks, Julie - I read a few of your hubs, and you are a good writer, so should have few problems making money as a writer.
Good luck!
VERY well done!
These are questions we all have to ask. I don't have a dream--my "profile" initiates the cause and the affect. I've been writing since I was nine, and I enjoy it very much.
Obviously, I've got to cut my teeth in this field. But I feel I'm quickly adapting and taking all lessons to heart. I thank you for this tough look at writing in this manner. I've never wanted to do this full time, although I'm not going to pass it up if the opportunity exists. However, I doubt very much this opportunity will exist until I create a name brand and consistently well done articles.
You sir, are a hero for those of us who have the guts, will, and talent.
Sincerely,
G|M
Thanks Generique - you are too kind and have made me blush!
I like your dream and sincerely hope that it comes to fruition. I am a great believer that true wealth lies between the ears, and with a little work, ideas can cme to fruition.
I hate the homogenization of culture too, so it is good to see somebody taking an 'open-source' approach. Any society that does not value its poets and artists is a dead society, so I hope that you keep fighting the good fight.
A lot of what you are doing seems to be marketing - guys like Marissa, Misha and Sunforged are experts and always willing to offer help on building brands and identities.
Good luck with it!
Writing is one of my passions, by which I make no claims of being a pro at it. Not to say I wouldn't love to do it on a professional level. I was offered by Hallmark a few years ago, but not as freelance, only in house staff. I chose not to accept. I appreciate your opinion on the devotion it takes to be successful at it, but a seed planted is far better than pounding it into the ground. Easy on us Newbies please.
Your shared knowledge is fantastic and I look forward to much more!
Thanks KStyle - methinks you noticed that I was in a bad mood on the day that I wrote this! At the time, the freelance writing sites suffered an influx of poor quality writers, who thought that writing for a living was a matter of typing a few things on a word processor and getting paid lots of money.
I am a little better humoured now - my next hub in the series is a little more helpful! Always happy to help out new writers, and I promise not to bite :)
Again, comments almost as good as hub, whew! My head is spinning with all the info! I'm really looking forward to the niche hub you've promised. And I love the pissy tone of this, seriously!
I spent several years in a job I basically hated because it I thought it was "practical" (plus I needed health insurance)--then ended up losing it, and have never been more relieved in my life (for all I have very little money). And you know what, being miserable and having more money is still being miserable! I'm poorer right now than I've been in a long time but I'm also happier. And I much rather have somebody give me some gods-honest-truth than a fairytale I won't believe anyway.
I was fairly aware of the pitfalls and challenges before I read this hub (and this is the second time I've read it). So while I try this out, I'm also starting to study web design and html, xml, css, etc. I figure it will help me create better websites for myself and if/when? I have to go look for a "regular" job again, at least I'll have new skills to offer and I won't be so bored with the "practical" work I settled for in the past... that's the plan anyway, lol!
Thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU for your candor and disgruntlement!
Thanks Kelsey - Glad that the harsh tone did not drive you away! Times were a little harder when I wrote this Hub, although business has picked up since then.
With you on the job thing - it can be a double edged sword. Sometimes, you do not realise how stressed you are until you manage to escape. We sometimes struggle for money, although having no rent or mortgage helps, but life is much better. No idiot bosses to contend with!
Good on you for expanding your horizons - a little web design goes far. If you can do a little basic graphic design, that also helps. Web design is another job that is difficult to make a living from, but it is a great addition to your toolbox of skills.
Good luck with everything - You have definitely passed the ordeal of the nine questions!
Can't believe you actually became my fan...... I promise my hubs will get better.......... Maybe it was that we are from a similar area that your face looked so welcoming and warm... I like your hair also..... I read somewhere that you lived in Cork for a while is that right?..... My absolute dream is to be a freelance writer, I think it must be a dream come to true for anyone, I will keep referring back to this hub, there is a lot to take in, but I will work through it bit by bit...
Where is your birth place?...
Don't be silly - course I became your fan. I like what you have to say! Leaving such nice compliments helps, too - a nice ego boost from a lovely lady.
I was originally born in Barrow-in-Furness, although I spent most of my life in an around Lancaster and Morecambe. I spent a year in Cork and one in Carlow, drinking too much stout but having a blast.
Good luck with the writing - it takes a little time, but there is no reason why you cannot be a success. I do not make a lot of money, but enough for a happy life :)
Hi Sufidreamer, I'm a little late finding your article, but am thrilled I stumbled upon it, as you have addressed many of my questions. I look forward to reading your other articles and I'm glad your work has picked up.
~Jen
Thanks, Jen - Happy to help, and I am glad that it has helped a little. Mind you, the comments from some of the other writers are more useful than the article itself!
Hi, you are so funny and so right.
It is nice to have you around. Thank you.
Claudia Adães
Thanks for dropping by, Claudia - your kind words are much appreciated :)
Sufi - not sure how I came across this. Randomly I believe. Still, glad I did. It was interesting in terms of honesty and fantastic in terms of delivery. I would rather someone told me I looked like crap than lied and said the opposite.
I should think this article would be so well read by now it's dog-eared. People should take note. Or notes.
Anyway. If I were a writer by profession and work was drying up, being an expat like you, I could always kick back, down the beach, gently sigh and let the sun work its magic.
And there's always the euro lottery ...
And - kudos to you for doing ... instead of dreaming.
Hey Frogdropping - thanks for the kind words.
Being an expat is great - we certainly have it much easier. Constant sun and blue seas can be such a bitch!
You can certainly do it - once you finish the book about dragons, I will be your first customer.
Say Hi to Kevin for me ;)
Sufi - hey :) I can't agree with you more! There's a whole world out there ... and yes, it's tough stuff, living near the beach, having the sun out more than it's in ... cool sangria .... the noise of the surf, gently connecting with the edges of terra firma .... *sighs* ...
Writing a book about the Dragon isn't the problem. He's an idiot :) It's having it published that's the kink in the hose pipe!
Sounds like you have such a tough life - are you sure that you would not rather be back in the UK? Sadly, we are not close to the sea, but the mountains more than make up for that!
