The Pay

As much as a writer wants to live their dream and write, everything still comes down to the pay. A writer must make a livable wage for the career to be possible. Many of the articles written are done as “piecework”. Writers are paid for the article or book written and not by hour. Since many writers in the United States earn their wage in this manner, it is difficult to calculate average salaries and hours worked.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, freelancers account for 70 percent of all writers. The average salary of creative writers was listed at $65,960. The top 10 percent earned an average of $109,440 a year and the bottom 10 percent of all writers earned just $28,610. O-Net Online listed the median income for every freelance writer at $55,420 a year. In this statistic, O-Net Online included fiction writers, poets, novelists and freelance journalists. For the beginning writer, these numbers may be unattainable at first. Still, the lowest paid individuals still made $28,610 a year so freelance writing can provide a livable wage at even the lowest end of work.

Hours

The best part of being a freelance writer is the extreme flexibility. Since everything is done as piece work, the writer can choose when to write and how much they want to work. The more hours they put into it, the more money they will receive. Depending on what type of writing they do, the freelance writer may have to put in countless hours to achieve their desired salary.

The biggest difficult with freelance hours is actually doing them. It is all too easy to get distracted and spend hours surfing the web. At the other end of the spectrum, writers can get caught up in their assignments and forget to actually live their life. To alleviate these problems, writers should set a consistent work schedule. During these hours, they should be occupied entirely with writing. After work is done for the day, they need to stop focusing on work and just relax. Developing the ability to focus is the key to doing well as a freelance writer. In my own experience, I have found that I make at least $30 an hour when I am focused. If I succumb to the lure of the Internet or get distracted, my pay per hour drops to just minimum wage. Ideally, a freelancer should make the most of the hours they work so the free time can be spent however they want.

Availability of Projects

For anyone getting their start in freelance writing, finding projects is the most difficult aspect. The higher paid assignments for magazines or contracts for novels are few and far between. To get these assignments, a freelancer has to have years of accumulated experience, examples of work and previously published work. This catch-22 means that new freelancers cannot get the high dollar job without already having received one.

To get around this, many freelancers get their start writing for blogs or for content sites. Content websites link clients with writers. Depending on the writer’s skill level, these websites will typically pay anywhere from one to five cents a word. For a writer who can churn out a couple thousand of words an hour, this results in a $20 to $50 hourly wage.

Unfortunately, content sites generally do not allow for bylines. The writer gains experience and an income, but does not have a body of work to show potential clients. Instead, the new writer should balance out writing that develops their article base with paid writing. Writers can begin a blog or send out query letters to new clients. Often, a client is more than willing to provide a reference and byline to a new writer if the article is paid for at a lower rate. After doing this for several months or years, the writer will have enough work built-up to go after the high dollar assignments.

Writing can be a tough career to break into. The low pay for beginning writers forces them to work long hours. Freelancers should always try to spend some of their time writing to develop their online presence, body of work and sending out query letters. At the end of the day, writers need to keep one thing in mind: no new articles equal no money. If a writer wants to succeed, they have to get articles written that actually pay. Sit down, pull up a keyboard and write!

Consider this iconic image: a writer lounging at a café in Paris, sipping at a cup of coffee as they contemplate their future great work. It sound laughably silly when put on paper, but many people have this sort of image in their minds of what it means to be a writer. Family and friends watch as writers sit at home and type. Little do they realize, but the entire process of writing is far more demanding and requires strict discipline.

Although some writers may achieve the iconic image of writing life, even these writers must strap themselves to a desk at some point and force the ideas out of their pen. Writing takes discipline, energy and time. Learning how to cultivate these three factors is one trait that is common among any successful writer.
Before a writer can become disciplined, they must have a strong desire to write. Writing is not a job for the faint of heart. It takes as much dedication and focus as running a marathon. Anyone who has never tried writing as a career cannot possibly know the amount of mental focus and emotional investment this career requires. Being able to wake up in the morning and begin writing is an admirable quality that does not appear overnight. To foster this attitude, writers must want to write. The desire to write must outweigh any television show or social activity that can distract the writer. What was once a hobby can only become a career if the writer can force themselves to stare into the murky abyss of their computer screen for hours at a time.

