When I started my freelance writing journey in 2016, I didn’t have anyone to help me during those early days. I remember what it’s like to be brand-new and wish you had someone to tell you the right steps to take.

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This is a huge part of the reason I launched my freelance writing course, and why I love talking to new freelancers so much. I like knowing that I can help shorten the learning curve for so many new freelance writers.

This week, I thought it would be fun to publish a list of the most frequently asked questions I get about freelance writing. So check it out, and let me know if there’s anything I left out!

7 FAQs about Freelance Writing

Here are seven of the most commonly asked questions that I get about freelance writing:

1. Where do I find my first few clients?

Honestly, it doesn’t really matter where you look for those first few clients. You really just need to start doing something and doing it consistently.

In my experience, most freelancers are obsessed with finding the perfect marketing plan. They’re willing to try it if they know that it works, otherwise, they don’t want to waste their time.

The problem is the minute that person’s perfect marketing plan goes awry -- and believe me, it will -- they give up immediately and claim that it didn’t work. The truth is, you don’t know if it works or not because you quit too soon.

My best advice is to pick one strategy that you think could work and stick with it for a month. If you need some ideas for how to find clients, I share lots of strategies in my freelance writing course, Zero to $1K as a Freelance Writer.

2. How do I find clients if I don’t have any writing samples?

This is just my unpopular opinion, but you don’t actually need to have writing samples in order to get hired. I didn’t have any writing samples when I got started, and I managed to find someone to hire me without one.

You may have to take some low-paying jobs in the beginning, but it’s entirely possible. If you don’t want to go that route, then I recommend coming up with your own writing samples.

You could just write a couple of articles, save them as PDFs, and then send those to clients. You could also publish your samples on the blog of your freelance writing website.

I would just encourage you not to overthink this process. Don’t try to come up with the perfect topics or try to figure out the perfect length. Just write a couple of sample articles, and be done with it.

3. I’ve been sending proposals, so why is no one responding?

Be honest, have you been sending samples consistently? In the Freelance Writer’s Starter Guide, I recommend that you send at least three proposals a day, six days a week.

If you haven’t been doing that for at least a month, then you likely just haven’t given it enough time. When you’re looking for new work, it takes time for your proposals to gain some traction. I’ve been a freelance writer for years, and most of my proposals still go unanswered.

But if you’ve been doing what I recommended for at least a month and haven’t gotten any response, then it’s likely your proposals need some work. This blog post on creating a proposal that stands out might help you.

4. How do I set my rates as a new freelance writer?

I wish there was a blanket answer I could give to this question, but there just isn’t one. I will say that for your first couple of jobs, I wouldn’t worry about the budget. Just focus on getting hired and building your confidence.

Now you may be thinking, “Are you saying I should work for next to nothing?!” If it gets you that first couple of jobs then yes, that’s what I’m saying.

Look, you’ve never done this before. You can’t expect to earn what experienced writers make right out of the gate. Your first goal should be to find any kind of paying writing client.

Once you’ve found a couple of clients, and you have some samples and good reviews, then it’s time to start slowly upping your rate. And you’ll be surprised by how quickly you can start gaining momentum and charging more money.

I promise that sending invoices is not nearly this frustrating!

5. How should I handle invoicing?

If you work with clients on Upwork, then you don’t need to worry about invoicing. But I invoice all of my non-Upwork clients through PayPal unless they specify otherwise.

As you get more clients, you’ll find that they all have different invoicing processes. Some will pay the invoice through PayPal the day you submit it (love those kinds of clients!), while others may need longer for payroll to process the invoice.

6. How do I find a steady flow of work?

The best way to find a steady flow of writing work is to be the kind of freelance writer that clients and editors love working with. Be consistent, have a great attitude, and deliver quality work on time.

This may surprise you, but you could just be an okay writer and absolutely kill it as a freelancer if you know how to work with clients. On the other hand, you could be the best writer in the world, but if you’re a huge pain to work with, you’re going to struggle as a freelancer.

So how do you become a freelance writer clients love working with? Here are a few ideas to help you get started:

Turn in your work on time
Answer emails promptly
Be a yes person -- my goal is to never say no to a client
Always be open to feedback and willing to do edits

7. Can I actually make a living as a freelance writer?

Um, yes. You can 100% make a living as a freelance writer. I’m a six-figure freelance writer, and I didn’t have a college degree or writing samples when I got started.

I get tons of emails from new freelancers, and most of them tell me some version of this story:

I’m overwhelmed and don’t know where to start
I feel like an imposter

Guys, there is nothing stopping you from starting a freelance writing business other than the story you’re telling yourself about why it can’t happen. You have to believe that it’s possible for you and that you have everything you need to do this.

If you need a little guidance, I offer free 30-minute coaching calls for new freelancers. During this call, we talk about what you’re struggling with and I help you come up with a plan for moving forward.

I only do a few of these each week, so if you’re interested, make sure you sign up right away before they all fill up!