How to Make a Living as a Freelance Writer (2024)

Can you make a living as a freelance writer? The short answer is, yes, you can. I’ve been paying my way by writing for many years now. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t make a living selling words, too.

With the right approach, organizational skills, discipline, determination and — perhaps above all — willingness to learn, you can get better at the craft of writing and learn how to make a viable business out of it. Successful freelancing is a mix of craft, technique, market knowledge, and a bit of sound commercial acumen. Let’s jump in and find out what you’ll need to become a successful freelance writer.

I’m an early riser and often complete my quota before lunch. Other writers burn the midnight oil. Some write throughout the day during regular office hours. In the beginning other commitments such as family or the day job may determine your opportunities to write. The ideal time to write is when you are relaxed and alert.

What time of day you write will be a compromise between your personal preferences and your circ*mstances. It’s worth experimenting with working early in the morning, the afternoon, or in the evening to find your most productive time. You may set aside several hours or you may work in fits and starts. There are no rules. You must discover what works for you. All that matters is that you make time to write and that in your writing time you do nothing else.

I recommend that you write every day. You’ll be more productive if you write for 20 minutes in the morning before going to work, and do so every day, than if you write for several hours one day and then nothing the rest of the week. I can’t over emphasise how important regular, disciplined work is. It is the key to your success.

Once you have worked out how much time you can spend writing each day, and when, you should set yourself a…