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Tag: freelancing

  • I Quit Freelance Writing for a 9 to 5. Here’s Why It Didn’t Work for Me

    I Quit Freelance Writing for a 9 to 5. Here’s Why It Didn’t Work for Me

    Two years ago, shortly after graduating college, I started freelance writing part-time.

    While I was focused on working a full-time job in media, I still contributed personal essays and listicles to a series of publications. This was a smart move because I accepted a job offer working at a real estate content marketing company, rather than a more traditional news outlet, after graduating college.

    Part-time freelancing kept me creative as I worked a desk job by day. However, it was mostly about the writing in the beginning.

    I enjoyed the art of writing, and I treated freelancing like a hobby, but I soon recognized how easily I could make writing my full-time gig.

    Going full-time freelance for the first time

    A year ago, I realized I made more income freelancing than my actual desk job.

    That’s when I decided to go full-time freelance for the first time ever and begin treating my writing as if it were a business.

    It was an excellent transition. I earned twice as much per month than I did at my marketing job. I also could make my own schedule, so I didn’t have to commute to work at 7 a.m. anymore.

    However, the decision to freelance full-time wasn’t just about the money. I was living in Omaha, Nebraska, but I was considering a big move back to the East Coast.

    Freelancing gave me the freedom and liberty to work remotely from anywhere in the world, as long as I had a reliable internet connection. When I left my desk job, I wasn’t tied to working in the Great Plains anymore.

    Earlier this year, I moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania because when you’re a freelancer, you can live anywhere. However, I failed to realize how many of my freelance journalism  connections tied me to Nebraska.

    Editors loved the stories I covered in the Midwest because most writers were from major coastal cities. When I moved to Philadelphia, I entered a much more competitive media market.

    Plus, the cost of living — and income taxes — were higher in Philadelphia compared to Omaha.

    My income wasn’t meeting my expectations, so I decided to apply to desk jobs.

    freelance writing

    Returning to the 9-to-5 again

    I accepted a full-time job working in corporate communications a few months after moving to Philadelphia in one of the largest buildings in Center City.

    I enjoyed the structure of my schedule. When you’re self-employed, it’s difficult to adhere to such a strict schedule. After coming home from work, I continued to freelance part-time, clocking in hours at night and on the weekends.

    However, after two months, working two jobs became exhausting. As you’d expect, when I came home from my full-time job, all I wanted to do was crash, eat dinner and fall right to sleep.

    The last thing I wanted to do was write. Freelancing became a chore. I started turning down assignments.

    I also wasn’t producing the work that required more time, such as reported stories. I stuck to mostly web copy. Although both are sustainable sources of income, they don’t reflect my passion for writing.

    Fortunately, I was saving half of my paychecks the entire time, so I quickly considered returning to full-time freelancing.

    Going full-time freelance for the second time

    I ended up leaving that job.

    I missed being self-employed. I hated waking up early to commute to work. I hated wearing business formal. I hated being cooped up in a cubicle for eight hours a day with the exception of a half-hour lunch break.

    Most of all, I hated being managed by someone else. I’m a self-starter, which is why being self-employed fits my professional style.

    By this time, I’d been living in Philadelphia for seven months. I had the opportunity to network with local editors and other types of writing clients. Again, editors were coming to me for stories, so now I could finally start saying yes to accepting the work.

    Goals I’d wish I’d adopted the first time around

    The second time around, I have two different goals for myself, that would’ve benefitted me the first time I went full-time freelance.

    1. I’m focusing on anchor gigs

    According to Funds for Writers, anchor gigs are “businesses or individuals with whom you have an ongoing relationship and a steady flow of projects and income.” In other words, these are recurring people you can count on for work.

    Don’t just secure one anchor client, but secure many.

    When I started freelancing, I had one consistent client that paid extremely well. This worked to my advantage starting out, but when I relocated to Philadelphia, the freelance budget had been cut significantly.

    Now, I work with four different anchor clients. Together, these four clients go towards paying the bills. Two are publications, the others are small marketing agencies. That way, if one client has their budget cut, I have three others to rely on.

    2. I’m consistently building a pipeline

    This means I’m always networking with new potential clients and marketing my services across the board, no matter how much work I already have scheduled out.

    The reality is, I’ll eventually need new work, and you never know who that next client will be.

    You need to be proactive with how you sell yourself to those you come across in professional spaces.

    Whether you’re currently freelancing full-time, or are working towards one day making that transition, it’s important to figure out where your income is coming from. It’s also incredibly important to constantly curate an editorial calendar, so you’re never going without work for a long period of time.

    Although it requires much more effort than working a traditional 9-to-5 desk job, writing full-time for myself is far more rewarding in the long run.

    What do you wish you would’ve known the first time you first transitioned to full-time freelancing?

  • Sports Writing: 6 Ways to Get Gigs and Build Your Portfolio

    Sports Writing: 6 Ways to Get Gigs and Build Your Portfolio

    Do you spend your weekends glued to the TV watching your favorite teams battle it out?

    Or, better yet, at the game decked out in the home team’s colors cheering for your sports heroes?

    If you’re a sports fan, it’s time to turn your love of the game into a potential payday with sports writing.

    Why should you consider sports writing?

    As a sports writer, you’ll likely get access to games, as well as players, coaches and super fans.

    Why watch your favorite baseball player on TV when you can chat with him about his hopes for the season instead?

    Of course, not every sports writer will have instant access to big league players, coaches and teams, but by breaking into the world of sports writing, you can immerse yourself in your favorite game, while earning cash at the same time.

    How to break into sports writing

    If you have a history of playing or writing about a specific sport or even if you’re just a devoted fan, be sure to mention that in your letter of introduction or pitch to an editor or outlet.

    Sports publications want people who know, understand and love the sport to write about it.

    They also don’t want people they have to explain the sport to or people who might not be familiar with the rules, players and lingo.

    Break in like you would with any other type of market. Research the possibilities, study the publications and write your best letter of introduction or pitch.

    Want more tips to break into this exciting and potentially lucrative market?

    Here are six ways to get hired for sports writing jobs.

    1. Don’t stick to the pros

    While professional sports might see most of the glitz and glamour, high school, college and amateur sports still need to be written about, too.

    Don’t overlook these beats!

    It’s easier to break in with smaller beats, and you’ll likely find less competition if you try your hand at writing about the local minor league baseball team rather than a high-level professional team.

    2. Be open-minded about opportunities

    When you say you love sports, maybe it’s basketball or football or hockey you have in mind. But there are plenty of other sports that need coverage.

    Consider everything from lacrosse to ice skating to competitive archery. Covering some of these lesser-known sports is a great way to make a name for yourself in the business.

