WritingThoughts

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Freelance writing is a tough field. Getting started takes a huge leap of faith.

Plus, most new freelance writers struggle at first.

New writers struggle because they’re faced with situations that they didn’t expect. They don’t know what to do. Many quit. Others wind up working for far less than they’re worth.

If you’ve been a freelance writer for a while, you know exactly what I mean. You remember how tough it was for you when you started.

As an experienced freelance writer, you can help a less experienced writer and earn money at the same time. They don’t have to make the same mistakes you did.

Sharing your experiences is a way to give back and it’s also a good business sense. You never know when you will need a freelancing ally.

In this post, I list four ways that experienced writers can help other writers and earn money at the same time.

1. Write Blog Posts

Blog posts about freelance writing are everywhere it seems. But many of those posts have one thing in common.

If you read some freelance writing posts closely, you’ll notice that they are written by writers who are just getting started with their freelancing career.

While it’s fun to read about someone’s trials as they start their freelance writing career, advice is one place where experience counts. Instead of relying on their own experience, some new writers rely on what they read from other bloggers.

As a seasoned freelance writer, you’ve likely solved problems that other freelance writers have never faced. Why not share that experience in a blog post? You’ll have more concrete details to offer and there’s no substitute for your real-life struggles.

You can share on your own blog. There are also many blogs that will pay to publish your insights.

In 2013 Carol Tice published a list of 100+ Websites That Pay Writers. That list is a great place to start looking for a blog that will publish your posts and pay you some money too. Of course, not all the sites on the list are aimed at freelance writers–but some of them are. Update: Here is the link to Carol’s 2014 list (written by Jennifer Rolland).

2. Coach a New Writer

If you feel called to work with new writers one-on-one, coaching may be for you.

As a writing coach, you’ll work directly with each individual writer. Seeing another writer succeed and knowing that you were a part of that success can be a reward in and of itself, but writing coaches earn a good fee for their services.

And as a writing coach, you’ll be making a real difference.

Writers with coaches usually reach success more quickly. They are able to avoid common obstacles. Getting feedback from an experienced professional really does improve one’s writing style.

While some experienced writers provide generalized coaching services, you can make your coaching as general or as specific as you like. You can also adjust your coaching services to meet individual needs.

To read more about my coaching services, click here.

3. Teach a Webinar

Unlike coaching, which allows you to tailor your sessions to an individual learner, webinars typically focus on a specific topic. Often, a webinar is a collaboration between several experienced freelance writers.

With a webinar, you have a chance to help multiple writers at the same time. Since webinars often have a narrower focus than coaching, you can go into more depth with the material.

While a few webinars are free, most do cost a small fee (which translates to income for you). Webinars are usually a bargain for a new writer since they are less expensive than private coaching. The tradeoff, of course, is that webinars are also less personalized.

Teaching is actually something I enjoy. I’ve been fortunate to be a co-presenter of seven webinars. I did a free webinar on setting rates with Lexi Rodrigo, which is still available online.

I’ve also co-presented a four-session bootcamp (in-depth webinars) called The Step by Step Guide to Freelance Writing Success with Carol Tice. Those webinars were available for a time through the Freelance Writers Den, which still has plenty of great resources. (Affiliate link, I receive a small fee with each purchase)

4. Write an Ebook

A final way that you can help other writers and earn money is to share your knowledge in the form of an ebook.

By creating an ebook, you provide a lasting resource for other writers (and writing a book also helps build your authority as a writer).

If you’ve written mostly articles, and blog posts, you may feel a bit overwhelmed at the thought of writing a book. However, if you own a blog where you post helpful material regularly, you may already have a good head start on an ebook. Remember, you’ll receive a little income with each ebook sold.

I’ve been fortunate enough to be able to help create an ebook twice now.

A few years ago I wrote the How to Start A Freelance Writing Business ebook, which is no longer available.

Later, I finished an ebook that I co-authored with Carol Tice based on the popular boot camp webinar series, The Step by Step Guide to Freelance Writing Success. Although that book is no longer available, I did learn a lot about the process of writing an ebook.

Your Turn

Can you think of any other ways to help fellow writers? How do you give back? Share your thoughts in the comments.