8 Steps to Start Earning as a Freelance Writer (2026)
Trying to make the most of steps start earning freelance? You are in the right place. Below we break it down in plain English, with practical tips you can actually use.
Key Takeaways
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- In this beginner’s guide to making money as a freelance writer, you’ll learn how to go from a complete beginner to a highly-paid and sought-...
In this beginner’s guide to making money as a freelance writer, you’ll learn how to go from a complete beginner to a highly-paid and sought-after pro.
Our step-by-step approach is based on our team’s decades of combined freelance writing experience.
Beginners will want to read this guide from top to bottom and then work their way through each step. For those with paid experience as a freelancer, the table of contents below will take you directly to the stage you’re at.
Table of Contents
ToggleHow Freelance Writing Works
If you’re considering a career as a freelance writer, it’s key to have a good understanding of how both freelance writing and the freelance industry as a whole work.
It’s common for beginners to think that common freelance writing niches like creating blog posts for a website are all the opportunities that exist within the field. In reality, there are numerous different ways to make money as a freelance writer.
The simplest way to define freelance writing is the act of getting paid to write for others as an independent contractor (a.k.a., as a freelancer). The writer’s job is generating the text that is asked for by the client.
But what numerous beginners overlook is why clients need written text in the first place. After all, they’re looking to achieve a result of their own. Your job , whether you’re working with a Fortune 500 company or a small local business , is to discover and deliver that desired result.
This may sound basic, but a common mistake numerous freelance writers make is focusing on what they want. Beginners hear about the flexible hours, the good pay and the opportunity for steady work, and that’s all they focus on.
The correct mindset, and the one adopted by the highest-paid freelance writers, is to focus on the results their clients want first.
This is the reason why it’s key to pick a quality niche.
The 8 Steps to Start Making Money as a Freelance Writer
Step #1: Research Markets and Niches
A niche is how a freelancer defines what they do. Take the example of a writer who writes how-to articles for how-to websites; this would be the niche they write in, and it’s how they’re known in the industry (as well as how they market themselves to prospective clients).
Without a niche, you become a generalist. The problem with being a generalist is that you’re competing against niche experts. And since clients want results, they’re more likely to want to work with someone who has proven they can deliver that result.
One of the best pieces of advice I can offer freelance writers is to be very intentional about your niche.
The niche you select impacts:
- The amount of fulfillment you get from your work.
- The amount of money you can make.
- The type of clients you work with.
What I can’t stress enough is that you get to pick your niche! Choose well and you open up the opportunity to nearly limitless amounts of work that fulfills you.
As a beginner with no experience, your goal is to choose the best niche available as of today. Start by examining your existing skills and knowledge, and consider how that can be applied to a specific niche , keeping in mind that you’re not limited to only your writing experience. Instead, look at specific areas where you have above-average knowledge on a particular topic.
For example, suppose you’re an avid exerciser and you’ve been going to CrossFit religiously for a few years. You’re passionate about fitness, and you understand the language, the people, the brands and the spaces, because you’ve been living in that world. This has certainly resulted in you having above-average knowledge of this topic, which can help you secure a job writing about it.
There are likely around five to 10 areas where you have above-average knowledge like this.
Focusing on topics where you do have above-average knowledge is a excellent place for beginners to start.
For an in-depth guide on niche selection, you’ll want to read our article “How to Choose a Freelancing Niche.” This guide walks you through niche selection, offering four tips for those just starting out. Also, read up on what we feel are the best freelance writing niches for beginners.
One last note on niche selection: your niches can and should constantly evolve the more you learn and grow your skills. Without experience, you’re operating on a limited knowledge base.
For this reason, it’s good to start with a broad category and then drill further down into subcategories. The initial broad category is how you’re able to get paid work and experience as quickly as possible while discovering better opportunities.
For example, you may start writing informational content for blogs in the CrossFit space. But as you learn more about the type of work out there and what pays well, you may see that there’s a need for quality copywriters in the space. (Becoming a freelance copywriter, as opposed to a generalist, can significantly increase your earning power.)
Step #2: Establish Credibility by Building Your Portfolio
Freelance writing portfolios come in a variety of forms.
Some freelance writers have their own website, where they share information about their services while providing reasons clients will want to work with them.
While this is something you’ll want to do long-term, it’s not necessary for absolute beginners (although it can surely help land you work).
Others may want to create a resume or a credible profile on a site like Upwork that stands out.
The end goal, no matter the type of portfolio, is to establish your credibility as a writer and earn the respect of potential clients. Remember, clients are looking for results and they’re likely to hire the freelancer that seems most likely to deliver those results to them.
It’s here where having a niche is so key. Even without a client to your name, you can still establish credibility.
Final Thoughts
Before you check out, double-check steps start earning freelance against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year.
Originally published at thewaystowealth.com.
R.J. Weiss
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