# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Note: Ever wonder how to find the best freelance jobs? I know I did. But it's not as hard to find them as you might think. When you understand the classic business concept I wrote about in this post five years ago, you'll know how to score the best freelance jobs based on three simple things. -Carol.
When I was in my late teens, I had the good fortune to blunder onto a concept that would help me become a well-paid freelance writer later on.

I was working as a secretary at MGM studios in Culver City, Calif. My boss asked me to take something over to the editing room of one of the productions.

Inside the edit booth, amongst the strips of film, sheafs of notations and other production clutter, was an aged, coffee-stained, clearly much-xeroxed flier. It was hanging from a nail and blowing a bit in the air-conditioned indoor breeze, which probably helped catch my eye.

I didn't realize it at the time, but years later this simple flier would later help me find some of the best freelance jobs around. Let me explain the concept:
Note: If you've been looking for freelance writing jobs on content-mill sites and job boards, you're probably frustrated. Most pay bottom feeder rates. It's something I've been hearing from writers for a long time. But great freelance writing jobs are out there, you just need to know how to find them. Check out this post from the past to learn how. -Carol.
Do you feel like it's a pipe dream to find freelance writing jobs that pay pro rates?

I hear a lot of comments like this from writers who are about ready to give up on their writing dreams.

They write me to say:

"It just seems like there aren't any good-paying clients out there."

Have to say, I disagree. But whether you think freelance writing is a land of unlimited opportunity or a field no one can earn a living at seems to depend on your personal experience.

If you want to start landing well-paying freelance writing jobs, you probably need to do two things. Here's what you need to know:

There's a basic freelancing question that mystifies many writers: "How do I get paid, exactly?"

When you're used to an employer handing you a paycheck every week or two, it can be intimidating to realize that as a freelancer, you'll only get paid if you figure out a method - and make it happen.

That's probably why many writers gravitate to content mills and mass platforms that act as intermediary. Then, you know your payment will come from the platform.

Of course, once you see how tiny that payment is after the platform takes its cut, you'll likely be looking to cut out the middleman.

Fortunately, there are several reliable ways to get paid directly by your freelance clients.

First, I'll go over payment methods - and then, I've got a few quick tips on how to structure your contract to ensure you don't get stiffed.
Note: Ever wonder what the difference is between writing an article and writing a blog post? It's a topic that comes up a lot. Besides style and research, you might be surprised by one of the key differences between blogs and articles. And it's why I decided to share this post again. Enjoy! -Carol.
There's a lot of confusion out there in the freelance-writing world today about blog posts and articles. Also, about what each of those types of writing should pay.

Recently, I got a lot of response to my call for freelance writers to stop writing blog posts. Many writers were confused about just what the difference is.

So let's discuss. Because things are changing. And understanding the differences between these two writing forms will help you earn more.

For years, blog posts and nonfiction articles were distinctly different:

Are you looking to find some great-paying blogging clients? Join the club! Business blogging is one of the best entry-level types of writing to get you started as a freelancer. When I got back into freelancing in late 2005, paid blog writing caught my eye right away.

As someone coming off 12 years as a staff-writing journalist, I was fascinated by the breezy, casual, short blog-post format. So I dove in.

Soon I was earning quite a lot blogging for clients. I documented what I was doing, and the post How I Make $5,000 a Month as a Paid Blogger became one of the all-time most popular posts here at Make a Living Writing.

Recently, I got to wondering what I'd do if I wanted that level of monthly income from blog writing clients now.

My approach would be completely different, because the world of blogging has changed so much. Also, the way I did it a decade ago was a recipe for burnout. I had to churn out nearly 60 blog posts per month to make that money! That's not sustainable.

Here are the strategies I recommend now, for becoming a well-paid freelance blogger:
Data on how much freelance writers make can be tough to pin down. But it's something every writer wants to know. I tackled this topic three years ago when I published this post. And it's a topic that never gets old. Check out the updated resources. And be sure to ask yourself the two questions at the end to determine your earning potential. -Carol
It's one of the most-asked questions I get: "Can you tell me how much freelance writers make?"

Let's face it - we've all got mouths to feed. So it's important to get a sense of whether freelance writing can yield you a real, bill-paying level of income. It's a good question to ask.

There are two steps to figuring out the answer to this question.

The first is to find survey data on what freelancers make. That gives you a sense of what's possible, and what's typical.

The second step is a bit harder, so let's start with data.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
writer pay Archives - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Note: Ever wonder how to find the best freelance jobs? I know I did. But it's not as hard to find them as you might think. When you understand the classic business concept I wrote about in this post five years ago, you'll know how to score the best freelance jobs based on three simple things.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Short on time? It can be easy to think you've got too many thigs on your to-do list to start writing.

Whether you're a stay-at-home freelancer or working a day job and writing on the side, carving out time to start writing or marketing your services can be a challenge.

There's a long list of reasons (aka excuses): Meetings, kids, email, laundry, phone calls, grocery shopping, writer website updates, etc.

You're thinking you need an hour or more of time to start writing, finish an assignment or spend time marketing to land more client work. But that hour never seems to materialize.

Plans change. Someone pukes on the ride to school. Your toddler won't go down for a nap. Or your designated writing time gets annihilated by some other priority.

If I waited around for a day when I got all the time I planned for writing, I would never get anything done. I had to figure out a better way. Here's my simple strategy to hack 15-minute blocks of time to start writing:

Are you one of those freelance writers who is always short on time, scrambles to get stuff done, and lives in a constant state of procrastination?

It happens. Shiny Object Syndrome is a real thing when you're sitting in front of a computer all day.

There's email, social channels, your favorite blogs and websites, the latest gaming craze called Fortnite, and much more to distract you from getting work done.

Sound familiar?

In the perfect world, you spend all your working hours writing for clients, marketing your services, and making lots of money.

But it doesn't always work like that. Right?

Fortunately, the Internet's abyss of never-ending distractions is also a great place to find apps to help you work smarter, get organized, and be more productive.

As a freelance technology writer, I've tested and used a long list of Chrome apps to boost my own productivity, and ultimately make more money. And so can you.

Check out these 10 time-saving apps to help you move up and earn more:

The best part of freelance writing-and the worst part-is being your own boss. There's nobody else standing over you, forcing you to calculate every minute to measure productivity.

It's up to you to stay motivated and disciplined, even on days when you'd rather scoop the litter box than finish that blog post, write a query, or find new clients to pitch.

How do you keep the words flowing in spite of online and off-line distractions, family responsibilities, and bad days?

Most people aren't born with a sixth-sense for productivity. In fact, a lot of people, including writers, are notorious for stalling, wasting time, and procrastinating for an infinite list of reasons (ahem, excuses).

That ends now. You can learn productivity habits to help you maximize your time, get work done, and even carve out a little time for binge-watching your favorite show. Here's how:

I've got some writing tips for you today, on how to crank out volumes of useful posts that draw a crowd. What's the occasion? Well, in the past month, this blog hit two milestones: We published our 1,000th blog post, and hit roughly 1 million annual readers.

I wrote the vast majority of these posts (for several years, at the rate of five posts a week).

It isn't just the posts here that I've written over the past decade, either. I also wrote posts daily for a year for BNET (remember them?), wrote 3-4 times a week for Entrepreneur.com for years, and contributed 165 posts to my Forbes channel, to name just a few of my paid blogging clients.

In all, I've written thousands of blog posts, since getting back into freelancing in 2005.

If you have trouble pushing 'publish' on your posts, and wonder how to produce volumes of quality work, here are my writing tips for maximum productivity:

Ever wonder what the Olympic Games would look like for freelancers? If it's anything like the Super-G in skiing, it comes down to one thing...write faster.

I started freelancing at 17 years old. Young, right?

In case you didn't know, that's how old Lindsey Vonn was when she competed in her first Olympic Games. And she was fast.

By 17, I could throw a blazing fast softball. And if I could learn how to do that, I knew I could learn the business and craft of freelance writing.

I was fired up. I hustled. I sent out tons of pitches. I made mistakes. It's the same kind of learning process every Olympic athlete goes through to get better.

At first it was hard. Boosting productivity was a big concern. And I needed to learn how to write faster, yet still write well.

So I did what any Olympic writer would do. I took apart my writing process turn by turn, made it better, and learned to write faster. Here's how:
NOTE: Want to know the secret to boosting your freelance writing income? I learned this a long time ago, and it's still true. Change this one thing, and you're on your way. Enjoy! -Carol.
Would you like to create a drastic shift in your freelance writing income?

There's really only one way.

The good news is, this is something you can do no matter where you live, or how the economy is doing.

