I’d contemplated starting a blog for years before finally launching Money Mozart in 2015. I did it because I loved talking about money and I had nowhere to get my thoughts out.
As it turns out, what happened was quite the opposite. The blog now gets a lot of readers each month which only continues to motivate me even more.
Then I realized how much I enjoyed writing. I decided I wanted to expand into freelance writing, writing for other publications.
So one of my goals going into FinCon was to find out where the best freelance writing jobs for beginners were. I considered myself a beginner since my blog was less than a year old.
At that stage in the game, it’s not easy to get larger publications to hire you for writing.
Since then, I’ve taken on some pretty cool freelancing gigs. One has even led to a regular contributor role for one of my favorite blogs.
I never thought I’d enjoy writing as much as I do. It’s a perfect means to vet out thoughts while inspiring not only others but also yourself.
If you enjoy writing (or don’t quite know yet but want to give it a try), you’ll find the below resources valuable. Here are 20 of the best places to find freelance writing jobs (for beginners).
How do freelancers get jobs for beginners?
There are various resources that you can use if you want to find freelance writing jobs for beginners. This makes it easier for you to access the opportunities. You only need to identify credible sites to avoid getting scammed.
Note that there are many scammers outside there who advertise writing jobs and use your content without paying. You don’t want to use all your resources only for you to get scammed. For this reason, you need to know some of the sites that you can trust. Below are some of the places you should consider.
Where to find beginner freelance writing jobs
1. iWriter
I’d say this is one of the best sites for any beginner. iWriter is one of the most accessible places to find online writing jobs. Currently, you sign in and have to do a small test, then you pick articles and start writing once you pass the test.
There’s also a rating system with iWriter. You make more money as an Elite Plus writer and little money as a Standard writer, which is where you begin. Consistent, quality writing will increase your ratings.
As you progress, you become an Elite Plus writer, and the pay gets better. You have to prove yourself for you to become an Elite Plus writer.
This will then increase your earning potential. It may also lead to requesters asking you to do their projects for them individually. Joining the site is absolutely free.
2. Upwork
Previously known as Odesk, Upwork is a single stop for all kinds of writing jobs. This includes developers, marketers, researchers, web design, and information security. And of course, freelance writing.
Name a field of interest, and most likely you’ll find a freelance job category in
In your proposal, you’ll define your payment rate (which is your bid). You’ll also include information to show that you have the skill the requester is looking for.
The requester will review the bids, and you may get an interview, given the job right away, or neither. Projects are requested on different levels so you can bid for projects at your level. They can be entry-level, intermediate, or expert.
Beginning freelancers may find it hard to make good money at first because of the bidding system. With Linkedin, to showcase your talent.
Various expert skills tests are also available for freelancers to take. Once you pass the tests, you can display it on your profile to show your expertise. Joining this site is free.
3. BloggingPro
The BloggingPro job board is mostly for bloggers. On this site, you can blog about almost anything. Here several employers are looking for people who can write on an array of subjects.
You can browse for jobs using categories, and when you find the job you like, you send an application. Most employers will request for previous works as a reference.
There is no membership for this site, so you deal with employers directly. Also, as there is no direct moderator, you may find some scammers. I suggest verifying that an employer is legit before applying for a job.
4. Flexjobs
Flexjobs works with the single goal of making your job as flexible as your life. They have job listings in 55 career categories, which can be part-time or full-time and at entry or executive level.
All the job listings are screened to ensure there are no scams, which is a nice feature. Joining this site is on a subscription basis (either monthly, quarterly or yearly). To view the job listings, you have to be a member with an active subscription.
5. Freelancer.com
Freelancer.com is a job board offering over 100 different types of job listings. You can get work in three steps: browse jobs matching your skills, apply for the job, and get hired.
You can also sign up using your Facebook account (or your email address if you’d prefer). Employers will go for the best bidder, which is usually the lowest price for the best quality.
Some projects on Freelancer.com are massive and could keep you busy for a while.
