What is a Freelance Writer?

A freelance writer is a writer who works on a self-employed basis. They can work for just one magazine or, more often, they write for several different publications at a time. The more diverse a writer can be, the more likely they are to be published and paid for their work.

The Benefits
Being freelance does require a certain amount of self-reliance – there’s no regular, monthly salary, sick or holiday pay to fall back on – so it’s not for everyone. However, for any writer brave enough to become freelance the benefits are enormous. They:

• leave the daily 9 to 5 behind as they are able to choose their own hours
• have the freedom to choose who they work for. So, if they want to, freelance writers can only write about dog training, cats, knitting, backpacking etc
• do not have to engage in a daily commute as most freelance writers use a room in their home as an office
• can tailor their work environment to their own needs with daylight simulation bulbs, ergonomic furniture etc, that would probably not be available in a traditional office
• can take holidays without having to work around colleagues
• can choose how many hours they’d like to work so, they can work for 5, 20 or 40 hours a week

How Much Does A Freelancer Writer Get Paid
Payment for freelance work varies greatly depending on what you are writing and who you are writing for. In general you will be paid for a piece of work you have produced – not on an hourly basis. As a very rough guide you can expect:

• £20 per tip – in a regional newspaper
• £50 per tip – in a national newspaper
• £90 – commissioned online blog post in a national newspaper
• £120 per thousand words – for a commissioned feature in a regional newspaper
• £275 per thousand words – for online digital or online media
• £1000 and over – page lead in a tabloid

However, it’s worth bearing in mind that all published writing is valuable in its own right, as it can be added to a writer’s portfolio. The more high quality work a portfolio contains, the more impressed, and more likely to take your work, editors will be.

If you want to find out more about being a freelance writer request Writers Bureau Comprehensive Creative Writing course prospectus.