You will be required to negotiate the terms and conditions of work and all work must be completed to the satisfaction of the clients requirements.
Tip: The objectives and requirements of both parties should be understood fully by both parties from the start to save any problems later on - this includes terms of payment.
As a freelancer you need to keep up with the latest developments to compete in the marketplace.
This requires studying and researching the needs of the marketplace along with selling yourself to your potential clients.
Getting Started as a Freelancer
The freelance market can be fiercely competitive at times requiring emphasis on marketing your work effectively and assessing your expertise and skills.
"How to" articles tend to sell well and most successful freelancers maintain constant contact with marketplace trends and requirements seeking those areas where they can fill the needs of potential clients.
You will need a resume and/or a writer's brochure.
When writing your resume it should be written with the view of selling your strengths.
Use short sentences with each paragraph easy to read and clearly outline your qualifications or related experience for the job.
Normally you will only have a few seconds to make an impact on your prospective client - this can make the difference between hiring you or someone else.
To find a niche (your niche) Web monkey has a very good article on finding and defining your niche as a web freelancer.
http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/98/44/index4a.html?tw=jobs
Many writers prefer to stick within the topic subjects they can write confidently on although a good freelancer can research and write on any topic if and when required.
When you are decided on the subject niche you would like to fill, seek out magazine publications - online and offline - on your chosen topic.
If you do not wish to bid for online work contracts at some of the sites listed below until you have gained confidence in your work then you can start your freelance career by seeking out publications in your chosen field that accept articles e.g. if your interest is in fishing go to your local outlet selling magazines and see if they accept article contributions (this can usually be found near the inside of the front cover in most magazines)
Many freelancers start by submitting to local community newspapers/letters as a way of establishing credibility as a published writer.
Send a query letter or email your chosen publication/s with your subject ideas and an outline of your proposed article and how they may contact you if interested.
However, expect to wait some time - sometimes up to three weeks or more if approaching offline publications for a reply as most editors are very busy people.
Finding work on the Internet
The internet has made it easier to build a successful freelance career as a independent professional.
Many sites can be found searching for "freelance writers" on any major search engine.Specify if possible by adding words that fit your needs e.g. paying markets, travel magazines etc. Also visit Yahoo groups, Topica etc and join the many writing job newsletters and job boards.
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