Six Steps to Finding Writing Jobs and Building Your Business

If you want to actually make a living from your writing and become what I call a "working" freelance writer, you need to know what to do to create a constant flow of income.

Finding writing jobs usually requires several steps.

Here are six steps to try:

Step 1. Start networking with other writers.

Many times, other writers will lead you to writing opportunities that you did not even know existed.

Join a writing club, writer's association, or other organization for writers.

Get to know these other writers.

Also, once you join a writer's group or organization be willing to volunteer for various positions.

You just never know when a volunteer position will lead to a better opportunity that pays.

Step 2. Subscribe to a number of free ezines for writers that feature job ads.

You should be able to find a few opportunities in these ezines each week to get your business started and create some momentum.

After a while, you'll move up to better paying assignments and you won't need to rely on job ads to find new work.

Step 3. Be willing to take on many interesting new projects, even when some of these assignments are things you have never done before.

This is perhaps the most difficult step for most new writers to take.

All too often, they are not willing to step out of their comfort zones and try something new.] As a result, they lose out on better paying assignments that they are qualified to do.

Step 4. Learn to work effectively and comfortably with editors so they are willing to work with you again and again.

Editors can give you assignments on a regular basis once they get to know you, so it's well worth it to be easy to work with, even if you don't always completely agree with every editorial suggestion an editor might give you.

Step 5. Resist the temptation to take on too many low paying assignments because they will take up too much of your time. Time that you could use to find fewer, better paying assignments.

This is another step that many beginning writers have difficulty with.

They get too comfortable accepting low paying assignments and are afraid to go for better paying assignments.

As a result, they never earn a substantial income from their writing.

Step 6. Create your own writing opportunities.

Write proposals, create your own information products for a specific target market, submit queries to magazines and other publications.

The sky really is the limit to your writing business if you will get in the habit of creating your own opportunities.

This may be uncomfortable at first.

But once you get the hang of it, you'll constantly create new opportunities for expanding your business.

Follow these six steps and you'll be on your way to earning a substantial income from your freelance writing.

Try it!

For more writing tips, be sure to visit writebythesea.com and get your free subscription to The Morning Nudge. Once you're a subscriber, you'll also have access to a Private Resource Library for Writers.

Suzanne Lieurance is the author of over 35 published books, a freelance writer, and a writing coach.