I was reminded of this when I ran into a mom I know casually - she's the mother of one of my son's longtime friends.

I hadn't seen her in a while, and I about fell over when I ran into her at a local bike race I did with my family recently.

She has lost probably 80 pounds or more, and looks 15 years younger!

Between slimming down and growing her formerly very short hair out to ponytail length, she looked almost like a teenager. Even the shape of her face had changed.

And you know what? Her approach to losing weight was so smart, it can even help you boost your writing income. Here's how:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
productivity Archives - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Short on time? It can be easy to think you've got too many thigs on your to-do list to start writing. Whether you're a stay-at-home freelancer or working a day job and writing on the side, carving out time to start writing or marketing your services can be a challenge.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Internet has made some things about building a freelance career as a writer a lot easier.

You can investigate what a magazine has recently written, for instance. Or find an editor on LinkedIn.

But in other ways, our Information Age has caused problems for writers.

I know because I keep hearing comments from new freelance writers like this:

"There's so much to know and the world of freelance writing is rapidly changing. I feel so behind and don't know how I'll ever catch up. Can you help?"

Does that sound anything like the voice inside your head?

Wondering if can really jump in and build a freelance career as a writer, even though you don't know everything right now?

I do have a tip on that.

Years ago, when I was finding it hard to get out of bed, much less write, I started making a daily gratitude list. To celebrate Thanksgiving, I'd like to collaborate with you today and make a writer's ultimate gratitude list. You game?

If you haven't done this before, writing a gratitude list is a great way to start the day, or to end it. Our human brains are programmed to focus on the negative. We needed to remember where the saber-toothed tigers were, so we'd avoid that valley.

In our modern lives full of negative news headlines and fears for the future, dwelling on the bad stuff can really sap your writing creativity. Focusing on the positive is a powerful tool to remind us of the simple joys of being alive.

Ready to join in?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
overcome fear Archives - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Internet has made some things about building a freelance career as a writer a lot easier. You can investigate what a magazine has recently written, for instance. Or find an editor on LinkedIn. But in other ways, our Information Age has caused problems for writers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Ever wonder what new freelance writers should do to ramp up, land clients, and start making money?

Some go with the slow-and-steady approach. But it could literally take years of trial and error to master essential marketing skills, get good clients, build a portfolio, and make good money.

Have you been trying to get your freelance writing business off the ground?

Most new freelance writers need a faster way to jump start their career. You know, like one of those rapid chargers for your phone that can get your battery to 100 percent...quick.

You don't have to be one of those freelance writers who spends months or years waiting around for things to take off. In fact, that's usually a sign of a bad battery plagued by fear, uncertainty, and a poorly-working, take-action mindset.

Fortunately, you can change that just as easily as you can replace or recharge a battery.

Ready to power up your freelance writing career? Plug into these five super-charged resources to get started:
NOTE: Want to know the secret to boosting your freelance writing income? I learned this a long time ago, and it's still true. Change this one thing, and you're on your way. Enjoy! -Carol.
Would you like to create a drastic shift in your freelance writing income?

There's really only one way.

The good news is, this is something you can do no matter where you live, or how the economy is doing.

I was reminded of this when I ran into a mom I know casually - she's the mother of one of my son's longtime friends.

I hadn't seen her in a while, and I about fell over when I ran into her at a local bike race I did with my family recently.

She has lost probably 80 pounds or more, and looks 15 years younger!

Between slimming down and growing her formerly very short hair out to ponytail length, she looked almost like a teenager. Even the shape of her face had changed.

And you know what? Her approach to losing weight was so smart, it can even help you boost your writing income. Here's how:
NOTE: Want to know how to think like a successful freelance writer? It's starts with getting a few things straight, beginning with this advice I shared a while ago. Enjoy! -Carol.
The Internet has brought us many gifts, as freelance writers.

But it also brings with it a lot of misinformation and confused notions as to how to go about building a successful freelance writing career.

If you make assumptions off the bat about how freelance writing works, you can waste a lot of time and energy.

(Here's a hint: If you're just starting out, don't assume anything. Ask successful freelance writers and find out what's really working today.)

Frustrated? Confused? Spinning your wheels about how to be one of those successful freelance writers?

Let's iron this out right now.

Take a look at my top seven wrong-headed notions that leave new freelance writers floundering in their quest to get paid:
Note: If you've been looking for freelance writing jobs on content-mill sites and job boards, you're probably frustrated. Most pay bottom feeder rates. It's something I've been hearing from writers for a long time. But great freelance writing jobs are out there, you just need to know how to find them. Check out this post from the past to learn how. -Carol.
Do you feel like it's a pipe dream to find freelance writing jobs that pay pro rates?

I hear a lot of comments like this from writers who are about ready to give up on their writing dreams.

They write me to say:

"It just seems like there aren't any good-paying clients out there."

Have to say, I disagree. But whether you think freelance writing is a land of unlimited opportunity or a field no one can earn a living at seems to depend on your personal experience.

If you want to start landing well-paying freelance writing jobs, you probably need to do two things. Here's what you need to know:
If you're feeling stuck, thinking, "Maybe I'll screw this up and ruin my writing career," read this post from a couple of years ago. Face your fears, learn from your mistakes, and keep going. -Carol
When I asked readers recently what's holding you back from breaking in and earning big as a freelance writer, I got many different answers. But one I heard a lot:

Melissa: "I am terrified. Of succeeding, of failing, of just simply doing!"

Kifayat: "Fear of getting things wrong and also selling myself short."

Cindy: "I fear looking like a fool."

DeAnn: "I just don't want to start out on the wrong foot and jeopardize my career before it really gets going."

Jane: "The idea of succeeding (or even testing myself) too quickly just scares the living hell out of me. Without faithful cheerleaders freelancing success is just too scary (because the bigger success the bigger the failure that might follow)."

To sum up: Many of you are afraid of doing something so awful that it will ruin your freelance writing career.

So today, we will confront these fears. I'm going to tell you something shattering:

EDITOR'S NOTE: Ever wonder what the secret sauce is to writing a guest post pitch that gets accepted? This was a popular topic on my blog five years ago, and it still is. Study these examples to learn how to pitch a guest post and land an assignment. Enjoy! -Carol.

A few weeks back, I talked about bad guest post pitches I've received, and outlined some of the elements of a good one.

One writer asked if I would show some examples of pitches that were accepted here - so here are three.

One needed a little back-and-forth and refining before it was accepted, as you'll see.

I also noticed that each of these pitches had weaknesses to them, too. Guest post pitches don't have to be perfect - but they do have to convey that you have a strong, unique idea, know how to execute it, and have some experience in freelance writing.

The idea also needs to be something I haven't written about before, and probably wouldn't have thought to do otherwise.

Want to learn how to write an effective guest post pitch? Here's what you need to know.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
new writers Archives - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Ever wonder what new freelance writers should do to ramp up, land clients, and start making money? Some go with the slow-and-steady approach. But it could literally take years of trial and error to master essential marketing skills, get good clients, build a portfolio, and make good money.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
I knew I had to figure out the marketing piece if I hoped to be a successful freelancer, but networking for introverts and self-promotion isn't exactly my favorite thing to do.

Before throwing myself into a crowd of people to drum up business, I thought I'd take a "class" at a local community college on networking to learn how it's done.

There was just one problem.

The "class" turned out to be a roomful of professionals who all seemed to know each other... well. When I walked in, my mind started spinning and my heart pounding. "If I could just find a seat..."

Finally I did, and that's when the director looked straight at me: "Stand up and tell us who you are and what your business is..."

"Who, me?" I thought. Cue the sweaty palms, queasy stomach, noodle legs, hands trembling with fear, and an intense desire to pull a bag over my head.

If you're a fellow introvert and freelance writer, what would you do? Here's what happened next:

Ever wonder how to stand out at a writers conference?

Here's what most writers do...

Sign up to attend a writers conference weeks in advance.

Make travel arrangements.

Scour the agenda looking for the lectures, workshops, and presentations that sound the most fun, interesting, or helpful.

And that's it.

You show up. There's a zillion writers, editors and publishers, and you roam from one lecture to the next.

If "that's it," you're missing out on a big benefit of going to a writers conference...making connections.

Fortunately, a little pre-planning can help you get more from a writers conference than a bag of goodies and a frenzy of ideas.

Want to learn how to stand out from the crowd at a writers conference? Here's how to shine:

Some things never change, like the need to find great writing clients. But marketing doesn't have to be a grueling, stressful, or frustrating chore. Check out these two fun and easy ways to find writing clients. Enjoy!-Carol

One of the questions freelance writers ask me most is, "How can I find better-paying clients?" Another one is "Where are all the good-paying clients hiding?" A third one is, "Why can't I find any good writing clients?"

