How to Start a Freelancing Side Hustle

If you're at university, money is probably tight, and you're likely looking for some kind of side hustle that can earn you a few extra dollars. If you're skilled at writing and editing, you may want to consider building up a freelance writing or editing job to help pay your way through school. Here are a few tips and tricks to get you started.

Boost Your Skills

Your first step toward a successful freelancing side hustle is to boost your writing, proofreading, and editing skills. Since you're likely writing papers for your lectures, start with those, and work on making them as clear, concise, and flawless as possible. However, you'll be doing a completely different kind of writing for freelance jobs, typically less formal and more geared toward general interest and marketing. Practice these skills by creating a blog for yourself or offering to write or edit promotional pieces for local newspapers, including your student paper. You can also sign up for free courses at The Red Lounge for Writers.

Build a Portfolio

Pull your best writing together into a portfolio that showcases your work. Choose a variety of pieces, some academic papers, some blog posts, some marketing writing, and some general interest spots. If you don't have much yet in the way of marketing writing, create some sample pieces for your portfolio. Read press releases, SEO blog posts, product descriptions, and service pages online, and write a few of your own. Do not copy — you need unique content that is all yours. Proofread carefully, too. Your portfolio must be pristine.

Find Work

Finding freelance writing or editing jobs can be daunting, especially for a beginner. You might check out various online job platforms and freelance writing job sites in Australia or beyond. If you offer book editing services, for instance, you may have to bid on jobs, so determine what you're willing to charge and accept ahead of time. You could also apply to one or two content companies or editing companies (for papers or for editing books). You'll have to fill out an application, sometimes take a grammar test, and submit a writing or editing sample. Read the instructions for the sample closely, and follow them perfectly.

Meet Standards

When you get a job, make sure that you know exactly what is expected of you. Examine the client's instructions carefully, and ask questions if there is anything you don't understand. If you're working for a content company, you'll likely have to write at least one training article that will be critiqued by an editor.

Again, follow the instructions to the letter, and examine feedback from the editor carefully so you understand the company's standards. You'll have to commit to these standards and sometimes put aside your preferences to write what is expected of you. Don't take criticism personally. Make revisions as requested, and keep working to improve your writing or editing.

Set Limits

Finally, you will need to set some limits on your freelancing. You are, after all, still a student. Earning money is wonderful, and your freelancing could give you the extra funds you need. But don't go overboard. Focus on your studies.

Above all, as you begin your freelancing, write or edit well, and get advice from the Red Lounge for Writers.

Guest post from Lance Cody-Valdez @ Free-lance-now.com

The evils of filler words... and how to get rid of them

In the last little while I’ve worked through a few sets of edits on my new novel. When I sent off the final manuscript, all those months ago, I thought that the writing was as good as I could make it. But there’s nothing like an editor to show you up, right*?

My editors picked up all sorts of issues, but a big one was my frequent use of ‘filler’ words. I make sentences more complicated than they need to be. I add in ‘very’ and ‘mostly’ and ‘a little’ much** more than is necessary.

I’ve wondered before if women use filler words more than men. There has been much written about the way women speak compared to men, however a recent experience editing a man’s memoir shows me that males are just as capable of using filler language.

What are filler words?

If you’re modifying every adjective with ‘very’, you’re using filler language. Other culprit words include: a little, mostly, almost, terribly, quite. There are: just, only, almost, slightly, seemed, perhaps, maybe, simply, somehow, absolutely, basically, actually, sort of and kind of.

Then there are the combinations: really quite, really very, almost a little bit, basically only, perhaps somehow.

What’s wrong with filler language?

1.       It takes up space. If you’re writing a 700-word blog post, do you need five repetitions of ‘very’ or six ‘mostlys’? Words are precious. Make them count.

2.       It doesn’t add anything. ‘It was a very dangerous trip’ has the same meaning as ‘it was a dangerous trip’. Dangerous is a strong word; let it stand on its own.

3.       It sounds apologetic. We don’t need to apologise for what we communicate. ‘Softening’ with filler words isn’t necessary.

4.       Brevity is clarity.

When might you use filler words?