Publishing is no problem now - some of the on-demand services are great. The main difficulty is marketing and being found, but write the book and see what happens!
Sufi - yep, life is real tough ... The rainy dales back in the UK seem soooooo tempting ...
You will live betwixt I guess? Mountains to both sides? I imagine it's simply stunning!
And yes, marketing- part of my time at uni was related to marketing but it was ever so uninteresting to me. I preferred the logistics. And as much as I enjoy reading positive feedback (who doesn't!) I'm not sure the rest of the world would be quite so enamoured with Kevin.
But then again ...
What a brilliantly well-written hub! I am impressed!
Must admit, it is tough not to laugh when I watch the weather forecast for the UK :D
We live on one side of the Evrotas valley, and enjoy some great views.
lol - Kevin is a character - the world needs to know that a dragon is for life, not just for Christmas. It is your public duty to warn them!
Thanks, Cindy - coming from you, that is the highest of praise. I must go back and edit, though - still a few signs of the old comma fetish!
Sufi - I read and re-read my hubs prior to publishing. It always annoys me to hell and back if I've missed a comma, got one too many or misspelt a word. I would have enjoyed learning to be a proof reader.
The UK weather can be glorious. It's the rain that's the problem. It's why Africa has so little. We don't share ours ...
A Dragon is for eternity. I'm not sure what their expiry date is ...
Must agree - the comma fetish was a hang-over from the academic writing - they like complexity. Legal documents are even worse - I can barely understand a word!
Must admit, whilst the rain in the UK sucks, it does make some areas beautiful.
A dragon may be too much for us - maybe a small Wyvern would fit the bill :)
Sufi - academia just loves long complicated words. Providing you can support your thesis and randomly insert hitherto unheard of scribe, you'll do ok ;) And legal documents? Just coded writing - for Very Clever People!
Wyvern? lol - and I thought I was buying a lizard ...
'Tis true, although most of the style authorities are pressing for plainer English. Sadly, academics are resistant to change, so it may be a while! As for legalese - I had to rewrite a legal disclaimer recently, and it was so twisted, sub-clauses within subclauses within subclauses. I would rather play Scrabble with Kevin.
Maybe a Wyvern - would make a good guard dog. We tried a basilisk, but it kept turning the neighbours into stone.
Sufi - a good friend is a lawyer. Lovely man. Drives me nuts at times though. We just can't have a conversation that both of us can understand. Plus he's rioutously PC so he injects THAT into his debates and discussions too ;)
lol There's no such thing as playing Scrabble with Kevin. Playing suggests a possibility of victory!
lol @ your Basilisk. Kevins' a bit down on them. Just overweight snakes in his opinion. And turning folks to stones is not clever ... just dumb ;)
lol: my cousin is a lawyer - I sometimes wonder if they inhabit the same world. Greek lawyers have not yet started the PC thing, but I am sure that a few litigation cases will change that.
I have a cunning plan with the Scrabble - let us see if Kevin can beat a Greek Cat - they are masters at it. They are also good at chess, but cannot play poker to save their lives.
The basilisk was a problem - I now have a dozen statues that I don't know what to do with :)
Sufi - I can't stand all the PC crap. It's nonsense. I live and let live but when folk start censuring everything/everyone for no good reason, I get ticked off. I have found that PC police tend to be issue driven and can rarely support their various opinions.
Poker huh? My partner enjoys playing. Not my cuppa TBH. I always thought it was a game of chance but it appears to involve strategy and logic. An interesting game.
The statues? Smash them up and make crazy paving. After all, you may as well continue to find your neighbours useful ...
Agreed - so many people have no opinion, but feel that they must, so jump on a cause. PC is one of them and actually prevents us becoming more tolerant, if taken to extremes.
Very interesting game, although I am not the best. Mind you, Trivial Pursuits is my poison!
Might try and sell the statues to a few unsuspecting tourists - you never know ;)
I enjoy listen to the opinions of others, particularly when they are well thought out and supported. It doesn't mean I always agree but it makes for a better conversation or discussion. Unfortunately, there's a huge difference twixt an opinion and opinionated.
Then there's opinionated and self-righteous. An even worse combination!
'Tis true - I love a good debate, but the art is dying. Self-righteous people do my head in, especially when they think that personal abuse is a good tactic.
Try the politics forum - po po po - gets a little circular in there!
Sufi, The "negative" (pragmatic) tone of your aritcle inspired me! Thank you. I know I'll want to revisit this article; there's a great deal of content here. Thank you! I've been a teacher of the deaf, sign language interpreter, tutor, and lots of "other things former." I should have had the courage to do what you are doing when I was young, but I'm going for it now!
Thanks, Katy - I am glad that the article helped. I read the first of your letters, and enjoyed it immensely - you have a lovely writing style.
Good luck with the new career!
Wow! Brutal honesty is stimulating.
Thanks, Bryan - Really glad that you enjoyed the article!
Great info Sufi. Freelance writing definitely beats punching the clock with the traditional 9 to 5. Wouldn't trade it for the world.
Thanks, Count. It certainly does - great to sit in the sun an enjoy a beer whilst you work :)
You have still been so much nicer than Simon C!
Given what you have written I feel honoured i guess that you described my first hub as 'wonderful'! I would love to be a writer in any capacity but I fear that I do not pass all 9 questions.
'Twas the truth, jen - you write very well. Don't worry too much about the 9 questions - there is a little flexibility! Hard to make a full time living in the UK, but a little part time money never goes astray. You develop a thick skin as you get older, so don't be worried by that. Talent? You have that in spades :)
I can't believe it's taken me so long to trip over this article - I've joined your fan club to make sure I don't miss any more gems!
You really hit the nail on the head with this one. It has taken me two years to learn all that, and decide to go back to my day job because of it. I think my writing is at the point where I could make a living from it, if I modified my lifestyle to suit - but I'm too fond of my lifestyle as it is, thanks! I'm lucky in that I've been able to return to my original profession on a part-time basis, which makes a big difference to the stress levels.
I was a bit amused to see Golden Toad's comment, especially as he left HubPages recently citing an inability to modify his writing to meet commercial demands - which, IMO, is one of the things a freelance writer must learn to do.