I'm sensing a theme here, that people want to know more about how to connect with great clients.

There are many ways to hunt these elusive good clients, but today I want to talk about two of my favorite in-person techniques for connecting with good-paying clients.

That's right, these methods involve leaving your writing cave, going out, and meeting live humans.

Don't be scared!

Once you get the hang of it, networking is actually a lot of fun. Or it should be - so remember to have fun with it.

Here are two techniques that are pretty fail-proof and simple for maximizing your networking time:
Note: If you've been looking for freelance writing jobs on content-mill sites and job boards, you're probably frustrated. Most pay bottom feeder rates. It's something I've been hearing from writers for a long time. But great freelance writing jobs are out there, you just need to know how to find them. Check out this post from the past to learn how. -Carol.
Do you feel like it's a pipe dream to find freelance writing jobs that pay pro rates?

I hear a lot of comments like this from writers who are about ready to give up on their writing dreams.

They write me to say:

"It just seems like there aren't any good-paying clients out there."

Have to say, I disagree. But whether you think freelance writing is a land of unlimited opportunity or a field no one can earn a living at seems to depend on your personal experience.

If you want to start landing well-paying freelance writing jobs, you probably need to do two things. Here's what you need to know:

Ever feel like you're lost in the woods trying to find freelance work?

Maybe you're at one of those crossroads trying to land your first client. Or you're in the middle of a career change.

Or maybe you've been writing for a while, but it's time to find freelance work and new clients to move up and earn more.

When you're trying to map out the best marketing route to find freelance work, it's easy to get that deer-in-the-headlights gaze and get stuck.

But you can't stand around and do nothing, or you could literally freeze to death if you can't pay your heating bill, or at least build a campfire.

So what should you do? That's what I had to figure out when I quit my job as a park ranger to take care of my special needs son and start freelancing.

I picked the easiest path to freelance success. And within two weeks, I had my first client, a one-year contract, and a steady stream of inbound leads. Here's the route I took to get there:

Are you taking advantage of in-person networking opportunities to find freelance writing clients?

When I wrapped up a phone call with an agency that hires freelancers writers for Nike, Adidas, Columbia Sportswear, and other Portland-based sports and athletic companies, I got an invite to a meet-and-greet with people from these companies.

The after-hours meeting fit my schedule, so I decided to go and see if networking opportunities like this could help me find more prospects and clients.

If you're already thinking about your introverted tendencies that tell you to avoid in-person networking opportunities like this, take some advice from Linda Formichelli. Punch fear in the face and do it anyway.

You don't have to be an extrovert, gifted sales pro or marketer, to benefit from in-person networking opportunities that can connect you with potential prospects and clients.

I'm an introvert. But I still I walked away from this networking meeting with some new contacts, and scored a few referrals from the effort since attending.

And that got me thinking about the many free in-person networking opportunities available for freelance writers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
networking Archives - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
I knew I had to figure out the marketing piece if I hoped to be a successful freelancer, but networking for introverts and self-promotion isn't exactly my favorite thing to do. Before throwing myself into a crowd of people to drum up business, I thought I'd take a "class" at a local community college on networking to learn how it's done.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Are you sick of those dry spells that make you go back to begging for work as a freelance writer?

It happens. One day you're flush with work, cranking out copy, and making a decent income. And then you realize your freelance marketing efforts haven't been all that great.

Projects come to an end. You get paid. And then you're scrambling to find more clients that need a freelance writer.

Been there? Done that?

If you're that kind of freelance writer, it can get exhausting. It's kind of like trying to make your way across a desert without any water. But it doesn't have to be that way.

If you want to be a fully-booked freelance writer, there's a few things you can do to always have a steady stream of work. The marketing techniques I use as a freelance writer have helped me increase demand, raise my rates, find better clients, and make more money.

Ready to end the freelance-client drought once and for all? Here's how:

Need more freelance writing jobs?

You might be using traditional methods likes queries and letters of introduction. But are you tapping into social media channels to connect with more people?

Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter get a lot of love for helping freelancers connect with prospects and land freelance writing jobs. But they're not the only social channels out there you can leverage to get more work.

Ever heard of Reddit?

It's cleverly branded as "The front page of the Internet." This social media site has an estimated 12 million users, and they're not all looking for funny cat videos.

In fact, with just a little bit of effort, you can use Reddit to connect with people in your niche to generate leads and land freelance writing jobs.

If you're good at storytelling and like to write, you can do this. It's not that hard. Here's how I got over 30 leads on Reddit with a single post:
Freelance marketing might feel like a chore. But it's kind of important. If you don't do it, you don't eat. The good news, you can learn to love freelance marketing like I did. Enjoy!-Carol
When I first got back into freelancing after years of being a staff writer, I didn't have to do much freelance marketing.

I called many sources at companies I'd covered at writing for a local business journal, let them know I was freelancing, and it kind of rolled from there.

I called a couple local magazines, pitched them, and got assignments. I answered an ad and found myself writing Web content for a $1 billion corporation.

Looking back, it was a golden time. My career ran easy, like water flowing downhill.

But if you've ever sat back and done little to no freelance marketing, you know it's not a sustainable way to stay fully booked.

It's a lesson I had to learn the hard way. And I don't want you to end up in the same situation. Here's how I learned to love freelance marketing to move up and earn more:

Are you tired of working teeny, one-off writing jobs for small publications and one-horse businesses? To get the best freelance clients, you'll have to stop wasting time on the small fry and target a whole different category of prospect.

These terrific clients aren't in one particular industry, but spread through every type of business and organization. These are clients where the amount you earn from them tends to grow effortlessly over time. Unlike most of the solopreneur types, who tend to sputter out and go bust. Right?

The best freelance clients all have a single trait in common. Target only organizations that have this trait, and it will help you find ongoing work at great rates.

Let me introduce you to one of the best client types out there, no matter what type of freelance writing you do.

Build a thriving freelance business as a writer. That's the goal, right?

But just about every writer discovers that the path to get there includes twists and turns, dead-ends, roadblocks, and delays while trying to build a freelance business.

And sometimes, you might even get lost along the way. Been there, done that?

But if you're the go-getter type who's willing to hustle, develop discipline, and learn the business and craft of freelance writing, you can do this.

If you're just starting out, or you're ready to move up and earn more, there's a few critical skills you need for long-term success.

And they don't have anything to do with the craft of writing, but everything to do with the business of writing, planning, finances, and marketing.

Ready to ramp up your freelance business? Check out these five go-getter strategies to help you earn more, get a steady stream of clients, and create a long-term game plan for freelance business success.

You want to get more leads to grow your freelance writing business.

So you set a goal to churn out more queries and letters of introduction. That's how you market yourself as a freelance writer, isn't it?

Those are two traditional marketing methods freelance writers use to get more leads and clients. And you should be sending out plenty of both if you want to get fully booked.

But who says you have to play by old-school rules?

There's a million different ways to market your services, connect with people in your niche, and land more freelance writing assignments.

And there's at least one unconventional marketing method you should consider. Barrier to entry is low. Tech tools make it easy.

One writer has even used this approach to get more leads, land multiple ghostwriting gigs, build authority, and ultimately make more money. And so can you.

Ready to give this unconventional marketing method a try?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
marketing Archives - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Are you sick of those dry spells that make you go back to begging for work as a freelance writer? It happens. One day you're flush with work, cranking out copy, and making a decent income. And then you realize your freelance marketing efforts haven't been all that great.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Some things never change, like the need to find great writing clients. But marketing doesn't have to be a grueling, stressful, or frustrating chore. Check out these two fun and easy ways to find writing clients. Enjoy!-Carol

One of the questions freelance writers ask me most is, "How can I find better-paying clients?" Another one is "Where are all the good-paying clients hiding?" A third one is, "Why can't I find any good writing clients?"

I'm sensing a theme here, that people want to know more about how to connect with great clients.

There are many ways to hunt these elusive good clients, but today I want to talk about two of my favorite in-person techniques for connecting with good-paying clients.

That's right, these methods involve leaving your writing cave, going out, and meeting live humans.

Don't be scared!

Once you get the hang of it, networking is actually a lot of fun. Or it should be - so remember to have fun with it.

Here are two techniques that are pretty fail-proof and simple for maximizing your networking time:

The Internet has made some things about building a freelance career as a writer a lot easier.

You can investigate what a magazine has recently written, for instance. Or find an editor on LinkedIn.

But in other ways, our Information Age has caused problems for writers.