    Of course, if you truly want to pursue a specific sport, like baseball or football, go for it.

    If your goal is to write about professional football, for example, writing about college football will be more helpful than covering the local lacrosse league.

    3. Write for the local newspaper

    Local papers generally have a sports section, so why not reach out to them and see if they could use a sports writer?

    You could cover high school, college, amateur or professional sports. They may need coverage of home or away games or a variety of other types of stories.

    If you know a lot about a variety of different sports, consider seeing if they need a sports columnist. Being the voice of the sports section can help establish you as a prominent local sports writer, which could lead to other opportunities.

    sports writing

    4. Learn how to pitch popular publications

    ESPN is a household name, but it’s just one place to approach if you’re interested in sports writing.

    Who Pays Writers lists a number of sports publications and their rates, including ESPN Esports, Excelle Sports, Vice Sports and Vice Sports Canada. 

    Contently’s rate database also lists a number of sports-related publications and contributor-reported fees, including one writer who received $1,500 for an investigative piece for SB Nation Longform.

    Many large newspapers and magazines also include sports coverage, so these are smart places to approach once you have a few clips under your belt.

    5. Find interesting angles

    When you’re looking at a publication and preparing to pitch, be sure to take a close look at the types of stories it covers.

    While you may pitch stories about coaches talking strategy, or a team preparing to play a major rival, don’t overlook a story about a groundskeeper who has kept the team’s field pristine for the past 40 years.

    People love reading about sports, but they also love a good sports-related human-interest story.

    Don’t just write the obvious stories. Write the captivating ones.

    6. Try the trade publications

    Don’t limit your sports writing to the big markets with familiar names.

    Sports-related trade publications need writers, too! A trade publication could be anything from a publication read by coaches of a particular sport to a magazine for uniform manufacturers that addresses the needs of the industry.

    However you choose to break into sports writing, it probably makes sense to try a few different options. Perhaps pitch a few popular publications, contact your local paper and reach out to a number of different trade publications.

    A multi-pronged approach is often best when trying to break into any field of freelance writing.

    And it might just be a chance to watch games and talk to players — a dream come true for sports fans.

  • Want to Fire a Client? Ask These 5 Questions First

    Want to Fire a Client? Ask These 5 Questions First

    You’re an artist. A consummate wordsmith who crafts powerful prose compelling readers to take a specific action.  

    To have some corporate suit and tie type question your word slinging prowess is almost insulting.

    They don’t understand how your copy will help their business, and they’re wrong to question your expertise.

    Or are they?

    The above is a knee jerk reaction I see many freelance writers (including myself) make when receiving criticism of their work.

    I’ve seen it lead writers to wrongfully “fire” clients whose only intent was to improve the deliverable with constructive criticism.

    To keep myself from making hasty, rage fueled decisions, I now ask myself a series of questions whenever a client does something I disagree with. These questions haven’t just helped retain a stable client base, they’ve helped me improve as a writer by filtering genuine constructive criticism from ignorant comments.

    I recommend you ask yourself the same questions the next time you’re thinking of dropping a client.

    1. Is this constructive criticism, a poorly informed request or a personal attack?

    Knowing the difference between the three is key.

    If your client is offering constructive criticism, suck it up.

    Sure, it hurts to be told your article, blog post or email isn’t perfect, but if the client’s offering advice that will help you improve, listen. Take a day to consider their feedback before responding and you’ll see they might just be right.

    However, don’t blindly follow their lead. You’re the expert. They might request amendments to tone or structure which, from experience, you know will lower reader engagement.

    Educate your client and explain why your proposed tone or structure is the better way to go. If you don’t and end up doing everything they tell you, you’ll end up hating the client and producing low quality work.

    Sometimes clients are unnecessarily abrasive. They launch personal attacks because they’re not happy. These clients are poison to your career and have to go. This is a professional relationship.

    Work related criticism is fine, personal attacks are not.

    2. Are the client’s requests crazy or are you missing the big picture?

    How involved are you with the client’s wider marketing strategy?

    If you’ve been hired for a single deliverable like a individual blog post or company bio, chances are that’s all you’ll know about.

    “Ridiculous” client requests could be the result of a clash with the bigger picture.

    If you’re not sure why the client needs something, ask.

    Ask why they need certain changes. Tell them it’ll help you understand the overall plan and turn in a bio, blog post, case study that better aligns with their strategy.

    3. Is this a recurring problem?  

    We’ve all been paid late, had a client send a curt email or waited too long for a simple response.

    Clients are people too, and just as prone to crappy days as we are.

    If the client oversteps once, give them the benefit of the doubt. They could be dealing with something their end and need a little slack. We’ve all been there, it’s not appropriate or professional, but it happens.

    But if it continues, move on.

    4. How well can you do this job?

    There’s a direct correlation between your ability and your enjoyment of a task.

    If you can’t do a job well, it’s often difficult to find it enjoyable.

    With writing (and other creative arts) that bond is strengthened because there’s so much of you in your writing.  

    If a client makes you feel like you can’t do the job, you’ll hate the task and the client for making you feel that way.

    You shouldn’t take on jobs you can’t handle. I understand there’s an exception as you need to grow, but grow carefully. If you can’t perform a certain task well, it will become something you dislike.

    5. Are you the first freelance writer the client has worked with?

    Clients who’ve never worked with freelancers often struggle to manage outside help. They don’t have established processes for effective communications and payment.

    It’s not a sole reason for dropping a client. If you are the first outside writer a business has worked with, give them some wiggle room and educate them on what they’re doing wrong. Most clients are pretty decent about this. If your work is good, they’ll want to keep you around.

    Consider putting together a “how to work with freelance writers” guide. You are a writer after all and putting your own guide together will not only help the client understand how to work with you, but will greatly help future freelancers they work with.

    If you have clients that are draining you of motivation, making you feel like you’re a terrible writer or having a general negative impact on your life, they need to go.

    There are times when dropping a client is completely necessary, but before making a hasty decision, be sure to consider these five questions.

    Have you ever fired a freelance writing client? Share your stories in the comments below.

  • Starting a Freelance Business: 4 Legal Obligations You Can’t Ignore

    Starting a Freelance Business: 4 Legal Obligations You Can’t Ignore

    The first time someone told me freelance writing was a business, I laughed.

    I was 22, and had stepped into freelance writing quite by chance. After an illness made me quit my full-time job as a journalist, I started working as a writer to make some money while I recovered.

    Imagine my horror when I realized freelancing is a lot more work than just writing content for websites. I had to learn to manage my accounts, keep track of money and figure out my business structure.

    To make matters worse, I had no idea how to deal with contracts, invoices, taxes and insurance.

    I ended up doing everything wrong.

