how can i start making more decent money for writing

And yes, i know writing isn't all about money. But I was looking for a little more than $6.00 for 500 words. Where do I advertise? Where do I apply for writing jobs. How can I stop going to sites where I have to bid and write lengthy proposals before I get some decent work?

 

If you start you own blog, even if it's only a wordpress.com or blogger one, you can make a static page with your pitch there. Use that pitch as a general one, and direct people to it when applying. Also make posts on the blog to show off your writing skills. Put a link there in your signature on forums as well, and maybe make a few guest posts on blogs saying that you are for hire in your byline

 

This is just my "two cents" but it seems to me you need to figure out your Unique Selling Position. Try answering this: why should someone buy from you? What are the BENEFITS of hiring you as a writer?

My highest paid gigs are the ones where I have a lot of background in the niche or experience. What niches or experience could you turn into writing gigs?

Also - you need to accept that applying for jobs is ALWAYS going to involve some work. You are going to have to introduce yourself to clients. You are going to have to write those ##$%$@@ proposal letters. There is a certain amount of grunt work involved before you get to the fun paycheck part. That's just part of the deal for writers - part of the deal for ANY career. Again....just my "two cents." Good luck!

 

Here's a post where I help you find freelance jobs with less competition.

I hope you find that helpful.

 

Have you tried writing for magazines? Or approaching local business owners? Another idea is to contact web hosting companies and tell them you're interested in writing for them. I get quite a few requests to write articles for websites being built for clients. Magazines, offline business owners, and web hosting companies often pay more than most (but not always!).

 

Your sig tells me the whole story.

No thanks.

 

I'm afraid I completely agree.

A signature saying "Writing service. PM me" is going to attract (if anyone) precisely people who intend to pay $6 for 500 words and need only the kind of writing service that that price buys. To attract more upscale clients, you need to learn to do some marketing of your services, presenting yourself as a professional writer. A simple site using a blog format to compile it might indeed be a good, low-cost, comparatively straightforward starting-place, so that potential clients can form the sort of impression of your abilities and experience that you'll need them to form.

 

I think the comments about the siggy are a little harsh - it sounds like clarissa25 is starting out as a writer (at least that is my impression). So siggy advertising is probably something new to her. I would kind of give her a break.

Yes clarissa25 - your siggy is an ideal way to promote your writing services. Again - this points back to that Unique Selling Position I'd mentioned. Think less about going after big jobs - what makes you unique and special? What type of writing jobs could you do really well? This is something that may change and develop as your writing career takes off - but you need to start somewhere.

I'd also suggest reading the post about criticisms about being a cheap writer. There are some GREAT tips about how to market yourself. Good luck!

 

Sorry, Clarissa: fair comment there from EspressoChick, and I didn't notice you only joined the forum this month when I originally replied. I apologise.

That's good advice!

 

Well you aren't likely to get high paying jobs without proof of your writing skills. 500 words takes maybe 15 mins to write, 20 tops. That's $18-24 per hour. That's good in my books - especially if you enjoy writing.

 

No. I feel that harsh criticism [Not that the above was harsh] is often more effective at getting people to notice their faults better and motivate them to work on/do necessary things than sugar coated advice. [Especially from strangers like us]

Bitter pills are the best medicine sometimes.

Oh and it isn't merely about siggy advertising. The generic and ineffectual sig wording IMO indicates a lack of knowledge of/effort in personal marketing, which is a BIG problem considering that freelance writing is half writing and half marketing! Don't believe me? Ask Jen.

The OP could have emphasized the good features of her writing or why she should be chosen or put some more thought into the wording or ......

 

"No. I feel that harsh criticism [Not that the above was harsh] is often more effective at getting people to notice their faults better and motivate them to work on/do necessary things than sugar coated advice. [Especially from strangers like us]

Bitter pills are the best medicine sometimes. "


Lightless, I think that is actually one of the BIGGEST problems with the Internet IMO, that people will basically say cruel things to people with no regard for their feelings. Can you give to-the-point advice to someone who asks for it? Yes! But you don't have to act like a hotshot when you do it.

I guess it is my nonprofit background that comes out - all that helping people stuff I've marinated in. But I - personally - see no reason to hurt someone who is genuinely asking for help with something.

Marketing and developing your career are things that EVOLVE, that you are continuously learning. I'm still learning and growing (I hope). And I know I sure don't appreciate anyone kicking me in the teeth in the process! lol

 

I wasn't advocating dumb comments or cruel criticism meant just to hurt. I was advocating blunt, straight-forward, sharp, no-nonsense criticism which pointed out the specific fixable non-inherent weaknesses of a person without mincing any words so they could notice, remember and work on fixing those weaknesses. Besides there needs to be a balance in opinions given in any thread. For every ten nice people's advice, there needs to be advice from a different perspective. I think we have the nice guy/gal quota covered very well in this section.

Example:

Bad response

The type of response I was advocating.

Nice response.

 

I come from a nonprofit background - if anything, the politics of it all made me "hard" rather than the gushy type. I see nothing at all wrong with blunt honesty. That's been my policy since the beginning, and while it pisses some people off, it also attracts a lot of clients, colleagues, readers, etc. because I'm willing to say things others aren't. If someone isn't comfortable with it, I don't advocate going that route. But for those who do, more power to you.

I don't see an insult here. I see a reality check - and with all of the writers who pop on boards and blogs asking for the 'secrets' on how to get started (especially the ever-popular "where can I find the good gigs" types of questions), at this point I'm of the mind that a bit of harsh reality is precisely what most of them need. Anyone serious about wanting the basics can find it already laid out here and elsewhere in numerous places.

Since this is essentially a duplicate thread (we don't need a half dozen threads asking how to get started), and since it's gotten rather off-topic anyway, I'm going to close it. For the OP, I suggest you take a look at the following threads on this same subject:

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1186253
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1197547
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1082918
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1160355
http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=1118944