FREELANCE WRITING
Introduction to the Career
Freelance writing in todays' times is one of the rapidly growing businesses in India as tremendous career opportunities are opening up in various sectors of the economy. Today, software industry and content writing industry is one of the fastest growing segments of Information Technology Enabled Services industry and these companies usually seem to depend more on Freelance Writers to meet their content needs.
Moreover the multinational companies that maintain websites need contents for their websites so they generally delegate the work to freelance writers for cutting the cost of production.Freelance writing is also well known in the print media. Therefore good freelance writers have the opportunity to write for leading newspapers and magazines. The term Freelance Writing refers to the entire task undertaken by one or many for any company at his or her home. Career in Freelance Writing is one of the best options for any person who is more at home for those who want to earn while learning or while doing some other tasks.
Scope of Career in Freelance Writing
Career in Freelance Writing is one of the best options for those who are interested or look to work at their own flexible time. It offers various career opportunities and generally, a candidate with graduation or appearing for the last year of graduation can also apply for this job. Although freelance Writing is not appearing to be an office job, it requires special talent. Any freelancer should be mainly self-motivated, well prepared and able to maintain a skilled work atmosphere at his or her home.
There are various types of Freelance Writing Career including web content writer, creative writer, research writer, ghostwriter, translator, copywriter, copyeditor, technical writer and proofreader.
Skills required for Career in Freelance Writing
A Freelancer must have good command over the language and most importantly should have a flair for writing with an understanding of the topic. He should be capable to write in a variety of formats and style for any type of audience.
Become a specialist
Today in the market there is the demand for good 'niche writers'. Restrictive though it is, like everything else, even in this occupation the need for specialization is at an all time high. Travel writers, Creative writers, Copywriters, Resume writers, Content writers and even the Technical writers, Essay writers which ever area and there is a market for it.If one concentrates on his work after a few initial experiments, he can carve out a niche for oneself by specializing in any one such field and can get published may be usually without payment first and then one can get handsome payment for it. Itis all about how to manage to sell ones ideas while one is at home and running.
A career in freelance writing is not a cakewalk
Freelance writing |
How to get started
One of the best bet is to email/call up editors and constantly surf the net for opportunities. Make Search Engines (google, yahoo) ones trusted lieutenants and use them to help the upcoming writer seek, search and finally apply to advertised or possible opportunities.
If one finds good websites which are genuine one could write for, look for submission guidelines or send in ones query. A query letter should not be a waste of time. On an average three out of every five will elicit some kind of a response that will take ones' career forward. In the established writing circles it has been told not to start writing till an understanding is reached, as the new upcoming writer can take no chances. So, the writer should do sufficient work and give them what they've asked for quickly, whatever be the subject. Also the writer should be beware of plagiarism issues that might bring his client down.
If there are freelance writing markets, narrow in on the popular ones. Subscribe to their newsletters. Most of them are free. It will give you a fair idea of their reliability. Generally avoid those that promise you the Moon. Look for those that seem sincere. But do not subscribe or pay for anything till you are sure of a website's credentials. Also, remember to check out the various published lists of dishonest and fly-by-night operators often. Soon you will be able to sift the wheat from the chaff.
One could take useful tips by becoming a member of various interesting writing communities and lists (Yahoo, Msn, Rediff ) on the web.Online freelance writing markets are now open for Indian writers. While there are no guarantees that your article will find a home instantly or that all sites on the net are legitimate, there are many sites and publications that do accept and survive on freelance submissions. You need to sift through them to pick the genuine ones and choose those that will suit your purpose. And just as there are many sites, which insist on a membership or subscription fee to check out their market database there are also many that post interesting, paying offers for free.