10 Steps to Freelance Success
1. Start with an inspirational and professional workspace. Click here for ideas.
2. Take an online writing course from a local college OR check out some of these great FREE online courses offered by well known Universities!
3. You can literally start getting paid TODAY to write online articles. I write for www.associatedcontent.com, but there are many other sites that pay writers to
submit their work (www.examiner.com is another one).I recommend Associated Content because you can actually start making money with them quickly. They either pay per click OR you can submit your article for up-front payment and recieve a greater amount. I have received a direct $5 payment for an article, so just think: if you submit 10 articles per day that they are willing to pay $5 for, that's an extra $50 a DAY in your pocket! They also offer contests and other money making bonuses!
4. Consider using Christianmanuscriptsubmissions.com. This is is an online manuscript submission service for: "Authors wanting to present their own book proposals to the leading Christian publishers in the industry and Christian publishers and agents looking for a manageable way to find good authors and great books to publish." This service will cost you around $100 for 6 months, so I recommend checking out the following ideas before paying for this service. However, you can find some great FREE information on this site to help with your writing process, creating your proposals, and finding writing conferences in your area.
5. Purchase a copy of the Christian Writer's Market Guide by Sally Stuart. This can also be found on Amazon.com. This is a comprehensive guide to just about every Christian publisher.It tells you what they are looking for in a writer and how to contact them. From books & periodicals to greeting cards & ebooks. This is a MUST HAVE for the Christian Freelance writer!
6. Check out this comprehensive list of Christian publishers that accept unsolicted material at The Christian Writer's Corner. Find out what each publisher is looking for, and get to work! Are you writing a book? Visit www.MacGregorLiterary.com for tips on getting published and how to determine if you need an agent. A legitimate agent will never ask for money up-front!
7. Once you have a project in mind, create a writing schedule. For instance, M, W, & F from 2-4pm will be your time to write. Make sure your kids understand that you will be unavailable during that time (see #1) and have a plan in place so that they have activities ready to keep them occupied.
8. If you are serious about Christian writing, become familiar with these sites: www.thechristianpen.com and www.acfw.com (American Christian Fiction Writers) Consider attending their conference, too!
9. Write and RE-WRITE! Do not write something and send it in as-is just because you think it is the BEST THING you have ever written or because you are sure that God gave you these words to share with the world. While that may be true (editors hear those lines all the time) you have to be willing to RE-WRITE and allow someone else to critique your work.
10. Send your material to us and have it critiqued by our professional editor (her resume includes: Thomas Nelson, NavPress & Focus on the Family) who will give you honest feedback along with a list of resources to help get you started ($65 for up to 3 chapters). What is included in your critique?
2. Take an online writing course from a local college OR check out some of these great FREE online courses offered by well known Universities!
3. You can literally start getting paid TODAY to write online articles. I write for www.associatedcontent.com, but there are many other sites that pay writers to
submit their work (www.examiner.com is another one).I recommend Associated Content because you can actually start making money with them quickly. They either pay per click OR you can submit your article for up-front payment and recieve a greater amount. I have received a direct $5 payment for an article, so just think: if you submit 10 articles per day that they are willing to pay $5 for, that's an extra $50 a DAY in your pocket! They also offer contests and other money making bonuses!
4. Consider using Christianmanuscriptsubmissions.com. This is is an online manuscript submission service for: "Authors wanting to present their own book proposals to the leading Christian publishers in the industry and Christian publishers and agents looking for a manageable way to find good authors and great books to publish." This service will cost you around $100 for 6 months, so I recommend checking out the following ideas before paying for this service. However, you can find some great FREE information on this site to help with your writing process, creating your proposals, and finding writing conferences in your area.
5. Purchase a copy of the Christian Writer's Market Guide by Sally Stuart. This can also be found on Amazon.com. This is a comprehensive guide to just about every Christian publisher.It tells you what they are looking for in a writer and how to contact them. From books & periodicals to greeting cards & ebooks. This is a MUST HAVE for the Christian Freelance writer!
6. Check out this comprehensive list of Christian publishers that accept unsolicted material at The Christian Writer's Corner. Find out what each publisher is looking for, and get to work! Are you writing a book? Visit www.MacGregorLiterary.com for tips on getting published and how to determine if you need an agent. A legitimate agent will never ask for money up-front!
7. Once you have a project in mind, create a writing schedule. For instance, M, W, & F from 2-4pm will be your time to write. Make sure your kids understand that you will be unavailable during that time (see #1) and have a plan in place so that they have activities ready to keep them occupied.
8. If you are serious about Christian writing, become familiar with these sites: www.thechristianpen.com and www.acfw.com (American Christian Fiction Writers) Consider attending their conference, too!
9. Write and RE-WRITE! Do not write something and send it in as-is just because you think it is the BEST THING you have ever written or because you are sure that God gave you these words to share with the world. While that may be true (editors hear those lines all the time) you have to be willing to RE-WRITE and allow someone else to critique your work.
10. Send your material to us and have it critiqued by our professional editor (her resume includes: Thomas Nelson, NavPress & Focus on the Family) who will give you honest feedback along with a list of resources to help get you started ($65 for up to 3 chapters). What is included in your critique?
- An assessment of your strengths and the areas you need to improve as a writer.
- Your work will be critiqued by our professional editor who has worked for Focus on the Family, Zondervan, Thomas Nelson, NavPress, Christian Booksellers Association and more!
- An honest evaluation of the potential that your work has to be published.
- A “next step” recommendation will also be given.
- Your critique will be delivered to you via e-mail within 1-2 weeks of submitting your work and payment.
- Cost: $65 (generally costs $100-$250)
- Click HERE to purchase and submit your material