Thanks for dancing over, Marisa - time is a little short, but I plan to expand the writing series at some point in the future.
I think that the cost of living is always against you in Oz - Like you, I probably would have had to work part-time as well as write. As long as you are not stressed, and have time to write for pleasure, then all is well with the world. Certainly, becoming a writer, like becoming a musician or artist, requires a few sacrifices!
Don't worry about GT - he was never going to be a freelancer. A creative writer, though - with the right people around him, he has more potential than I have seen in a long time. :)
another great hub. Would you tell me how you put the links into your hub to other writers. Thanks !
Thanks, Barry - I am glad that you found the information useful. I will swing by your Hubs and pass on the info about the links.
Thanks for the 9 tips. I didn't do too bad for a non-professional. And love your choices for exampled writers. Thumbs up hub.
Hi Sufi, I followed Jewels here, and I'm glad I did. This is all great advice, and the nine questions were right to the point, in true Northern fashion! Luckily for me, writing is just a dalliance, and I'm not (at the moment) looking to earn any kind of serious money from it. I'm always impressed, however, by the hubbers who claim to earn a good whack from HubPages alone. It's a great fantasy for a lazy person like me. Churn out a few dozen hubs, and wait for the Adsense dollars to roll in.....if only!
Thanks for dropping by, Jewels - I enjoy your work immensely, and your delightful insights in the forums even more so.
Thanks, Amanda - I am glad that you appreciate the Northern Grit. Unless you find a niche, it is difficult to make a living in the UK, but supplementary income is great. I always wondered about the adsense, but I find that I do not enjoy writing for keywords and maximum hits. The likes of Darkside, Misha and Relache seem to do very well, but that is an art in itself.
Mind you, I am not going to turn adsense revenue down!
Oh my gosh! I never knew there are a lot of things to consider in writing. I went to writing just to try to get a few bucks and see if I can earn anything. Like you, I think I'm more into academic writing (not so much on the creative writing). As usual, I didn't think about the long term. Your hub is a wake-up call for me. I guess I need to do some serious soul-searching to see if this is long-term for me. Right now I am enjoying myself and so far, I have met my clients' requirements. What I'm always afraid of is how will I react if a client doesn't approve my work and keeps asking for revisions. I had one like that and it was a nightmare (I get headaches all the time the client asks for revisions). *sigh* I guess you just can't please everybody. Oh well, with the help of your hub, I hope I will improve my craft in the future and perhaps make this my lifetime full-time work (doesn't hurt to dream). Thanks for the Hub, surfdreamer! As usual, I got a lot from your hub.
Oooopppsss sorry. It's Sufidreamer. My mistake.
Hi emievil - Thanks for dropping by and for the kind words!
Don't worry too much - the fact that you have made a start is always a good sign, and your English is excellent. It really is just a matter of sticking with it - after you have been doing it for a while, you become better at knowing what the client wants. You also become better at picking out the demanding clients - if somebody is a pain in the ass, I don't work with them again. It is just a matter of experience!
I am pretty sure that you can make a good full time living - just give it a little time. Academics is a good field to get into - people are interested in quality, not cheap :)
Good luck with it, and feel free to PM if you need any advice :)
Im not sure why i read this =P haha, i dont want to be a freelance writer, but something about it made me read it, i suppose thats cause it got me to think about my dream, which is to become a bestselling author (and to answer the likely question, yes, i am working on it, and hard!) and i think this list of questions applies for most any form of writing, i realize you said it was a differnt thing, but i can see a paralell, great advice, and its fairly well written thats for sure.
Luck to you! And all who have 9 yesses! I only got 8 yesses D= haha...
Thanks, d-b-ggaming
Freelance writing is certainly a tough mistress - I am not an expert on creative writing, but I think that the boredom factor is the biggest similarity. I can imagine that editing your book for the sixth time must take something special.
Glad that you have a clear vision of where you are going - it will serve you well, and I wish you luck in your venture.
I want a signed copy when you strike your first publishing deal :D
Thanks for the advice. I have actually signed up at a few places like Guru.com and Scriptlance. It's been difficult to get any 'tugs on my line' as I am quite new at this.
Your article has been very helpful.
Thanks again,
Gloria Cowdery
Thanks for putting up this wonderful Hub. I did well till 8th question. I do write nice articles (or atleast I think so ). But I find it really hard to proofread them. Going through what I have written seems to be the most dificult task.
Sufi the
Hi Gloria
It certainly is a tough preposition! It really a matter of perseverance. I started on a site called oDesk, and earned $2 per 500 words. After a year, I have built up enough reputation to be able to charge considerably more - it is like setting up any business.
I set up a two year plan, and it is starting to take shape - there are no shortcuts in the freelance world!
Feel free to PM if you have any questions :)
Thanks, TicksProfessional
Proofreading can be a pain! Normally, I like to leave things for a day or two before editing - it is amazing how easy it is to make silly spelling mistakes. If you are on a 24 hour turnaround, that is a little more difficult.
Sometimes, I get my partner to read through - she is very good at pointing out silly mistakes.
Good luck with the career :)
Thanks!
Good luck to you too!
And thanks for joining my fan club.
What an excellent hub! I like your straightforward manner about this topic. Just look at the number of comments it has generated! I actually enjoyed reading them.
I love the fan mail you wrote and the comment you left behind in one of my hubs. So I decided to investigate and liked what I found. I'm definitely coming back to read more of your hubs.
Thank you for this excellent piece!
Thanks for dropping by and for the kind words, Jill!
Glad that you found the advice useful - the freelance writing industry is still finding its feet as it adapts to the internet. People are starting to realise that you have to pay for quality, so hopefully we can all still make a living.
Have a great weekend! :)
Dear Sufidreamer,
What you say can be applied to so many jobs--especially the ones where you work on your own and have to weather the ups and downs. Boredom, doubts, criticism... I'm an internet marketer and all of these apply to the work I've done trying to work from home. But I guess in a way, I write so much for my websites and blogs, I'm a freelance writer too!
I love your resource list. I especially love that you started with UW-Madison (because I live in Madison!) :)
Thank you for this nice hub,
Julia
Thanks for visiting Julia and for the kind words.
