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
