Freelance Writer Job Description (2023)

We are searching for an experienced freelance writer to generate texts for our company. The freelance writer's responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of this production process, from inception to submission. You should also liaise with the client to delineate assignment-related expectations, as needed.

To ensure success as a freelance writer, you should be accustomed to working with various word processors. Ultimately, outstanding freelance writer will tailor their writing style to accommodate the needs of different audiences.

Freelance Writer Responsibilities:

  • Formulating texts in accordance with prescribed editorial and formatting guidelines.
  • Communicating with the client to explicate assignment-related expectations, as required.
  • Informing the client of assignment-related difficulties as they are detected.
  • Ensuring that texts are properly researched.
  • Maintaining originality in your work.
  • Proofreading your assignments to detect and correct errors.
  • Submitting completed works via the requisite channels.
  • Monitoring and logging hours spent on each assignment.
  • Submitting your own tax returns in a timely manner.

Freelance Writer Requirements:

  • Bachelor's degree in creative writing, journalism, communication studies, or an adjacent field.
  • Prior writing experience, preferably as a freelancer.
  • Portfolio of completed works.
  • Own personal or laptop computer.
  • Familiarity with mainstream word processing software.
  • Excellent communication and time management skills.
  • Capacity to work with minimal supervision.
  • Self-motivated, disciplined approach to work.

FAQs

Freelance Writer Job Description? ›

A Freelance Writer can be a generalist, writing content for various publications and channels, such as websites, press releases. blog posts, internal corporate communications, emails, grant writing, proposals, or newsletters. Many Freelance Writers chose to specialize in a specific communications channel or industry.

What are the responsibilities of a freelance writer? ›

Freelance Writer Responsibilities:

Ensuring that texts are properly researched. Maintaining originality in your work. Proofreading your assignments to detect and correct errors. Submitting completed works via the requisite channels.

What are the skills required for freelance writing? ›

Writing-Specific Freelance Skills
  • Content Writing. ...
  • Proofreading and Editing. ...
  • Social Media. ...
  • Word Processing. ...
  • Content Management. ...
  • Advanced Writing Skills. ...
  • Grammar. ...
  • Research.
Mar 17, 2023

What does a freelance writer do on a resume? ›

Common duties listed on a Freelance Writer resume include performing research, finding interesting and relevant facts, embedding links into text, communicating with clients, finding new jobs, and improving their portfolio.

What is the average income for a freelance writer? ›

Freelance Writer Salary
Annual SalaryMonthly Pay
Top Earners$156,000$13,000
75th Percentile$63,500$5,291
Average$60,985$5,082
25th Percentile$37,500$3,125

How do I become a freelance writer with no experience? ›

10 Ways to break into freelance writing without experience
  1. Write samples. ...
  2. Find a writing agency to support you. ...
  3. Launch a blog. ...
  4. Write for friends and family. ...
  5. Network with other freelance writers. ...
  6. Get your start with a content network. ...
  7. Revise and refresh your grammar. ...
  8. Learn about SEO.

Is it hard to get into freelance writing? ›

A freelance writing career takes hard work, good time management skills, and the ability to hustle to find new gigs. To help build a rewarding career in this field, study the twelve freelance writing tips every author should know.

How do I get my first freelance writing job? ›

How to Find Entry-Level Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners
  1. Rewrite local small-business websites.
  2. Find abandoned business blogs.
  3. Write business emails.
  4. Create a newsletter or brochure.
  5. Report articles for local news media.
  6. Write for local magazines.
  7. Turn your former employer into a client.
  8. Write for local marketing agencies.

What type of freelance writing pays the most? ›

The healthcare and medical sector is one of the highest-paying niches in freelance writing. Content in this niche requires similar skill sets to technical writing—as well as extensive knowledge of the healthcare industry.

Is freelance writing self employment? ›

Freelance income is self-employment income, and so are any royalties you receive for that book you published or self-published. That can be a good thing, because the self-employed are privy to some tax perks that employees don't usually receive.

What should a writer include in a resume? ›

How to create a writer resume
  • Provide your contact information. ...
  • Start with a memorable professional summary. ...
  • Discuss your relevant writing experience. ...
  • Showcase your writing skills. ...
  • Highlight your education and certifications. ...
  • Mention your relevant achievements.
May 10, 2023

What is a good hourly rate for a freelance writer? ›

Here's a breakdown to help you gauge your per-hour rate based on your experience level: Entry Level — $15 to $30 per hour. Intermediate — $35 to $60 per hour. Experienced — $65 to $100 per hour.

How much should I charge as a freelance writer? ›

Another major difference to consider is the amount of experience you have. Beginners tend to charge much less, like $. 08 per word or $20 per hour. Those with many years of experience, on the other hand, can charge upwards of $1.00 per word and $100 per hour.