    Freelancing is a wonderful profession, full of flexibility and the joy of doing work you love, but there are certain parts of the job new freelancers learn the hard way.

    The legal side of freelancing is one of them.

    New writers with no experience in business often find legal jargon confusing and complicated. Too often, this makes writers overlook the legal aspects of freelancing and believe they can do without.

    Don’t make that mistake.

    Not knowing the legalities of your freelance business can not only cost you money, but could also get you in trouble.

    Whether you’ve just started out or are planning to break into freelance writing, here are four legal aspects of freelancing you must never overlook.

    1. Work contract

    If you’re like me, the thought of a contract probably brings to mind 100 page behemoths full of technical clauses and jargon. Not surprisingly, the very idea of writing a contract is enough to make creative people break into a sweat.

    The good news is that a freelance contract or agreement is a lot simpler and less technical than a traditional business contract.

    It’s usually around five pages or so, and is written in lucid English you don’t have to tear your hair to figure out. Contracts can also be verbal, but written agreements carry more weight and make it easier to ensure the terms and conditions of your work are clear for both parties.

    Emails are also a kind of written agreement, so in case you don’t have a work contract, make sure you get your client to confirm the logistics of a gig in an email, along with the price.

    But whether you have a contract crafted by an attorney or use a simple email message as an agreement, you must never work without a written contract. Having a contract in place shows that you’re a professional and gives prospects the impression that you know your work well and cannot be swindled.

    2. Taxes

    As a newbie freelancer, I didn’t know anything about taxes.

    The first time I learned that freelancers had to pay their own taxes was when I started working independently through my website.

    I have always been woefully pathetic at math, and when the time came to figure out my taxes, I cried.

    Figuring out your taxes on your own often proves to be difficult for a freelancer. In such a case, it’s ideal to register with a certified tax authority or hire an accountant. It may sound like an expensive investment, but at the end of the financial year, if you fail to file your tax returns, you could be subject to penalty charges. An accountant will explain this to you, as well as handle your taxes, while you focus on your business.

    Another important element is to put money aside for your taxes. In my case, I put aside 20 percent of every paycheck and put it into a separate account. This helps me save money come tax time.

    3. Trade descriptions

    Many freelancers aren’t aware of trade descriptions. I wasn’t either when I first began.

    According to the Trade Descriptions Act of 1972, you can’t make misleading claims, written or verbally. So if you claim on your website that you worked with a certain brand when actually you didn’t, you are breaking the law.

    New writers venturing into freelancing sometimes think it’s OK to put just about anything on their website. False testimonials and brand associations are one of the biggest mistakes freelance writers can make on their website.

    When you work with brands or individual clients, and want to use their names or testimonials on your website, you must seek their written permission to do so. It should preferably be a clause in your work contract, signed by both parties.

    4. Insurance

    Working from home as a freelance writer is certainly convenient, but it’s also tricky, particularly when it comes to insurance.

    If you have a home office, it can become even more confusing. Should you get home insurance or public liability insurance? Or perhaps both?

    Simply put, public liability insurance covers the expenses that result when a client suffers damages of any kind because of you (a lawsuit, for instance), while a home insurance covers damages to your property, within or outside business hours.

    Freelancers often underestimate the importance of insurance, even when they work from home. You might think  home insurance is enough to cover any damages that take place in your home office during working hours, only to realize later, it’s not. Home insurance may also not cover the cost of broken or stolen office supplies or furniture.

    Things can go wrong at any time, and in case you find yourself subject to such damages it could deal a big blow to your freelance business. When you have public liability insurance, it covers you against any loss or damage to your home office, and helps you get back up and running within the shortest time.

    A career in freelancing is both rewarding, and also stressful at times. For a writer with no background in law or business, it can be difficult to get familiar with every legal aspect of running a business.

    If you follow these four legal guidelines when you’re starting out as a freelancer, you’re well on your way to a successful freelance business that complies with the law.

    Are there other legal obligations that confuse you when it comes to freelance writing? Let us know in the comments.
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  • 4 Smart Tips to Help Take Your Freelance-Writing Career Full Time

    4 Smart Tips to Help Take Your Freelance-Writing Career Full Time

    Before I became serious about freelance writing, I was freshly out of school and still held the mashup of part-time jobs I’d stitched together to make ends meet work while I “figured things out.”

    Sure, I was looking for a full-time job, probably as a technical writer, because what else do MFAs do? But I wasn’t in any hurry to accept a job that would barely pay more than the three part-time gigs I had going on, and maybe part of me was terrified at the thought of getting pigeon-holed into a tech writing career.

    Then, my boyfriend had a horrible accident at work, leaving him in the hospital for five days and out of work for months afterward. To say we were struggling to make ends meet would be understated. Out of necessity, I started looking for freelance writing work.

    I landed my first few clients through Upwork, which, although it has its downfalls, is a great place to start looking for work as a freelancer.

    Slowly, one project turned into another, and then another, and before I knew it, I had a fourth part-time job and a big decision to make.

    Here are some of the tips I picked up along the way that helped me finally make the decision to become a full-time writer.

    1. Build a strategic client base

    As you begin to take on more and more freelancing gigs, don’t fall into the trap of sacrificing quality for quantity.

    While you may feel like you need to frantically acquire new clients in the beginning, it can be helpful in the long-run to hold out for clients who are looking to form a long-term working relationship with a freelancer. That way, you can build more stability as you invest your time in repeat clients rather than trying to juggle a string of one-time clients here and there.

    Of course, this can take some time. For me, the mismatched string of clients eventually lead to finding a few diamonds in the rough, but once you dig up these long-term clients, hang onto them.

    2. Don’t be afraid to take an unexpected path

    When you first set out to freelance, you probably have at least a basic idea of the services you can offer, whether that’s copy editing, content marketing, or digital marketing. But just because you had some success doing line edits for your first handful of clients doesn’t mean that’s the only line of work you should consider. Go ahead, accept the invitation to try a website rewrite or SEO writing, even if you’re not quite sure you want those types of projects.

    My first few clients were new authors looking for someone to copy edit their fiction novels. Now, I generate web content for plastic surgeons and dermatologists.

    It’s a far cry from anything my former self would have guessed I’d be doing, but had I not popped my head out of the editing door, I would have never discovered the entire basis for my freelance business.

    3. Want in? Just ask

    If you come across a potential client who you think could benefit from your freelancing service, shoot a friendly email their way.

    When cold pitching, you want to first explain who you are, what specific experience you have, and how you think your skillset could benefit their business.

    Make sure you back this up by demonstrating an understanding of their company and its unique needs. Then, end with an invitation for a phone call or video chat to discuss their needs and your services in more detail. The worst that could happen is that they tell you “no thanks,” but at best, you land a great client.

