20 Ways to Find Freelance Writing Jobs as a Beginner
In my opinion, freelancing writing is hands-down one of the best ways to make money online. You can get started with no experience and begin earning your first $1,000 per month pretty quickly.
That’s exactly what happened to me when I started freelance writing in 2016. When I started looking for freelance writing jobs, I had no degree, no writing samples, and no professional contacts.
But within a couple of months, I was consistently earning more than $1,800 a month. And I did it by utilizing many of the tools that I’m going to be outlining in this article.
20 Ways to Find Freelance Writing Gigs
To help you get started, I put together a list of some of the best ways to find new freelance writing work online. Let’s dive in!
1. Upwork
If you haven’t heard of it, Upwork is a global freelancing platform. Clients post jobs on the platform and freelance writers can submit proposals and bid on those jobs.
Upwork is where I got my start as a freelance writer, and I still think it’s one of the best places for new freelance writers to find paid writing work. In total, I’ve made over $90,000 just from jobs I found on Upwork alone.
You’ll start by creating an Upwork profile, and once it’s approved, you can begin looking for work and sending proposals. The great thing about Upwork is that it’s constantly being updated with new jobs.
You may have to accept a couple of low-paying jobs in the beginning just to establish yourself. But once you have some positive reviews and a few profile pieces, it’s much easier to land high-paying work.
2. ProBlogger
ProBlogger is a job board for freelance bloggers, and I know many writers who swear by it. Businesses will post about the writing jobs they need to be filled, and you apply directly within the job posting.
One of the advantages of ProBlogger is that clients have to pay $70 per job listing, so those clients tend to be more serious. I’ve found clients that pay as much as $400 or more per blog post on ProBlogger, so it’s definitely worth trying.
However, be aware that ProBlogger jobs tend to get FLOODED with proposals. So I would recommend checking the site often and responding the minute you find something that interests you.
3. Contena
Unlike many of the job boards on this list, Contena is a paid monthly membership. For the most basic version, you get access to the job board and Contena Academy, a training course for freelance writers.
But it doesn’t come cheap; the most basic version is $99 a month for six months. For six monthly payments of $199, you have access to a writing coach.
I tried Contena several years ago and found it to be a little pricey. The job board is basically a roundup of all the free job boards available online, so I had a hard time justifying the cost.
However, I do know other freelancers that had a lot of luck with Contena, so I wanted to include it on the list.
4. LinkedIn
Other than Upwork, LinkedIn is probably one of my favorite ways to look for clients. Some of my best long-term clients came from the LinkedIn job board.
If you don’t already have one, you’ll need to set up your LinkedIn profile. Don’t skimp on filling out your profile because this isn’t going to look good to potential clients. You should fill out your headline, about section, education, and experience.
Once your profile is set up, you can start looking for jobs on the job board. I recommend searching for “freelance writer” or “freelance SEO writer” to start with. Apply for everything you find interesting, even if you’re not sure if you have the experience.
You should also add everyone you know as connections on LinkedIn. This is a good way to let them know what you’re doing and possibly find some work from your current network.
5. Media Bistro
Media Bistro is a job board geared toward anyone looking for Media Work. There is a variety of writing, editing, marketing, and creative jobs posted on a daily basis.
And top companies like CNN and HBO have job listings on Media Bistro. Most of the jobs I’ve seen posted are for full-time writers, but there are occasionally some freelance positions posted. So it’s worth checking out every now and then.
6. Journalism Jobs
Journalism Jobs is a job board for freelance journalists, but don’t let that scare you off. I found my first big personal finance client on Journalism Jobs, and I’ve made it very clear that I don’t have a journalism degree!
I recommend searching for “freelance writer” and then editing the job type section to say “freelance.” You will probably have to send a resume with most job applications.
7. All Freelance Writing
All Freelance Writing is one of my favorite job boards and I try to check it on a daily basis. There are occasionally some high-paying jobs posted on this site, like this one that pays $1.50 per word!
One of the things I like about it is that they post a pay range with each job posting, and state whether it’s a low, medium, or a high-paying job. You can also pay to advertise your services on the site’s Writer Directory.
8. Freelance Writing Jobs
Freelance Writing Jobs isn’t technically a job board. Instead, the site publishes a daily blog post with new freelance writing gigs.
The jobs are pulled from other free job boards online. And the site isn’t just for freelance bloggers; they also publish editing, proofreading, and copywriting jobs.
9. FreelanceWriting.com
There are two ways you can find jobs with FreelanceWriting.com. The site has a job board, where is pulls writing gigs from other job boards like Indeed and Craigslist.
Or if you’d prefer to let the job leads come to you, you can sign up for the Morning Coffee Newsletter. This is a daily email with eight hand-picked job postings, so these are likely high-quality leads.
