So you’ve decided to try your hand at writing a novel. Congrats! Now it’s time to move forward and make your dreams come true. Where should you start? How about with a professional writer who could help you navigate the process? We spoke with Aisha Saeed, author of the Amazon bestseller Ready to Write, about where she’d recommend beginners to start, the perks of freelance writing, and more.
Where to Submit Your Writing
Whether you’re a pantser or a plotter, I’d recommend starting with outlines and character sheets. If you go the outlining route, you could consider using an instrument like Scrivener, which is a stand-alone app that allows you to craft narratives and collaborate with others simply by snapping your iPhone’s lock screen. What’s more is that outlining makes it much easier for you to revisit scenes and add in more details as you develop the story.
Another app that’s ideal for outlining is Draft, which is a must-have for any serious novelist. You can sync your Draft files across all your devices and work on stories anywhere – on the train, on your laptop, or on your iPad.
For those who prefer to plot out their stories in advance, consider using a program like Scrivener or Google Docs. Scrivener is easier to use and provides a number of tools that make it more suitable for drafting. With Google Docs, you can collaborate with others in real time and access your work from any device. Just make sure you have a good internet connection as the app loads quickly.
Pays & Perks
While you’re at it, it’s also important to look into the different payment structures that are out there. Luckily, you can usually find a way to make money from writing. Once you decide how you want to go about making money from your writing, you can start looking for freelancing opportunities. One of the best platforms for finding freelance work is Upwork, which is a great place to find expert authors in almost any subject.
Freelancing has many perks, not the least of which is that you can structure your work schedule however you’d like. If you’d like to get paid once the story is finished, you can take on as much or as little work as you’d like. For those who want to get paid as they go, this option works too. Since you’re effectively your own boss, you can set your own hours and work remotely if you’d like.
Aside from the flexibility, one of the biggest perks of freelancing is that you can usually get paid well. In 2020, the average freelance writer (AFW) made $45,600 a year, and the best-paid 20% earned $65,600 or more. So if you’re looking to make money from home, consider looking into becoming a freelance writer. You’ll be able to find opportunities in almost any field, and after you start earning, you can build a portfolio to show potential clients.
The Downsides
On the other hand, there are a few downsides to consider. One downside is that freelancing is usually considered to be a self-employed profession, so you’ll need to set up your own tax and insurance records. Additionally, while you might be able to find work right away, it can take some time to build up your portfolio and prove yourself to be a competent writer. So don’t expect to earn $500 per day immediately – it usually takes a while to get there.
Also, be sure to consider how you’ll deal with clients who are sometimes less than pleasant. You’ll definitely need some serious skills to be able to keep your cool in situations like these, so be sure to work on your emotional intelligence.
If you’re looking for a more traditional route, another downside to consider is that you might not be able to build up as much of a savings account as you’d like. The typical American household has less than $100,000 in savings, and only 10% of those have any real impact. The rest goes to paying for healthcare, housing, and education.
One of the biggest downsides to freelancing, however, is that it’s probably not the right fit for everyone. If you like the idea of being able to work remotely, building a portfolio, and earning some extra money, you might enjoy freelancing, but if you want to be sure of a regular paycheck, you might be better off looking for a traditional job.
As a freelance writer, you’ll often be asked to write for free until you prove yourself. Even when you do prove yourself, you might be asked to write for free until you make a certain amount of money. So while it’s great that you can get work whenever you want, you might not want to rely on freelancing for your sole income.
Another thing to consider is that while it’s easy enough to get started, building a personal brand as a freelancer is very difficult. If you want to succeed as a writer, it’s essential that you develop your own niche. The more you write, the better you’ll become at defining yourself as a writer. With a little bit of luck and hard work, though, you can turn your dream into a reality.