I know little about internet marketing, but I can imagine that it is a tough profession - long hours and hard work, rather than the 'make millions whilst you sleep' adverts.
You certainly are a writer and I guess that most freelance writers are marketers, to a certain degree.
The university site is full of excellent information - if their teaching is as good as their website, it must be an excellent place to study.
All the best and good luck with the marketing :)
Dear Sufidreamer,
I love to write for pleasure and for school. I am a graduate student and I have been considering doing free lance writing part-time since I love to write. I think that after reading your article I am more prepared for the ups and downs and I understand that I will sometimes have to write about "incontinence products, shipping containers and concrete." Do you have any suggestions of where to find extra freelance work? Thanks for taking time to give this advice!
Lauren
Hi Lauren - thanks for visiting :)
Good on you - with that attitude, you will go far. It is difficult to make a living, but for a little extra money to pay the bills and enjoy the odd night out, freelance writing is perfect.
It takes a little while to get your foot in the door, but once you have, you will be flying.
Thanks for dropping by and let me know if you need anything :)
Freelance writing as a beginner will definitely not earn you instant millions but for me it is more about doing something I love in my spare tome with the added bonus of earning a few extra pennies.
for more of my thoughts see my hub.
I also stumbled across a great freelance website that so far has me loaded with more projects than I can cope with! It may be worth a try? just go to http://www.getafreelancer.com/affiliates/ToriM/ it's free to register so what harm can it do right?
Hi Tori - Glad that you are manging to earn a little from freelancing. I have never used getafreelancer, but I have heard that they are pretty good, as with most freelancing sites - it just takes a little time to establish a reputation. Hopefully, people will sign up through your link ;)
All the best!
hi just been reading my comments from long ago...... well this hub is certainly true. i have enjoyed playing a writing game, but would have to kind of give up on the playing around real money at it, which is a bit hard for me to do...... i will leave the freelance writing as a job, to the likes of you..... and just enjoy chatting around in here, still having a great time........
Hey PL
I think that you are right - I have seen you grow and develop as a poet and it would be a shame to see you lose your passion for writing because you have deadlines etc. You have been a breath of fresh air on HP - long may you continue to be a Muse and inspire the rest of us.
Anyway, I am off to bed, so enjoy the rest of the evening :)
that's a lovely thing to say, sleep well
No worries!
Sufidreamer,
Thank you for this posting. I've been debating what road I should take in the future, or even now. Writing has been one the top of my list, but never really had good advice as to freelancing. This will definately aid me in my decisions ahead. :)
No problem, D e a d - thanks for commenting. I am glad that you found the information useful and I wish you the best of luck for your future writing career.
Good Luck!
This is a good Hub. It really makes the serious writer ask those serious questions. The people with real ambitions to be published will be rewarded. And here on HubPages, a person can really hone their talent as a writer and get feedback from others. I am a writer who plans to become a published writer in a year. (Just wrote a Hub on LULU.COM) Well done. I am a fan!
Thanks for dropping by, Cheeky Girl - good luck with the publishing. It isn't easy, but a few HP writers have made it, through talent, determination and hard work. Judging by the quality of your work, you should have no problem :)
Aw, thanks Sufidreamer! I take comfort from your comments here! I am slowly getting round to reading everyone here. There's so MANY! *Laughs* I do have literary ambitions! When I am published, I will use this platform to promote my work! Just have to finish it first! : )
Hey Cheeky Girl - always good to see you. Looks like you have settled in just fine - HP is generally a helpful place with a good community. Good luck with finishing your masterpiece - once you get in the groove, things should bimble along nicely :)
Very insightful and full of sound advice. Thanks for being so straightforward.
Thanks Hussain - Really glad that you found the Hub useful and I appreciate the kind words.
All the best :)
Great article.
Thanks bojangles - glad that you found the article useful :)
Hi. I have booked marked this excellent article. As a fellow Lancastrian I wish you luck in all you do.
Gee I just wrote a long comment and got dumped off the net as I pushed post comment. So this is going to be shorter.
Great hub and honesty is great.
I wrote 2 novels, and bits and pieces after doing a writing course. I loved writing. I found out the hard way that I didnt have what it takes to write fiction, english not good as could not work out cliches suppositions etc etc it went on and on. So I gave up altogether.
Then I found a site similar to hubpages that encouraged people to write how they felt etc. I have been back writing for about 3 years now and write to please myself earn a few pennies. And most of all I enjoy what I am doing. yes its frustrating when articles are not good. But hey thats life. The main thing is to enjoy what u are doing and above all have fun. Lets face it we are a long time dead so have fun while u can. thanks again for an honest hub
I'm going to try again to thank you for this great article -you have saved me hours of surfing and I hope you make a fortune writing. Colina
Thanks for dropping by, Eileen - that sucks! Techno-glitches always happen when you have spent ages on something.
Glad that you are enjoying writing - I found out, long ago, that I don't have the creative skill, but managed to channel in to academic writing. I hope to produce some books but we will see how things go.
Best of luck with things and I wish you every success :)
Thanks, Colina - glad to be of service :)
Best wishes!
Cheers, D.A.L - hope that you are not suffering too much in the Lancastrian winter :)
Dead on Hub, Sufidreamer! Writing is VERY hard work. I used to have the luxury of writing for myself and just for the fun of it because we had a business that paid the bills. (Notice I said "HAD")So thinking it time to take my writing dreams to the next level I began to research writing for income. HAH! It isn't something you just step into and start earning a "normal" salary. It takes time, commitment, thick skin, and all the other things you wrote in your fantastic Hub. Great advice to would-be-writers and wanna-bees alike.
Thanks for the kind words, Susie
It is certainly possible to make a living from writing, but you need to find a niche and persevere until you build up a reputation. You have the right attitude and I am sure that you will go far!
Best of luck :)
Very well-written, honest "tell-it-the-way-it-it" hub. However, I also think luck comes into play. There are quite a lot of pretty good writers out there (some of which are on these hub pages). I got lucky, being in the right place at the right time. I was able to write and sell 341 short passages for a University; I made $100 per passage. (The word count ranged from 300-1000 max). Whilst there was some fairly specific criteria, it was a 'cash-cow' for me. Just a shame it only lasted months and not years!