I know because I keep hearing comments from new freelance writers like this:

"There's so much to know and the world of freelance writing is rapidly changing. I feel so behind and don't know how I'll ever catch up. Can you help?"

Does that sound anything like the voice inside your head?

Wondering if can really jump in and build a freelance career as a writer, even though you don't know everything right now?

I do have a tip on that.
Note: If you've been looking for freelance writing jobs on content-mill sites and job boards, you're probably frustrated. Most pay bottom feeder rates. It's something I've been hearing from writers for a long time. But great freelance writing jobs are out there, you just need to know how to find them. Check out this post from the past to learn how. -Carol.
Do you feel like it's a pipe dream to find freelance writing jobs that pay pro rates?

I hear a lot of comments like this from writers who are about ready to give up on their writing dreams.

They write me to say:

"It just seems like there aren't any good-paying clients out there."

Have to say, I disagree. But whether you think freelance writing is a land of unlimited opportunity or a field no one can earn a living at seems to depend on your personal experience.

If you want to start landing well-paying freelance writing jobs, you probably need to do two things. Here's what you need to know:
If you're feeling stuck, thinking, "Maybe I'll screw this up and ruin my writing career," read this post from a couple of years ago. Face your fears, learn from your mistakes, and keep going. -Carol
When I asked readers recently what's holding you back from breaking in and earning big as a freelance writer, I got many different answers. But one I heard a lot:

Melissa: "I am terrified. Of succeeding, of failing, of just simply doing!"

Kifayat: "Fear of getting things wrong and also selling myself short."

Cindy: "I fear looking like a fool."

DeAnn: "I just don't want to start out on the wrong foot and jeopardize my career before it really gets going."

Jane: "The idea of succeeding (or even testing myself) too quickly just scares the living hell out of me. Without faithful cheerleaders freelancing success is just too scary (because the bigger success the bigger the failure that might follow)."

To sum up: Many of you are afraid of doing something so awful that it will ruin your freelance writing career.

So today, we will confront these fears. I'm going to tell you something shattering:
Note: Think you're missing the credentials or qualifications to be a successful freelance writer? I wrote this post five years ago, and I still see a lot of writers struggle with this. The credentials that really matter have nothing to do with writing, and everything to do with mindset. Enjoy! -Carol.
If I've learned one thing mentoring freelance writers, it's this: Writers are hung up on qualifications.

I wish I had a dime for every time a freelance writer told me:

"I've always wanted to pursue a career as a freelance writer, but given that I lack a journalism degree, I felt unqualified."

To which I can only say: Hey. Me too. Both on the no-degree front (I'm a college dropout with a degree in nothing), and the feeling inadequate thing, too.

Except I just plunged in and started writing anyway.

Do you think lack of qualifications or credentials are holding your back from being a successful freelance writer? Are you thinking about going back to school, taking another course, or talking yourself out of pitching higher-paying clients because you don't have an impressive resume?

Everyone should be a life-long learner. But you don't need a degree or credentials to be a successful freelance writer. Here's what you really need:
Stepped into my Wayback Machine and found this post from 2010 on productivity habits. And you know what? It's still current. These habits have helped me and many other freelancers move up and earn more. Enjoy!-Carol
Time. We've only got so much of it each day. For freelance writers who are also parents, we've certainly never got enough of it. Or if you're working a day job and freelancing on the side, you know you've got to use your time wisely.

Whether you have a wide-open schedule or just a few hours a day for freelancing, your productivity habits can have a huge impact on your writing career.

What's the best way to spend your precious work hours? I'm often asked this question by writers during coaching calls. I had one say, "I wish I could follow you around all day and see how you do it!"

While I don't think that would be pleasant for either of us (and might reveal an embarrassing amount of screwing off and/or snacking on my part!)...I realized that after a decade of freelancing, I have developed some strong opinions on productivity habits for freelance writers.

Here are what I consider to be the seven most important productivity habits a freelancer should spend their time on, in order of importance:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
freelance writing Archives - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Some things never change, like the need to find great writing clients. But marketing doesn't have to be a grueling, stressful, or frustrating chore. Check out these two fun and easy ways to find writing clients. Enjoy!-Carol One of the questions freelance writers ask me most is, "How can I find better-paying clients?"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
How's your freelance income?

If you're working for low-paying clients barely getting by, it's a pretty frustrating place to be.

But if you want to change your situation and increase your freelance income, you can't keep doing the same things, working for the same clients, and expect anything different.

If you really want to grow your freelance income, sometimes you have to take a step back, and take a closer look at what you're doing right, and what you need to change.

Improve your marketing efforts. Find better clients. Get a better handle on how you're using your time. Raise your rates.

It might seem like big to-do list, but you don't have to change everything all at once. You just need to be strategic about it to move up and earn more.

When freelance writer Sylvie Tremblay's found herself tired, broke, and desperate for work, she made a mindset shift, changed her approach to running a business, and managed to triple her freelance income. Here's how it's done:
Note: If you've been looking for freelance writing jobs on content-mill sites and job boards, you're probably frustrated. Most pay bottom feeder rates. It's something I've been hearing from writers for a long time. But great freelance writing jobs are out there, you just need to know how to find them. Check out this post from the past to learn how. -Carol.
Do you feel like it's a pipe dream to find freelance writing jobs that pay pro rates?

I hear a lot of comments like this from writers who are about ready to give up on their writing dreams.

They write me to say:

"It just seems like there aren't any good-paying clients out there."

Have to say, I disagree. But whether you think freelance writing is a land of unlimited opportunity or a field no one can earn a living at seems to depend on your personal experience.

If you want to start landing well-paying freelance writing jobs, you probably need to do two things. Here's what you need to know:

When I became a professional writer 5 years ago, I had no idea what I should charge. I had an inkling that I needed to raise my rates, but how?

Then I joined Freelance Writers Den. I hadn't been a member for a week before I realized that I was vastly under-charging. That was easy enough to fix for new clients - I would start quoting appropriately for new work.

But how could I apply what I'd learned about rates to existing clients who were paying me $45-$55/hour for ongoing work of varying types-emails, websites from scratch, blogs, newsletters and more?

I felt especially resentful of my $45 per hour client. I knew I needed to ask for more money, but I didn't know how to ask for a raise.

Every time I tried to imagine how this conversation would go, it became an ultimatum, which I knew I wanted to avoid.

Then, I searched around the Den and found three key pieces of inspiration that enabled me to craft emails that got me the raises I wanted. Here's what I did:
Stepped into my Wayback Machine and found this post from 2010 on productivity habits. And you know what? It's still current. These habits have helped me and many other freelancers move up and earn more. Enjoy!-Carol
Time. We've only got so much of it each day. For freelance writers who are also parents, we've certainly never got enough of it. Or if you're working a day job and freelancing on the side, you know you've got to use your time wisely.

Whether you have a wide-open schedule or just a few hours a day for freelancing, your productivity habits can have a huge impact on your writing career.

What's the best way to spend your precious work hours? I'm often asked this question by writers during coaching calls. I had one say, "I wish I could follow you around all day and see how you do it!"

While I don't think that would be pleasant for either of us (and might reveal an embarrassing amount of screwing off and/or snacking on my part!)...I realized that after a decade of freelancing, I have developed some strong opinions on productivity habits for freelance writers.

Here are what I consider to be the seven most important productivity habits a freelancer should spend their time on, in order of importance:

There comes a point in every freelance writer's life when they get sick of writing for pennies. You look up one day, realizing you're burning out fast, and that you need to be writing for money - real money. The kind that pays the mortgage.

Helping writers move up and earn more is my favorite pastime, so I love it when writers tell me they've hit this point.

I've written a ton on how to grow your writing income here on the blog. But over the years, with 900+ posts, it's gotten harder to easily find my best tips for leaving the gerbil-wheel of lousy gigs behind.

So I'm happy to announce that I've now got my very best 'earn more from writing' material organized on a single page.

If you're ready to earn a serious living at freelance writing, read on for details:

Do you ever wonder where the better-paying freelance writing gigs are hiding? It can be hard to believe a good income is even possible, especially if you're trapped in low-pay assignments that don't even earn you the minimum wage.

The good news is, there are plenty of niches that pay better than writing, say, a 300-word blog post or a 50-word online product description - to name just two classic bottom-of-the-barrel niches where pay is often miniscule.

The problem is, many writers aren't aware of all the different types of freelance writing gigs that offer better pay.

