When you’re just starting out, it can be super hard to find freelance writing jobs for beginners. But don’t overthink it! I’ve got some tips and tricks to build up that portfolio in no time.

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When it comes to finding freelance writing jobs for beginners, it can be tough to know where to start. And if you’ve never looked at the writing market before, you may feel stuck in the water.

But I promise it’s a lot easier than all that. In fact, you can probably find your first gig pretty easily.

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So, here in this blog post, I’m going to share some places where you can find your first freelance writing job. But don’t forget to check out the video where I explain what you need in order to snag that first job.

So, if you’ve got your site and portfolio ready, it’s time to dive into the search. Check out all these places to find freelance writing jobs for beginners.

Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners

001: Freelance Writing’s Job Board

So, it makes sense that there would be a whole website devoted to freelance writing, in this day and age where you can’t really find a domain name for anything.

Check out this site for all things freelancing. And they even have a job board.

So scroll through for a while and find some that appeal to you. Make sure it’s a topic you’re comfortable with, and make sure that you have the qualifications they’re asking for.

(Not all writing jobs will ask for experience in the topic, but some do, so pay attention. You don’t want editors to think you’re the type of person that just wastes their time, because then you’re never getting a writing gig.)

I think when you’re checking out job boards, it’s super important to figure out your niche. You want to have this niche because it means that you’re not spreading yourself too thin.

So, make sure you know what you want to write when you go to this site, because otherwise, you’re going to go crazy trying to apply to all the jobs.

002: Journalism Jobs

Journalism jobs is a job board for — you guessed it — jobs in the journalism field.

There are tons of postings here, some for full-time jobs, and some for freelance, so pay attention to what you’re applying for.

The cool thing about this site is it lets you search based on the thing you want to do. If you want to freelance for newspapers, then you can search through those. If you want to freelance blog, then you can search only listings for blog gigs.

And there’s a wide variety of jobs available in different niches for all kinds of publications. It’s also a great place to find gigs as an editor if that’s your bag.

003: UpWork or Fiverr if you like them

Okay. So.

I know these are not the best places to find work. And I think a lot of the job postings take advantage of people. But, I also know that desperate times call for desperate measures.

So please know that I’m not shaming anyone who uses these sites. In fact, I know some folks who have made significant cash here. But I also know a lot of people who didn’t make enough to justify the cost of the internet service they used to access it.

As I’m writing this, there’s a global pandemic on, and I won’t begrudge anyone for doing what they need to do to keep the roof over their head. And if you’re trying to get started as a freelance writer in the middle of an economic downturn, then it can be hard to build up that portfolio.

I won’t say to never use these sites.

I will say to be very careful about the jobs you take. And to make sure that you get the money you deserve. Because a lot of the jobs on there aren’t worth your time.

004: Local Small Businesses

If you didn’t know, I get most of my writing gigs from local sources.

And depending on how well you know where you live, this may be a great way to get some money. But make sure you’re picking businesses that fit with who you are.

I have done advertorial content for breweries and restaurants, as well as some blog posts for the local convention and visitor’s bureau. For me, it’s a great way to get paid to enjoy beer and food, and to talk up the place that I call home.

You can think pretty broad with this too.

Tons of local businesses need copy for their websites, or they need press releases to send to the local paper. So, I would reach out and make yourself known. Let them know you are happy to help, and give them a rate sheet.

And I will say that word of mouth is a great way to get more jobs, so if you knock it out of the park for one business, then there’s a good chance they’re going to recommend you to someone else.

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005: Local publications

In the Oklahoma City metro area, there are tons of local publications that could always use some writers. And I would imagine it’s the same wherever you are.

So, take a look at the free magazines that come in the mail. Then, next time you go to a restaurant, check out the free publications in the lobby.

I know it may seem counterintuitive to go to a free publication to make money, but know those magazines are free because of the ads inside them. So the companies that are paying for the ads are functionally funding the magazines.

Look inside the magazine and find the editor. Then, shoot them some pitches about things you’d like to cover for their publication and link to your portfolio.

Don’t get discouraged with this. They may not have work for you immediately, but may be able to put you on a list of potential writers for later.

006: “particular topic” + “write for us”

So, you probably have some topics that you specialize in without even realizing it. And that’s a great way to find some writing jobs — just by googling that topic and “write for us.”

Rather than try to think of organizations and publications you could write for, and then searching for those organizations or publications, finding their editor, and then reading all their policies, you can search for publications that are actively looking for submissions.

It’s super simple. Let’s say you write about medical technology. You could search for “medical technology” + “write for us” and then your search results would be tons of gigs that would be perfect for you.

The key here is to put your topic in quotes and write for us in quotes, and make sure you have that plus sign.

You can find gigs in any topic — even writing!

Where did you find your first freelance writing job?

When it comes to freelance writing jobs for beginners, where do you recommend people look? What kind of resources do new freelancers need? What’s the most important thing to have when it comes to creating a good portfolio?