How To Find Work-From-Home Writer Jobs

If you’re a writer looking to pursue your passion, consider getting into the world of freelance writing.

As a professional writer, you will have the opportunity to work from the comfort of your own home. However, that doesn’t mean that becoming a professional writer is as simple as it seems. There are many things you’ll need to consider if you plan on pursuing writing as a profession.

Here you will learn what it means to become a professional writer and where to find your first writing gig.

Key Takeaways:

• There are many great careers for writers, including freelance writing, technical writing, and copy writing.

• Professional writers need to build a portfolio of their work to show to employers.

• Marketing yourself and networking are great ways to find writing opportunities.

• Writing careers require skills in research, communication, and collaboration.

Types of Work-From-Home Writer Jobs

Another thing you will need to consider is which type of writer you want to be. Within the writing profession, there are several different types of writing professions that you can pursue from the comfort of your own home. Here a list of some of the most popular professional writing jobs:

1. Technical Writer
   Average Annual Salary: $65,088

   Technical writers convey messages from one party to the next. Some of the responsibilities of a technical writer include planning, developing, organizing, and researching various technical topics to create content for different media platforms.

   Technical writers must have a stronger technical background in whatever subject matter they’re dealing with. In particular, there’s a high demand for writers who have at least a working knowledge of WordPress or those who can write fluently about hot topics like web development and coding.

   Some technical writers also write internal documents for organizations, such as employee handbooks, guides to using in-house software, generating procedural documents, and more.

   Find Technical Writer jobs near me.

2. Proposal Writer
   Average Annual Salary: $68,706

   A proposal writer is in charge of gathering information and creating documents that can help persuade an opposing party to enter a business arrangement.

   You might also write grant proposals for non-profits, academic institutions, or organizations in the health or social service fields. Being a persuasive writer who can clearly write out the grant’s intended use and necessity is a must for this type of writing job.

   Find Proposal Writer jobs near me.

3. Blogger
   Average Annual Salary: $58,006

   A blogger is a person that dedicates their time to write about a specific subject. Once done, they publish the piece in an article on a personal or professional webpage. You can choose to start your own blog or write for an established company’s blog.

   Note that starting your own blog won’t usually earn you money right away — in fact, it may cost you a small amount of money for web hosting. That being said, if you create a blog that gets a lot of traffic, you might just have a steady stream of income on your hands.

   Writing for a company’s blogs is usually more straightforward — you’ll get an assignment, write about 1000-2000 words, and incorporate valuable keywords to help the article rank high on Google’s search results page. Some blogs will require specialist knowledge, while others only require that you have decent research skills and the ability to write well.

   Find Blogger jobs near me.

4. Copywriter
   Average Annual Salary: $69,978

   Many don’t know it, but copywriters create all of the jingles and advertisements you see around you. A copywriter is a creative individual responsible for creating unique prose to allure new clientele for a business.

   Copywriters need to have a marketers attitude when writing. While copywriting assignments are usually far shorter in terms of word count, each and every word has to be absolutely perfect. Unless you get an in-house job as a copywriter, these jobs tend to be one-off gigs rather than long-term contracts.

   Find Copywriter jobs near me.

5. Content writer
   Average Annual Salary: $58,918

   Many companies and organizations hire writers to work as their content writer. These are writers that create engaging pieces to post on their company website. As a content writer, you are expected to find relevant information to keep the site up to date.

   Find Content Writer jobs near me.

6. Resume writer
   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   As a professional resume writer, your job will be to create compelling resumes that will help your clients seem more appealing to their prospective employers.

   Resume writers need to have their finger on the pulse of the current job market and follow the trends of hiring managers’ and recruiters’ resume preferences. Having specific knowledge of a field will help you earn more, but ultimately, helping your clients be successful will help make you successful.

7. News or journalism writers
   Average Annual Salary: $60,828

   If you consider yourself a curious individual, always trying to get to the bottom of any situation, perhaps the field of journalism is the one for you. As a journalist, you will investigate and collect information about a news story.

   It’s challenging to find work-from-home journalism positions, but they do exist. Just note that you’ll probably need a degree in journalism or a related field in order to land these jobs.

   Find Journalist jobs near me.

8. Academic writer
   Average Annual Salary: N/A

   Academic writers usually work for universities and other educational institutions. Their primary focus is to create academic essays, articles, and textbooks.

9. Ghostwriter
   Average Annual Salary: $62,531

   These are individuals that are hired to work on a project and create content for another person. Ghostwriters create blog posts, articles, prose for books, magazines, and more.

   While you may not receive public credit, those you ghostwrite for can still give you a reference. While it may be frustrating to receive no credit and lose ownership of your work, ghostwriters typically make more than writers who get a byline.

   Find Ghostwriter jobs near me.

10. Freelance writer
    Average Annual Salary: $52,315

    A freelance writer is someone who is usually self-employed. However, some will work for a company or organization on a longer-term contract basis, without becoming full-time employees.

    Many of them might dabble in any of the given fields above. One of the most alluring qualities of freelance writing is the flexibility it provides you. Most writers work on project-based deals.

    Find Freelance Writer jobs near me.

What Is a Work-From-Home Writer Job?

A work-from-home writer creates content for clients using different types of media platforms. Writers are responsible for creating pieces for social media, newspapers, magazines, books, and more. Most professional writers work on a self-employed or fully employed basis. In other words, they can either work for themselves or a company or organization employs them.

Keep in mind that becoming a professional writer is no easy feat. The truth is writing isn’t for everyone. It’s more than just sitting down and putting pen to paper. It involves research, interviews, and honing your craft.