Form a Writing Schedule

The best way to become more disciplined is to create a writing schedule. If writers devote the same part of each day to writing, their minds will be accustomed to getting work done during those hours. Scheduling time to write makes it so the writer’s subconscious realizes that it is time to pay attention. Writers can also format their writing schedule to include lunch and coffee breaks just like they would at a normal job. As much as someone may love to write, writing can still be a job and should be treated as such. With a regular writing schedule, writers get the structure they need to perform their best.

A writing schedule also offers a side benefit. If friends and family are used to the writer’s standard schedule, they are less likely to stop by or call on the phone. These distractions can take the writer away from their work and ruin their train of thought. It is far too easy for family to forget that what a writer is doing is actually work. From the outside, typing at a keyboard seems like a simple task. By adopting a set schedule, the writer can avoid some of the distractions of everyday life.

For individuals with children, avoiding distractions might be impossible. An office setup in the living room lends it to constant distractions from children at play. This aspect does not have to be a negative. Parents can simply learn how to ignore and tune out distractions. If they can learn to tune out the sound of children yelling in the background, any other distractions in life will be easy to handle.

Track Earnings

Successful writers often set financial and quantity goals. By setting a goal amount that the writer wants to make each hour and month, they can manage their income stream. Jobs that do not pay enough can be put aside and different writing assignments can be chosen. Setting goals for each day’s accomplishments simplifies the process and gives the writer an objective to reach.

The best way to develop the discipline you need for paid writing is this: sit down and write. There is no secret trick or tip that will make the process of writing any easier. Committing to several hours a day spent at a desk is the only way that writers can learn the discipline needed to succeed at their goals.

If a literary piece is already halfway completed, then some writers might find it best to step away from it for just a bit. Taking a few days off from writing to hike in the woods, spend time with friends, or go thrift store shopping can provide the mind with some much needed rest. When returning again to their writing desks or keyboards, they’ll likely be rejuvenated and ready to bang out the rest of their masterpiece.

Article Writing: This type of writing includes various types of short note for a selected topics or themes or keywords etc. You can write articles for magazines, Travel Agencies or any company product or any web site etc.

Business writing: This type of writing includes writing for the commercial business magazines, advertisements, newspapers and professional copy-writing. The income rate is very high in this field. This type of writing requires that you be professional and know a sufficient degree of business knowledge for the field you’re working in.

Freelance writing: This type of writing includes offers writing opportunities to writers that, educated professional or not are able to research and write the content demanded on a contract basis. Freelance writers get a freedom to write, often telecommuting and working when you like and much as they like. It is very easy to find a job in this as a freelance writing, but pay scales vary a great deal and freelance writers should have a large degree of skill with computers and Internet use.

Online writing: This type of writing includes writing for any kind of website or e-zines, providing content and articles. It is one of the many types of freelance writing jobs. In this field, you may be required to ghost-write, write articles, poetry, short stories, books and more. It is possible to make a modest living writing for clients in online markets and client mills. Some find this type of writing occupation freeing, but other writing careers may offer much better pay. In this field you can make your career progress and pay rate increase by your skill and work history.

Journal writing: This type of writing includes writing for national or local newspaper and magazines that will be read by millions of people every day. For this kind of job you should have very good skills in communication and knowledge of with research and investigation. Being able to find important topics for publishing is key. Many journal-type writers are also part-time writers.

Academic writing: This type of writing includes writing for scientific journals, university magazines and many other educational formats. Experienced article writers, field-experts, educational professionals and book writers are preferred for academic writing.

Sales-copy writing: You will be paid better than any other field of writing while working as a copywriter. The attention to detail and ability to evoke interest and response are the qualities that make or break a sales copywriter. Additional qualities that make a sales copywriter shine are a very fast writing speed and excellent ability to manipulate what a reader feels and thinks while reading your work.

