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What sites are the
best?
You won't know what sites are the best for you until you
actually start visiting them. Remember at the beginning of
this report we recommended you bookmark the sties you like,
then categorize them. After you start working on some of the
main sites, you will start realizing which sites provide you
with the most valuable information given your genre of writing
or the type of commercial writing you excel in.
Why do I have to pay a
membership fee?
Many sites use membership fees to keep them up and running.
Most professional writer's unions and organizations require a
fee because they use those money's to provide writers as many
resources as possible (Including classes). Online marketplaces
also use fees to cover the costs of running the sites. The
good news is if you work hard and establish a strong profile
as a writer, chances are you will recoup your expenses rather
quickly. Even better news? You can deduct your expenses as a
self-employed writer when you fill out your federal tax
return.
How many jobs should I
apply for?
You should apply for as many jobs as you feel qualified for
and think you can complete in a given time. Remember that
writing is very deadline oriented, so you don't want to take
on more work than you can handle. Some writers also realize
instantly there is a lot of competition in the field of
writing. You want to make sure you apply for jobs that are
relevant and specific to your skills. This will improve your
odds of getting a call or email asking for more information or
an interview. You will also land more jobs if you apply for
those that relate to the skills you currently have, not those
you want to gain.
Do I need a degree to
get started?
Most web content writers and SEO writers write because they
like to write or used to write as a hobby. Many held other
jobs that required a degree but not a degree specific to
writing. While it may help for you to have a degree in
journalism, you certainly do not need a degree to start your
business as a freelancer. You may find with time if you want
to convert to a full-time staff writer having a degree helps.
However, it certainly is not a necessity when starting out. If
someone asks you for a degree and you do not have one, show
him or her samples of your best work to prove you can handle
the job.
What is a profile?
An online profile is like an online resume. You can showcase
your talents by listing any writing credits you have, your
education, work history, skills and expertise. You can also
write down your objectives, the type of work you prefer and
any references or testimonials you have that will encourage
those looking for competent writers to hire you. Most writers
have an online profile of some sort, or several. You can place
your profile on a separate website that hosts writers
profiles, or host your own on your own writing site.
Do I need a website?
While you do not need your own website to start a successful
business, it can help to have one. Many publishers and other
agents looking for freelancers are bombarded by resumes and
queries for freelance work every day. If you can just refer
them to your site, and it is done professionally, you may gain
a competitive advantage over other writers that do not have a
professional site to refer people to. Another advantage of
having a website is you can post samples of your work for
others to see. Just be sure your password protect or PDF them
so anyone can't just come to your website and copy your
information.
How long do I have to
wait to get a paid job?
Competition is stiff in the writing business. That said, some
talented freelancers who market themselves well find they land
jobs almost immediately. Have patients and be sure to check
out the writer's resources section. You'll learn valuable
tools for marketing yourself and your abilities well so you
don't have to wait too long before landing your first paying
job.
I don't have the
experience necessary to join a writer's union. What do I do?
Most writer's unions, especially those with national profiles,
require you have some experience as a writer before joining.
Don't sweat it. There are plenty of sites you can visit online
that provide you with free resources and information (see the
first part of this guide). Once you establish your career and
profile as a writer, you can then join some of the more
prominent writer's organizations and gain even more valuable
support and feedback from a writer's union. Be sure to check
around, some have less stringent membership requirements than
others.
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