    4. Be real about your budget

    One of the last obstacles that kept me holding onto my office job was the fact that taxes were already taken out of my paycheck.

    Saving enough money to (maybe) pay the right amount each quarter can seem like an impossibly daunting task, but don’t let this stop you. Get tax advice from a professional who has experience working with freelancers, and don’t be afraid to pay for them to help you file.

    Then, draft a realistic budget for yourself based solely on your income from freelancing. Include your quarterly tax payments, accounting for the fact that some months might be more or less fruitful than others, and resist the urge, however great, to “fudge” numbers in your favor.

    Once your budget reflects a comfortable financial life without your day job, congratulations! It maybe time to put your two-weeks in.

    Make the switch to full-time freelancer

    If I’m honest, there are still times when I can’t quite believe I really did it.

    But all in all, deciding to leave my office job and write full-time has been one of the most rewarding, albeit challenging, things I’ve ever done.

    There were so many times along the way when I felt run-down, drained and downright exhausted from trying to balance so many responsibilities at once. But until my spreadsheet sang financial stability, I held out.

    There’s no doubt that breaking into freelancing can be a bit of a challenge at first, not to mention making the leap from a side gig to a career.

    But if you’re honest with yourself about your goals and how you can realistically accomplish them, becoming a full-time freelance writer really isn’t far out of reach at all.

    This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!

  • The 100 Best Websites for Writers in 2017

    The 100 Best Websites for Writers in 2017

    Editor’s note: Looking for our most updated list of best writing websites? Here’s our list for 2021.

    What do you picture when you imagine yourself writing?

    Are you quietly tapping away on your office desktop computer in the early morning hours? Maybe you’re scribbling new ideas and observations amidst the hustle and bustle of a coffee shop.

    It’s likely that you imagined yourself alone. And that’s not surprising, because when it comes down to actually doing the work, you — the writer — are the one who has to put pen to paper.

    But here’s the thing about great writing: it takes a village.

    They may be your words, but the words you write are a culmination of years of practice, learning from mentors, emulating your favorite authors, workshopping with peers and supporting fellow writers.

    Each year, The Write Life celebrates this “village” by releasing a list of the 100 Best Websites for Writers, and we’re excited to do so again this year.

    Thanks to your suggestions, you’ve helped us curate hundreds of websites to bring you the best of the best.

    Many are tried-and-true favorites previously featured in our 2014, 2015, and 2016 lists, and this year we’re thrilled to feature more than 50 newcomers. 

    Each website featured in this list meets the following criteria:

    • It was recommended by readers of The Write Life
    • It publishes content helpful to writers
    • It has been updated recently and regularly

    We’ve broken our 2017 list into eight categories: Blogging, creativity and craft, editing, freelancing, marketing and platform building, podcasts, publishing and writing communities. For the first time, we are excited to include a category for podcasts, which have proven to be a powerful and growing resource for writers. All sites are listed in alphabetical order within their categories, with numbers for ease of reading (not ranking).

    No matter what your writing goals are, there’s something here for everyone.

    And if you want to start your own website or blog, here’s our step-by-step guide. Your website could be next on our list!

    blogging

    1. Be a Freelance Blogger

    Sophie Lizard teaches you how to take your freelance blogging skills to pro level. Through her blog posts, free community and jobs board, you’ll increase your blogging income and become an expert in your niche.

    Post you’ll like: The Batman vs. Superman Guide to Freelance Blogging

    2. Beyond Your Blog

    Are you working to grow your blog audience? Beyond Your Blog provides practical tips and resources for getting published on other blogs and and in digital publications, so you can tap into new groups of engaged fans.

    Post you’ll like:  8 Things to Avoid When Pitching a Website or Print Publication

    3. Copyblogger

    Take your content marketing, SEO and community building skills to the next level with Copyblogger’s library of free ebooks, blog posts, forums and more. It’s a leading resource for professional blogging from the creators of the Rainmaker Platform for digital marketing.

    Post you’ll like: 10 Content Marketing Goals Worth Pursuing

    4. ProBlogger

    Founder Darren Rowse and the ProBlogger team bring you the latest news and tips to build a better blog. This site offers extensive resources on how to monetize your blog, as well as a job board constantly updated with new blogging opportunities.

    Post you’ll like: 10 Simple Hacks That Will Increase Your Blog Traffic

    5. See Jane Write

    At See Jane Write, founder Javacia Harris Bowser seeks to empower women to be “authors of their own lives and live a life worth writing about.” Consistently recommended by many of our readers, See Jane Write is a great place for bloggers who are looking to grow their platforms and turn their blogs into businesses.

    Post you’ll like: How to Blog Consistently Even When Life Sucks

    6. Aliventures

    Ali Luke provides both practical and motivational advice on writing books, blogging and building a business around your writing. Check out her Writer’s Huddle community and ebooks on blogging.

    Post you’ll like: Should You Be More Business-Like About Your Writing?

    7. Ann Kroeker

    Author and writing coach Ann Kroeker is on a mission to help writers reach their goals by maximizing curiosity, creativity and productivity. Her website is home to numerous blog posts, podcasts and resources for writers.
    Post you’ll like: Write in the Middle of Traveling

    8. Australian Writers’ Centre

    No matter what type of writing you enjoy, the Australian Writers’ Centre has a course for you. Along with a full blog archive, this site offers dozens of online and in-person courses on freelance writing, creativity, novel writing, business writing, blogging and more. Courses start at $97.

    Post you’ll like: Why You Should Write Your Memoir Now, From Patti Miller

    9. Bang2Write

    If you’re a screenwriter, Bang2Write is for you. This site offers tons of advice on how to develop great stories and pitch your scripts, along with best practices for writing research.

    Post you’ll like: 9 Steps To Get Your Spec TV Pilot Written, Edited & Sent Out

    10. Barely Hare Books

    You are the hero of your own novel-writing adventure, and Rae Elliott of Barely Hare Books is here to help you defeat the monster keeping you from writing that fandom-worthy story. With blog posts, a podcast and several ebooks, this site has lots to explore.

    Post you’ll like: 5 Lessons Writers Learn from The Office About Crafting a (Genuinely) Funny Character

    100 best websites for writers 2017

    11. C. S. Lakin’s Live Write Thrive

    Author, editor and writing coach C. S. Lakin loves helping writers get their manuscripts ready for publication. At Live Write Thrive, she writes about proper scene structure, character development, editing and crafting a fantastic story.

    Post you’ll like: 3 Things You Must Have in Your Novel’s First Paragraph

    12. DIY MFA

    The folks at DIY MFA believe you can access the benefits of an Master in Fine Arts without having to go the traditional (expensive) route. It all comes down to a simple but powerful combination: writing with focus, reading with purpose and building your community.