Below is a list of writing niches that I can report writers are seeing strong rates for. I've noted rate ranges as I'm aware of them, from talking to thousands of writers through Freelance Writers Den and my coaching. I've also included tips on industries and approaches for connecting with these clients.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
earn more from writing Archives - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
How's your freelance income? If you're working for low-paying clients barely getting by, it's a pretty frustrating place to be. But if you want to change your situation and increase your freelance income, you can't keep doing the same things, working for the same clients, and expect anything different.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
If you're a new freelance copywriter, sending a quote can be fraught with anxiety:

Will they think you're professional?

They know you're not a content mill writer, don't they?

Did you cover everything they mentioned?

Are they going to accept your price or try and haggle over freelance copywriter rates?

Did you include an upsell?

Are they going to say no?

It's enough to distract you from your paying clients, get frustrated, and start second guessing your career as a freelance copywriter.

But it doesn't have to be that way.

If any of these post-send fears sound familiar, you might be making some common, but easily fixable, freelance copywriter mistakes.

Here's how to find out, fix the problem, and earn more:

Ever wonder if taking a deep dive into SEO trends could help you earn more as a freelance writer?

It's easy to think SEO is a mysterious abyss only tech gurus understand.

But that doesn't mean SEO trends are being sucked into a swirling whirlpool of digital data nobody cares about.

Quite the opposite, in fact. SEO trends are evolving...fast. Ever heard the phrase, "Google just changed its algorithm?"

Like every day. Right?

If you can keep up, knowing where the currents of search engine optimization and SEO copywriting intersect can help you move up and earn more as a freelance writer.

Afraid of diving deep into SEO trends? It's really not that scary.

And you don't have to be a tech-savvy genius to figure it out. Dip your toe into SEO. Skim the surface. Doggy paddle if you have to, because it's worth it. Show a prospect you know the value of SEO, and you can charge higher rates.

Ready for a deep dive into SEO trends for freelance writers?

Have you thought about improving your copywriting skills?

You probably should. Why?

I hear this lament from writers all the time: "How can I make a good living when fees for articles and blog posts keep dropping?"

My response: "If your copywriting skills are identical to thousands of other writers-many of whom willingly work for peanuts-why do clients have to pay more?"

The answer is....they don't, and they won't.

Fortunately, that doesn't mean you have to settle for cheap clients.

Master essential copywriting skills

To boost your writing income, you need to offer something different than the next writer. You need to find a way to stand out. (It's true for a professional in any field looking for a way to move up and earn more.)

You need the kind of copywriting skills that will help a client build an audience, generate revenue, and keep people engaged.

Do you need an advanced degree in psychology or human behavior to know how to write copy that gets results? No.

You just need to master four principles of copywriting to stand out. And when you do, these copywriting skills will accelerate your income.

Here's what you need to know:

Imagine being able to bring home a five-figure paycheck in a week without having to drive anywhere, send any emails, or even put up a page of sales copy.

It might sound crazy if you've been writing for low-rates and doing small one-off projects. But it's not. This. Is. Happening.

I created a plan to write sales copy packages for businesses-all the content a client would need to get up and running (landing page, thank you page, blog posts, sales page, social media posts, and an email series).

Have you ever thought about offering sales copy packages? It's an incredible way to boost your freelance writing income and work with great clients in your niche. And it's not as hard as you might think to do this.

After mapping out a plan to write sales copy packages, I invited people to sign up for an introductory price of $4,999.

The goal was simple. Book five clients at this rate. Within a week, those five spots were filled, and more prospects were practically begging for this sales copy package. Since then I've raised the price...twice, and currently charge $7,499 for it.

Want to know how to create an offer for sales copy packages and charge pro rates? Here's what you need to know:

My freelance career was off to a dismal start. It was nothing but low-paying gigs, flaky clients, and race-to-the-bottom bidding on content mill sites. Then I discovered an unusual business writing niche that changed everything.

Two small business start-up clients asked me to write content designed to attract investors to help fund their business ideas.

But these entrepreneurs weren't looking for angel investors with millions of dollars. They were going to get funding in a different way. And they needed someone who could blend copywriting and business writing to ramp up.

It didn't take long to discover that I liked this unusual business writing niche. Write copy to promote a business idea, help entrepreneurs, and see an idea turn into a physical product or service.

And the pay? It's been two years since I discovered this unusual business writing niche. It took a little work to understand it, but now I regularly earn $500 per hour.

Curious? I've carved out a niche writing crowdfunding campaigns. And so can you. Here's what you need to know.

If I had a copywriting tips guide to follow when I landed my first job, it would have saved me a lot of suffering.

Mum, dad... please look away now.

I'm afraid that my expensive university education and a degree in English didn't prepare me to write words that sell.

When I finished school in 2001, I was lucky enough to land a copywriting job at a huge media company. And to be perfectly honest, I thought that I'd find the job pretty straightforward.

But it wasn't. Making the transition from writing academic papers to crafting commercial copy was really hard.

The truth: I used to be quite a horrible copywriter. And I don't mind admitting it now.

I had to learn to write differently. I studied pro writers, copywriting tips, and the best ad copy. I tested and evaluated copywriting strategies to see what worked and what didn't. I learned how to write words that sell.

And I'm keen on helping others make a living writing. These three copywriting tips will help you create better content:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
copywriting Archives - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you're a new freelance copywriter, sending a quote can be fraught with anxiety: Will they think you're professional? They know you're not a content mill writer, don't they? Did you cover everything they mentioned? Are they going to accept your price or try and haggle over freelance copywriter rates?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Have you ever wondered if you could resell your blog posts and make some extra cash? You know, get the posts you've written for your personal blog republished somewhere else.

If so, my blog editor Evan Jensen and I have a cautionary tale for you.

Many bloggers seem to believe publishing a post on their own blog - or even on a free platform such as LinkedIn Pulse or Medium - doesn't 'count' as publication. And that they could still get paid selling first publication rights to these posts.

Sometimes, writers don't even feel they need to disclose the work was previously published.

This can result in an awkward mess, when the blog or publication you resold your work to figures out they've gotten recycled goods. I know, because this blog recently and inadvertently accepted previously published content.

As the queen says, we were not amused.

Here's the story of what happened, and how we're changing our guest-posting policy as a result. We've also got some important tips for bloggers considering trying to sell reprints.

Have you ever experienced the frustration of crafting pitches for freelancing writing jobs, only to end up with a long list of rejections?

Even worse, have you suggested a topic for a piece of content, only to be met by deafening silence?

The fact of the matter is that supply outweighs demand when it comes to freelance writing. For all freelance writing jobs, there are an army of eager writers looking to fill it.

Thankfully, many writers are taking shots in the dark for those freelance writing jobs. A lot write in a haphazard, amateurish fashion. Furthermore, many suggest content which is unfocused, unpopular or downright unsuitable for the site they are pitching for.

If you take the time to harness the power of the secret weapon known as search engine optimization and keyword research, you stand the best chance of landing one of the many freelance writing jobs editors need to assign.

This tactic also works well for your own blog and driving traffic to it. Here's how:

I've got some writing tips for you today, on how to crank out volumes of useful posts that draw a crowd. What's the occasion? Well, in the past month, this blog hit two milestones: We published our 1,000th blog post, and hit roughly 1 million annual readers.

I wrote the vast majority of these posts (for several years, at the rate of five posts a week).

It isn't just the posts here that I've written over the past decade, either. I also wrote posts daily for a year for BNET (remember them?), wrote 3-4 times a week for Entrepreneur.com for years, and contributed 165 posts to my Forbes channel, to name just a few of my paid blogging clients.

In all, I've written thousands of blog posts, since getting back into freelancing in 2005.

If you have trouble pushing 'publish' on your posts, and wonder how to produce volumes of quality work, here are my writing tips for maximum productivity:

You may know that a growing number of businesses hire freelancers who get paid to blog. And they get paid well. High-quality blog posts can pay $200 a post and up.

The question is, how do you get those better gigs? To get paid to blog (real money, that is), you need to show clients how the blog posts you write help bring in additional money.

A decade back, blogging was more of a 'squishy' soft-sell tactic than it is today. Now, companies increasingly understand how content marketing works to bring them more leads, opt-ins, and ultimately, sales. Which means they look to you for proof your posts will bring new business.

I've been getting a lot of questions about this challenge in Freelance Writers Den lately, so I thought my blog readers would probably like tips on this, too. In this post, I'll give you concrete strategies for demonstrating the value of your paid blogging, even as a newbie.

Want to land some freelance jobs in the health and fitness niche?

There's no shortage of health and fitness magazines, websites, and custom pubs that need great writers.

These markets cover a wide range of topics like healthy living, nutrition, weight loss, supplements, exercise, disease prevention, and lifestyle medicine.

