Freelance writing jobs on the web are easy to find, and as long as you’ve got a laptop and internet connection you can work from home. You can establish a web presence, get your freelance journalism career off the ground and stretch your writing talent without ever worrying about accessibility. People with disabilities can earn money and not agonize over disclosure, the ADA, or accessible transportation.
Freelance Writing Online: Where to Go
• Helium. Join for free and go to the marketplace category. Submit articles on a wide array of requested subjects. If yours is chosen for publishing, fees can be as high as $200, although most payments are in the $20 to $30 range for 350 to 500 words. Generally, the higher the price the more sources must be quoted and the longer the article needs to be.
Helium delivers upfront payments, daily revenue share, and has onsite writing contests with cash prizes.
• Online-writing-jobs. This site gathers freelance writing job opportunities from across the web. Hundreds of postings are grouped in categories including screenwriting, ghostwriting, resumes, blogs, books, articles, copywriting and technical writing. Be aware that not all of the listings are for jobs from home; however, this is a way for you to keep an eye on what’s available in the 9-to-5 world, should you choose to explore that route.
• Writing bids. This huge job resource allows the poster to give a budget, while you bid on the project - which can range from a grant- writing proposal to editing a book in a foreign language. You can submit a bid on a health article or PR project, proofread or do a re-write. Some of the money here is more substantial. For instance, a proofreading a book written in English by a native Italian speaker topped out at $500.
• Craigslist. You want to go to the jobs section and click on writing/editing to find a listing of freelance writing jobs. Remember, you’re on your own here. Posting is usually free, although Craigslist is starting to charge a $15 fee in some areas, which may help to keep out the scammers.
There are plenty of viable jobs, but make sure payment is straightforward. Never ever agree to deposit a check for someone else and send them money from your account. Even if the bank initially accepts their check, it will eventually bounce and you will be out your hard-earned cash.
• Associated Content. Write about absolutely whatever you want without a due date or editor guidelines. If you have good grammar and organizational skills, it’s likely you’ll be published and get paid. Submissions are accepted in text, video, audio and images. Articles are typically reviewed within a week, and pay quickly follows acceptance.
This site puts out calls for content covering a specific topic. Pay for this service can range from pay-per-view of about $1.50 per 1,000 page views, to a straight fee of $25 or more, with $15 to $20 being average. Articles are usually 250 to 500 words on simple subjects that can be easily researched.
• Examiner. Fresh on the scene, this local news and topical outlet is spreading quickly to markets across the country. Sign up to be a reporter on a specific topic in your regional area, or write broadly about a wide array of subjects. It helps to provide photos to accompany your stories, but help is provided so you can do your own social marketing.
Potential writers spend about 20 minutes on the application process, where writing samples are required. Examiner is coy about payment, but it appears to be per page view.