    Post you’ll like: Writing Friends and Where to Find Them

    13. Elizabeth Spann Craig

    Prolific mystery author Elizabeth Spann Craig blogs about all things relevant to a writer’s life, including public speaking, productivity, gaining visibility and connecting with the wider author community. Her weekly roundup of writing articles is a reader favorite.

    Post you’ll like: Tracking Our Recurring Storylines

    14. Eva Deverell

    A passionate writer and creative writing teacher, Eva Deverell offers tons of resources for readers, writers, poets and people who just love learning. With worksheets, blog posts, writing prompts and ebooks, this site offers practical ways to deepen your craft.

    Post you’ll like: How to Write a Novella

    15. Every Writer

    At Every Writer, owner and editor Richard Edwards covers everything you can imagine about writing, including writing tools, website building, and how to overcome writer’s block. He even shares tips on starting a literary magazine. Check out his poetry and writing contests, too.

    Post you’ll like: Grow as a Writer: Critique Your Own Work

    16. Fiction University

    Janice Hardy understands there’s no “right” way to write. So instead of giving advice on what writers should do, she explains how to make industry rules work for you. With new articles and guest columns every day, you’ll gain valuable insight into the book-writing and publishing process.

    Post you’ll like: Why We Should Do Bad Things To Our Characters

    17. How to Write a Book Now

    At How to Write a Book Now, author Glen C. Strathy shares tips on everything about the writing and book publishing process, from where to start, to story model analysis, to creating compelling characters. Readers can also submit their questions about writing.

    Post you’ll like: Novel Writing Ideas: How to Get Them

    18. Inky Girl

    Inky Girl is the place for children’s book writers and illustrators. Debbie Ridpath Ohi shares original comics, interviews with industry experts, and advice on telling unique stories. Her series on writing picture books is a reader favorite.

    Post you’ll like: Why Picture Books Are Important

    19. Journalist’s Resource

    Run by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Shorenstein Center, Journalist’s Resource offers write-ups on the latest scholarly studies, reports and data. This is a great place to find reliable research as well as inspiration for your next freelance article.

    Browse the latest research here.

    20. Knockin’ Books

    The editors at Knockin’ Books are self-described “addicted” to reading, so they’ve created this site to help connect readers and authors. Whether you’re a reader looking for your next favorite book, or a writer looking for a beautiful cover design, you’ll find it at Knockin’ Books.

    Post you’ll like: Ways to sell your self-published book

    21. Lucy Flint and the Lionhearted Writing Life

    After eight years of a love/hate relationship with writing, Lucy Flint went on a mission to explore how writing can be more enjoyable, easy and fulfilling. In her blog posts, she shares tips on how to be more courageous in your writing, stop being stuck and more. Her site is a mini dance party for your writing life.

    Post you’ll like: Three Simple Steps Toward A Yummier, Happier, And Much More Sustainable Writing Life

    22. Market Meditations

    At Market Meditations, Charles Chu documents the experiments and lessons he’s learned in the pursuit of being more productive, successful and effective at the work he does. This is a great blog to follow if you’re looking to raise your potential at work.

    Post you’ll like: Why 95% of Blogs Fail

    23. Positive Writer

    In the pursuit of creating work that matters, all writers get stuck from time to time. Doubts can creep in, and it’s sometimes hard to get back on track. Bryan Hutchinson offers motivating blog posts to help you move beyond writing paralysis and finish the work you set out to create.

    Post you’ll like: The Audacity to Be a Writer

    24. PsychWriter

    At PsychWriter, Tamar Sloan explores the intersection of psychology and writing, specifically as it pertains to character development and reader engagement. This blog covers the art of making your characters and story believable.

    Post you’ll like: Why Readers Read: What every writer needs to know

    25. Re:Fiction

    No matter what kind of fiction writer you are, Re:Fiction welcomes you. This site offers resources to help you at all stages, from getting better at writing, to publishing, to marketing and building your platform. It also offers multiple scholarships for professional editing and critiques each month, on manuscripts of up to 5,000 words.

    Post you’ll like: 6 Tricks to Make You Better at Self-Editing

    26. The Write Practice

    What do all successful writers have in common? Practice. At The Write Practice, Joe Bunting and his team help you develop your writing rhythm and grow into your voice and identity as a writer.

    Post you’ll like: 10 Secrets to Write Better Stories

    27. The Writing Kylie

    Kylie Day’s blog is a great place for those who are in the midst of writing a novel. With tips on outlining and story structure, and a dose of inspirational posts about the writing life, this blog will help you on your path from story idea to complete manuscript.

    Post you’ll like: The Ultimate Guide to Outlining Your Story

    28. Tweetspeak Poetry

    Tweetspeak Poetry is the go-to site for “the best in poetry and poetic things.” Here, readers and writers alike can indulge in beautiful poetry, writing workshops, book clubs and more. This is also a great place to find resources for teaching poetry.

    Post you’ll like: Infographic: How to Write a Ballad

    29. Write or Die

    Writer Mandy Wallace believes that when it comes to writing, you can’t wait to become inspired or for luck to strike. Just “Show up, shut up, and write,” and sooner or later it will all come together. Wallace’s blog documents the writing lessons she’s learned and offers practical guides for upgrading your own writing.

    Post you’ll like: Where to Find Story Ideas So Good, They Practically Write Themselves

    30. Writerology

    The one constant when it comes to writing? It all comes down to the people: you as a writer, your characters and their development, and the audience you seek to connect with. At Writerology, Faye Kirwin combines her expertise in writing and psychology to help you hone your craft, understand people, and write amazing stories.

    Post you’ll like: False Memories In Fiction: How Emotional Scenes Can Create Unreliable Narrators

    31. Writers Helping Writers

    Authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi are dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind resources that writers will actually use. Their books and blog posts focus on helping writers become better storytellers, and their One Stop For Writers library is teeming with tools for planning, researching and writing your book.

    Post you’ll like: The Subtle Knife: Writing Characters Readers Trust But Shouldn’t

    32. Writers In The Storm

    Just like their characters during perilous times, writers must weather the storm of their profession — and shifting industry tides. Run by a group of authors, the Writers In The Storm blog provides inspiration and tips for writers during all stages of the process.

    Post you’ll like: Honey, I Broke the Writing Process

    33. Writer Unboxed

    Frustrated their analytical articles about books and movies were rejected, founders Therese Walsh and Kathleen Bolton decided to create Writer Unboxed in 2006 so they could freely publish their observations. It has since grown into a thriving community where writers of all levels can contribute their thoughts on the craft of writing.

    Post you’ll like: Creative Work is Performance. Assess Your Creative Health Now.