6. JournalismJobs.com
Founded in 1998, JournalismJobs.com is the largest and most viewed journalism job resource. Most of the top news companies use this site.
For this job board, you can create an account, upload a resume, and subscribe to different categories. Job listings include public relations, television, radio, digital media magazines, trade publications, non-profit, academia, financial, and technology.
Whatever you specialize in, you’ll probably find it here. After creating an account, you can then browse and apply for a job. Another bonus – you don’t have to be a registered user to see the job listings on the job board.
7. Guru
On Guru, you create a profile and define the freelance services you want to offer. Employers will find you by these services when they search for freelancers to hire.
You can also search and apply for jobs that interest you, in any category. This site makes it easy to showcase previous work you’ve completed to back up your proposals. They also provide job matches daily, so you don’t miss out on an opportunity.
8. ProBlogger
ProBlogger has a job board where any blogger looking for freelance work can usually find it. Jobs here aren’t screened, so make sure you do some due diligence on your clients.
There’s no sign-up process, and you don’t create a profile. Just find a job that fits your skills and apply.
Another cool feature – the site includes resources that bloggers can use to improve their own blog. You can share your experiences and promote the blogging medium. It’s really a one-stop shop for current and aspiring bloggers.
9. SimplyHired
SimplyHired is a job board listing more than 900 official occupations in the United States. You can also find jobs in 24 other countries and in 12 different languages.
You don’t have to be a member to view job listings. Do a simple search using a keyword and location, and you’ll usually get plenty of results for jobs meeting your expertise.
After that, you can then apply for the job. You can also sign up and create a profile. If you do, you’ll get job alerts whenever a job that matches your skill set is posted. Pretty cool.
10. Constant Content
Constant Content is a content writing and sourcing site where you can register as a freelance writer. There are different categories and subcategories where you can write unique and custom content.
To register as a writer you create a profile, checking your skills in a list. Then you’ll do a small quiz. After you pass, your account gets approved, and you can start writing.
11. Textbroker
On Textbroker, you’ll start with free registration and verification of your U.S. citizenship. Then you’ll submit a writing sample, which will be used to give you a writer rating. After that, you can proceed to complete your author profile and start writing for clients.
There are 3 ways to get work here. You can jump on an open order (first come first serve), get placed on a team of other writers like you for work, or have clients send you work directly.
12. Craigslist
Yes, you can find writing jobs on Craigslist. There is one significant downfall though – it’s Craigslist.
Jobs aren’t verified… hardly anything is. It doesn’t mean you can’t find excellent freelance writing jobs though.
Just make sure you do your due diligence and check into every prospective client. Find your location and select ‘writing jobs’ to get started.
13. Freelance Writing Jobs
Freelance Writing Jobs (FWJ), formerly Freelance Writing Gigs, simplifies writing jobs from Craigslist into one daily blog post. You can still search for different categories and different locations, too.
While the site tries to reduce bogus listings, make sure you’re still looking into the client hiring you, so you aren’t scammed.
14. FreelanceWriting.com
FreelanceWriting.com is another job board listing different open writing job opportunities. Jobs on this board are researched and handpicked from other popular sites.
No membership needed. Just browse through the available jobs or search different categories for the position that matches your writing skills and apply for it.
15. Genuine Jobs
Genuine Jobs is one of the most accessible websites to use. On their homepage just click ‘apply now.’ You’ll get to a landing page that lists all the freelance jobs on the job board.
Browse through until you find one that interests you, and apply. You can also search for jobs using keywords on the search provided. You do not have to pay to use this site.
16. iFreelance
iFreelance.com requires you to pay a monthly fee to create a profile and bid on projects. As a freelancer on this site, you can bid on projects or an employer can contact you directly.
This site doesn’t charge commissions for work done, so your only cost to the site is the monthly subscription fee. All projects are screened to avoid scams, too.
