Freelance Writing Business

Good Resources for Freelance Writers

Time is money for a successful freelance writer. You can't afford to spend hours surfing the Internet for the resources you need . . . So we've compiled our list of freelance writing resources you can't possibly live without.

Compared to other business models, freelance writing businesses are low overhead ventures.

With little more than a computer and an office space, a skilled entrepreneur can launch a successful freelance writing startup.

Effective freelance writing businesses do need access to resources. But the kinds of resources they need aren't necessarily the ones typically associated with a small business. Many of these resources are websites and other online assets that connect freelance writers to clients and help them do their jobs more effectively.

The Writers Market

The Writers Market is a widely-respected resource for nonfiction and fiction writers. Updated annually, the Writers Market gives freelancers submission guidelines and contact information for the editors of books and periodicals. Both the online and print versions of the Writers Market also contain articles that will help you grow your freelance writing business.

Online Marketplaces

For copywriters, online freelance marketplaces like Upwork (formerly Elance) and Guru offer convenient access to projects and clients. After purchasing a subscription, you are free to bid on projects that are posted on the site. If you are selected, the marketplace plays the role of an intermediary with escrows and other services designed to facilitate the working relationship between freelancers and business clients.

Freelance Job Boards

You can track down freelance writing jobs on the Internet even if you aren't ready to purchase a subscription to an online marketplace like Elance or Guru. Tons of no-charge, online freelance job boards are just a short Google search away for any freelance writer. The benefit of job boards is that paying writing gigs are easy to find. Unfortunately, that's also a drawback because competition for these jobs tends to be tighter than it is on the subscription-based online marketplaces.

Blogs

If you're interested in growing your writing business, you need to go where writers are – and today, writers are hanging out on blogs. Although there are blogs for almost anything you're interested in, freelance writers should get in the habit of occasionally surfing writing blogs for ideas and advice. The top writing blogs change often so you're best best is to use your favorite search engine to find blogs about writing that suit your needs.

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