How much should a beginner freelance writer charge? ›

We recommend beginner freelance writers charge no less than $0.05 to $0.20 per word. If you consider the example of a 1,000-word blog post, this means you'll range from $50 to $200 per post. In reality, many beginning writers make $0.01 to $0.04 per word, which is an unreasonably low fee.

How do I sell myself as a freelance writer? ›

10 ways to market yourself as a writer and win clients
  1. Choose a niche.
  2. Nail your author bio.
  3. Build a website.
  4. Use your email signature.
  5. Promote your portfolio.
  6. Optimize your LinkedIn profile.
  7. Start a blog.
  8. Get to know other writers.
Sep 18, 2021

Can you make a good living as a freelance writer? ›

Freelance writing is a great way to pick up some extra income. But if you want to put in the time and effort, you can make a great living doing it full time! Just think, you can leave the 9 to 5, make your own schedule, and potentially make a better living with the right work ethic and strategy in place!

Do I need a business to be a freelance writer? ›

Most freelancers in creative industries like writing, designing, or programming, probably do not need a professional business license.

How many hours do freelance writers work? ›

According to a 2016 study, the average full-time freelancer works 36 hours per week, reported this article.

How long does it take to write a freelance article? ›

If you're an absolute beginner at this, a 1000 word article should take you about 3 to 4 hours. A 2000 word article should take you about 6 to 8 hours. The reason it takes so long is because you're not experienced with writing consistently. Also, you have to add in images, links, structure the URL, etc.

Is freelance writing oversaturated? ›

The market is not too saturated. Yes, there are millions of people who identify as freelancers in the world. There are also millions of jobs for freelance writers of all types.

How much should I charge for a 500 word article? ›

For one interview source when writing for an editorial brand, I aim to earn at least $0.75 a word when I'm thinking about how much to charge for 500-word article, and it depends on the topic. That averages to at least $375 for an article.

How much should I charge for a 1000 word article? ›

The low end for a 1000-word research article is around $75, while an experienced writer may charge closer to $250 or more. Blog article. Less technical articles are often quicker to write, so you may want to charge less. A 1000-word blog article averages around $50 at the lower end and $175 at the higher end.

How do you get paid to write? ›

How to Make Money Writing
  1. Guest Post on High-Paying Publications and Magazines. ...
  2. Become a Copywriter. ...
  3. Do Freelance Content Writing for Businesses. ...
  4. Ghostwrite Stories. ...
  5. Get Paid to Write on Medium. ...
  6. Self-Publish on Amazon Kindle. ...
  7. Blog and Make Money Through Affiliate Marketing. ...
  8. Find Paid Writing Internships.
Apr 20, 2023

What type of content writing is in demand? ›

What Type of Content Writers Are in Demand? Some of the most in-demand content writer jobs out there right now are: Blog Writers: Professionals in this position take their research and turn it into easily digestible pieces of content for readers.

How much do freelance writers charge per 1,000 words? ›

Charging per word is common with freelance content writers as well. Freelance writers charge anything from $0.01/word to $2/word. Many terribly low freelance rates are due to writing for content mills or taking any jobs available on freelance job boards like Upwork and Fiverr.

How much do freelance writers make per 1,000 words? ›

Another freelance writer uses a calculator to price projects and typically uses the following range for blog posts: 1000-1500 words: USD 600. 1500-2000 words: USD 700. 2000-2500 words: USD 800.

Can anyone be a freelance writer? ›

Anyone can be a freelance writer. You don't need any experience or degree. It's the perfect business for bloggers, stay-at-home moms or those just fed up with their 9-5 job.

Who is the most famous freelance writer? ›

1. Carol Tice. Carol Tice is a name you can't miss in the freelance writing industry.

How to do ghostwriting? ›

How to become a ghostwriter
  1. Read often. Most writers read a lot, and they read everything. ...
  2. Build experience as a freelance writer. Freelancing builds crucial writing skills that can make a ghostwriter more marketable. ...
  3. Write a variety of content. ...
  4. Create a strong portfolio. ...
  5. Learn to write in different voices.
Feb 3, 2023

Do you have to pay taxes if you are a freelancer? ›

The Internal Revenue Service considers freelancers to be self-employed, so if you earn income as a freelancer you must file your taxes as a business owner. While you can take additional deductions if you are self-employed, you'll also face additional taxes in the form of the self-employment tax.

Do freelance writers get 1099? ›

As a freelance writer, your earnings are recorded and reported to you on a 1099 form. If you have performed work for a number of different contractors, you may be issued several 1099 forms.

Can freelance writing be a side hustle? ›

Freelance writing is the ultimate side hustle. It's flexible, it pays well, and it's enjoyable. In fact, freelance blogging helped me go from earning $1,600 per month to earning more than $5,500 per month. This profession was my golden ticket to bigger and better opportunities.