And you don't need to be a personal trainer, registered dietitian, or certified wellness coach to land freelance jobs in this niche.

In fact, some of these people probably have freelance jobs they need to fill for blogging, ghostwriting, and marketing. (Here's a tip: Exercise your marketing muscles, and send a custom LOI (letter of introduction) to a health/fitness professional.)

If you're looking for a way to land some freelance jobs in health and fitness writing, follow the advice most personal trainers recommend, and simply get started.

In this list of paying markets, you'll find a mix of magazines, websites, and a couple of custom pubs that need health and fitness writers. Study the guidelines, pitch an idea, and repeat, to build your writing muscles and your portfolio.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
blogging Archives - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Have you ever wondered if you could resell your blog posts and make some extra cash? You know, get the posts you've written for your personal blog republished somewhere else. If so, my blog editor Evan Jensen and I have a cautionary tale for you.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Internet has made some things about building a freelance career as a writer a lot easier.

You can investigate what a magazine has recently written, for instance. Or find an editor on LinkedIn.

But in other ways, our Information Age has caused problems for writers.

I know because I keep hearing comments from new freelance writers like this:

"There's so much to know and the world of freelance writing is rapidly changing. I feel so behind and don't know how I'll ever catch up. Can you help?"

Does that sound anything like the voice inside your head?

Wondering if can really jump in and build a freelance career as a writer, even though you don't know everything right now?

I do have a tip on that.
Note: Ever wonder what the difference is between writing an article and writing a blog post? It's a topic that comes up a lot. Besides style and research, you might be surprised by one of the key differences between blogs and articles. And it's why I decided to share this post again. Enjoy! -Carol.
There's a lot of confusion out there in the freelance-writing world today about blog posts and articles. Also, about what each of those types of writing should pay.

Recently, I got a lot of response to my call for freelance writers to stop writing blog posts. Many writers were confused about just what the difference is.

So let's discuss. Because things are changing. And understanding the differences between these two writing forms will help you earn more.

For years, blog posts and nonfiction articles were distinctly different:

It's rare that I meet a freelance writer who thinks their writing is good enough. It's not just that you want to know how to improve your writing, either - you want to know how to do it in a hurry.

Ideally, quick enough to get you some better-paying freelance writing gigs, real soon.

It seems no one wants to become a strong writer the way I did it - namely, to file 3-4 stories each and every week, like I did for 12 years. Or to write 72 blog posts a month, like I did when I got back into freelance writing in 2005.

Everybody wants a shortcut. OK then! I think there are a few.

Here are my top seven ways to quickly improve your writing:

Ever wasted hours doing article research for a query or assignment?

It happens, especially if you don't know where to look.

If you're not getting anywhere with your approach to article research (which probably starts with Google for almost everybody), ask an expert on how to find the information you need.

And just where are you going to find an expert on article research? At the library.

Libraries (all 119,487 of them in the United States, according to the American Library Association) are packed with resources to help freelancers work smarter and faster.

And at every one, you'll find a reference librarian who knows the ins and outs of article research better than you.

In a recent Freelance Writers Den podcast, we talked with Emily-Jane Dawson. She's a reference librarian for the Multnomah County Library system in Portland, Ore. And she shared some of her best article research tips for freelancers.

Looking for information to beef up a query letter, pitch a prospect, or complete an assignment?

Check out these article research tips from a savvy reference librarian:

If you want to improve your article writing skills, the Central Intelligence Agency probably isn't your first place to look.

Yes. I'm talking about that CIA. The organization that feeds the President and senior officials information to keep us safe. I was an intelligence analyst for the CIA for 8 years, and spent most of my time writing for top policy makers.

Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes at the CIA?

It's not exactly like living in a Jason Bourne movie. But there is a lot of information that requires article writing skills to keep people informed. Along the way, I uncovered article writing secrets at the CIA that helped me go from analyst to full-time freelancer.

It wasn't easy. In this high pressure environment, I quickly learned to kill my purple prose, prioritize readability, and create impeccable work under pressure.

Want to improve your article writing skills, land better clients, and earn more?

Here are a few tips from inside the CIA to help you be a better freelance writer:

Are you a writer in search of an article idea? These days, the big-earning article writers have loads of ideas for editors.

But if you're someone who really finds idea generation tough, there's another way to earn well. You can do it by getting more mileage out of your short stack of ideas.

Get out of the habit of coming up with one article idea, landing an assignment, and then moving on.

Instead, think in terms of spinning that one little idea straw into a big pile of gold.

How? Here are ten different ways:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
article writing Archives - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Internet has made some things about building a freelance career as a writer a lot easier. You can investigate what a magazine has recently written, for instance. Or find an editor on LinkedIn. But in other ways, our Information Age has caused problems for writers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Get Better Freelance Clients

Got your freelance writing business off the ground - but you're hungry for more? Here's your headquarters for learning how to find better clients and move up to earning pro rates.

Start with my top 'earn more' posts over on the right. Then, check out more resources for growing your writing income below:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Writing For Money Ultimate Guide - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Get Better Freelance Clients Got your freelance writing business off the ground - but you're hungry for more? Here's your headquarters for learning how to find better clients and move up to earning pro rates. Start with my top 'earn...Read more ›

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When I got a random phone call from a prospect about a proposal writing gig, I was curious.

"I need help writing an RFP [request for proposal] for a multi-year, multi-million dollar cyber security contract for a government agency," the person said. "The deadline is in 30 days. Can you help me?"

You can make a lot of money doing this kind of work, right? That's what I thought. But I had my doubts.

Months before this unexpected phone call, I did a lot of leg work to try and land proposal writing gigs and government contract work. And nothing happened.

I navigated clunky government websites and studied the jargon. I registered my writing business on sites like the System for Award Management and FedBizOpps where you can find contracts. I tried to land big contracts, then smaller ones without success.

It seemed like a lost cause. And then this prospect found me on one of those government sites for contractors.

I bid $12,000 for the work, and the client accepted. Here's what the proposal writing process looked like:

Last year, I got out my crystal ball and created a freelance writing forecast that identified 12 hot writing niches for the past year. (You can check and see how I did.)

That post was one of the most useful posts of the year, judging from the traffic it got, so I've decided to do a new forecast for 2017.

But this time, rather than good-paying types of writing, I'm calling out the hot trends you should know about to earn well in the coming year.

How you take advantage of these trends and freelance writing forecast will depend on the kinds of writing you like to do and types of clients you serve. These are top-level trends that will affect all of us, whether you're into blogging, magazine writing, or copywriting.

I've included action items that explain how to take advantage of each of these trends in the coming year.

The freelance writing forecast looks bright

The short version: I've never been more excited about the opportunities for freelance writers than I am right now.

Ready? Let's look at the seven biggest trends coming down the pike:

Tagged with: blogging, business writing, content mills, freelance trends, ghostwriting, LinkedIn, magazine writing, marketing, overcome fear, raise your rates, Small Blog Big Income, social media marketing, trade publications, writer websites

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
business writing Archives - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When I got a random phone call from a prospect about a proposal writing gig, I was curious. "I need help writing an RFP [request for proposal] for a multi-year, multi-million dollar cyber security contract for a government agency," the person said. "The deadline is in 30 days. Can you help me?"

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Freelance marketing might feel like a chore. But it's kind of important. If you don't do it, you don't eat. The good news, you can learn to love freelance marketing like I did. Enjoy!-Carol
When I first got back into freelancing after years of being a staff writer, I didn't have to do much freelance marketing.

I called many sources at companies I'd covered at writing for a local business journal, let them know I was freelancing, and it kind of rolled from there.

I called a couple local magazines, pitched them, and got assignments. I answered an ad and found myself writing Web content for a $1 billion corporation.

Looking back, it was a golden time. My career ran easy, like water flowing downhill.

But if you've ever sat back and done little to no freelance marketing, you know it's not a sustainable way to stay fully booked.

It's a lesson I had to learn the hard way. And I don't want you to end up in the same situation. Here's how I learned to love freelance marketing to move up and earn more:

Some things never change, like the need to find great writing clients. But marketing doesn't have to be a grueling, stressful, or frustrating chore. Check out these two fun and easy ways to find writing clients. Enjoy!-Carol

One of the questions freelance writers ask me most is, "How can I find better-paying clients?" Another one is "Where are all the good-paying clients hiding?" A third one is, "Why can't I find any good writing clients?"

I'm sensing a theme here, that people want to know more about how to connect with great clients.

There are many ways to hunt these elusive good clients, but today I want to talk about two of my favorite in-person techniques for connecting with good-paying clients.

That's right, these methods involve leaving your writing cave, going out, and meeting live humans.

Don't be scared!

