How To Become A Freelance Writer in 2025

For many people, the ability to set their schedule has always been a key motivator for starting a freelance career. 

And when you throw writing into the mix, you get the chance to harness your creativity, and get paid for it.

Sound like something you’d enjoy? If so, stay tuned. 

We’re going to go over what it takes to become a successful freelance writer, with tips on how to set yourself apart in this highly competitive industry.

What Is a Freelance Writer?

A freelance writer is a professional who creates content for various clients on a contract or per-project basis. They work for themselves and set their own schedule instead of “clocking in” as a full-time employee.

So, how much does a typical freelance writer make? The answer depends on their expertise, experience, industry, the type of writing they do, and the caliber of clients they work with.

But if you want a hard number, the average amount freelance writers make per year is $42,000.

Some common types include:

Content writers

• What they do: Write blog posts, articles, and website content
• What they focus on: Search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, and engaging audiences

Copywriters

• What they do: Write website copy, sales pages, product descriptions, and email campaigns 
• What they focus on: Driving sales and conversions

Technical writers

• What they do: Write user manuals, instructional guides, whitepapers, and FAQs
• What they focus on: Simplifying complex information

Ghostwriters

• What they do: Write books, articles, speeches, and blog posts for someone else
• What they focus on: Capture the client’s voice, tone, and ideas

Grant writers

• What they do: Write grant proposals for nonprofits, research institutions, and businesses
• What they focus on: Help secure funding from government agencies, corporations, and foundations

Scriptwriters

• What they do: Write scripts for videos, podcasts, TV, and YouTube content
• What they focus on: Advertising, entertainment, and corporate training 

Social media writers

• What they do: Create social media posts, captions, and copy
• What they focus on: Brand voice, brand awareness, engagement, conversions, and community building

Business writers

• What they do: Write reports, whitepapers, proposals, and case studies
• What they focus on: Communicate business strategies, influence stakeholders, and drive decision-making

Journalists and news writers

• What they do: Write news articles, investigate reports, and feature stories
• What they focus on: Inform the public about current events and important issues

Academic writers

• What they do: Write research papers, essays, and study materials
• What they focus on: Educate, validate research findings, and support educational institutions

Resume and LinkedIn profile writers

• What they do: Craft professional resumes, cover letters, and LinkedIn profiles
• What they focus on: Help job seekers improve their career prospects

eBook and long-form writers

• What they do: Write books, guides, and detailed reports
• What they focus on: Provide in-depth knowledge, storytelling, or professional insights

As you can see, the possibilities are endless. Freelance writing covers a broad spectrum. Choose a focus that has high demand and meets your interests.

Benefits of Freelance Writing

The biggest benefit of being a freelance writer is you get to work for yourself. That means you don’t have to worry about having a boss breathe down your neck, micromanaging your every move.

And beyond having the chance to set your own hours, you can choose your projects. That means you don’t have to take on a project if it doesn’t interest you. 

Those are the basics. But what else makes freelance writing such an attractive career?

• Location independent: As a freelance writer, you can work anywhere, so you’re not fixed to an office location. You can work at home, a coffee shop, or even while traveling. And there’s no need to commute, so you get to save time and money.

• Unlimited earning potential: There’s no fixed salary with freelancing. Your income depends on your skill level, experience, and effort. You can even increase your rates as you gain expertise and credibility.

• Variety of work: At a normal writing job, you’d probably only focus on a specific industry or topic, which can create monotony. But since you can choose your own projects as a freelancer, you can write for as many different industries, topics, and formats as you want.

• Creative freedom: Being a freelance writer gives you the creative freedom to experiment with different writing styles and formats. On the other hand, if you’re writing for a company, you’re often limited to company guidelines and brand voice.

• Opportunities for growth: You don’t have to limit your career to just writing. You can learn new skills, such as SEO, content marketing, editing, consulting, or digital marketing.

What You Should Know Before You Start Freelancing

All that sounds good, right?

But of course, it’s not that simple.

You’re responsible for finding clients. There’s no employer handing you assignments. You’ll need to market yourself, build a portfolio, and continuously seek prospective clients.

Finding clients often happens through networking, job boards, or cold pitching. This is hard, grueling, time-consuming work. It’s this kind of effort that makes a lot of people quit before they even get started.

And that’s probably for the best because successful freelance writers have lots of self-discipline. They must manage their own time, meet deadlines, and stay productive without a manager overseeing their work.

Another thing to keep in mind is that income is unpredictable. That steady paycheck you’re used to earning with your full-time job? You can forget about that stability with freelance writing. 

Some months might be your best earning months, while others may be slow. This isn’t to say you’re not going to have a lucrative freelancing career, but they call it “feast or famine” for a reason. 

That means you could experience a ton of work coming in (feast) or no work at all (famine). The goal is to stay on the feast side as much as possible or at least be somewhere in between. 

That requires you to consistently market your services, build strong relationships with clients, and maintain a steady flow of work.

Also, as a freelancer, you’re self-employed. So, you get a 1099 from your client. Or, you report the income to the IRS when you file taxes for the year.

What does this mean? You’re not on someone else’s clock. And that means you get no benefits, so you’ll have to cover your own healthcare and retirement. 

