My Life As A Freelance Writer
Read more articles on The Rambling of a SAHM.July 22, 2006
Posted by Rebecca Lanham
July 22, 2006
Posted by Rebecca Lanham
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There are many days that I really love my “job”. I set my own hours, work at my own pace (most of the time - sometimes I have to double time it, while other times I’m twiddling my thumbs because I have no work to do) and can show up to work in my pjs! However, I have found that freelance writing is not without its own stress.
When you are a freelance writer, you have to actively look for jobs. There are a lot of websites where you can find work, such as www.freelancewriting.com; www.ifreelance.com; www.writerlance.com; and www.getafreelancer.com. (These are all free or at a very low cost to join.) Some people, like Deborah Ng, have whole blogs which focus on freelance writing gigs for anyone who is looking. Craigslist in all areas of the US constantly has posts up for those looking for writers, as well.
Then there are the paid sites, where you have to purchase “membership” to be able to place bids on jobs. One of the largest sites is www.elance.com, with www.freelanceworkexchange.com right up there, too. Most have a cheap membership rate, but you have to really fork over the money if you want to get enough bids allotted to you each month. If you decide to go this route, try a trial membership for a few months to see if it is worth your time and money.
So, in the morning, I normally get my morning cup of coffee, check my email, and then go through most of the circuit listed above. (I personally chose Elance, as I found Freelance Work Exchange’s website very hard to navigate.) In the 3 years I have been doing this work, I have lost clients and gained new ones. I have found new avenues of writing, like this site and its sister site www.articleauthors.com. I have made new friends and a made several people not so happy.
Some days I find that I have too much work to do and become very agitated at the drop of a hat. Some days I have no work, so worry I am not providing any income to my household. Other days I just sigh and think to myself, “It is sooooo nice to just be able to enjoy my kids!” 
So, for anyone thinking of taking up freelance writing as a career - go for it! If I can get by, so can you. Just keep trying, get those few regular clients that will be your “bread and butter”, and allow any other work to be the icing on the cake.
Feel free to drop me an email with any questions you might have! Or, if you are looking for a writer…you can email me about that, too! 
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