If you've been exploring the online world, you know that there are a lots of writing jobs available. If you'd like to write for money, getting your first writing work can be a challenge, however. How do you convince someone to hire you?
Let's look at a simple process which will help you to get started.
1. Choose the Kinds of Writing Jobs You'd Like to Do
Firstly think about the salable skills you have. If you write in your day job, you have skills which you can sell.
Perhaps you've written marketing collateral, Web content for your employer's site, and reports. You can easily find writing work selling these services.
Make a list of what you can do, and then decide what you find easy to write. If you find writing Web content easy for example, then put Web content at the top of your list.
2. Create Some Writing Samples: This Is Important
I often see writers trying to get writing jobs without a portfolio, and without creating any writing samples. Please understand that this is next to impossible.
There a many online scams, and no one is going to trust you enough to send you money without having a good idea of what you're capable of doing and moreover, without being certain that you will complete the project.
When you're starting out, there are two things which will sell you to a client: your writing samples, and testimonials from others who've hired you. You can't do much about testimonials in your first job, because you don't have any, but you can certainly create writing samples.
Therefore, please don't regret the time you spend creating these samples. Nothing is more important.
3. Start Where You Are: When You're an Unknown, It's Easy to Get Local Jobs
Many new writers try to get their first writing jobs online. While this is understandable, it's also very difficult when no one knows you.
Get your first few writing jobs in your local area. By area, I mean your city or your state. You're a local, so it's much easier to get writing work from a business which is 20 miles away from you, than it is to get a similar job from a business on the other side of the world.
Call local businesses, or contact them via their websites. You'll soon be hired for writing work, and once you have testimonials, you can write for anyone anywhere in the world.