Top ten reasons to be a freelance journalist

Freelancejournalist.co.uk

By Rebekah Law

1) A talent for writing

A talent for writing good, clear and engaging copy is an absolutely essential quality for a freelance journalist. Using a portfolio of previous work a freelancer will be able to demonstrate that he or she has a talent for writing. This aptitude is a hallmark of successful freelancers and without it commissions will be few and far between. Although skilful writing does not guarantee work for the freelancer, without it a career in this industry is virtually impossible.

2) Passion for writing

Almost as important as having a talent for writing, having a passion for writing will make the freelance journalist’s life far more enjoyable. Without the desire to write this job can quickly become bleak and tough. If you are passionate about your work you will be more willing to work through the times when commissions are scarce and will enjoy the times of plenty. 

3) Highly motivated

Driven, self-disciplined, motivated. However you put it the freelancer needs a huge amount of discipline and determination in order to succeed. Linked to a passion for writing, the drive to write daily, often from your own home, allows a freelancer to work effectively and survive financially. Without it the many distractions can quickly crowd out work. Diligence will allow the freelancer to secure and keep work as you build up a reputation for reliability, efficiency and the ability to deliver on deadline. For those without this strong work ethic self-employment can quickly become unemployment.

4) Tenacity 

The freelance writing world is constantly evolving. Circumstances are constantly changing with commissions won and lost daily. Within the shifting sands of the world of freelance journalism a writer must have tenacity and determination to weather the storms of rejections. One feature of this quality is the willingness to accept and take on board constructive criticism. Each editor will have a different approach and will offer advice on the style and content of a piece. For a self-employed journalist it is important to take this advice on board and allow your writing style to evolve.

5) Flexibility

Part of the beauty of being a freelancer is the unpredictable and exciting nature of the work. Commissions can range from website work to book writing and can often involve travel. The variety of work requires flexibility and a willingness to explore and try out new things. Commissions can come in unexpectedly, requiring you to drop everything to cover an event. Short deadlines can require long and irregular hours. In addition to the need for flexibility a selfemployed journalist often benefits from the flexibility of the job. It is possible to fit work around family life and to set your own hours (within reason).

6) Chameleonic

Related to flexibility, this quality is particularly important with regard to writing style. A freelancer has to be able to alter style according to the audience. You need to understand the difference in tone required for a website article compared to a print article. This ability to change your style to suit the audience is increasingly important with the combination of media editors require their journalists to write for.

7) Personable

Networking is often seen as a bit of a dirty word, a calculating game that journalists are forced to play. Nevertheless networking remains an important part of making contacts and getting contracts. You need to be personable, willing to talk to anyone and at ease in most circumstances. This trait will facilitate meetings with editors and allow you to conduct interviews for articles.

8) Curious

This quality applies particularly to the research side of freelance writing. Often you will be required to write on entirely new topics that need thorough research. Curiosity and an interest in learning about new subjects will transform the research and will show in the writing. Curiosity will bring a great deal of joy to work as a freelancer as you enjoy the variety of work on offer. 

9) Unique

This word can be applied to your writing style and your expertise. If a freelancer is able to offer an interesting and unique style or has expertise in a market niche then work will be more forthcoming. It is worth cultivating your own unique style of writing that will hold the reader’s attention. This uniqueness requires a great deal of creativity to allow writers to transform the bare facts into an interesting and engaging account.

10) Ability to follow instructions

If an editor wants 1004 words by Monday at 9.13am then the freelancer has to deliver those words within the word count and on time. If it is an SEO piece then the writer has to include four per cent coverage of the key words. Although many topics are open to interpretation it is important that a freelance journalist is able to write in the right style, covering appropriate subject matter in a timely fashion. This will make the editor’s job far easier and makes the freelancer much more likely to receive commissions in future.