AaronTurpen.com

In our last segment, we talked about starting out and networking as a writer.  This time, we’ll talk about finding work when your network is either non-existent or is not paying off for you right now.  There are other resources for finding work, of course.  Let’s look at those.

Local Work

Where you live may be a bonus to finding work.  Small, local newspapers and other publications are often looking for good material, especially from local writers.  In many areas, weekly or bi-weekly newspapers are willing to pay a few dollars to have you act as a freelancer, covering local events or submitting commentary.  Other annual publications, such as coupon books or local business directories are often looking for “filler” writers to produce material to fill in the margins, extra pages, and other space in their publication.

Often, just walking in the door with a few samples of what you’ve already written is enough to get you in front of the editor and into a trial position.  A local paper in this area, which publishes weekly, pays freelancers with gift cards to the local grocery store, for instance.  Another local coupon book printer pays $0.02/word for filler material, which is mostly commentary on local cuisine, unusual facts, and the like.

Online Job Directories

I actually got my start with online job search directories.  This is not uncommon in today’s market and is, in fact, a great way to create steady job sources.  Of course, these directories come with a price, but so do most business requirements.

Elance – I’ve been with this site almost since they first started.  Most of my current clients either met me on Elance or met me through someone that I met there.  My profile there is one of the oldest on the site.  While I rarely bid on projects any more, I maintain my profile there and do often find little jobs to fill in the gaps when needed.

Freelancer – This site is also very well-known amongst the online job sourcing sites.  While I haven’t used it much, I know many who have and have had good success and positive results.  It is a well-respected job sourcing site for freelancers and independents, though it appears to cater towards programmers and developers more than to writers.

VOIS – Relatively new to the game, this site is half social/business networking and half job-hunting.  I have completed a job or two there and am a freelance contractor with the owners of the site on other, unrelated projects.  Though small and less active than the others, VOIS has the potential to build longer-lasting relationships amongst professionals.

There are several other sites good for this kind of job sourcing too, though I have little experience with them.  The point is that there are many, many ways to find work in today’s connected age.

The days of writing, mailing to magazines for submission, rejection letters, and months between paychecks are nearly gone.  Most magazine editors, in fact, prefer email or even provide online submission forms for writers to send in their stories or ideas.

Finding work is a lot easier with the Internet, but that comes with a caveat: it doesn’t generally pay as well.  It used to be that an 800-word piece written for print would pay $150 or more.  Now?  Well, most print publications do pay that well, but online publications do not.  On the other hand, writing for blogs, well-known websites, and other places can build your name and eventually lead to print publication and more.

Regardless of your goals as a writer, be aware that there is a market and a place to find work for every style of writing and in every conceivable subject area.

You just have to go find it.

Disclosure Note: The links provided to the mentioned websites are not affiliate or other business-relation links.  This writer does have a business relationship with VOIS.com and its owners, but did not receive compensation for the mention or link in this article.  Material is the opinion of the writer.

Related posts:

1. Finding Writing Work: Starting Out and Networking