    34. Write to Done

    Write to Done is all about learning to write well. Founder Mary Jaksch brings the age-old advice to keep writing to a whole new level, noting that it’s not practice that makes you a better writer — it’s practice directed in a positive way.

    Post you’ll like: 201 Ways to Arouse Your Creativity  

    35. Grammar Girl

    You may speak English fluently, but the language can still be quite a mystery. Grammar Girl is the go-to guide for all things “grammar, punctuation, usage, and fun developments in the English language.” She has a popular podcast, too.

    Post you’ll like: 9 Books to Give Your Favorite Language Lover

    36. Kathy Steinemann

    Kathy Steinemann loves words. On her blog, she shares master lists of adjectives and offers tips for avoiding overused words and being more descriptive and original in your writing.  

    Post you’ll like: Over 400 Redundant Words to Avoid In Writing

    37. Scribendi

    Scribendi is focused on the art of editing and proofreading. Their resources for writers cover everything from grammar, to finding inspiration, to the mechanics of writing.

    Post you’ll like: How to Use Social Media to Improve Your English

    38. Comps & Calls

    On the first of each month, Cathy Bryant posts an extensive list of competitions, contests and calls for submission. She notes whether they’re paid or not, for quick skimming. This site is a great one-stop shop for all recent writing opportunities.

    Post you’ll like: Comps and Calls for January 2017  

    39. Elna Cain

    Elna Cain believes you don’t need experience to be a successful freelance writer — you just need a passion for writing. On her blog, she shares tips and strategies to help new freelance writers succeed.

    Post you’ll like: How to Be a Freelance Writer (Without Leveraging Your Experience or Contacts)

    40. Freelancer FAQs

    You have questions, they have answers. Team members and guest contributors at Freelancer FAQs address all the things you’ve ever wanted to know about freelance life, including marketing, getting started, recommended resources, money management and more.

    Post you’ll like: How Does a Freelance Writer Stay Organized When They’re Too Busy?

    41. Freelance to Freedom

    You love to write. But in order to be a successful freelancer, you need to work those business muscles. That’s where Freelance to Freedom comes in. Founder Leah Kalamakis offers articles and e-books that teach everything from client management to setting up your business website.

    Post you’ll like: 6 Reasons your Website is Costing you your Freelance Writing Clients (and how to fix it)

    42. Freelance to Win

    At Freelance to Win, Danny Margulies wants you to stop compromising and start living a life of freedom — all by building a freelance career. Danny is an expert at landing gigs on Upwork, and his blog shares all the latest tips on how to use this platform for ultimate success.

    Post you’ll like: 7 Surprising Upwork Proposal Mistakes I See Every Day

    43. Freelance Writing

    It’s been around since 1997 and is still going strong: Freelance Writing has an extensive archive of articles, tutorials, media and resources all geared to helping you build a successful career. Its jobs listings get updated daily, so you’re always in the know about new opportunities.

    Post you’ll like: 6 Freelance Writing Niches That Are Often Overlooked

    44. FundsforWriters

    Hope Clark believes writing can be a realistic career for all writers. Her weekly newsletter lists the best competitions, grants and other well-paying markets, and her platform has grown to include a blog and a bi-weekly paid newsletter with even more high-paying opportunities per issue.

    Post you’ll like: No Room for Snark

    45. Horkey Handbook

    Within six months of starting her freelance writing career, Gina Horkey was earning $4,000 a month. Now, she wants to help others achieve their dreams of making a real living off freelance writing.

    46. LittleZotz Writing

    Lauren Tharp has found a way to write as a freelancer full time and is dedicated to helping other writers do the same. With bi-monthly newsletters, a blog, and a podcast, LittleZotz is a great source of practical tips for your freelance life.

    Post you’ll like: 12 Common Freelance Writer Mistakes

    47. Make a Living Writing

    At Make a Living Writing, Carol Tice helps writers move up from low-paying markets and earn more from their work. With her blog, e-books and paid community, you’ll find awesome advice, support and resources to grow as a freelance writer.

    Post you’ll like: How I Made 6 Figures as a Freelance Writer

    48. Pen & Pro$per

    At Pen & Pro$per, Jennifer Brown Bank shares more than 15 years of professional writing experience to help others reach financial success with their writing. As one The Write Life reader said, “With an outstanding array of diverse topics, tips and tricks of the writing profession, this is a blog well worth bookmarking!”

    Post you’ll like: The Definitive Guide to When to Write for Free

    49. Untamed Writing

    “Your life is YOUR life. You should be able to do whatever you want with it.” So says Karen Marston, founder of Untamed Writing, her internet home for helping people build a freelance writing career they love without sacrificing their freedom. You’ll find a full archive of blog posts, resources and courses to develop your writing skills, fearlessly approach clients, and maintain a successful career.

    best websites for writers

    50. Writers in Charge

    With over 600 posts in its archives, Writers in Charge is filled with resources and leads for freelance writers who are looking to be well-compensated for their work. Don’t miss founder Bamidele Onibalusi’s master list of 110 websites that pay writers.

    Post you’ll like: The Ultimate List of Magazines that Pay Writers

    51. Writers Weekly

    Around since 1997, Writers Weekly is a tried-and-true resource for freelance writers. It offers regular updates on paying markets, as well as expert interviews and success stories.

    Post you’ll like: How To Be A Paid Freelance Writer While Attending School

    52. Writing Revolt

    At Writing Revolt, Jorden Roper is leading a revolution to help freelance writers and bloggers make serious money. Her site is filled with actionable articles, courses and resources that will help you become better at writing, pitching and landing great clients.

    Post you’ll like: How I Built a $5,000/mo Freelance Writing Business in 4 Months

    53. HubSpot

    For business, sales and marketing-focused writers, HubSpot is a great place to stay on top of the latest research, insights, and strategies for connecting with your audience and making them fall in love with your brand.

    Post you’ll love: How to Validate Your Blog Post Topics: A 3-Step Process

    54. Kikolani

    Founder Kristi Hines brings you the latest strategies, trends and how-tos in digital marketing. Kikolani is a must-have resource for business and professional bloggers who want to make their brands stand out.

    Post you’ll like: How to Develop Your Blog While Stealing Content From Others

    55. MarketingProfs

    If you’re looking to grow your expertise in marketing communications, MarketingProfs is the place to go. It offers articles, podcasts, training events and more, so you can learn to use strategic, data-driven marketing.

    Post you’ll like: Five Steps to Integrating Your Blog, Social Media, and Email Marketing

    56. Seth Godin

    Seth Godin’s blog might not be specifically about writing, but his daily bits of wisdom on business, marketing and life will help you approach your work in new ways. His posts never fail to inspire an energy to “Go, make something happen.”