Once you get the hang of it, networking is actually a lot of fun. Or it should be - so remember to have fun with it.

Here are two techniques that are pretty fail-proof and simple for maximizing your networking time:

Maybe it's your first client meeting ever, and you're petrified that you don't know what to say. And you'll come across like a dummy.

Or maybe you've taken scores of client meetings as a freelance writer - but you keep shooting blanks, and walking away without an assignment.

If you're an experienced freelance writer, perhaps you've left too many first client meetings with the sneaky feeling that you've just been milked for an hour of free consulting. You could have charged hundreds for the advice, but you just gave it away, in hopes of impressing your prospect - and still didn't get the gig.

If you're any of these writers, I've got a piece of advice that's going to save you time and help you land more clients.

You see, there's a balance you need to strike in first client meetings between impressing the prospect that you're smart, and being too helpful. So helpful that they get all the info they need in the meeting, and don't have to hire you.

How can you impress clients fast, without giving away all your secrets? Here's my approach:

When I became a professional writer 5 years ago, I had no idea what I should charge. I had an inkling that I needed to raise my rates, but how?

Then I joined Freelance Writers Den. I hadn't been a member for a week before I realized that I was vastly under-charging. That was easy enough to fix for new clients - I would start quoting appropriately for new work.

But how could I apply what I'd learned about rates to existing clients who were paying me $45-$55/hour for ongoing work of varying types-emails, websites from scratch, blogs, newsletters and more?

I felt especially resentful of my $45 per hour client. I knew I needed to ask for more money, but I didn't know how to ask for a raise.

Every time I tried to imagine how this conversation would go, it became an ultimatum, which I knew I wanted to avoid.

Then, I searched around the Den and found three key pieces of inspiration that enabled me to craft emails that got me the raises I wanted. Here's what I did:

Ask any writer about their worst writing job - and they've got a story to tell.

If you're a freelance writer for any length of time, some gig will go sideways on you. That's just how it is.

The key is not to see that worst-case experience as an indicator of your skills, or a referendum on your future potential as a writer.

It's just...business. Things go wrong. Misunderstandings happen. Everybody has a bad day.

Because so many writers seem to be devastated when they bomb at a gig, I thought it might be useful to collect worst-client stories and let writers compare notes. I thought we could collect them in the comments on this post.

So I'm having a contest! Details are below. But first, I thought I'd kick this off by sharing my own worst writing job stories.

I'd only been a freelance writer for a couple of months when I scored a regular gig with a large web design firm.

The pay was decent, I loved the assignments, and the editor was a breeze to work with. It seemed like my fledgling career was ready to take flight.

Then my son got sick.

Because of a chronic medical condition, we need to check on him every two hours at night when he's ill. My husband couldn't cover, so I was on duty for the entire ordeal. All alone. Seven Days. No sleep.

Of course, this was when my client called with an emergency assignment. The previous writer had flaked, and he needed me to step in and write two pages of automotive content ASAP. Against all logic, I took the job.

Unfortunately, my fatigue got the best of me. My writing was garbled, and I made mistakes that could have led to a lawsuit.

To say my editor was pissed would be an understatement. I was on the way out the door.

I turned to the Freelance Writers Den for advice on what to do about it and how I could save what I felt was a floundering career. I got some great tips and loads of supportive sympathy. I came up with a plan to win my client's trust back.

Here's how it went:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
writing clients Archives - Make A Living Writing

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Freelance marketing might feel like a chore. But it's kind of important. If you don't do it, you don't eat. The good news, you can learn to love freelance marketing like I did. Enjoy!-Carol When I first got back into freelancing after years of being a staff writer, I didn't have to do much freelance marketing.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Data on how much freelance writers make can be tough to pin down. But it's something every writer wants to know. I tackled this topic three years ago when I published this post. And it's a topic that never gets old. Check out the updated resources. And be sure to ask yourself the two questions at the end to determine your earning potential. -Carol
It's one of the most-asked questions I get: "Can you tell me how much freelance writers make?"

Let's face it - we've all got mouths to feed. So it's important to get a sense of whether freelance writing can yield you a real, bill-paying level of income. It's a good question to ask.

There are two steps to figuring out the answer to this question.

The first is to find survey data on what freelancers make. That gives you a sense of what's possible, and what's typical.

The second step is a bit harder, so let's start with data.

Resources on how much freelance writers make

There isn't a ton of information out there on what freelance writers earn, but there is some.
New and updated resources

The State of Freelancing in 2015, compiled from survey data Contently collected from 643 freelancers (82 percent were freelance writers). The report shows income data and trends for freelancers (24 percent earn $50K or more annually). But even more interesting, the report also shows the connection to income and marketing efforts. That's right. How much freelance writers make has a lot to do with consistent marketing.

Pay Rates for Freelance Writers is another recent trend report on freelance writing income published by ClearVoice. To find out how much freelance writers make, they checked in with both freelance writers and companies that hire freelancers. Spoiler alert: You just might wallow in missed income opportunities after reading this, then raise your rates.

The Writer's Market surveys writers and publishes a What to Charge guide in the front of each annual edition of their voluminous guide to writing markets. They offer rates for a wide variety of writing assignments.

Freelance Writing Rates: 5 Resources for Figuring Out How Much to Charge. No survey data here, but The Write Life guest post by Heather van der Hoop serves up a couple more smart strategies to find out how much freelance writers make. And how much you should be charging.

Other resources

Ed Gandia's 2012 Freelance Industry Report (no, this report hasn't been updated since 2012) covers more types of freelancing than just writing, but about 40 percent of responders were writers and editors. Three-quarters of respondents have been freelancing more than three years. The results will be eye-opening for many writers. To call out just one stat: About one-third of respondents reported they earned $70 an hour or more, and another 23 percent earned $50-$70 an hour.

Chris Marlow surveys copywriters on what they earn (Note: that link is a PDF download), and her study is the most comprehensive and detailed one I know. Not helpful if you're writing for magazines, but if you write for businesses, this is highly useful info to find out how much freelance writers make.
A 2014 update of the Freelance Copywriters Fee & Compensation Survey is available, but you'll have to join Marlow's copywriting program to get it.

It doesn't have statistics, but a good book for helping you think about how to price your writing services is What to Charge: Pricing Strategies for Freelancers and Consultants, by Laurie Lewis. Great info, even though it was last published in 2011.

I recommend writers give those a browse and get a sense of market rates and of good strategies for pricing (hint: by the project, not by the hour).

Now, back to our question - how much can you earn?

You now have a sense of what writers typically earn, and what top earners bring in. But like the car companies say about gas consumption, your mileage may vary.

Where you will fall on that freelance earning scale is going to depend a lot on you. Here are a couple of important questions to ask yourself:

1. How bad do you want this?

Many writers dream about having the freedom to be their own boss, set their own schedule, and make a living doing what they love.

But when it comes to getting off their cans and marketing the heck out of their services to find clients...many can't seem to bring themselves to do it.

If it requires learning new skills - like, say, how to use WordPress - they balk.

When an editor tells them they need to improve their article, they're resentful.

That's when it begins to dawn: Freelance writing is a hard life.

You need tremendous self-discipline. And you have to hustle for gigs all the time, deal with rejection, and rewrite things to suit other people.

There are many factors that play into how much you will earn, and how long it will take you to reach the income level you want.

For instance, are you willing to write about difficult topics that tend to pay better, or do you only want to write from your own muse? Writing tough stuff is a great route to higher pay.

How much work are you willing to put into marketing? For instance, if you don't put up a writer website, it's pretty hard to impress prospects these days.

One other factor: Many writers prefer to kick back and enjoy life more now that they're out of the cubicle, rather than working super-hard at building a top-earning business. Spend more time mountain-climbing or home-schooling the kids.

Go at it fewer hours, and that will reduce your income. Which brings us to...

2. What is your earning goal?

I discovered in my own freelancing that you rarely earn more than you imagine you can make.

When I started freelancing in 2005, my dream was to replace my $60,000-a-year staff writing job. Within a couple years, I did.

Then I had a big light bulb explode in my head.

I suddenly had this flash of insight that as a freelance writer, my earning potential wasn't limited to what I used to make in a day job.

My earning potential wasn't limited to $100,000.

My earning potential was unlimited.

After realizing I could earn much more, I upped my marketing and aimed higher. I stopped looking at Craigslist ads and proactively went after bigger clients - major corporations and national magazines. I wrote more on big projects and ongoing contracts, rather than having to prospect constantly for smaller gigs.

In 2011, I cracked six figures as a freelance writer. And since then, I've continued to grow my income from writing, every year.

