What Does a Freelance Writer Do?
If you’re thinking of going freelance, you might be contemplating a career as a freelance writer.
But what exactly does a freelance writer do?
We explain what freelance writing is, the types of writing work freelancers do, and what a freelance writer’s process might look like.
What Is Freelance Writing?
Freelance writing is the process of producing written work on a freelance basis. This means that, rather than being employed by a particular company, the writer is self-employed and works with multiple clients.
The clients might be individuals, businesses, agencies, or non-profit organizations, while the writing gigs themselves can be one-off jobs or long-term, recurring work.
By freelancing, a writer has more control over the hours they work, the services and rates they offer, and the people or organizations they work with.
However, they’re also responsible for dealing with financial issues such as taxes and setting up their own business.
For a more detailed breakdown of the ins and outs of freelancing, see our Beginner’s Guide to Freelancing.
What Does a Freelance Writer Do?
A freelance writer works with a client to turn a brief into a full piece of writing.
This will usually involve:
- Communicating with the client to establish the details of a project
- Researching the subject of the piece
- Adopting the client’s desired tone and style
- Drafting, writing, and reviewing the content of the piece
The specific services a freelance writer provides, though, will depend on the type of writing they are producing.
Common forms include:
- Copywriting
- Content writing
- Blog writing
- Ghostwriting
Let’s take a look at each of these types of writing in detail.
Copywriting
Generally speaking, copy refers to writing produced with the intention of directly selling a product or service.
A freelance copywriter, then, is someone who produces marketing materials such as:
- Product descriptions
- Adverts
- Website copy
Copywriting as a term is sometimes used interchangeably with content writing, but when a distinction between the two is made, it usually highlights copy as being shorter and more sales-focused than content.
Content Writing
In contrast to copywriting, content writing focuses on longer pieces – or content – that aim to tell a story of some kind.
Content writing can be used to establish the client’s authority on a topic, build trust with potential customers, and inform readers about a particular subject, service, or product. Doing so encourages readers to take an action such as signing up for a service, buying a product, or providing an email address.
The most common documents that content writers work on include:
- Blog posts and articles
- Press releases and statements
- Business reports
- Instruction manuals and handbooks
- Social media content
- White papers
A freelance content writer may choose to specialize in one or more type of content, depending on their skills, experience, and interests.
Blog Writing
Blogging is one of the most common forms of written content, with over six million blog posts published worldwide every day.
And with many businesses looking to share blog content as a way of establishing their brand and improving their SEO rankings, it’s no surprise that blog writing is a popular choice for many freelance writers.
Blog writing involves producing an article on a particular subject, usually for the client’s own blog.
The client might provide a title or a more in-depth brief for what they want the post to cover. It’s then up to the freelance writer to deliver that content.
Blog posts can vary in length, but the average is between 1,500 and 2,500 words. This makes writing blog posts an achievable goal for freelance writers who are just starting out.
Ghostwriting
A ghostwriter is someone who writes a piece of work on behalf of someone else. They must adapt their own writing style to the tone and voice of the named author.
For freelance writers, ghostwriting can involve anything from writing an article under the client’s name, to producing a novel or autobiography for a public figure.
Ghostwriting differs from other forms of freelance writing in that freelance writers cannot claim credit for a piece of work they have ghostwritten. This usually means that they can’t refer to the piece in a résumé or display it in a portfolio.
On the other hand, ghostwriters generally charge higher rates than other freelance writers.
Ghostwriting will also usually involve less research than other freelance writing gigs, as the “author” will provide all the necessary resources and information.
How Does Freelance Writing Work?
There is no exact process to freelance writing, as each writer will adapt their approach to each individual client and project.
However, all freelance writing generally involves the same steps:
- Pitching or briefing
- Planning
- Writing
- Reviewing
- Invoicing
Let’s have a closer look at each of those steps.
1. Pitching or Briefing
A freelance writing job can start in one of two ways:
- As a pitch – where a freelance writer reaches out to a publication or organization with a proposal for a piece
- As a brief – where a client contacts a freelance writer with the details of a proposed project
2. Planning
Once the pitch or brief has been accepted, the writer should plan out the piece they have been hired to write.
Depending on the form of writing, this might involve:
- Working out a schedule
- Researching the subject
- Deciding on a structure (blog posts, for example, follow several common layouts)
- Producing an outline
3. Writing
Using their planning, the writer produces a draft of the piece according to the client’s requirements – and it may go through a few drafts at this stage until the writer is happy with it.
4. Reviewing
The writer proofreads their completed draft, then sends it to the client for feedback.
If the client requests any revisions (changes to the document), the writer fulfills them before returning the revised draft.
Some freelance writers include a certain number of revisions within their rate, while others charge extra.
5. Invoicing
Once the client is satisfied with the work, the writer sends them an invoice.
This stage may occur earlier in the process, particularly if the freelancer is worried about a client not paying once the work has been completed.
How Much Do Freelance Writers Make?
A freelance writer’s income will depend heavily on the type of writing they do, their level of experience, and the clients they work with.
How writers charge for their services (per word, per hour, or per project) also makes a difference.
Generally speaking, though, new freelance writers may start out charging around $15–20 per hour for their work.
And with more experience and professional training, freelance writers can increase their rates.
Becoming A Freelance Writer
Now you know what to expect, are you ready to give the world of freelance writing a try?
Our Becoming A Freelance Writer course will teach you everything you need to know to pursue a profitable career in writing.
Complete with in-depth tips on writing and starting your own business, the course even comes with guaranteed work with our partner company, CopyPress.
Interested? Sign up for a free trial.
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