How to Become a Freelance Writer

Introduction

If you're a strong writer with a passion for storytelling, journalism, or content creation, freelance writing might be the perfect career for you. But getting started can feel overwhelming. Where do you find work? How do you stand out? And how do you actually get paid what you're worth?

This guide will walk you through essential steps to becoming a freelance writer, including how to build your portfolio, pitch ideas, and connect with people who hire writers so you can turn your words into income.

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1. Build a Freelance Writing Portfolio

Before you land any gigs, you need to show what you’re capable of. That’s where a freelance writing portfolio comes in. Think of it as your digital storefront a space to showcase your writing style, range, and professional credibility.

With SwiftFolio, you can build a clean, professional portfolio in minutes. No design skills? No problem. Just upload your work, choose a template, and get a custom link to share with potential clients. Having a polished portfolio can be the difference between a client hiring you — or moving on to the next writer.

Not to mention the Swiftfolio free plan allows you to make a simple portfolio for no cost at all.

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2. Search for "Write for Us" Opportunities

One of the fastest ways to start building experience and authority is to contribute to blogs in your niche. Go to Google and search:

"[your niche] + write for us"

You'll find guest post opportunities across dozens of sites. Make sure to read their submission guidelines, pitch a thoughtful idea, and tailor your writing to their audience. These posts can often lead to paid gigs or ongoing collaborations.

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In order to succeed in competitive industries like freelance writing you need to be willing to advocate for yourself and your work. Reaching out to potential clients is something many writers struggle with. Doing it effectively can seperate you from the pack.

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3. Start Publishing on Medium and LinkedIn

Don’t wait for permission to write start creating today. Platforms like Medium and LinkedIn are excellent places to share your insights, demonstrate your writing voice, and attract organic attention from clients and editors.

Write about your niche, your journey, tips for others, or trends in your industry. Treat every post like a writing sample that lives in public. You never know who’s reading.

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4. Connect with Content Marketers and SEO Specialists

Behind many writing gigs is someone in content or SEO who’s looking for writers. These professionals often manage blog calendars, content budgets, and strategy and they’re the people who hire freelance writers regularly.

Follow marketers on LinkedIn, join Slack or Facebook groups for content teams, and engage in communities where these professionals hang out. Relationship-building leads to referrals, insider job leads, and repeat clients.

By simply participating in online conversations with these potential clients you will start to understand what it is they look for in a freelance writer.

With this information you can tweak your services to fit their needs.

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5. Know Your Rates and Stick to Them

Freelance writing rates are all over the place, but that doesn’t mean you should undersell yourself. Do research on standard rates in your niche and set a minimum price. A good starting point is $0.10 per word, but experienced writers often charge significantly more.

Be transparent about your pricing, and avoid clients who want $10 blog posts. Your work has value — and the right clients will pay for it.

When starting out it is alright to take on some free projects to establish your portfolio and build some credibility. But once that stage of your freelancing career is completed you need to be sure you are charging a fair price.

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6. Use Platforms Like Upwork to Build Client Relationships

Freelance platforms like Upwork can be hit or miss, but they’re a great place to get early traction, build relationships, and collect testimonials. Treat every job professionally, even the small ones. Over time, you can find long-term clients and repeat business through these platforms.

As you gain confidence and contacts, you can raise your rates and move more of your work off-platform.

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Final Thoughts

Becoming a freelance writer takes hustle, patience, and practice. But if you build a portfolio, pitch consistently, and build the right relationships, it’s absolutely possible to turn writing into a thriving career.

And when you're ready to showcase your work? SwiftFolio makes it easy to build a portfolio that gets you hired.

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