Hi brightforyou - thanks for dropping by and ading your words of wisdom :)
That was a shame - a nice little job that pays well and allows you to concentrate upon writing for pleasure! You are certainly right that luck plays a huge part, although I believe that if you work hard then you are more likely to be in the right place at the right time.
There certainly is some awesome talent on HP - it is sometimes nice to go on a Hubtour and uncover hidden gems.
Thanks for dropping by and have a great New Year
Chronia Polla!
I was a little taken aback at the beginning of your article, but found the later content interesting. Thankyou. I have learnt that boredom is a good, for the time you spend learning any skill is worthwhile and what may seem boring or tedious to start with can become magic when mastered.
Life happens too, so this has been a great way for me to let myself learn without expecting perfection and find what my niche is, learn about web based work and writing etc and incorporate something I love doing. I thankyou for your intelligent and insightful works and your poetry too!!
Thanks for visiting, salt :)
I was a little pissed off when I wrote this one - it was towards the beginning of the economic crisis, where thousands of desperate people flooded the freelance boards and drove down prices for the rest of us. Things have settled down a bit, so life is a little easier.
I am happy that you have managed to find a niche - that is the only way to make it and, once you have the bread and butter jobs, you can always find a little time for writing creatively. You are bang on about the boredom - learning skills becomes very frustrating but it is so rewarding when it all comes together. I am finding the same with learning Greek - it is tough but nice when you can actually manage to hold a conversation!
Best of luck and thank you for the kind words. Chronia Polla from Greece :D
Sufi, you really are no Simon Cowell! You state the facts honestly and don't sugar coat them, not evil enough I am afraid :P. It is good to know what to expect when looking at options for earning through writing. A part time way of earning a bit of extra cash is where I fall, I think. I probably would not be happy writing for others full time. This insight is great as it saves me learning the reality of freelance writing the hard way.
Thank you for sharing with us, Sufi.
I have refused freelance work for years. (My day job is graphic design.) I've always been able to find secure employment, full time with good pay and benefits. The freelancers I work with are in a constant state of worry, concerned about finding the next project and making sure they get paid for it.
I'm still refusing to design from home. It's a conflict of interest (I am still employed, for the short term), and frankly I'm burned out on it.
Writing has the opposite appeal for me though. I can't explain why. I know the work involved, the stress and worry, but I went ahead and jumped right in.
Your hubs are helpful to those of us who are learning the ropes, and I appreciate that there are so many hubbers who take time to help out the new folks.
PS - I'm American, but my father's family immigrated here from Lancashire. I'd love to get over there, someday :)
Jen
Thanks, Kirsten - Great to see you and I hope that life is treating you well:)
Seeing freelancing as an extra income is possible the best idea. Freelance writing earnings are so unpredictable that I would hate to have to rely on them to pay rent every month - I would not be doing it if that were the case.
Take care and have a great week :)
Thanks, Jen - I hope that the job is going well. I do a little graphic design, but not enough to do anything professionally. It is nice to be able to separate business and pleasure - at the moment, I have too much work, but I love to get out and about with the sketchpad and pencils for a little relaxation. Glad that you decided to write - it is good to have you on HP.
I do plan to extend this series of Hubs, at some point, but I am concentrating on commercial stuff at the moment. It isn't a bad community here - most people are delighted to share their knowledge and help out. Some writing sites, not that I would put the boot into Helium or anything, are full of dicks.
Have a great week :)
Dicks?!?
Well, I'm on my way right o...ver...
Oh. You meant that in a bad way.
Yeah. got it.
:D
Take it easy
Hehe - ask Randy Godwin about Helium!
PS: Forgot to say - congratulations on being blessed with Lancastrian ancestry. If you ever want to visit, let me know and I can point out some of the best places to stay and places to visit :)
Excellent hub,.. Gives beginers something to really think about. I like your style of telling it as it is,... I can see why your such a respected writer !!!
Thanks for visiting and for the kind words, Animal World - I am glad that you found it useful :)
I love animals, so I am off to read your Hubs :)
Very well put, and poignant. I think you hit the nail on the head when you pointed out the reality of the work part. It takes a lot of work to succeed at WHATEVER it is you decide to do, and writing is certainly no exception. When I was editor at FrightNet I used to say sometimes that there are simply some people out there who want to be writers, but don't want to have written.
Thanks for dropping by, Springboard - it certainly is not the glamourous profession that many think. Freelancing is hard, but you can be a success if you work at it - even creative writers have to work at selling themselves and getting in people's faces!
Take care!
Hey Sufidreamer, great advice. A couple of years ago I tried to match the average income for an Australian writer of $600 per year. I only ever got to about $450 in one year, but the challenge was great. Now I write because I enjoy it. I'm new here, so it is good to see some reality from a dreamer!
Thanks for dropping by, Gramarye - Glad that you found the article useful. You hit the nail on the head with the writing for enjoyment - although freelancing is tough and there are times when I would rather be anywhere except in front of a computer, the day that I stop enjoying it is the day I walk away :)
I have some studying to do. Thanks.
No worries, Wrath - this is a different side of writing. You can make a living but you have to be stubborn and prepared to work. Happy that you have decided to go for it :)
WOW! You have a hubber score of 100! So it is possible, eh? Like your articles, although, I would have made it to the bottom of this one when I was 20 and in no way ready to write for my supper. (I did better singing for my supper!)Thanks for the info and for the link to Jimmy. and other good links. I am a newbie here, so it is nice to find some guidance. BTW I think technical writers need MORE creativity to make often boring subjects interesting. I have been one for about 30 years and loved it the whole time. Now I freelance, since the youngsters are taking over the "real" jobs. I prefer my current boss anyway.:)
Thanks for dropping by, andkarena.
It sometimes creeps up to 100 when I publish a couple of Hubs but soon drops! I must admit, if I was starting out again, knowing how difficult it is to become a pro-writer, I don't think I would bother. A tough, but rewarding, profession.
With you on the technical writing - I just had to write some articles about statistics in science and make them sound interesting. Tough call!
