Sitting in your favorite café, you sip on a latte and tap away at your laptop. You and your words, no office politics or dress codes. Many people who paid online writing jobs dream of this.
What’s so special about these gigs, you ask? They offer an escape from 9-to-5. You are not tied to a desk or specific location. Want to work on a Bali beach? It’s your call! Freedom is addictive.
Let’s not rush ahead. It’s not all rainbows and sunshine. It takes discipline, and lots of it. Imagine writing an article when your neighbor’s dogs bark incessantly, or Netflix is only a few clicks away. There are distractions everywhere.
Let’s now talk about money. Many people wonder if remote-writing can pay their bills. Spoiler alert! It can. It depends on your ability to navigate the gig economy. If you know how to promote yourself, freelance platforms such as Upwork and Fiverr are gold mines.
Have you heard of content mills before? They produce articles faster than fast food joints flip burgers. They may not pay much, but they are great for gaining experience and getting your first byline.
Diversification is a trick that every writer should know. Do not put all of your eggs in one hat! You can write blog posts, social media content and copywriting. The more versatile you are the better.
Let’s talk about niches. You can stand out in a crowd of pigeons by finding a niche. Do you love technology? Do you love to cook? You can probably find someone who will pay you for your expertise.
Another ace in the hole is networking. Join writer groups on Facebook and LinkedIn, attend virtual conferences, connect with other online writers. It’s sometimes not what you know, but who you are that gets you the next gig.
What tools do you need for success? It’s a must to have a reliable laptop (unless you plan on carving words into stone tablets). When deadlines are looming and mistakes creep in, software like Grammarly will save the day.
Let’s talk about those annoying deadlines for a minute. It’s just as bad as forgetting to celebrate your anniversary. Give yourself a buffer time, because things happen. Your internet may crash or your cat may decide to nap on your computer.
It can be painful to receive feedback, but it is also a form of tough love coming from an editor that wants you to shine brighter than before. Accept it, learn from and grow from it.
It can be thrilling and terrifying to balance multiple clients. Imagine juggling flaming torch while on a unicycle. Trello and Asana can help you keep the balls (or torches!) in the air.
Burnout can also be a real thing. It’s a sneaky monster that appears when you least expect it. It’s important to take breaks in order to maintain creativity and sanity.
It’s a great way to bring inspiration back when it has escaped you. Perhaps today’s not about writing words, but rather brainstorming new ideas?
Why not sprinkle some humor in here? Imagine trying to use voice dictation only to have it interpret “write” and “right” over and over again until you are ready to scream or laugh out loud!
The best remote writing jobs combine freedom and responsibility. This is a balance that requires passion, grit and humor.
You’ve already come this far, so go get that dream job in which pajamas can double as workwear!