17. Online Writing Jobs
Online Writing Jobs is for SEO content writers, copywriters, bloggers, and subject matter experts in a variety of industries. It’s free to join – just create a profile and verify that you’re a U.S. resident. Then you can start writing and get paid.
18. RedGage
This one is a little different. RedGage enables you to make money online from your videos, links, blogs, and photos. Basically, whatever you’re already doing on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and all other social sites, you can make money using RedGage.
19. Writerbay.com
At Writerbay.com there are 4 simple steps to getting started. First, you’ll fill out an application to get registered. Then you’ll take a grammar and formatting test, followed by a short essay sample.
Finally, you’ll upload any higher level education or certificates you have, if applicable. There are no registration fees, and earnings on this site are competitive.
20. Writer Access
Writer Access is growing in popularity for people who want to order content. Thus their freelancer staff is increasing. Not only can you write on Writer Access, but you can do things like graphic design, translation, photography, and editing.
Like most other writing platforms, you’ll have to go through an assessment to determine the level of writer you are. Once you reach a certain level, you can begin pricing your work at whatever you want.
It’s quick and easy, and you keep 70 percent of whatever the cost of the content is, which is pretty competitive in this space.
How do you become a beginner writer?
There are many opportunities for freelance writers. You only need to find your niche, teach yourself how to write and have the necessary materials. You don’t necessarily need to have experience for you to get gigs. In every job, you will always have to start from somewhere and learn as you go up.
The best thing I can recommend for you is a good course. Holly Johnson’s Earn More Writing (affiliate link) is phenomenal. I bought it myself and loved it, and even learned a lot of new things.
Holly makes six-figures doing nothing but freelance writing, and I know personally she’s a big deal in the finance space. So in short — take her advice.
There are so many platforms that are still in need of content writers and editors. These include magazines, websites, and other publications. Don’t lose your opportunity just because you feel you are not qualified enough. Below are some of the ways to become a freelance writer for a beginner.
Equipment and work area
If you plan to do freelance writing, you need to invest in the right equipment. First, invest in a quality laptop that suits you. If you don’t have a laptop, you won’t get the work done on time.
It’s best if you find some money and buy yourself a computer instead of depending on someone to help you with theirs. If you don’t have the money, why not consider selling some of your valuable items and using it to buy the computer?
If you want to make money from writing, you also need to spend some money. There is no other way around it.
If you plan to work from home, it is good to create a functional workspace in one of your rooms. Avoid setting the workspace in an area where you are likely to get distracted. For example, setting the workspace in the kitchen is a bad idea because you might even spill some food on your laptop.
Set an ergonomic workspace that will allow you to focus on your work. Just because you work from home doesn’t mean that you should take your work for granted. Treat it with the seriousness it deserves.
Also, have a daily routine to enable you to separate work hours from personal and home hours. Set SMART goals on your freelance writing and ensure that you frequently measure your progress.
Do thorough research on freelance writing
After obtaining all the equipment that you need, the next thing that you need to do is research. What is freelance writing, and how does it work? Understanding what the job involves will help you have perspective.
Freelancers can cover a wide array of topics in different forms and styles. Look up the different styles and types of writing, learn how to write in those various forms and techniques, and research ways to hone your writing skills and attract high-paying clients.
As you start, you may have to cope with lower pay, but with time, you get to learn the game and know which strategies to use to get better pay. While some pieces will pay more, some may not. You, therefore, need to be open-minded, especially as a beginner. The trick is to hone your skills and prove your worth to the client, and your life will never be the same again.
Pick your niche
As a beginner in freelance writing, it would help to pick a niche early enough. Since there are so many topics that you can write, narrowing down to your area of specialty will give you an edge. Identify the area which interests you.
For example, if you are interested in finance, you should narrow your type of content to finance blog posts. The good thing about specializing is that you will easily attract clients in the industry you are interested in.
Besides, writing will be more exciting because you have a lot of knowledge on the subject matter. Once you identify your niche, find clients that deal with your topic, and even send them proposals, requesting to work for them.