With you on the boss - mine complains and swears a bit too much, but he is OK most of the time :D
great advice, i get the feeling you really love what you do. i could never write non-fiction. to me it feels like writing about someone else's story. i choose to write fiction so that i can create new things. i would love to write the way you do. your writing is so factual and to the point. mine is just adding new colors to the place or animal i've created. do you ever write fiction? how can you stay focused on non-fiction?
have fun,
lecie
Thanks for the lovely comment, Lecie.
I do love my work - I have a few books that I am working on, amongst the paid jobs, so it certainly beats working in a shop.
I don't write fiction, but I do work that is a little more creative than my Hubpages - a history book I am writing tries to take people on a journey through time, rather than deliver dry facts. It is easy to stay focused because I love it!
I was never the best at fiction, so I leave that one to you. I prefer dabbling with paper and pencil for creative release.
Take care :)
Well put - I wish more hubs about freelance writing for a living were as discouraging, or should I say realistic. When someone who isn't writing already, even as a hobby, asks me about making money from it, I groan. If you don't love to write, and you haven't spent time developing your writing skills, but you want to a living from it... Well good luck with that. You're going to need it!
Hello, I just read your article, very informative.
I didn't find it offensive at all, its true basic knowledge.
Writing can be a lonely, isolated world, with lots of time alone with just your thoughts.
Being a good writer takes time, patience, skill, and numerous other factors that have to align to be really good at it and to eventually make money.
I just joined Hubpages and I'm finding lots of interesting and informative information on here.
If you have time check out some of my hubs, would love your comments or feedback.
Best Wanda H
Thanks, Karen -
'Tis true - there is so much romance attached to writing for a living, but most people do not realise that it is a tough job. I love my work, most of the time, but there are days when it is tough. Still, I will never lose the love of words and hope to do this for a long time.
Best wishes :)
Thanks for commenting, Wandah - it certainly is a lonely profession, which is probably why I spend too much time on the forums when I should be working!
Glad that you are enjoying Hubpages - there are some fine writers here and something to learn. It has helped me a lot.
Take care :)
Wow! You are the man! Thank you for the reality check! Its funny because I think I can write when I'm passionate about something. I sure as hell have a lot to learn of course, but I love to write.
Recently however, I went to craigslist and a prospective employer wanted to pay me a penny per word...."OUTRAGEOUS". The only way he can get away with that is if people are willing to do it, but why would anybody in this country want to spend 30-60 minutes writing for $3.00? Its hardly minimum wage let alone a liveable one.
For a person like me who has a family with sizeable expenses, it's rarely going to work out to be a full time free lance writer. Being good is just not enough as I had formerly believed.
Back to the point. Thank you so much for your hub! There's a lot of articles like this, but none of them are as true or honest as this one. I also liked your style and tone.....good luck!
Thanks for the lovely comment, amanes - you are finding that freelance writing is a tough gig. I must admit, you guys in the US have it tough - the cost of living is so much higher there and I don't know if we could have survived the first few months spent building up a reputation.
Some of the adverts are ridiculous - that is what happens when people are in financial difficulties because of unemployment etc. The problem is that people then assume that all writers are cheap, rather than experienced, highly skilled professionals.
You might not be able to make it full time with the family expenses, but there is no reason why you can't do a few hours a week. If you can get up to $20 per hour and beyond, then you could build up a nice little pot of money in a year.
Best of luck with it and let me know if you need anything :)
Oh Dear, I have just posted a comment to shadesbreath 'five elements of writing a short story' saying how the hub had inspired me to try my hand at one myself.....and now I have stumbled across your hub...
I loved your tone of writing and hope to enjoy many more articles.
Kind of general. I would have liked to see more specific information on working as a freelance writer, including projected budgets and so forth, rather than reading the generic "do you have what it takes" material that you'll often find at the front of a Writer's Market book.
Thanks, marieryan - glad that you enjoyed the article. Shadesbreath is a fountain of wisdom - creative writing is a whole different ballgame. I look forward to reading your short story, when it is complete.
Thanks for dropping by, edgeon.
Some of my later Hubs do address the financial side a little better - they are based upon my experiences on the freelance boards and give a guide to how much money you can expect to make.
As for projected budgets and so forth, they may appear in the future, but writing Hubs is a low priority at the moment. You or anyone else is free to PM if you have any specific questions.
Take care :)
Great article for any freelance writer, even if they're not new to the business.
I love the article. It's definitely 'to the point' and I like that. Actually, freelance writing is something I have been thinking about for sometime, but I would hardly call it a dream! Thanks for the information and I look forward to reading your follow up hubs.
Thanks, Rachel - I am glad that you enjoyed the article.
Hey drej - Best of luck with freelance writing for a living. If you need anything, feel free to shoot me a PM.
Take care :)
Thank you for the sound advise on the harsh reality of freelance writting. You put it all down without compassionate dodging around the issue! I not only enjoyed it, but I appreciate it as well!
Thanks, Cathi - I must admit that I was having a bad day when I wrote this!
Best of luck with it all :)
Once again, great advice. Years ago when I was in my forties I started lifting weights. You read the ads and listen to commercials telling you that you only need to work out fifteen minutes a day, three days a week. Not so, you have to research, learn about metabolism, muscle recovery time, nutrition, etc., etc.
I am just saying that nothing is ever as easy as it looks on the outside. If it's a goal, most likely it will take hard work and persistence to achieve. Thanks and thanks again for not settling for mediocrity.
Thanks, Milt - always a pleasure when you drop by and offer sage advice. You are bang on the money - having talent is one thing, but you still need to spend time learning the basics.
I used to weight-train, and your analogy is an excellent one - there are no short-cuts and you have to learn many things.
Have a good one :)
I am so glad you were honest and put it all out straight-forward. I have always found myself to be my own worst critic, and it seems that it will be a positive thing for my future in writing. I cannot say that I am a great writer, because I have very few published works, and none in regular print that I am aware of. I have always wanted to do something with writing, however, and my father has expected me to at least attempt it. I am one of those people always broke, but always hoping to find a way to get started somewhere, somehow, for extremely cheap. LOL. I know this is unlikely, but you make it sound like it is still possible, and that is very nice! This was very helpful, and I hope that I really do stand up to the test as it sounds like I should. Thank you!