    Post you’ll like: Pumpkin Seeds

    57. Shelley Hitz

    Shelley Hitz believes everyone has a message, and she’s on a mission to help you reach your target audience and build your author platform. With her blog posts, podcast and Author Audience Academy, you’ll find tons of content on book writing, publishing and marketing.

    Post you’ll like: How to Set Up Your Goodreads Author Profile (And Why You Should!)

    58. The Creative Penn

    Author Joanna Penn has built a best-selling writing career, and she wants to help you do it, too. Her site offers a wealth of resources on self-publishing and platform-building — from her articles and ebooks to her popular podcast library of author interviews.

    Post you’ll like: Social Media Tips for Writers with Frances Caballo

    59. Beautiful Writers Podcast

    On the Beautiful Writers Podcast, host Linda Sivertsen features authors and thought leaders about their writing, business and publishing adventures. With a touch of spirituality, these conversations are great listens for those interested in creative contemplation.

    Episode you’ll like: Brené Brown: Daring to Create Greatly

    60. Create If Writing

    We all love writing, but sometimes platform building and promotion don’t feel as natural. That’s where Create If Writing comes in; host Kirsten Oliphant shares tips and tools on how to build an authentic platform for your creative brand.

    Episode you’ll like: How NOT to Be Smarmy in Facebook Groups

    61. I Should Be Writing

    With author interviews and a huge archive, I Should Be Writing chronicles the journey to becoming a professional author. Conversations focus primarily on speculative fiction and traditional publishing.

    Episode you’ll like: Crippling Fear

    62. Rocking Self Publishing

    Looking to be a published indie author? This podcast is for you. Each week host Simon Whistler interviews some of the top names in self-publishing, so you can create success for yourself.

    63. Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast

    On the Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast, the hosts interview successful authors, engage in group discussions and dive deep into specific writing genres and niches. This is a smart listening option for those looking for solid discussion around the science fiction and fantasy markets.

    Episode you’ll like: Succeeding in the Super Hero Genre

    64. Self Publishing Formula

    Hosted by a writer who’s just starting out and another who is a best-selling author, the Self Publishing Formula podcast features interviews with some of the biggest names in the self-publishing game. Listen for tips on writing, publishing, marketing and more.

    Episode you’ll like: Dealing With Criticism from Editors and Readers with Dr. Debra Holland

    65. Story Geometry

    Ben Hess is an award-winning producer, director and screenwriter. After hitting a creative wall, he decided to start Story Geometry, where he interviews esteemed writers on their craft.

    Episode you’ll like: The Deep End

    66. Story Grid

    On the Story Grid podcast, author Shawn Coyne and “struggling” writer Tim Grahl discuss the art and science of writing a story that resonates. There’s a blueprint for great novels — and these co-hosts seek to crack the code.

    Episode you’ll like: How to Write a Great Love Story

    67. The Dead Robots’ Society

    Throughout the nearly 400 episodes in its archive, the many hosts of The Dead Robots’ Society gather to discuss their writing journeys and offer tips on the writing process. They also  occasionally invite guests on the show.

    Episode you’ll like: Being a Career Writer

    68. The Worried Writer

    On The Worried Writer podcast, Sarah Painter investigates how authors overcome anxiety, distractions and worried feelings on their way to publishing success. Listen to this podcast if you’re looking for practical advice on managing self doubt.

    Episode you’ll like: Siobhan Curham: ‘Keep Your Life Interesting’

    69. The Writer Files

    On The Writer Files, host Kelton Reid uncovers the secrets of productivity and creativity of some of the most well-known writers. If you find yourself stuck, plagued with writer’s block or just need to get those writing gears turning again, this podcast is for you.

    Episode you’ll like: How Wired Magazine’s Senior Maverick Kevin Kelly Writes

    70. Writer 2.0

    On Writer 2.0, A. C. Fuller sits down with bestselling authors and publishing experts like literary agents and book marketers. This show offers great content around both traditional and self-publishing, as well as the writing journey.

    Episode you’ll like: The NY Publishing Scene with Susan Shapiro

    71. Writing Class Radio

    This show brings you inside an actual writing class, where you can hear other people tell their stories, witness breakthroughs, and hear the ins and outs of learning to write well.

    72. Writing Excuses

    In these weekly 15-minute episodes, writers Brandon Sanderson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Howard Tayler, and Dan Wells talk about all things writing. They often have season-long themes — check out season 10 for a masterclass-type season on creating a story.

    Episode you’ll like: Seriously, Where Do You Get Your Ideas?

    73. Your Creative Life

    On the Your Creative Life podcast, co-hosts Vanessa Carnevale and Kimberley Foster help writers connect to their creativity. With discussions on publishing, platform building and different genres of writing, this is a choice place to find inspiration.

    74. Anne R. Allen

    Publishing veterans Anne R. Allen and Ruth Harris created this online space to offer wisdom and tips for navigating the increasingly complex (and sometimes predatory) publishing world. Whether you’re an indie author or looking to land a traditional publishing deal, check out their archives and resources.

    Post you’ll like: Dreaming of a Writing Career? 6 Things New Writers Can do NOW

    75. Better Novel Project

    Christine Frazier takes a scientific approach to writing a best-selling novel. She deconstructs popular books to pinpoint the common elements they share. These findings are then incorporated into the “master outline” for a better, research-backed novel. Follow along for insights on plot, word counts and character development.

    Post you’ll like: How to Create a Remarkable Villain (Beyond the Cliches!)

    76. Go Teen Writers

    Stephanie Morrill knows a love of writing often starts at a young age. That’s why she created Go Teen Writers: to provide encouragement, community and wisdom to aspiring teen writers who want to learn more about how to finish a novel and get it published.

    Post you’ll like: What Teen Writers Should Know About Pitching Their Book

    77. Helping Writers Become Authors

    Consider K. M. Weiland your writing and publishing mentor. With hundreds of blog posts, instructional ebooks, and an exclusive e-letter, her website is the perfect place to find the answers to all your questions. She also responds to every email she receives (really!) about writing, publishing and marketing fiction.

    Post you’ll like: My Writing Process: How I Use Scrivener to Outline My Novels

    78. Jane Friedman

    Former publisher Jane Friedman explores the intersection of publishing, authorship and the digital age. With more than 15 years in the industry, Friedman knows her stuff — and her blog is a wealth of information on how to embrace “the future of authorship.”

    Post you’ll like: 5 Observations on the Evolution of Author Business Models

    79. Jenny Bravo Books

    Author Jenny Bravo offers personal anecdotes and guidance for writers who want to take a leap into the publishing world. From her blog full of tips to her “Blots and Plots Party” Facebook group, to her Busy Writers Starter Kit, Jenny is here to help you realize your dream of writing a book.