Expand your vision for your freelance writing business, and it will change how you pursue this career. And that's how you change how much you make as a freelance writer.

How much do you aim to earn as a freelance writer? Leave a comment - share your goals and what you're doing to get there.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Truth About How Much Freelance Writers Make

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Data on how much freelance writers make can be tough to pin down. But it's something every writer wants to know. I tackled this topic three years ago when I published this post. And it's a topic that never gets old. Check out the updated resources.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Judging from the emails and Facebook questions I get, some freelance writers think I am the oracle of all knowledge.

Fact is, I do not know everything about freelance writing. I get questions I don't really know how to answer now and then.

They might be about writing niches or types I've never done, such as applying to gigs on online portals.

Like this one from my Facebook:

Or this one, about a sticky ethical situation I haven't experienced:

I provide ghostwriting for self-help professionals, like monthly newsletters or short weekly blog posts. They either don't have the time or aren't good at writing short marketing-style pieces, and it's reliable and entertaining work for me, so it's a fine arrangement.

But one of my clients has been contacted by an editor at a print magazine. He likes her blog, and wants her to start writing articles for him. One problem - my client doesn't want to come clean to him that her blog is ghostwritten!

In fact, when she told me, the topic wasn't even up for discussion. She just tacked the directions for this new venture on to her usual content requests for the month.

This is a real dilemma for me! I'd appreciate any insight you have.

Thank you, Alexandra

This would-be writer is juggling a lot of balls already, but would like to know how to get into freelancing:

I stumbled across your website and found it very interesting. I'm currently working the normal M-F 8-5 with a 4 hour daily commute into the city. I'm also working on my MBA and will graduate in May with a 4.0.

In going through work and school for many years now, I have not been able to find my niche. I'm a finance manager now, and my prior positions have included marketing, accounting, recruiting, anything business related-I've done it. I've never found any type of happiness or healthy challenges any time in my career.

My passion has always been in writing. I would love nothing more than to use my passion and do it for a living. My problem is I have no idea where/how to get started.

I recently found freelance positions on flexjobs.com and other places. I will admit that it is a bit overwhelming. I've written many papers and have always been nominated to proof, edit, and write throughout my education.

Any help and/or direction is greatly appreciated.

Best Regards, Natalie

I haven't tried to freelance while getting an advanced degree and working full-time. A little flummoxed on that one.

I've also never worked as a lawyer while trying to launch a freelance business, like this writer - but I'm thinking maybe some of you have:

I have a question about starting a writer's website. For beginning writers who are currently working at a day job in another field, how do you recommend creating a writer's website without putting your current job in jeopardy? I am an attorney at a law firm, but I want to transition to working as a freelance writer.

I am starting to work part time at the firm to allow more time to write and eventually, I hope to be able to leave that job entirely. Until I get to that point, however, I need to pay my bills. I am afraid that if I create a writer's website with my name and my firm finds out about it, I could lose my job. Of course, it is hard to get started as a writer without a website.

Could you provide some insight into how to avoid this Catch-22? Thanks, Charise

So I turn to you. If you have any thoughts, ideas, insights - this is your day to share them and help other writers to break in to the freelancing biz and earn more.

Got some advice for these writers? Leave it in the comments - thanks!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Can You Help These Freelance Writers Figure Out What to Do?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Judging from the emails and Facebook questions I get, some freelance writers think I am the oracle of all knowledge. Fact is, I do not know everything about freelance writing. I get questions I don't really know how to answer now and then.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Recently, I asked about what writers fear most - and one of the answers surprised me.

Quite a few writers told me they feared taking any action to start trying to make it as a freelance writer.

They were frozen because as long as they didn't try to get published, they could preserve the fantasy that their freelance writing dream might still come true, one day in the mist-shrouded future.

As soon as they actually tried to be a freelance writer, they ran the risk that it wouldn't work out. Then their dream would be shattered, forever. So they did nothing, year after year.

Oh, man. That is a disastrous attitude.

Today, I'm going to tell you why you've got to snap out of this and go for your writing career right away.

You see, I had a big dream like that once. And it died.

Here's why that was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I dreamed a dream in time gone by...

The bug bit me when I was about 14. I loved music, and I wanted to be a singer-songwriter. Like Joni Mitchell or Joan Baez or Grace Slick, or ideally all of them rolled into one.

I practiced piano and learned a little guitar. I scribbled lyrics on every available space. I sang in a high-school vocal group.

I dropped out of college because I felt like I was wasting time there when I should be playing gigs. Moved back to L.A., started going to songwriting workshops, and scraped together a band.

Then I started trying to play gigs. And a weird thing happened.

Confronting chaos

Live rock performance is the ultimate uncontrollable scenario. Anything can and does happen.

Your drummer may decide to take the overnight party bus to Vegas or eat psychedelic mushrooms rather than turn up at the gig.

The sound system may malfunction and no one can hear you. Audience members may hoot, ignore you, or throw things. Or only two people show up, but you still have to play anyway.

You make mistakes while you're playing. You forget lyrics.

When I say "you" there, of course I mean me. All those things happened to me. Some more than once.

And I hated it.

An unpleasant fact about me slowly became obvious.

Losing it

I discovered I am a control freak about my art.

I like to deliver my art to the world fully formed and perfect. The randomness of live performance both terrified and frustrated me.

Having everyone watch me while I delivered the song I was trying to get out there made me crazy nervous. It turned me into a scared little girl, a persona that didn't mesh well with being a woman fronting a rock band.

The other requirements of building a life in rock 'n' roll didn't appeal to me either, like the part where you need to hang around smoky clubs until 2 a.m. drinking and trying to get some club owner to book your band.

I'm asthmatic. Cigarette smoke makes me need my inhaler. Also, I'm good for one, maybe two drinks tops before I curl up under the table and take a nap. Hanging out with drunks is not my idea of fun.

This dream wasn't working out at all like I imagined.

Breakdown

When you're doing something over and over that you find radically stressful, your body has a way of trying to stop you.

For me, the performance stress made my voice shut down. I couldn't sing properly.

The intense fears about what was going to happen during my set - what would go wrong and make me look stupid this time - made my throat constrict.

Within the first couple of songs, I would go completely hoarse. The next day, I couldn't speak above a whisper. It became clear that getting a regular gig where I'd need to sing every night was out of the question.

I tried voice coaching. I did exercises and sang scales. I did relaxation and visualization. I'd remind myself that no matter how bad my gig sucked, 1 billion Chinese could care less.

But it was no use. I physically and emotionally wasn't cut out for live performance.

When one door closes...

Right around this time, I entered an essay contest on a lark and won. They paid me $200.

And everything changed.

I had discovered a form of writing where they paid you - as opposed to my having to pay as a songwriter, for rehearsal space and studio time and to four-wall clubs to play gigs.

Even better, writing prose allowed me to tinker and perfect what I wanted to say. When I was happy with it, I sent it out into the world and readers enjoyed it...and I didn't have to be there while they read it.

I loved it. And I never looked back.

Getting it right

I tried the songwriting dream - tried hard, for most of my twenties. I played the Whisky. I spent loads of money, made demo tapes, shopped tunes, got a couple of them licensed even, played a lotta gigs.

Then finally I realized it wasn't making me happy, let it go, and moved on to find a new dream.

That new dream led to a ton of fun, earnings, and satisfaction. Years of well-paid freelancing, and then staff writing, and then freelancing again.

And then, starting this blog to share what I knew. Next, launching Freelance Writers Den, and creating a business that helps thousands of people and has made me financially secure.

None of it would have happened if I was still sitting in my room singing songs to myself and hoping some day I might be a singer-songwriter - but never going for it for fear of finding out I couldn't cut it.

Facing that reality and learning exactly why that career wasn't a fit for me gave me the insight I needed to find the right path.

How dreams come true

Dreams are born in our heads, but they're forged and perfected in the fire of experience.

I had a dream of being a kind of writer, and by trying, I became one - just a bit different kind of writer than I originally imagined.

With no experience, your dream stays a vague notion that might or might not even be something you'd like, if you really tried it.

You might discover that though you imagined it would be awesome, in reality you hate meeting editors' demands, or conducting interviews, or writing business copy, or having to endlessly hustle for gigs.

But there might be something related, two steps removed or just around the corner from that first big dream you had, that you'd love. And you're wasting precious time not finding out.

Ever have a dream die? Leave a comment and tell us what you tried, and how you moved on.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Why You Need to Go For Your Freelance Writing Dream Now

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Recently, I asked about what writers fear most - and one of the answers surprised me. Quite a few writers told me they feared taking any action to start trying to make it as a freelance writer.