What skills should writers have? ›

Skills for a writer
  • Communication skills. It may seem obvious, but any writer should possess excellent communication skills. ...
  • Adaptability. ...
  • Discipline. ...
  • Organization skills. ...
  • Research skills. ...
  • Editing. ...
  • Know what you want to write. ...
  • Follow the readability principles.
Jul 21, 2022

What should be avoided in writing a resume? ›

11 things not to put on your resume
  • Too much information. ...
  • A solid wall of text. ...
  • Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. ...
  • Inaccuracies about your qualifications or experience. ...
  • Unnecessary personal information. ...
  • Your age. ...
  • Negative comments about a former employer. ...
  • Too many details about your hobbies and interests.
Feb 3, 2023

Are resume writers in demand? ›

Writing resumes to help people land a job or transition into a new career is an in-demand writing service that many freelance writers offer. The high unemployment rate and competition for new jobs are making resume writing more popular than other common services like writing SEO copy or ghostwriting how-to articles.

What is the easiest skill to learn for freelancing? ›

For starters, if you don't have any other skill besides knowing how computers work, then you can be a general or admin virtual assistant. It has the easiest tasks and is mostly about: Internet research. Email management.

What skills are required to be a writer? ›

Skills for a writer
  • Communication skills. It may seem obvious, but any writer should possess excellent communication skills. ...
  • Adaptability. ...
  • Discipline. ...
  • Organization skills. ...
  • Research skills. ...
  • Editing. ...
  • Know what you want to write. ...
  • Follow the readability principles.
Jul 22, 2022

Am I good enough to be a freelance writer? ›

If you can string two grammatically correct sentences together, in most cases, your writing is good enough. Throw in some keen research skills and the ability to adhere to deadlines, and you can be a freelance writer. Bottom line: You don't have to be a genius or have some type of special writing ability.

What skills do you need to be a Upwork writer? ›

Ability to multitask. Most freelance writers have several projects going at one time for multiple clients. It's important for the freelance writer to not allow work from one client to disrupt work from another client. The writer must be adept at handling multiple projects at once while meeting multiple deadlines.

How do I start freelancing with no experience for beginners? ›

How to Start Freelancing With No Experience
  1. STEP 1: Define Your Niche. It's essential to define your niche when starting out as a freelancer. ...
  2. STEP 2: Create an Online Presence. ...
  3. STEP 3: Develop Your Portfolio. ...
  4. STEP 4: Network with Other Freelancers and Professionals. ...
  5. STEP 5: Reach Out to Potential Clients Directly.
Mar 24, 2023

How can a beginner work as a freelancer? ›

How to start freelancing (even when working full-time)
  1. Define your business goals.
  2. Find a perspective niche (and stick to it)
  3. Identify target clients.
  4. Set your freelance rates.
  5. Create a website (and portfolio)
  6. Find your first client.
  7. Expand your network.
  8. Balance your full-time job with your part-time freelancing side gigs.
6 days ago

What is the first step for freelancing? ›

Creating a professional job profile is the first step towards becoming a freelancer. Build your portfolio on trusted job-seeking websites such as Indeed, to get in touch with companies looking for freelancers and get high-quality assignments.

What are the 5 basic writing skills? ›

Basic writing skills: These include spelling, capitalization, punctuation, handwriting and keyboarding, and sentence structure (e.g., learning to eliminate run-ons and sentence fragments). Basic writing skills are sometimes called the “mechanics” of writing.

What are five key writing skills? ›

5 basic writing skills
  • Research. Research allows writers to find accurate information and best practices related to writing in a particular style or about a particular piece of content. ...
  • Outlining. Outlining is creating a plan for the structure and flow of a piece of writing. ...
  • Editing. ...
  • Reading comprehension. ...
  • Time management.
Mar 10, 2023

How can a beginner become a good writer? ›

8 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer
  1. Read. One of the most important things to do to become a better writer is simply to read. ...
  2. Commit to a routine. ...
  3. Use writing exercises. ...
  4. Keep a journal. ...
  5. Join a writing group. ...
  6. Practice different forms of writing. ...
  7. Do your research. ...
  8. Take classes.
Nov 4, 2021

What is a good hourly rate for a beginner freelance writer? ›

Here's a breakdown to help you gauge your per-hour rate based on your experience level: Entry Level — $15 to $30 per hour. Intermediate — $35 to $60 per hour. Experienced — $65 to $100 per hour.

How much should I charge as a beginner freelance writer? ›

Beginners tend to charge much less, like $. 08 per word or $20 per hour. Those with many years of experience, on the other hand, can charge upwards of $1.00 per word and $100 per hour.

What is the average hourly rate for a Upwork writer? ›

Content Writers on Upwork cost $15–$40/hr.

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