Thanks for dropping by and commenting, feritica - constantly seeking to improve is a good trait to have, although you do have to find a balance - it is easy to be too critical and overedit things. Apart from the fact that time is money, it can also strip writing of your unique voice. That will come with time and practice. :)
I am not a great writer, either, but I manage to make a living and that is enough for me. It is very cheap to become a freelance writer, but it takes a lot of work - if you have that, you will have no worries!
Best of luck :)
I, for one, thoroughly enjoyed your sarcasm. This information is invaluable, and couldn't have been stated better. Thank you.
Thanks, TruthAwake - your kind words are appreciated :)
sufidreamer, Bless you again for posting awesome 'truths' that will help a newbie to expertise. I am grateful for the hubs there are many talented and gifted writers that share truth from experience. I have got quite the education.
Prior to landing at the hubs I was on a wild goose chase. I availed little to nothing. I take that back. I did avail losts of experience on what NOT to do. The good news is, 'God can turn all things for good to those that love him.'(Phillipians)
You are a gem of gems sharing your 'knowledge' so that others might be Blessed. I pray you are Blessed 100 fold. Your writings can spare many of heartache. You are loved by many. You put a twinkle and desire to push forward into many hearts. Keep on sifidreamer. You are an inspiration. Thank You and Thank You. With Love, sending a big virtual hug. ( - ;
Hi skye2day - Great to see you!
Glad that you found the Hub useful - there certainly is a lot of good information on HP. I don't know much about the whole Adsense thing, but I do try to pass on some of my experience. Learning what not to do is sometimes the best way to learn :)
Thank you for the kind words and you managed to make me blush.
Hugs back at you :)
Very in depth! THanks for the info. Need to dive in ,yes, but focus, too. Lots of competition today, but not aoo are good writers. Good hub!
Thanks for the kind words, Anbition398 - I an glad that you found the information useful :)
Wow. Brutal, but I love this hub. After reading your first couple of harsh paragraphs I was praying that I would come across some glaring spelling error that I could point out to you, but I see Poetic Muse did that early on. Great hub, I am just about to read your others. I write for fun, not for the money. I have an MA in Creative Writing, but writing freelance articles is a completely different game. I am sure I will learn a lot from your hubs. That or I'll be completely scared off! Thanks.
Thanks for stopping by, May - Poetic Muse certainly did point out the typo :)
If you are interested in freelancing, it is a steep learning curve, but you have a head start with your qualifications and talent. Boredom may be the worst part of it for a creative writer - if you can get past that, you will do just fine!
Sounds like some great advice. I have some hopes of going down this route but I'll try and stay firmly rooted in reality.
Thanks for visiting, thequill - best of luck with your venture :)
Thanks for giving sound and good advice. Too many people sugar-coat, and I appreciate your straight-forward nature.
Thanks for visiting, Billie - Glad that you found the article useful :D
Great Hub. Thanks for frank and open discourse on making money via writing. It is so true what you say, one may think one has a special talent because family and friends have 'bigged you up' and you've believed are special, but at the end of the day if you cannot pass the basics you've outlined you might as well give up now.
Editorsupremo
Sufi, you have put together another brilliant hub here! Just wanted to thank you again for having introduced me to oDesk! I am yet to find a job there and am still in the process of improving my profile but I passed the Readiness test in 2 minutes eventually and have another two top marks for English tests I am displaying. When I start earning on there it will be because I listened to you earlier this year and joined the site.
Thanks for visiting, Editorsupremo - praise from family and friends is great but, if you plan to write as a career, dollars and cents are the only measure of quality!
Cheers, Steve - glad to help. I am pretty sure that you will succeed on oDesk. The first few months can be tough but, if you stick with it, you can make a decent living on there :)
I agree with you. It's frustrating when people complain that they tried to make a living as a writer but it was hard and they couldn't do it... I think back to my first ever client that I won on a bid site ... I wrote 1-5 bids per day for 30 days before I won that job and it was HARD. I had no idea what I was doing wrong, I was frustrated, but I am also cursed/blessed with a stubborn spirit. So, I put it to good use as a writer. You live (lived?) in Greece so you can get an idea. As a Greek-American I still have the spirit. lol
Thanks, kohuether
That's the way to do it! It is tough but rewarding when you finally make the breakthrough. We still live in Greece and a little touch of Greek determination certainly goes a long way :)
Thank you for your honesty! To be a writer, you have to write and enjoy doing it. No money, lots of time, just keep writing.
Hi Laughing Loon - That's very true. If you don't enjoy it, it becomes like any other job :)
Hi. This is a great hub. I am truly convinced that quality beats quantity. You are an inspiration and I look forward to reading more of your hubs.
Thanks for the kind comment, fresh2def05 - glad that you found the information useful :)
Dear Sufidreamer, my very first follower on HP - Funny that I have been writing on HubPages for 19 months, more or less, and have just stumbled on this hub. Sometimes, we see what we are ready to, when we are ready to see it, and not before. Glad I did, since all of it rings so true...now that I have the experience behind me that teaches such a perspective.
Glad that I had a chance to write a nonfiction book. Turns out that the project turned out to pay about $0.02/word at a rate of $3/hr - so wrote a hub about it, titled "The Adventure Called 'Writing a Book.'" Though it was basically slave labor, the "work for hire" money did pay some bills at the time. As a result of some of my marketing and networking efforts, I have been able to earn some more money from sales of the book since it was published. The benefit of the endeavor is that I can say that I am a published author. :0) Hope it helps in showing that I have the perseverance, and some skill at making nonfiction a little fun to read.
I have a friend who is knowledgeable in html, and who has begun developing a web site with me, but since she is a single mother, she has not had time to work on it very much - so I may need to learn web-mastering skills quickly so that I can take more control of the pace of its development by doing it myself.
Am registered with Elance, but have not taken the tests yet. I will check out oDesk, too. :0)
Gathered from the forums that it will take lots of time to earn Google Adsense money...so be it. I am after writing well on the subjects I choose...set out as writing samples for those interested in hiring me to write for them. My next project is a fantasy picture book for children. Now to get back to the research for that.
