For the past ~10 years, the vast majority of my income has come from freelance writing. I’ve written newsletters, blog posts, e-books, and various other types of content for readers, clients, and publications alike. Most of this work has come from remote work job boards – including $70,000 from Upwork alone.
But being a freelance writer isn't a straightforward career path. It calls for constant reinvention, adaptation to new business practices and publication channels, and a willingness to learn new tools — or reject them entirely.
As I (once again) evaluate my current rates and offerings, I realized that there were several types of writing that I hadn't properly explored or considered whether they might be a good fit for me. I thought it would be helpful to share what I've learned so you can get a better sense of what these industries are all about.
Here are eight types of writing that you can do as a freelancer — from technical writing to UX writing — and where you can learn more about each one.
Content writing
Content writing has been my primary source of writing work for most of my career. But what exactly is content? Broadly speaking, content writing is a type of digital marketing in which you create material that’s useful or informative to readers — such as a blog post or an e-book on a particular subject.
Content writing can include search engine optimization (SEO) writing — that is, keyword-focused articles that answer the questions people are asking on search engines — but it’s not just that. As a content writer, you might be tasked with creating an infographic that goes out to followers on social media, or a case study or white paper that will be distributed to industry insiders.
I’ve written content related to drinking water quality, the history of cookware, and fun facts about world currencies. If you excel at researching topics and explaining them in a clear and compelling way, you may be cut out to be a content writer.
For more resources on content writing, check out Working In Content, which runs a Slack community, conference, and job board for content writers and designers:
Copywriting
If content writers are responsible for writing the “content” of a blog or website, copywriters are responsible for almost everything else. “Copy” includes all of the marketing text on a website, from the tagline to the About page. It can even extend to product descriptions and social media ads.
While content writing is meant to be informative, copywriting needs to persuade. As a copywriter, you’ll typically write fewer words than a content writer, but you’ll have to put more thought into them. You might use A/B testing to find out which version of a CTA (call-to-action) results in more sales or subscribers, or follow a style guide to ensure your writing matches a brand’s voice.
Recently, the term “microcopy” has come up to describe the smallest bits of copy on a website — such as whether the Subscribe button should say “Sign Up” or “Join Now.” (This overlaps with UX writing, which we’ll get to in a bit.) If you nerd out about that kind of thing, copywriting may be for you!
Check out this article to learn everything you need to know about copywriting:
Jennifer Calonia
Grantwriting
Grantwriting is a specialized type of writing that helps individuals or organizations apply for grants (i.e., funding). As a grantwriter, you’ll most likely be working with non-profits or academic clients, rather than with businesses — which may appeal to writers who want to work for a worthy cause.
Your job is to sell the merits of the organization to the decision-makers, and make the case as to why they should get the funding and what they will use it for. You’ll need to be comfortable with charts and graphs, or at least know your way around budgets and financial reports.
If you’ve ever applied for a scholarship or any kind of financial support, then you probably have a good idea of some of the skills required. You’ll need to highlight the organization’s leadership, past successes, and future potential.
Freelance Opportunities! recently did an interview with Claire Willett that covers all of the do’s and don’t’s of grantwriting. You can learn more about grantwriting for artists and activists at 8th House:
Technical writing
Technical writing may sound dull or tedious, but it can be one of the most lucrative types of writing out there. Technical writers are responsible for writing everything from the user manual for your Xbox to the online knowledge base or tutorial that you turn to when you get stuck.
In addition to writing customer-facing guides, technical writers play a key role in internal documentation, such as creating standard operating procedures (SOPs), case studies, and annual reports.
You don’t have to be a coder or programmer yourself to be a technical writer, but it helps to at least have an interest in the technology that you’re writing about and be able to write for readers of various skill levels.
Write the Docs is a worldwide network of technical writers that maintains a Slack community and has hosted conferences in Melbourne, Portland, and Berlin:
Write the Docs
UX writing
UX writing, or user experience writing, is at the intersection between content and technical writing. (In fact, all of these categories are blurry and often overlap!). As a UX writer, you’re responsible for guiding users through a digital product, such as a website, software program, or smartphone app.
If you’ve ever opened a mobile bank account, signed up for a streaming service, or scheduled an appointment online, you’ve encountered UX writing — for better or for worse. UX writing includes “microcopy,” such as the text on clickable buttons, as well as menu items, pop-up notifications, and error messages.
Because so many websites don’t give much thought to microcopy, there’s a lot of room for improvement. UX writing is a great career path for those who care about inclusive design and making the Internet more accessible for everyone. (Yes, you can even fix those damn forms that get your name wrong!)
Uxcel helps you learn about UX design in a Duolingo-style format for a reasonable price. I’ve taken some of their courses and learned a lot!
Creative writing
Creative writing is a big umbrella: it includes poetry, fiction writing, screenwriting, playwriting, and more. (Unfortunately, in our current economy, it’s also the type of writing that’s least likely to pay the bills. Genre fiction, like romance, mystery, and sci-fi, seem to be the most likely paths to success.)
Some creative writers go the traditional route and find an agent to represent them, while others self-publish to platforms like Kobo and Amazon.
The truth is, neither option is a surefire thing, and many writers supplement their income by offering writing classes, editorial services, or public speaking. You can also submit your writing to magazines or writing contests, some of which offer prize money or awards that can help boost your profile.
Writer Beware is a great resource that can help you avoid scams and learn more about the pros and cons of self-publishing:
Ghostwriting
Ghostwriting is a fairly broad category that involves writing for somebody else and letting them take the credit. For some writers, it’s a rewarding challenge to write in somebody else’s voice or learn to speak to someone else’s audience — even if your name doesn’t end up on the blog post or book cover.
Who hires ghostwriters? Generally, people who have an idea for a story or essay, but don’t have the time or talent to write it themselves. Ghostwriters are behind some of the top celebrity memoirs — and the most viral content on LinkedIn.
As a ghostwriter, you’ll either work from your client’s notes or voice memos — or you may sit down and interview them yourself. For fiction projects, such as a cozy mystery, you might collaborate on a cast of characters or a plot outline.
Remember that writing a book takes a while, so charge accordingly! Professional ghostwriters can expect to earn $2,000 to $60,000 per project.
Here’s a brief primer on what ghostwriting entails and how to get started:
Newsletter writing
Newsletter writing is big business — and it’s not because of Substack. (In fact, we would argue against using Substack in favor of Ghost, Beehiiv, or Buttondown, which don’t take a 10% cut of your earnings or cater to the alt-right).
As a newsletter writer, you can run your own newsletter that people subscribe to, or you can manage a newsletter for a business or public figure. Some newsletters are free to read and are primarily used to promote a product or service, while others sell ads or sponsorships, or charge subscribers for access.
The most effective newsletters offer a specific service — like WTF Just Happened Today? — or cater to a niche demographic — like Freaking Nomads.
Check out Lex Roman’s excellent Paid Newsletter Playbook for tips on starting a reader-funded newsletter:
Like this article? Please leave us a tip or become a Supporter for $9/month. Every contribution makes a difference!
Discussion