Plus, you handle all the taxes and business expenses. Common expenses freelance writers cover include:

• Grammar and editing tools
• Project management tools 
• Time tracking software
• Website domain and hosting fees
• Email service providers
• Video conferencing software 
• Home office equipment 
• Invoicing software for freelancers
• Self-employment tax

What Does it Take to Become a Successful Freelance Writer?

You can be the best writer in your industry. But if you don’t know how to market your skills or manage the business side, you could lose to the competition.

Let’s look at some of the most important qualities you need to succeed in this career.

Writing, Editing, and Proofreading Skills

Successful freelance writers are pros with the written word. You should be able to write clearly, concisely, and correctly. So, make sure you have a solid grasp of grammar, punctuation, and proper sentence structure.

But good writing isn’t just about the first draft. It’s also about refining it until it’s clear, engaging, and tailored to the audience. Editing and proofreading go beyond catching typos. They ensure the tone, structure, and flow work for the intended readers. 

You can use AI-powered tools to streamline this process. This makes your revisions more efficient without sacrificing creativity. From grammar checkers to style analyzers, artificial intelligence helps you polish your content faster while maintaining quality.

For example, tools like Grammarly and Hemingway highlight complex sentences, flag inconsistencies, and suggest improvements based on readability. 

This is the same principle that artificial intelligence for marketers follows. 

They often use AI to analyze audience behavior, refine messaging, and optimize content for engagement. So, just as AI helps marketers tailor campaigns, it helps writers adjust their language, tone, and clarity to better resonate with readers. 

The result is a polished piece that reads well and connects effectively with your audience.

Flexibility and Adaptability

One of the most important skills for a freelance writer isn’t just writing well. It’s understanding who you’re writing for. Every project has a different audience, and the key to doing a great job is figuring out what they care about, how they think, and what kind of language resonates with them. 

Being able to adapt your tone and approach makes your work more effective and, honestly, more interesting to write.

But if your next gig is a finance article, the focus shifts to market trends, risk management, and practical advice. The language needs to be precise, clear, and numbers-driven. In both cases, you’re not changing what you write. You’re adjusting how you write to connect with the reader.

SEO Knowledge

Depending on the type of writing you’ll be doing, SEO is another important skill to learn. If a majority of your work will be writing blog posts, you’ll need to understand how to optimize content for search engines. 

This means getting familiar with keyword research, meta descriptions, and on-page SEO. 

Time Management and Strong Discipline

A boss won’t be micromanaging your time. That means you have to set your own schedule. This can be hard for some people, especially when they’re used to the typical 9 to 5. 

To succeed, you’ll need to have strong time management skills, balance multiple projects, and meet deadlines without constant supervision. You’ll often juggle different clients and tasks. So, prioritizing work based on deadlines and importance is essential.

Communication Skills

You must clearly communicate with clients to understand their needs, provide updates, and resolve issues. Being able to explain your process and timeline professionally will help you build trust and report.

Great communication skills are also important for negotiation. You’ll need to negotiate rates, deadlines, and contract terms. This allows you to advocate for yourself. That way, no one will be able to take advantage of you. And you can create a favorable outcome for both you and the client.

4 Tips to Start a Career as a Freelance Writer

If you made it this far, then you probably have what it takes to be a successful freelance writer. All the talk about unpredictable income, deadlines, and the feast-or-famine cycle hasn’t scared you away.

Now, it’s time to get started. Here are some tips for starting your freelance writing business.

1. Create an Impressive Portfolio

Develop a portfolio that highlights your best work. If you’re just starting, you can write sample pieces to show potential clients your writing ability. You can host those writing samples in Google Docs, on a portfolio platform, or through your own website.

2. Set Your Rates and Define Your Services

Research how much freelance writers in your chosen niche typically charge. As you set your rates, consider your experience.

Also, think about what writing services you’ll offer. You could specialize in blog posts, website content, technical writing, social media copy, or even ghostwriting.

3. Start Searching for Potential Clients

There are many ways to find freelance writing work.

Here are some common methods people use to land clients:

• Freelance platforms: Sign up for freelance job boards like Upwork, Freelancer, or Fiverr. These platforms make it easy to get started because you can connect with potential clients who are actively seeking writers.

• Cold pitching: Research businesses or blogs that could use your services and send them a personalized pitch. Highlight how your writing can solve their problems.
• LinkedIn: Use LinkedIn to find freelance writing clients. Post content related to your writing and expertise to attract attention.

And once you’ve gained a steady stream of clients, you gain their trust and start building strong relationships. 

As a result, your clients might recommend your services to their colleagues. Referrals are the most effective form of marketing for freelance writers.

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4. Treat Your Work Like a Business

It’s important to think of your freelance writing career as running your own business. While mastering your craft is essential, you’ll also need to handle the business side of things. This includes managing the financial relationship with your clients. 

When you’re paying independent contractors of your own—perhaps a proofreader or virtual assistant as your business grows—you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the professional relationships you build with your own clients. 

This perspective can help you structure your services and pricing more effectively. That way, both parties benefit from the collaboration.

Conclusion

Freelance writing is a journey that demands focus and dedication. It’s not always a smooth ride. But the rewards come from building your skills, relationships, and reputation over time.

You’ll face challenges, but that’s all part of the process. To succeed as a freelance writer, stay adaptable and flexible. It’s a career that grows with you as you learn and evolve along the way.

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