There are alsovarious types of paid writing jobs like Erotica, script-writing, game instruction and technical writing, blogs, reviews, “blurbs” such as greeting cards, and many, many more. Only after deciding which field you meet the criteria for and deciding if the career is to you liking and meets your needs can one begin the path to being a successful writer.

Freelance writing for money has an assumption of quality and high standards that must be displayed in every written project. The freelancer should work for distinction based on excellence, eloquence, and ability for proficient, accomplished expression on every paid writing job. Additionally, the author must consistently produce a high caliber of written work that is a paradigm of merit, dependability that invariably meets and exceeds the expectation in a timely manner.

There are literally thousands and thousands of freelance writing opportunities available, especially on the Internet. Many authors work exclusively at home and effectively produce an excellent full-time income from writing assignments. It is a challenge to find good paid writing jobs, but with diligence and determination it is possible. The applicant should have superb critical thinking skills; often the writer will have limited or no actual knowledge of the topic. In the freelance market, buyers purposely do not seek to hire experts on a subject because of the increased expense for expertise or legitimate authority on a subject. It is considerably less expensive to allow writers to select the assignment, research the topic, and produce an informative, interesting, and insightful article that will conform and satisfy the parameters of the attribution.

Two non-negotiable skills a freelance writer must master when writing for money are excellent grammar and punctuation, and timeliness, completing assignments on or before deadline. In terms of punctuation and grammar for example, knowing how and when to use a comma or semi colon is critical. Inconsistencies can render an excellent writer being evaluated as average or mediocre. A superior knowledge of possessives, such as unequivocally being aware of when to use “its” and “its” can result in a lower estimation. One must use proper English and never use slang in academic or professional writing. These are basic skills but they are essential to becoming a successful freelance writer.

Often, time takes precedence over quality, which is negotiable or is sacrificed due to deadlines. These articles are primarily used as filler copy on designated websites or used as inserted links back to the primary or main article. But, the author should take pride in their writing and make an effort to create quality work at all times.

Success with paid writing is possible with dedication, diligence, and commitment especially when the freelance writer would choose that same career if offered any other occupation in the world.

There are many paid writing gigs that require the writer to create something on subjects they may know little or nothing about. This is actually quite common in the “writing for hire” freelancing world. Buyers aren’t necessarily looking for subject matter experts, but rather someone who can quickly and efficiently research a topic, and then write a quality piece at a relatively low cost. In many cases, it’s preferable to the buyer that the author not be an expert, as that expertise generally comes at a steep price. Being able to look up, research, and quickly synthesize information is one of the most important abilities someone writing for money can possess.

Buyers will always want the highest quality content for the lowest possible price. This is no different than anyone, ourselves included, who as consumers would like to find the best “whatever” we can at the lowest cost. Content buyers are no different. On the other hand, the old adage, “you get what you pay for” is true, and works in reverse as well – if someone wants higher quality, they will expect to pay more money for it.

The paid writing market supports a wide range of buyers. There are those who specifically look for price as the driving issue. They are looking for writers who can produce at the cheapest rate. For them, quality is a consideration, but not the driver. They are very willing, and in fact looking for, those who can produce “passable quality” cheaply. These buyers expect that what they get will not be top-notch, and that is where they benefit. Since the base cost is generally based on the time it takes to produce, they look for writers that can research and write fast. Well, researching and writing fast almost always comes at the expense of quality. But that is often preferable. This type of job is generally for “secondary” purposes, such as filling up space on websites where the main content is already there, or to publish on article directories and Web 2.0 sites for the purpose of being able to insert links back to the “primary” content or website.

When you are writing for money, you want to hone your research and writing skills constantly. Regardless of the job, buyers are looking for work that doesn’t need to be re-written, meaning 100% grammatically correct, proper English, punctuation, etc. They expect that whether you are producing a “quick & dirty” piece, or focusing a lot of effort on quality, that the deliverable will be readily usable. Though it is very common for buyer and writer to go back and forth with revisions, all buyers would prefer that what they get from you is ready to be used for whatever their purposes are.

