A major part of being a freelance writer is finding opportunities. You need clients to get your business going and to make money. Where do you find opportunities? There are lots of options out there and the best route depends on what type of writing you would like to do. I work primarily as a freelance writer and editor and also offer copywriting services, so my advice comes from that perspective. Below are four ideas to find opportunities if you are looking for places to pitch and ways to connect with potential clients.
Subscribe to a newsletter
If the thought of scouring the web and job boards for freelance assignments seems daunting, a good place to start is to sign up for newsletters where opportunities are compiled for you. This is my top tip, and trust me when I say it saves you so much time and effort. Keep your niche and interests in mind to find the best newsletters to get started. Personally, I subscribe to Sonia Weiser’s Opportunities of the Week newsletter. Another good one is The Freelance Beat written by Tatiana Walk-Morris.
Join Facebook groups
In journalism and other related fields, networking can really help when it comes to finding assignments. One way to meet other writers and editors is through social media. You can get to know others by connecting, commenting, and sharing your work and experiences. For those on Facebook, a good idea is to join groups. There are tons of groups out there for journalists to connect. Similar to my advice with newsletters, you can select the best groups for you based on your interests and what you want to write about. Typically, in these groups members help one another find places to pitch ideas, offer critiques, connect, and share calls for pitches from various outlets. I am part of a handful of journalism groups especially created for women in the industry known as Binders. One I love is the Binder full of Editors Connecting with Reporters group. (remember Binders are only open to cis-women, trans women, women of color, genderqueer and nonbinary identifying reporters and editors!)
Follow Hashtags on Twitter
If Facebook is not your cup of tea, Twitter is another option. Follow the publications you want to write for and the writers and editors who work with them. They will tweet when they are looking for pitches and open to hearing from new writers. Another tip is to keep an eye on hashtags. A few I follow include #WritersOfColor (which also has a twitter page you can follow) and #ReignyDayJobs. Play around with searches on Twitter to find other hashtags where writing opportunities are shared.
Network with family and friends
Most of my advice has been focused specifically on journalism jobs and finding places to pitch, but if you are also interested in copywriting and content creation, a great place to start is with people you know. Tell your family and friends that you are a writer for hire and ask them to spread the word. You may be surprised who is interested in hiring a writer especially if they know you and your work.
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