One of my friends on Facebook sent me this questionnaire about getting my start in freelance writing. Although I’ve discussed this before, these questions were a bit different. Here’s the brief. along with my answers.

 

Everyone has a story behind their journey into freelance writing. I’ve heard some of the most amazing ones from friends. I’ve also heard dozens of new writers hit a wall of frustration because they think they are progressing slow, or they haven’t made as much money as they feel is ‘normal.’

Tell everyone how you got started. Were you mentored? How long did you take to make money? Where did you make money? What tips do you have for new writers/freelance workers?

How were you introduced to freelance work?

My first introduction to freelancing happened before I even knew what it was. I was working my first job as a journalist and someone asked me to do a version of a story I had written for Agence France Presse (AFP). But it was years before I returned to freelancing. At that time I was working as a journalism lecturer and I did a few commissions for local magazines. My current – and more permanent – phase of freelancing started in 2005.

How long until you made money?

I was lucky. I started making money right away as I got a writing commission from one of my former students. That wasn’t enough to pay the bills, but it was a good start.

What one thing launched your career?

I don’t know that there was just one thing. I met up with Suzanne James and she taught me a lot about writing search engine optimized content. She hooked me up with Julie Ann Amos of Exquisite Writing. I started writing for her and the rest is history. Since I already had 17 years’ experience of writing at the time, it didn’t take long to build my own client list.

Who is in your network?

I’ve got a large network of writing friends and people I sub work to, but the ones with whom I work and network most often are Julie Ann Amos, Suzanne James and Dana Prince. Sometimes it’s important to clients that you have a team who will provide backup if you have a problem. As well as writers, my network now includes the many clients I have worked for. And of course my friends and family are always there to lend an ear when it’s needed.

What one thing do you attribute success to?

Shameless self-promotion. Spending the time to optimize my website so that people could find me. I also used article marketing and Squidoo lenses to increase my web presence. I have since moved to a new domain, but the lessons I learned about presenting myself and promoting myself through the social media continue to pay off.

What did you need to change before you started making money?

When I started freelancing, I needed to make sure that I was spending time efficiently. With jobs that pay only a little, you have to be able to write fast for them to make sense. Now I keep track of my time with Office Time to make sure that I know exactly how much I am earning.

What one tip would you give new writers?

Writing is a skill you can learn, but it helps to have someone to show you the ropes. I wouldn’t have been as successful without the help of the people in my network, so find someone to mentor you while you start your freelance writing career.

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