Paid writing means just what is sounds like – to earn money writing, you have to actually write; you don’t get paid if you don’t produce. So how do we get rid of the dreaded writer’s block? Here are 5 tips to help you overcome that all-too-frequent stumbling block:

Tip#1: Relax

Most of the time, the dreaded writer’s block strikes when you are stressed out to meet a certain deadline or whenever there is a crisis in the family. What you need to do now is to take a deep breath and just let go of things. Understand that there are things that are beyond your control and there is nothing constructive you can do to overcome it or make it better than to let go and take care of yourself first. You are exacerbating the problem by putting yourself in a highly stressed out position. No solutions are going to be found in this state of mind.

Tip#2: Boredom

Boredom is another reason why the writer’s block happens. The best remedy for this condition is to get out of your home and engage in some fun, carefree time doing what you really like. Something that involves your body and mind would be great. Consider taking up your favorite sport or simply take a walk along the beach alone or with a partner and watch the waves roll in. You will be putting yourself in a more empowering state to overcome the writers block than ever before.

Tip#3: Physical Pain

If you are suffering from some kind of physical pain, this can be another reason for writers block to happen. You can alleviate the pain by seeking treatment from a medical professional and get appropriate treatment for it. If there is nothing that can be done to combat the pain then start doing some simple relaxation techniques which can help put you in a more relaxed position.

Tip#4: Upcoming Event

If you have an important event upcoming, then it is normal to feel tensed in a positive or a negative way. You can overcome this by learning effective relaxation techniques to overcome this issue. Simple breathing technique and affirmation can help you relax and be more empowered to finish the task at hand.

Tip#5: Lack of Interest

This is probably the worst kind of feeling to have if you are writing for money online. If you are really not interested in the work you are currently doing, it is time to carefully rethink about your strategies and find better ways to make money. Writing requires passion to be able to churn out fantastic copies and this is not going to happen if you are feeling a lack of interested in the work

Writing for money can be both fun and extremely lucrative, but you have to have the right skills to overcome the many challenges that lie ahead. The awareness and skills to overcome the writers block is an indispensable trait every writer should have to prevent disasters from happening.

How to Begin

It is normal for an article writer to struggle a little when completing his first writing assignment. If you are taking an hour or more to complete an article, do not despair. This is the normal speed for a newbie and over time, you would learn effective ways to speed up your writing so you can write one high quality, well-researched and grammatically correct articles in less than 15 minutes.

Let’s look at 5 killer ways how you can write articles at lighting speed.

Technique #1: Belief System

Most of our actions are governed by our belief system. The first barrier to break lies within the realms of your own mind and perhaps the most difficult one. Take a deep breath and position yourself in a totally relaxed position. When you are totally at ease with yourself and your surroundings, start visualizing yourself doing the necessary research and then write out articles at top speed, with words flowing one after another automatically. Imagine yourself doing all this and then feel the satisfaction of getting the work done in a fraction of the time it usually takes you to write up one article. Spend 15 minutes per day doing this mental exercise and you would experience the difference after a week or two.

Technique #2: Lighting Speed Research

Once you feel confident enough of the new mental image you have in your mind, start by doing a Google search with the keyword and add the word “articles” at the end of the phrase you are targeting to write. This should get you some nice results you can use right away, instead of sales letters or irrelevant data. If you want a simpler way, simply click on to ezinarticles.com and type your keyword in the search box over. Open up five articles which you feel meet your requirement in separate windows.

Now get a piece of a paper and scribble down the most important points from those articles. Just gather the facts and all the data you need to write one article of your own. You need about 4-5 points to craft a well-researched single 500 word article. This is important to ensure you make enough money writing for money online.

Technique#3: Rapid Organization

Now quickly rearrange the points you have gathered during the research, to get the article flowing nicely. Do this quickly in under a minute or so. Now you are ready to begin writing.