However, one of the great things about becoming a writer is the versatility this profession can offer you. As a writer, you’re not just stuck writing for one particular field or another. For example, if you have a passion for science or the arts, as a writer, you will be able to create content for either one.

As you venture into the world of freelance writing, one of the things you will need to work on is the basic understanding of how grammar and style function. Even if you don’t know every single rule, you should at least know where to look.

Educational Requirements and Necessary Experience to Land a Work-From-Home Writing Job

If you’re interested in becoming a full-time writer, one of the first things to consider is the level of education you will need. Though some companies may not require a four-year degree to become a professional writer, many writing jobs will require you to have at least a bachelor’s degree.

Many employers will be looking for someone with at least one to two years of experience. You will need to provide any prospective employer with proof that will show whether you would be a good fit for the job you are applying for. This proof is called a professional portfolio.

Create a portfolio to showcase, organize, and document samples of your best work. When you are applying for a job, most employers will ask you to provide them with examples of your work in the form of writing samples. Some writers create a professional portfolio with pieces that showcase their skills.

If you are still starting out, you can write a few sample articles to demonstrate your writing ability. If you do not have one, the employer will provide you with a topic for you to write about.

Another way for you to gain experience is to join websites such as Zippia, Freelancers, and Upwork, which several freelancers use to market their skills. These websites allow writers to offer their services to potential customers. Here they can build their skills and portfolios.

As mentioned above, becoming a writer is not easy. You will need to do a significant amount of research to find the right resources. The following platforms can help you on your road to becoming a professional writer:

• Freelancers Union

• SkillShare

• Udemy

• Journalism, The Future, And You

• The Strategy of Content Marketing

Where to Look for a Work-From-Home Writing Job?

The next thing for you to do is start looking for the right place to find work. Remember that this is a profession where you will also be your own boss and set your own hours as a freelance writer. Here is a list of companies or organization that are offering writing jobs:

• Zippia. Our very own Zippia page is not only an excellent page for finding career advice. It’s also a place where you can find a job.

  Head on down to our Career Research page, where we will provide you with current job openings and information about the field you are embarking on, the salary, and how to create the perfect resume for the job.

• Fiverr. This website is considered one of the top freelance marketplaces there is. With this page, you will be able to gain experience in this field and build up your portfolio.

• Freelance Switch. This is a freelancing platform that will allow you to find work as a freelance writer. As a freelance, you will need to pay a membership fee to receive invitations from premium clientele.

• Guru. Among the many freelance marketing platforms, Guru also allows you to network and build professional relationships with other writers just like yourself.

• LinkedIn. One of the world’s top professional networking sites. Here you will be able to find a writing job, add your resume, and connect with professionals in your field.

• Freelance Writing Jobs (FWJ). This page is full of different resources that can help you advance in your career. It also has a job board that is updated daily.

• Publishers Marketplace. This is a professional publishing marketplace dedicated to helping writers, editors, and agents get their foot in the publishing world.

Tips for Becoming a Work-From-Home Writer

Work-from-home writer jobs are more prevalent than ever, but with the ease of entering into the field comes a lot of competition. If you want to stand out from the crowd and earn a good living writing from home, follow the tips below:

• Market yourself. The vast majority of work-from-home writer jobs are freelance positions where you’ll receive a short- or long-term contract and be paid either by the word or by assignment. With that in mind, it becomes important to have more than just a resume to show potential clients.

  Creating a personal website is a great way to show yourself off as a polished professional. If you can, include testimonials and names of noteworthy clients you’ve worked with. Your website doesn’t need to be super fancy — just being able to see your biography, testimonials, and a few samples of your work will make clients much more comfortable hiring you.

  Also, polish up your LinkedIn page. Employers might check it out, and besides, LinkedIn is a great place to look for these types of jobs.

• Specialize. When you’re just starting out, there’s nothing wrong with taking a wide variety of projects on. It’s good to dip your toes in a number of industries to find where your true passion lies.

  But as you progress, start thinking about what you want your writing specialization to be. As the saying goes, “niches make riches.” If you’re an absolute pro at writing research proposals for pharmaceutical companies, for example, that’ll earn you a much higher rate.

• Maintain a portfolio. Every work-from-home writer should maintain a portfolio of all their most impressive work. Many work-from-home writer jobs will ask for a writing sample as part of your application, and having a multitude of examples at the ready will be a huge asset for landing jobs.

  Aside from that, the sheer size and breadth of your portfolio will impress hiring managers and recruiters.

• Be patient. Breaking into remote writing as a career isn’t an overnight thing. There’s a good chance that you’ll take on low-paying, unexciting jobs for your first few months. Stick with it — the key is to build up that portfolio and acquire a few clients who can vouch for the quality of your work.

  Momentum is huge in the writing industry. Once you start writing for bigger-name clients, more will follow.

• Practice. Like any other skill, your writing will improve with time and effort. If you really want to step your game up fast, though, consider taking a course on writing for whatever field you’re interested in. Some fields, like medical or legal writing, may require these additional certifications.

  Even hiring managers in fields that don’t require certifications will appreciate any extra credentials you have under your belt.

Final Thoughts

Becoming a professional writer takes a lot of work. However, all that hard work is worthwhile. The more experience you gain as a writer, the higher the payments you will receive.

Because writing is a skill, it is of the utmost importance that you practice it as often as you can. Honing your craft will get you far in this field and help build your professional portfolio.

Once you’ve decided which writing profession you would like to pursue, remember to do the proper research on the role. This means understanding the position and how much your salary should be.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.