Best of luck for your current writing projects!
Hi Seafarer Mama - That does seem like such a long time ago, especially as everything seems to be changing quickly. There used to be so many great writers on here that it was impossible to keep up!
Congrats on the book - if it is any consolation, my first book (ghost-written) probably paid about the same rate. It is a great psychological boost, knowing that you have the patience - I am now writing one for myself, but it always seems to get pushed down the list of priorities - earning money, fixing the house, looking after the cats, and trying to learn better Greek. Never enough hours in the day!
If you want to go for a website, it is easy to do it yourself. Buy a domain name and download a free Wordpress template - get it up and running, and change the graphics and fiddle with the design as you go along. You really don't need to know any html - if you do get stuck, someone on HP will lend a hand!
It sounds like you have a few ideas bubbling away, which is always good. You could always have a chat with Waynet about the fantasy picture book - that sounds like it is firmly within his area of interest.
Best wishes with it all and don't be a stranger :)
Thanks for all of your tips, Sufidreamer, and have a great summer.
Did you see the hub by Dearabbysmom about her son's trip to Greece, with a recipe for baklava? I bookmarked it! :0) Brings back great memories of my travels through Athens when I was a student for a year abroad in Ireland (went to the Jazz festival in Cork that year, too). September 1985 to June 1986. :0)
really nice share. even many freelancers are earning thousands of dollars each month.
Just read your hub, are there really programs for automated article writing? That's just cheeky! Lol although it has occurred to me to wonder how to write articles faster without getting blisters.
Hi Seafarer Mama: I missed your comment so can only apologise. I will check out the recipe for baklava, although I have started to avoid them as I don't want to be a fat man! Cork is a great place - I lived close by for just over a year :D
@Sumit: Thanks :)
Cheers, Pen Tickle: You nave all sorts of programmes that can spin articles - it is surely only a matter of time before people start producing gibberish like the comments I receive on my website :D
A very honest and straight to the point hub. Er..I'm not sure that I possess all of these qualities. I'm very new to writing so I'm sitting at the start of what looks to be a very steep learning curve. Perhaps I can aim for a little bit of extra income by the time I retire? That gives me a good 20 years to improve my writing skills. Thanks for the tips. I look forward to reading through your many informative and interesting hubs.
Thanks, Maggie - It is a pretty steep learning curve, mainly because there is so much competition. Once you are over that, things do get better - you can certainly make a little extra money.
All the best :)
Thanks, this is by far the best article I have read on freelance writing. I plan to read some more of your articles and the ones you have referenced. I am 78, but the idea of freelance writing is interesting to me as an avenue for my writing skills as well as additional income. Robert
I, myself, am not a writer but have a daughter who enjoys writing. She, like many others, has recently become unemployed. So, she shared that while looking for job openings online she ran into THIS site: HubPages. Yes, she joined and has a few articles under LoveChanges. What can I say, I'm her number one supporter. Thank you for all the tips and information. Happy New Year's to you.
Thanks for reading the article, Robert - freelance writing is definitely a profession where age is an advantage. Feel free to drop me a line if you need anything.
Best of luck with your new career :)
Thanks, a motherslove - sorry to hear about your daughter losing her job. Sadly, that is a sign of the times. Making money through writing, whether for clients or on sites like HP, takes time and has a steep learning curve. However, with hard work and talent, you can make a decent living doing something you enjoy. Best of luck to you both :)
I totally love this article and it is so true! Being a prolific writer is very difficult. I believe you have to love and be dedicated to your work, and even that at times is not enough.
Personally I'm not trying to make a living off of freelance writing; for me it's a hobby. I truly enjoy writing for hubpages (from the writing to the laying of the articles out) and seeing which hubs do well. On top of it all you get paid for it... Grant it, most likely it's a dribble of an income compared to a prolific writer but still it something :)
Great hub! I voted it up.
Thanks for dropping by, Angelique - becoming a full-time writer does require dedication and passion. It is not just the writing - the accounts and paperwork are also a pain in the backside.
If you can make a little extra money from writing on HP, and enjoy it, all is well with the world.
Best of luck :)
- The Writing Business Free Tech Support from Ask Dave Taylor!
Free Tech Support from Dave Taylor - Ask Dave if you have any questions about freelance writing for a living. Browse through the posts for some excellent tips. - Project Gutenberg
Probably my favourite site on the internet. Project Gutenberg houses a vast selection of antiquarian and out-of-print books, all completely free. - Welcome to the Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)
The Purdue University Online Writing Lab is a fantastic site, giving valuable information about all aspects of writing. From basic grammar, to academic citation protocols, Purdue has it all. - The Site Wizard
A complete guide about how to build your own site. The Site Wizard covers everything, from buying a domain name to building a site. Developing a professional image is not as difficult as you would think.
A Few Useful Links
- uw-madison writing center writer\'s handbook
A great teaching resource, showing how to use correct punctuation and grammar. If you think that your language is a little rusty, this is the place to brush up on old skills. - All Freelance Writing » How to Design an E-book Cover
An excellent resource laying out the processes for writing and publishing an e-book. For those of you chasing the dream, it will guide you through the whole project. - What Do You Do When Someone Steals Your Content « Lorelle on WordPress
Every writer will have their copyrighted work stolen, at some point. This excellent guide lays out the process of chasing the offender, from initial contact to blocking their advertising. - Research Paper Outline - How to Write a Research Paper
A few tips about how to write a good research paper, and a good source for many aspects of scientific writing. By tracking the articles, you will be able to see how I have improved as a writer over the past year.
SweetiePie Level 6 Commenter 3 years ago
This is sound advice because in reality very few people can make a full time living as freelance writings. I have seen a few such as you and Shirley Anderson do well, but I know from talking to her she spends many hours on her articles. I think with the economy the way it is right now many people think they can come online and write hubs or on ehow and make money right away, but then a week later they are asking in the forums why they are not yet earning. Following your advice well help all of us decide whether more serious freelance writing ventures are really something we should consider.