Technique#4: Speed Writing

Get yourself into a relaxed position and take a deep breath. Remember those visualization sessions you have been doing earlier? That would come in handy now. If you have practiced enough, words would start to flow and you would begin writing from the start to the end without worrying about typos, edits or whatever changes. That can be done later. Once competed, this is the time for edits. You would probably spend around 5 minutes on this task alone.

If you follow the guidelines we have shared writing for money online, you would find yourself writing an article in less than 15 minutes. Soon you would be churning out article in less than 15 minutes without compromising on the quality or structure of the article.

Let’s look at the top five traits that are commonly found in all successful freelance writers working from the comforts of their own home.

Trait#1: Passion For Writing

Nothing in the world can be achieved without this burning emotion which resides in yourself. You need to have a genuine passion for your work on order to feel pleasure doing it. The best achievers in all field and in all walks of life begin their successful careers with a burning passion and persistence. It’s the only way you can get to the point where you would be successful writing for money.

Trait#2: Persistence

You have to be persistent to achieve anything of value in life and this applies to your writing for money online career as well. You need to be there and go through all of the trials and tribulation in order to reap the rewards.

Trait#3: Flexible

Do not fall into the trap of acting like the trapped fly behind a closed window. Doing the same things and expecting a different result is pure insanity. Take a step back and see how you can get things done faster and more efficiently. There are always ways how anything can be improved. Expand your awareness and flex your creative muscles.

Trait#4: Customer Support

Do not underestimate the importance of good customer support and personal relations. You need to inculcate a strong bond between you and your clients to build that long-term loyalty. Most of the successful people writing for money online build upon a specific group of loyal customers for continued orders and business so make sure you do a great job every time so they would have no choice but to hire you for future assignments.

Trait#5: Integrity

Maintain your integrity at all times. A person with good values and good character will survive for a long time online. In a world where scammers and cheaters are on the prowl looking for unsuspecting victims everyday, a person with good character will definitely stand out. This is the timeless principle upon which enduring business are built on.

These are all indispensable traits that every freelance writer who desires an enduring and long-term success should work on under all circumstances. Be diligent and always strive to complete all given assignments the best you can within the duration of time given.

It takes time to build a successful business when you are planning to launch a lucrative career writing for money online. Stay persistent and it is only a matter of time before you can proudly enjoy the fruits of your hard work.

If you are keen to get paid for writing as a freelancer, perhaps it is best to get to know specifically how you can enter this marketplace and start earning. Writing for money online doesn’t involve complicated procedures no does it require any kind of certification or credentials. For some types of work it helps if you do have some experience but all is not lost of you don’t. In fact, some of the best writers online are people blessed with literary genius and does not necessarily have any related education.

However, there are some very important points to note if you desire to carve a niche and a lucrative career for yourself online.

The first step to take is to do some research to find out places and niches you can enter to gain a foothold in this competitive field of writing online. There are many niches to enter and specialize in such as article writing and rewriting, resumes, cover letters, reviews, and short fiction. All of these jobs are available online and you just have to know where your abilities and talent lies in and how to transform that into paid work.

Article writing is a good place to begin if you wish to sharpen your writing skills. It is easy to perform the research to find the necessary materials. The Internet is full of information and resources that make it possible to find enough stuff to write about to fill a page with solid content, no matter what the topic may be.

Rewriting of articles is good if you are not that comfortable researching and want to find a less challenging way to learn to write online. People are always looking for writers that can turn their existing articles into fresh content by rewriting them thoroughly. Be sure you know what they expect and how to conform to the plagiarism rules. Get familiar with Copyscape (http://www.copyscape.com), and be aware of what degree of originality is expected when you paraphrase those words and sentences to transform it into an original article.

Short fiction can be fun and extremely lucrative once you have developed your skills, and have the capability to create suspense, mystery, romance and drama over multiple pages of writings. If you can get readers engaged in your writing, you have it made. This is no easy task for the newbie, if you are just starting out, consider getting yourself acquainted with article writing jobs before you jumping into a more ambitious project such as this.

Writing for money online can be fun and rewarding if you know how to go about doing it and what to look for to avoid the pitfalls associated with this kind of career.