Calling all aspiring freelance writers! You can make money online by crafting website content, blog posts, e-books, and social media posts. What’s the catch? If you’re a strong writer willing to put in the necessary work, there isn’t one.
But there are plenty of benefits. Have you ever dreamed of working in your PJs from the comfort of your home or sipping a cappuccino behind your laptop screen in a coffee shop with fellow digital nomads?
The possibilities don’t end there. From earning as much as you choose to helping companies engage their audiences, freelance writing is a fantastic career.
Join us as we explore the benefits of freelance writing.
8 Benefits of Freelance Writing
Ready to join the freelance writing world? Here are nine perks waiting for you on the other side of the keyboard.
1. Earn flexible money
Drew Berger, a professional marketer who manages a team of copywriters for a growing agency, loves that freelancing lets him “scale up and down based on needs and availability.”
“Over the years,” Berger says, “I’ve been able to use freelance writing as a primary income that I was able to support myself with, but it’s also been a great option for supplementary income.”
That’s the great thing about freelancing. You make your schedule and choose whether to do it part-time or full-time.
2. Work on a diverse range of projects
Flexibility doesn’t solely cover money matters. Selina Kyle is a nomadic writer who successfully combines her love of writing with seasonal campground hosting. She thinks being able to work on a wide range of projects is a big win when it comes to freelance writing.
Kyle says, “You can choose a diversity of projects and goals that help you avoid mind-numbing routines and mundane writing assignments.”
Olive Armstrong has been a freelance writer since 2011 and adds to this sentiment: “Freelancing allows me to write on a wide variety of topics, so writing never gets stale. Time never, ever drags when you’re freelancing. If you’re watching the clock, it’s probably because you’re racing to meet a deadline.”
3. Work wherever you want
Kyle says, “You can work wherever you want, which includes at home in your PJs (my personal favorite).”
Several freelancers talked about pajamas, but they’re all happy about working in various places. Think local libraries, coffee shops, restaurants, cars or trains, and, in at least one case, a tree house.
If you love travel, the life of a freelance writer could be a dream come true. The world is your oyster when you’re not tied to an office or a territory. As a freelance writer, you can make that dream of visiting every continent a reality — and get paid while you do it.
4. Choose your work/life balance
All that freedom positively impacts a freelancer’s life, provided you manage your workflow smartly. Here’s how some of our best content writers take advantage of the benefits of freelance writing so they can live the rest of their lives to the fullest.
Leigh DuBois arranges her writing schedule around the things that make life enjoyable. “I love being able to arrange when I work around my life. If I want to go hiking or shopping on a weekday afternoon, I don’t have to miss work. I just work before I go or when I get home. I can even take the whole day off if I want to do that.”
Tom Emerson is a freelance writer and professional musician who leverages the gig economy to ensure he has opportunities for playing at his other gigs. “Working remotely with a flexible schedule gives me the freedom to say ‘yes’ to many gigs and opportunities I would never be able to in an office.”
5. Build your writing experience
The stronger your writing skills, the easier it becomes to secure freelance writing jobs and enjoy the benefits.
Mickey David has spent plenty of time in classrooms to learn the art of writing, but he says freelancing has been a huge boon to his growth. “By working with hundreds of clients on a large variety of projects, I was able to refine my writing skills beyond what I learned in a classroom. In just a few years, I went from being unpublished to being a published writer with five credits to my name. That was meaningful growth that I can almost entirely attribute to freelance writing.”
ALSO: How to Find and Succeed With Freelance Copywriting Jobs
6. Be selective with projects
As a freelancer, you’re in control of what work you do and don’t do — a freedom some writers may overlook. Write content for companies specializing in your niche or on topics that interest you.
As a former freelance writer for Crowd Content, Rick Leach — now our VP of Content Operations — expands on how to evaluate writing opportunities. “Freelance writing comes with the flexibility to accept or decline work as you see fit, which means you get to focus on what’s important to you, whether that includes higher pay, interesting topics, specific content types, or preferred clients. But be careful — you never know when a small or seemingly uninteresting job could become a killer opportunity. But saying no is sometimes necessary if additional work distracts from prior commitments. It’s a deadline-driven industry; missing a due date is a big no-no.”
7. Save money on traditional work expenses
If you’re a savvy freelancer writer, you also save money you might spend on a traditional job. Emerson notes, “I really appreciate the efficiency of working from home and not commuting. I’ve had other ‘flexible’ jobs like restaurants and retail, but the commuting hours really took a bite out of my hour-by-hour earnings.”
Not commuting was a perk mentioned by most of our freelancers. While gig writers don’t get paid time off like many traditionally employed people, Sapphire Knight, who has been writing since 1998, pointed out other benefits that make up for it. She says, “Freelancing made it easy for me to make a living while dealing with health issues that would have taken me out of the workforce.”
Freelancers are happy to avoid expenses for office-appropriate clothing and workday lunches, as well as the psychological price associated with office politics and gossip.
8. Put in overtime when big expenses loom
Freelancing offers another major financial perk: You’re never tied to a specific weekly pay or salary. While freelance writers can stop working to live their lives, the opposite is also true. Established freelancers can work overtime and make more money when necessary.
Simona Osborn writes in the cannabis industry and appreciates that she can increase her workload with extra projects when time permits. “If I feel like putting in a marathon work session, like if a big bill is coming due, I have that option, too,” Osborn says.
Do Freelance Writers Make Good Money?
Freelance writers have the potential to make good money, depending on their skill level, availability, and niche expertise. It all depends on your abilities, how much work you’re willing to put in, and your expectations.
If you don’t know much about SEO, content marketing, and AI’s impact on the industry, making supplementary income is possible, provided you have excellent writing skills. But if you’re knowledgeable about those topics and possess exceptional research skills, you can earn a hefty income.
In today’s marketplace, topical authority is a needed quality of copywriting, and clients increasingly seek writers with specialized knowledge in fields such as health, science, and finance.
ALSO: Freelance Writer Rates: How Much Should You Pay in 2024?
How Hard Is Freelance Writing?
Breaking into the field of freelance writing isn’t easy, and not everyone is suited the uncertainty of freelance work. Success involves being adaptable and open to criticism, keeping up-to-date with industry trends, and developing marketing skills.
Writers who dedicate themselves to constant improvement and work on diverse projects find the job easier — those who embrace the freedom and potential for growth stick around for the long run.
Discover Freelance Writing for Yourself
Freelance writers love the benefits of freelance writing, such as managing their finances, living their lives, and working outside ordinary spaces and schedules.
If your pen is mightier than your sword, apply for freelance writing jobs at Crowd Content.