Profession Opportunities in Freelance Writing That Complement Your Writing Skills
For writers seeking to complement their personal writing projects with a steady income stream, freelance careers offer a multitude of options that cater to various skills and working preferences. Here's a look at some of the most suitable freelance careers for writers:
Transcriptionist
Transcription involves converting audio or video recordings into written text, a common requirement in industries like medicine and law. This role offers flexibility and a national average salary of approximately $34,270 per year [1].
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants provide administrative support, managing tasks such as scheduling and social media management. This role offers flexible working hours, making it beneficial for writers juggling multiple projects. The national average salary for virtual assistants is about $40,842 per year [1].
Freelance Writing Niches
High-paying niches for freelance writers include cryptocurrency, iGaming, and sports betting. These areas are lucrative and can help diversify a writer's portfolio [3]. Freelance writing allows writers to choose projects that align with their interests and schedule.
Copywriting and Editing Services
Offer services like SEO blogging, article creation, and copywriting for businesses. These services can be managed on a freelance basis, providing flexibility in scheduling. Rates vary based on the type of content and client, but can be lucrative for experienced writers [5].
Benefits for Writers
These freelance careers offer several benefits for writers. They provide flexible schedules, allowing writers to pursue their own projects alongside freelance work. They also enhance writing skills, provide opportunities for networking and portfolio building, and offer a steady income stream, which can be critical for writers whose personal projects may not generate immediate income.
By integrating these freelance careers into their workflow, writers can maintain financial stability while pursuing their creative writing endeavors.
Transcription and captioning work can be a productive mental break from writing for those with a good ear and typing skills, involving diverse topics. Editing and proofreading can be a freelance career option for writers.
Virtual assistant tasks include email management, scheduling, research, customer service, and sometimes writing emails. Standing out in the graphic design market may require exceptional skill, a unique niche, or leveraging existing expertise or experience.
Teaching online can be a freelance career option, requiring strong communication skills. Teaching geography online can be a freelance career option for writers, requiring no direct relation to writing work. Marketing agencies and developing a niche can make freelance writing a reliable path.
AI-assisted tools are prevalent in proofreading, requiring human insight for added value. Freelance writing has a demand for human-written text. Virtual assistant work can offer flexibility and income.
Graphic design, including using tools like Canva, can offer work opportunities for writers willing to learn the craft or find a niche, such as designing ebook covers or social media graphics. However, standing out in the graphic design market may require exceptional skill, a unique niche, or leveraging existing expertise or experience.
It's important to note that some freelance roles may not be suitable for writers working a full-time job, and freelance writing can leave less room for personal writing ambitions. The freelance career that best suits a writer will depend on their individual skills and working preferences.
[1] Salary.com (2021). Transcriptionist Salary. Retrieved from https://www.salary.com/research/salary/job/transcriptionist/salary [3] FlexJobs (2021). Top-Paying Freelance Writing Niches. Retrieved from https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/top-paying-freelance-writing-niches/ [5] Upwork (2021). How Much Do Freelance Writers Make on Upwork? Retrieved from https://www.upwork.com/resources/how-much-do-freelance-writers-make-on-upwork/
- In addition to writing their own projects, writers can explore freelance business opportunities in finance, such as offering copywriting and editing services for financial institutions or blogs.
- To supplement their income and diversify their skillset, writers may find freelance careers in lifestyle management, like virtual assistance, where they can manage tasks like scheduling and social media management, benefiting from flexible working hours.