If you’re a blogger or author with a distinctively personal voice, part of your repertoire of communication effects may be to use certain filler words. If you’re aware of using them, and choose them deliberately, go for it!

How do you know if you use filler words?

The ‘search’ function in your word processor is a useful tool. Crank it up and type in any or all of the words I’ve listed above. You might find you have an unknown penchant for ‘quite’ or ‘actually’.

(Hot tip: If you get recklessly lethal and use the ‘Search and Replace’ tool to eliminate your ‘verys’ be sure to put a space before and after the word, otherwise ‘everybody and everything’ ends up being ‘ebody and ething’ through your document.)

Read through your document. If you use a distinctive word (not just a typical ‘filler’ word) twice or more, throw it into the search function too. I discovered by doing this that I overuse the word ‘crazy’ when I write teen fiction. Too much crazy… well, it’s too much crazy.

What are your filler words? Why do you use them? How will you get rid of them?

Cecily Paterson is an author of eight ‘braveheart’ novels for girls, a memoir and a biography. Find her books at www.cecilypaterson.com She also teaches writing at www.redloungeforwriters.com

This article was first published on Christian Writers Downunder.

*I say this with affection. We love editors at the Red Lounge for Writers.

**Oh look… I didn’t need that ‘much’ either.

Tips for Being a Writer in the Gig Economy

 Are you looking to make the most of your time and money and finally take control of your career? Then perhaps right now is the perfect time to take the plunge into the gig economy.

 “Gigging” is a term traditionally thrown around by musicians and other entertainers, where you are booked and paid for a single performance or job. This model of business can be applied to many other kinds of short-term work, from delivering food to designing websites. Each of these jobs allows you to become a master of your own time and practice. You pick when, where, and who to work for and get paid for your services.

 While working in the gig economy has plenty of benefits, it can be difficult to settle into if you come from a more traditional work environment. The Red Lounge for Writers shares four tips to get you started.

Diving In

Getting your feet wet with your first few gigs is easier than ever these days. As you likely are well aware, remote work blossomed when the pandemic broke out, and all the tools and platforms for workers to thrive were already in place. It’s simply a matter of connecting the dots.

 For instance, you can look to specialized job boards, like Bookkeeping Side Hustle or TutorMe to connect with people or companies who need your services, or you can go to sites that cover a broad range of fields, like Fiverr or FlexJobs. Another option is to market your services yourself through social media, personal outreach, your own website, and so forth.

 Save, Save, Save

 When starting out, you might only have enough capital to cover the expenses for your new business. When you start earning from your gig-based job, you should set aside a sizable portion to go back into your business.

 Online magazine Home Business points out that saving is especially important early on, and any revenue you make should be redirected back into better equipment or marketing strategies to increase your exposure. By investing in your own small business, you significantly increase your chances of succeeding.

Stay Organized

As your business steadily grows, you’ll notice that the names and numbers quickly begin to pile up. The more organized you are moving forward, the easier it will be to keep track of your clientele, as well as your income and expenses. Having this information easily accessible is key for you to remain aware of where your business is coming from and how to improve your business so that you make the most amount of dollars for the least amount of cost.

An easy place to start is simply by keeping a planner and notebook, but there is organizational software at your disposal that can help you keep track of profits, orders, tax information, and other statistical data to help run your business. For example, payroll software can make it easier to process payroll by calculating employee wages and tax withholdings. Effective software will also let you track employee time and pay them using direct deposit.

Create a Functional Workspace at Home

 Many small businesses begin in the home, which can be great for convenience and also provide a nice deduction on your taxes. However, just because you’ve decided to set up shop at home doesn’t mean you’ll find success working from your kitchen table. In short, as Mashable notes, you still need to create a functional and inspiring workspace to maximize your efficiency when working from home.

 The best way to manage your own workspace is by dedicating a specific room or area of your home to your small business. You can buy office furniture fairly cheaply, or you can hire a carpenter or handyman to build out a custom-made desk, shelves, and organizer for your cords.

 Nothing is more liberating than being your own boss. If you work hard, stay positive, and stick to your business plan, overtime you’ll begin to see your own business start working for you.

Guest post by Lucy at www.gigmine.co