Writing is the perfect work-from-home job as it is largely a solitary activity. Part-time remote writing gigs are available for those who want to write website content, blogs, and articles, either for a company or on their own.
Writing is an in-demand skill in most fields as individuals or companies want to present their ideas or product, sell them, and explain how to use them. As result, job boards are filled with openings for writing jobs.
Content writing and marketing is a lucrative industry, where many types of remote work are in demand. Besides article writing and copyediting, there is a wide variety of writing jobs, and most of them can be done from the comfort of your own home.
What are the different types of writing jobs? Why do niches matter? Where do you start? How is writing for magazines different from other writing gigs?
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What Types Of Remote Writing Jobs Are Available?
Online writing jobs and writing-related jobs, some of which are in the content marketing field. Even fields like engineering or accounting that generate data and use numbers need written analyses, technical manuals, and instructing sheets.
The most popular jobs include:
| Article writing | Creative writing | Proofreading |
| Blog writing/Editing | Cover letter writing | Scriptwriting |
| Case study writing | Ghostwriting | SEO optimization |
| Content managing | Grant writing | Social media content writing |
| Content strategy planning | Magazine writing | Technical writing |
| Copywriting | Press release writing | Whitepaper writing |
Many companies advertise their need for full-time and part-time writers on job boards.
How Do You Become A Freelance Writer?
Though some writers for companies are employees, many pursue writing gigs as freelancers where they work as independent contractors. Freelancers often have multiple clients.
Some freelancers get jobs through sites such as Fiverr, while others create their own opportunities to turn their love of writing into a home-based business.
Contact Small Businesses
Many small businesses need some professional help but have a small marketing budget and no internal staff with time or experience to promote them
They may need new website contact, business email for marketing campaigns, brochure copy, or newsletters. Proffering to do one task might lead to ongoing work.
Write Locally
Local news media may welcome feature or news articles, as well as news for events and restaurants around town.
Contact Marketing Agencies
Marketing agencies often contact with clients to write blogs and website content and then outsource the work to freelancers. As the needs of their clients change, agencies often prefer to use freelancers for flexibility.
Freelance For Former Employers
When companies lay off staff for budgetary reasons, they may still have needs that freelancers can provide. You might be able to provide services that were formerly part of your job for a fee.
Preparing To Freelance
To start your freelance writing career, first, you’ll want to learn about the writing industry. Spend some time checking out different job boards, noting of the current pay rates and expectations on the market, and learning from others by reading about their experiences.
This will help you get familiar with what the work typically looks like and provide some practical answers — what were others’ mistakes early on, how to deal with difficult clients, etcetera.
Next, work on your business and organizational skills. Time management, job applications, client correspondence, and invoicing are only some of your responsibilities as a freelancer. As clients keep coming, you’ll need to be more organized to avoid missing an important email.
New freelance writers need to improve their writing skills by practicing writing. Just reading is not enough. Choose a couple of topics that appeal to you and use your writing samples to build your online portfolio.
Having high-quality samples that showcase your skills is crucial when applying for freelance writing gigs – especially if you want work in specific fields. You can publish samples on your own website, your LinkedIn profile, or sites like Medium.
Picking your niche is another step toward success. Think about what suits you personally, but also consider what pays well and what increases your chances of getting noticed. For instance, cybersecurity pays better than self-help.
You may be passionate about fashion or pets, but many bloggers cover those topics in-depth, so you’re less likely to stand out or have a steady workflow due to overwhelming competition.
Finally, start offering your writing services. Keep in mind that looking for potential clients is time-consuming. Some freelancer writers cold pitch, while others decide to write for content mills, as they frequently hire newbies.
Those are typically low-paying writer jobs, and you’ll be a ghostwriter, but it may be a good first step in your freelance writing business.
How Do You Get Started Writing For Magazines?
Writing for magazines is different than regular freelance writing gigs. You can become either a full-time staff writer that’s allowed to work remotely or an independent contractor that relies on pitching.
For a full-time job, apply to job postings from magazines or directly via the career page on their website. If you choose to go freelance, get ready for a lot of (unpaid) pitching — magazines only pay for an accepted and published story.
The benefit of writing for magazines is they pay well. You can earn anywhere between $50 and $1,000 for a published submission of 50 to 1,500+ words.
Here are some magazines in various niches that you can pitch to:
- AARP: The Magazine
- BC Business Magazine
- BuzzFeed
- Focus on the Family
- Forbes
- IncomeDiary
- Men’s Health
- Motherly
- The Atlantic
- The New York Times
- The California Sunday Magazine
- Wired
What Are The Benefits Of Freelance Writing?
Benefits of freelance writing include:
- Choosing your own work hours
- Great earning potential
- Project diversity
- Learning opportunities
- The work fosters creativity
How Do You Get Gigs For Writing?
There are several ways of getting writing gigs. Many beginners land occasional gigs at freelance marketplaces such as Upwork and Fiverr or seek writing opportunities at content mills.
Further in your job search, visit general job sites and search engines and freelance writing job boards like:
- Indeed
- SimplyHired
- FlexJobs
- MediaBistro
- ProBlogger
- Journalism Jobs
Remember to set up a job alert to get notified when new jobs are posted via email.
Freelance copywriting job listings are often available on LinkedIn and even Craigslist. As you land more clients, you’re also likely to get referrals.
If you want to be part of an active forum, join The Freelance Writers Den. It’s a resourceful online writing community, so you may get useful job-searching tips from other freelancers.
How Much Do Writing Gigs Pay?
The salary potential of writing gigs varies depending on your expertise and experience and project requirements. Freelance copywriters’ average hourly rate is $24. Content writers for general niches make about $20 per hour, while technical writers earn at least double the amount.
These are estimates. If your goal is to land a full-time, high-paying remote job, such as a magazine staff writer, you can be well over $1,000 monthly.
However, if you’re more interested in freelance gigs, keep in mind that inconsistency is one of the biggest challenges — at least in the beginning. With time, you’ll get more clients and get closer to your desired monthly pay.
How Do You Get Paid As A Writer?
Most companies pay writers per word or hour. Clients can also prefer to pay by project, usually through completed milestones. Magazines pay per published article only.
How Can I Get A Job As A Writer With No Experience?
Entry-level freelance writing jobs are available on many platforms. Apply to beginner-friendly job ads on various job boards.
Writing agencies often have an ongoing need for new writers, as their client base grows. B2B content writing pays more than B2C, so if you have some marketing skills and show willingness to learn, you’re likely to get a better position even without experience.
What Companies Often Hire Remote Writers?
Companies that frequently have remote job opportunities for writers include:
