What is a Freelance Writer?
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Normally, I try to avoid writing the ‘Do you have what it takes to be a freelance writer’ posts, as they tend to ramble without saying anything specific. This is an exception, because the recent changes in the way that search engines rank articles have affected online income, especially for folks making money on content farms.
The Google Panda algorithm devastated internet marketing, and this has had an indirect effect on freelance writers. The problem is that the freelance writing market is tied to this: not only is there less copywriting work available, as webmasters try to work out what direction to take, but turbulent times invariably see a rise in the number of people claiming to be freelancers.
As people see their income plummet, many flock to the freelance writing job boards, desperate for extra cash. This tends to drive down prices and pushes the market into a state of flux, with every single job posting attracting countless applicants.
Are You Really A Freelance Writer?
I see many people on content farms proudly proclaiming that, because they write articles for content sites, they are freelance writers. This is a misrepresentation, because posting a few articles to Hubpages and Squidoo, or churning out content to Demand Media does not make you a freelance writer, by definition.
A freelance writer is a mercenary; a hired gun who completes work to order, and this requires a different skillset and mentality than article writing. There are some fine, talented writers who write on article sites, but freelance writing demands a different style and approach. You need to be able to write about practically any topic, to a deadline, and with passion, voice and flow.
Why is this important? Firstly, I am a miserable old sod and this misuse of the term is one of my particular pet hates. I spent a lot of time and expended a lot of effort in earning the right to call myself a freelance writer. Labeling yourself a freelance writer when you are not devalues the achievements of every freelancer on the planet.
In addition, I have seen the work of some of the people on the content sites advertising themselves as freelance writer, and it is atrocious. This is one of the reasons why many businesses think that freelance writers are only worth a couple of dollars per article.
The other reason is that it creates a false illusion. As anybody who has made the leap from writing on content farms to freelancing will tell you, it is a huge, huge leap in quality, unless you are happy earning a couple of dollars per hour. Writing for clients is a different level and requires you to be at the top of your game: if your Hubpages article is a little scrappy, nobody really cares. If the work for your client is riddled with mistakes, you won’t be paid. How’s that for pressure?
Pressure Is A Great Teacher
Most people need to learn very quickly. To be a professional freelance writer, you need to have excellent grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language: that much is obvious. However, you also have to learn to master the hidden arts of writing, such as how to use emotion and voice. A hired writer needs to know how to write for different audiences, for you could be creating articles for teenagers one week and business reports for middle-aged executives the next.
If you want to be a pro writer, you must be able to master different styles and personalities. For example, it is easy to write a rant, as anger is the easiest emotion, but can you adopt sadness, impulsiveness, or joy? Can you write the long, flowing sentences required for travel writing, showing the joys of far off places and helping the reader imagine that they are feasting on new cultures and experiences? Can you chop your sentences for effect, creating buy it now urgency?
Become A Pro Writer
It seems like I have spent an entire article putting you off becoming a freelancer, but it is not all doom and gloom. Learning to freelance is a very, very steep learning curve, and most people do not make it. However, for those who stay the course, the advantage is that you become very good, very quickly: your writing will improve, as the threat of not being paid is an excellent incentive for self-improvement.
This is one of the reasons why I never bothered with the endless stream of ‘How to Be a Freelancer’ books, as you will learn far more quickly by making your own mistakes, with the added bonus that your style and soul will be your own, rather than crushed to fit some generic, tired template.
Ultimately, your personality is what will make you a freelance writer, so cherish it and never lose it.