Have a few pieces that you have written and attach them in your proposal. Through this, you get to partner with several brands, and before you know it, your freelance writing career has taken off.
Network with other writers
One thing to note is that freelance writing is not a walk in the park. You might think that it is easy just because your friends are doing it. What you don’t know is the amount of work they had to put in to get to where they are now.
One thing that will help you as you start off your writing journey is networking. Networking with other freelance writers, including the experienced ones, will really boost your writing career. Ask them for advice since they have been in the industry long enough.
If possible, read their pieces to get an idea of how they write. Through this, you learn a lot of things, which will help you in your writing career. There is no point in repeating the same mistakes other writers have made, yet you can ask for their guidance. If you don’t know any freelance writers, you can search for them on platforms such as LinkedIn and Twitter.
What qualities do you need to do well in freelance writing?
Competence
If you want to do well in freelance writing jobs, you need to be competent. Clients will only hire you if they are convinced that you will produce high-quality work. This is why you need to take your time. Ask yourself why you want to do the job. If you are doing it just for its sake, you may end up producing low quality work, which will not appeal to your clients. To be able to provide an excellent job throughout, you need to do a lot of practice. Continue honing your skills if you want to retain and impress new clients.
Confidence
Confidence is critical when you are dealing with clients. You need to ensure that your clients have confidence in the type of content you produce. You need to show the client that you know your way around the project. Never show the client that you are not sure about what is expected of you. If they give you a project to work on, regardless of how new the concept is, take on the task and assure them that you can do it. This also applies when the client has requested to have an interview with you. The key to getting a job is confidence.
Trustworthiness
Clients love to work with a trustworthy writer. Demonstrate to your clients that they can trust you to deliver the work on time. Always keep your word, and your clients will keep coming back. For example, if you take up a job and agree to deliver the job on a specific day, kindly deliver it on time. Don’t keep the client waiting as this will show that you are not a reliable writer. If you finish the job earlier, the better it is for you. Don’t take a job if you know you won’t manage to complete it on time, as this stains your credibility as a writer.
Uniqueness
When it comes to writing, you need to bring your creativity side to the table. One of the fastest ways to lose a client is through submitting plagiarized work. The client pays in exchange for quality work. Don’t copy-paste other people’s content, in the name of meeting a deadline. Ensure you spend your time researching to allow you to come up with high-quality content. Clients usually run the articles you write through plagiarism checking software to confirm that the work is original. It is, therefore, upon you to show your uniqueness to the client.
Resilience
The freelance writing world has its fair share of disappointments. For example, you will write very many proposals for potential clients. Still, some, if not most of them, will reject your bid. Just because a particular writer thinks you are not qualified doesn’t mean you are not good enough. You have to learn how to use criticism to build your brand. Don’t give up any time you get a bad review or rating. Keep working hard, keep learning. Soon enough, you will get better.
Tips to start freelance writing with zero experience
Start a blog
If you have zero experience, but you want to do freelance writing, there are several ways to get started. Starting a blog is one of the ways to learn how to become a freelance writer. Through a blog, you get to find your voice as a writer. It is a journey that will help you grow, and it is much better than not doing anything at all. If you are new to writing, there is a high chance that you have not been doing enough practice. When you start a blog, you will need to produce content more often. Doing this helps to build your writing skills hugely. Besides, when you start approaching clients for freelance writing jobs, the first thing they will ask for is a sample of your work.
You can show the clients some of the content you have on your blog. If you notice that you are great at what you do and can come up with fresh ideas, you will quickly get the job. Besides, blogging builds your stamina, which is essential when you are doing freelance writing jobs.
Create some samples
Once you determine your niche area, you need to start writing some samples. If, for example, you love traveling, you could begin writing travel blog samples. If you don’t want to be specific, you also have the option of writing about diverse topics. Remember, the more examples you write, the better you become in your field. Producing work samples will help you capture clients’ attention in freelance marketplaces such as Upwork.
