Freelance Writing: Getting Published Online

There are so many ways in which to go about getting published online that newcomers to the world of freelance writing may feel overwhelmed with choice and confused regarding which site is best for their needs. Reading reviews can be beneficial, but one has to bare in mind that the writer of the review may have had a different experience with the company than other writers have, so reading several reviews of each site is necessary before any real comparison can be made. Also, a review written by someone with long-term experience writing for numerous online publishers is more valuable than one written by a newcomer to freelance writing online, or someone whose experience is limited to one or two companies.

Many writers make the mistake of over-valuing or under-valuing their worth. There are incredibly talented writers who are are simply unaware which companies will pay them appropriately for their skills, and consequently waste their time writing for sites that pay peanuts. Then there are writers whose English skills are more than questionable, who see no need to improve and who publish anywhere they can, flooding the internet with poorly written articles and expecting to be paid well for their meagre efforts.

It's essential to know one's place in the world of freelance writing. If you are aware of what your skills are, and how they compare to those of other writers, it's possible to find a suitable place to publish, with the best rate of pay for your current abilities. In this way you can work on any shortcomings that may be preventing you applying for better-paid work elsewhere, while simultaneously earning money and gaining valuable writing experience.

Getting published online is relatively simple, but there's far more to it than that if you want to be financially rewarded for your efforts. For example, you need to choose whether you prefer up-front or residual payments (with some sites a mixture of both is available, but this is a rarity). Usually up-front payments are reserved for better writers, but there are sites which pay a small upfront fee to less able writers. At the end of the day, these sites would happily pay the same small fee to a writer of extraordinary talent, so be sure to search around and get yourself the best rate you can find if you know you're a skilled writer. Topic choice is also an important factor, especially regarding residual earnings; marketing skills also play a large part in this type of freelance writing.

And if you're not so highly skilled but still want to give it a go? We all have to start somewhere, and practice is the name of the game; the more you write the more natural writing will become. If you have difficulties with spelling and general grammar there are plenty of books out there to help. There's also software on the market to help you correct your work and learn key skills. Or why not enrol on a course to improve your writing? If you're seriously considering a career in freelance writing and know your skills are below par this may well be necessary. Reading also improves writing skills, so set aside a little time each day to read technical or academic books (popular fiction usually contains lots of slang and is sometimes completely unedited, so could be teaching you more bad habits!).

If you're new to freelance writing and seeking somewhere online to be published you'll find links to various sites on the 'Links' page (see titlebar, directly beneath header). Each site will be explored in detail in subsequent posts.