10. iWriter
iWriter is an awesome site for brand-new freelance writers. You’ll get started by filling out a form and two 250-word writing prompts.
I don’t normally recommend that freelancers complete unpaid writing tests. But if you’re chosen to write for iWriter, then you can start writing for new clients right away.
You can take on as much or as little work as you want, and the site pays writers weekly through PayPal. The amount you get paid depends on your iWriter “level” and the total length of the article.
12. Facebook groups
One of the best ways to find new freelance writing work is by showing up in various Facebook groups. However, I do want to start with one caveat: you should never go into groups trying to promote yourself.
Join any freelancing, entrepreneurship, and blogging groups that you find interesting. Show up regularly in those groups and try to find ways to provide value.
Get to know people, answer their questions, and never, ever have the expectation that any of them will hire you. In time, you’ll start to make a name for yourself and people will start asking you to do work for them.
13. Other freelance writers
I know that it sounds counterintuitive to say you can find writing work from other freelance writers. After all, aren’t other freelance writers your competition?
Actually, no, they’re not.
There is plenty of work out there to go around, and everyone has a different niche they specialize in. I’ve had more experienced writers send me work that was below what they charge.
I’ve also had writers send me work that was outside of their niche or that they were just too busy to take on.
The point is, go out there and befriend other writers! It will help you personally and professionally in the long run.
14. Twitter
Other than LinkedIn, Twitter is one of the best platforms for freelance writers. But in order to take advantage of it, you need to make sure your Twitter profile is professional.
That means no selfies, grainy photos, or lengthy Twitter arguments with other users. Use a professional headshot and optimize your bio so that it shows you’re a freelance writer.
I recommend including keywords, like “freelance writer for hire.” And obviously, you’ll want to include a link to your freelance writer website.
Once your profile is up to par, you can start following and interacting with companies that you think you might like to write for.
I also recommend following these Twitter feeds so you’ll get daily updates about job postings:
@TweelanceWriter
@WhoPaysWriters
@Writing_Gigs
@jjobs_tweets
@FreelanceWJ
15. Craigslist
Yes, it’s true. In addition to finding used junk that you probably don’t need, you can also find potential writing jobs on Craiglist. I have to be honest, looking for work on Craigslist isn’t my favorite but it is possible to find good jobs on the platform.
I recommend you start by searching locally for jobs. In my experience, potential clients often prefer working with local writers. But I would also recommend looking in bigger cities like New York, Los Angelas, Chicago, and Miami.
Once you’ve selected the location, you’ll click on “writing/editing” under the jobs tab. You can keep checking different cities until you find a few opportunities that sound interesting.
16. BloggingPro
BloggingPro is a job board for freelance bloggers. And while it’s not quite as active as ProBlogger, I do see good postings there from time to time. I recommend checking it at least once a day to see if anything pops up.
17. Fiverr
Fiverr is a huge online marketplace that is similar to Upwork. I’ve never used Fiverr to find paid writing work, but I know other freelancers who have had success using it.
On Fiverr, you’ll create a profile and the clients will contact you if they’re interested. That means your profile has to stand out from the crowd. And Fiverr is similar to Upwork in that the more positive reviews you receive, the better you’ll do on the platform.
18. Marketing agencies
Marketing agencies can be a great source of work for new freelance writers. They constantly need new content, and if one of their clients likes your writing style, this could lead to a lot of ongoing work.
I will say that you have to be selective about the marketing agencies you decide to work with. Some of them are very low-paying and expect a lightning-fast turnaround. So just make sure that you find an agency that is the right fit for you.
19. Ask your current clients for more work
Whenever I start feeling like I’m low on work, I contact all my current clients and ask them if they need help with anything. Think about it -- your current clients already know you and like your writing.
That’s why it’s so much easier to get additional work from a current client than it is to land a new one. Don’t just assume that your clients will let you know if they need anything. Maybe they will, but maybe they won’t.
The point is, you’re the one who needs to make money, so it’s your job to get in touch with them!
20. Ask for referrals
To piggyback on my last point, you should also make it a habit to ask your current clients for referrals. This can be nerve-wracking in the beginning, but what’s the worst that can happen?
Plus, people like to give recommendations because it makes them feel good about themselves. And they already know you and like your writing, so why wouldn’t they want to recommend you to their business associates?
Final Thoughts
I truly believe that there’s never been a better time to become a freelance writer. Every business with a website needs tons of content, and they need someone to write it for them.
Why couldn’t that someone be you?
Hopefully, this blog post gives you a good starting point and will help you land your first few clients. Don’t assume any of these options won’t work for you -- you may be surprised by what works and what doesn’t!
If you need more tips on how to land paid writing work, feel free to download the Freelance Writer’s Starter Guide. This free guide will teach you five steps you can take to land your next freelance writing client.