Clients will want to associate themselves with someone who can showcase their work. This gives them confidence that they can trust you with the task. Don’t sleep on your potential. Ensure you continuously write samples and put them out there. A big-time client may come across your work and ask you to work with them in an upcoming writing project. The best platform to showcase your portfolio is your website. However, if you don’t have a website, you can create profiles on LinkedIn, Pinterest, among others. Ensure you also create links to your posts.
Build an online presence
Building an online presence is crucial if you want to reach a bigger audience. Having a more prominent online presence will allow you to share your work with a bigger audience. If many people are aware of your work, it increases the number of shares and recommendations.
As long as you produce high-quality content, clients will start looking for you. That is why you cannot give up on creating sample work. As you write, ensure you share your work across social media platforms. Update all your profiles so that people know that you are a writer.
Also, partner with other online writers and ask them to share your work as soon as you post. The more the shares in your social media platforms, the higher the chances of attracting your target audience. Note that having your website is vital since there is a lot of Imposter syndrome in the writing industry. You need to protect your work.
Learn how to pitch
As a beginner, you will have to do a lot if you want your brand to do exceptionally well. Once you build your website and start putting out fresh content, you need to pitch to your potential clients. Clients will always ask you to pitch so that they determine whether they want to work with you.
You, therefore, need to learn how to pitch. This shouldn’t be hard, but it requires a lot of practice. You can start by developing a short elevator pitch that you can use anytime clients ask you what you do. By developing a good pitch, you will be able to attract more clients to your portfolio.
You should also consider pitching to companies and websites that you want to work with. You don’t have to wait for them to advertise for a vacant position. As long as your portfolio is ready, just approach them. You might impress them and get hired immediately. Other ways to boost your work include creating sponsored posts about the company’s products on your post. If you can have their attention with your unique style, you may land yourself a deal.
You can also pitch print and online magazines directly. One thing that will take you far in the freelance writing industry is confidence. Be resilient enough to contact editors with fresh ideas for their products. Before you realize, you will have landed your dream job.
Global client base
As a freelancer, one thing to know is that you can choose to work for clients located in any part of the world. Don’t limit yourself to your home area, and yet you have the opportunity to attract clients from all parts of the world.
If you are fluent in English, you may start looking for opportunities in other English speaking countries since you have a chance to work with many clients. As you write, always focus on being a global writer. This will improve your imagination and help you get more unique ideas.
If you happen to get many clients, including the high-end clients, always remember to politely ask them to give you a good rating or review. Once people notice that you are working with big brands, they tend to trust in your abilities and value your work even more. Never underestimate the power of reviews, as this is what potential clients will always look out for.
Avoid content mills
As a beginner, you may feel tempted to work with content mills. As much as content mills will offer freelance writers job opportunities, they tend to exploit the writer because they offer low rates to the writers. You end up spending a lot of time and energy in your work, only to be given a small compensation.
Avoid such companies as much as possible. Instead, try to create your website, publish your work, and build a more notable online presence. This will take a long time before you start getting returns. However, it is going to pay in the long run. It is much better than the fast fees you get from content mills.
If you want to become a freelance writer, there is a lot that you need to consider. Don’t just follow everything you are told. There is a lot of information outside there. It is your responsibility to determine which information is valid and use it to build your brand.
Final thoughts
So you can see, it’s pretty simple to get started as a new freelance writer. There are plenty of sites out there where you can find work, and find it fast.
The biggest downside to being a new freelance writer is the pay. You’ll often have to accept a lower dollar amount until you can build up your portfolio of samples, as well as your credibility.
A great way to increase your credibility though is by learning how to write better. I strongly recommend taking a look at Earn More Writing – a course created by a fellow freelancer named Holly Johnson.
Don’t let that stop you, though. Writing can be incredibly relaxing.
You’ll also learn a lot. Often you’ll get freelance gigs on topics you know little to nothing about.
This will force you to do research and learn more. It can be a rewarding side hustle, or even a full-time job eventually.
