become a freelance writer

I have re-enrolled in school and moved back to Lubbock. I’m only three or four semesters away from an English literature degree. I intend to go to graduate school afterwards. However, I also plan to continue pursuing an income on the side trying to sell advertising copy and perhaps the occasional article. We shall see.

I am a freelance writer now. While I’m still at the beginning stage, I can honestly call myself one.

It’s not the most glamorous of gigs, but I feel good about what I am doing.

I’ve been dreaming for years of doing this, and now that I’ve sort of moved to Austin, I feel like there are no more excuses. I am going to have The Well-Fed Writer read before I go back to Austin, and then I will proceed to follow the techniques outlined in the book. I can do this. I need a portfolio. I want to eventually get paid for travel writing, but copy-writing gigs are certainly an acceptable start. I am going to set up a new blog specifically for documenting this effort, with a weekly update of my progress (or lack thereof). This is going to require much more discipline that I have really employed in the last few years, but I CAN do this, I WILL do this.

2008 is the year I will become a freelance writer.

1. Write sample articles for my portfolio.
2. Do research on applying for freelance writing jobs.
3. Apply to at least one position a month.

I have recently started to do writing and photo projects for people on the side in addition to my regular job. This has been a nice stress outlet, been good work experience, and has helped fund all my bad habits :-) If you know where to look, then it can be profitable and fun. Highly recommend!

http://www.cvtips.com/dir/freelance_job_resource.html

I really want to become a science or medical writer, but not just freelance – a permanent staffing position with a publication is what I’m looking for out of a career. Currently I’m an English major at UC Berkeley, and have taken a few science electives. This summer I’m doing an internship writing case studies for a hospital consulting services company. I’m learning a lot about tailoring my writing towards diverse audiences and broadening the scope of my writing beyond the primarily literary matter I am exposed to at school. What else can I do to get on the path to this profession? Would also appreciate if anyone knew how tough it is to get into the graduate-level science writing program at MIT. Yes, I dream big. Thanks.

I have been doing some research for a while now, and feel that this could be a worthwhile and insightful article in which to sell as my first, within the freelancing industry…

So far I’ve had one article published on TeenVoices Online && am currently working on UniversityChic.com’s Editorial Board. Some of my writing will also appear in the February Issue of CosmoGIRL! I’m also one of the main writers for the feminist magazine on my campus. Still looking for some kind of paying writing gig though.=]

I should have a few articles coming out in kung fu / qigong magazine in the near future, after which I will continue to try and write for them and other publications as well.

I’m thinking the way to get going with writing professionally is to start writing ameteur stuff and get it out there (via blogs, email whatever).

Get feedback, the more feedback loops the better. There are heaps of technical writers whom I subscribe to that really just seem to be putting there very good ideas down for themselves, and then allow people like myself to read and comment upon them.

Having built a reputation as a quality thinker/writer if these guys published a book, electronic or otherwise, I’d definately give it a look.

To disclaim my position, I’m not a writer, just a guy thinking about getting into the game, cause I love thinking about stuff, and writing seems like one of the best ways to both record and distribute the product of my grey matter.

Good luck to us all … peace out :-D