    Post you’ll like: 5 Ways to Create Your Own Writing Space

    80. My Story Doctor

    At My Story Doctor, author David Farland offers tips and workshops on how to write your story and get it published. He offers strategic advice on the business of writing, covering topics like how to get great deals and make the most of your publishing opportunities.

    Post you’ll like: Make the Bookstores Your Partners

    81. Nail Your Novel

    At Nail Your Novel, bestselling ghostwriter and book doctor Roz Morris shares her best traditional and self-publishing tips as well as musings on the writing process. Be sure to check out her radio show “So You Want to Be a Writer?”

    Post you’ll like: 5 Things That Established Authors Would Tell New Writers

    82. Novel Publicity

    The team at Novel Publicity believes every story should be told, and have its own platform and loyal fans. With that core belief in mind, it provides guidance on writing, marketing and publishing. Posts cover everything from social media strategy and book design to finances and author blogging.
    Post you’ll like: Money, Money, Money: The Finances of Publishing

    83. Self-Publishing School

    Chandler Bolt believes everyone has a book inside them. With proven systems and strategies, the Self-Publishing School blog will walk you through writing and publishing your book, even if you don’t even know what you want to write about yet!

    Post you’ll like: Find a Book Idea That Sells: 3 Things You Must Check Before You Write Your Book

    84. She’s Novel

    It took Kristen Kieffer two and a half years to finish her first draft — then she realized she had made every mistake in the book. She vowed not to let these personal lessons go to waste, so she created She’s Novel, a blog and resource hub that helps writers more-easily navigate the journey of crafting brilliant novels.

    Post you’ll like: How to Write a Book Series

    85. Standoutbooks

    You’ve written your book. Now what? Standoutbooks has tons of articles, templates, tools and resource recommendations for getting your book published and marketed to the max. While you’re there, grab your free Book Marketing Plan and Press Release templates.

    Post you’ll like: Understanding Cultural Trends Can Help You Write a Bestseller

    86. The Book Designer

    At The Book Designer, Joel Friedlander uses his experience in book design, advertising and graphic design to help writers “build better books” and get published. Along with his extensive blog archive, check out his book design templates and Book Launch Toolkit.

    Post you’ll like: 5 Favorite Free Fonts for Interior Book Design

    87. The Steve Laube Agency

    What better way to get book publishing advice than from an agent himself? From resource recommendations to eight years (and counting!) of blog archives, The Steve Laube Agency website is full of advice for writers who are taking their first steps into the world of publishing.

    Post you’ll like: Who Decides to Publish Your Book?

    88. Writer’s Digest Editor Blogs

    Writer’s Digest is home to many resources, competitions, and communities. Their editor columns are quite popular, and we particularly like The Write Life contributor Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents, featuring all types of information on finding literary agents, sending query letters, building an author platform and marketing your book.

    Post you’ll like: 5 Things I Learned on Deadline

    89. Writer’s Relief

    For more than 20 years, Writer’s Relief has helped creatives successfully submit their writing to literary journals, book publishers, agents and more. The staff’s blog is full of publishing tips, and they also have a paid-subscriber-only classifieds section listing contests, conferences and residences.

    Post you’ll like: Top Ten Ways To Annoy Literary Agents

    90. Chronicles

    Chronicles is a thriving community for science fiction and fantasy writers. Community members gather to discuss favorite books, authors and common themes in science fiction and fantasy writing.

    Join the Chronicles community

    91. Fiction Writing

    The Fiction Writing Facebook group is a community of nearly 10,000 writers. Here, you can post your writing for critique or reviews, and veteran members can announce details about upcoming book releases and published pieces.

    Join Fiction Writing here

    92. Inkitt

    Inkitt is a data-driven book publisher and community where writers can share their work and find an audience for free, even if their novel is not yet finished. Inkitt’s algorithm analyzes reading behaviors to understand whether a novel has a strong potential to become a big success. If readers love your work, Inkitt will offer you a publishing deal.

    Check out Inkitt’s community groups

    93. Insecure Writer’s Support Group

    Whether you’re just beginning to write or a best-selling pro, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group is here to help you overcome whatever doubts and insecurities might keep you from being your best.

    Join Insecure Writer’s Support Group

    94. Now Novel

    The Now Novel program offers a structured, straightforward way to get your book done. With a step-by-step process that takes the guessing out of what to do next, personalized mentorship and community groups for even more support, you’ll be an author in no time.

    Join Now Novel

    95. Prose

    Prose is a social network platform for writers who want to focus on the work — not the superficiality of social media. This is a great place to publish your work, connect with other authors, and participate in writing challenges.

    Join Prose

    96. She Writes

    Over 27,000 writers of all levels of expertise have joined this buzzing community, founded by author Kamy Wicoff. At She Writes, you can create your own profile, build your network, share your work, get expert advice and feedback and discuss all types of topics in the forum.

    Post you’ll like: 5 Tips for Turning Your Career into a Novel

    97. Talentville

    Talentville is the online destination for screenwriters and storytellers. This community focuses on bringing together people across the industry — from novice script writers to top agents and producers — so high-quality work can be easily discovered.

    Join Talentville

    98. The Masters Review

    This community is focused on supporting emerging writers. They publish works from writers who don’t have published novels and haven’t been featured on larger platforms yet. Be on the lookout for their annual anthology, which features the 10 best emerging writers in the country.

    Post you’ll like: Submission Strategies

    99. Two Drops of Ink

    Two Drops of ink is a literary blog accepting submissions from writers of almost any genre. The editors also post book reviews and blog posts about writing and the publishing industry.

    Post you’ll like: Memory Lane: Memoir and Reverse Writing

    100. Wattpad

    At Wattpad, “Stories are made social.” Hailed as the world’s largest community of writers and readers, members are free to post and read original stories and engage in conversation with each other. This is a great platform to build buzz around your writing.

    Join the community here

    What writing sites would you add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!

    This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!
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  • 7 Must-Have Resources for Your First Year as a Freelance Writer

    7 Must-Have Resources for Your First Year as a Freelance Writer

    When I kick-started my freelance writing career last year, I scoured the Internet for resources. I asked every freelancer I knew well enough for their recommendations.

    I didn’t know much about how to make it in this field. I needed every piece of advice I could find!

    Although I’m close to my first anniversary as a paid writer, I’m still constantly searching for these resources.

    I’ve compiled a list of resources that have benefited me professionally for other novice freelance writers looking to improve their skills.

    1. Your dream publication’s website

    This seems obvious, but it’s so-often overlooked.

    Sometimes, publication editors offer specific directions on how to pitch to them, such as Jessica Reed from The Guardian and Rachel Krantz at Bustle. Although these editors can be specific, the basic principles apply to others.

    You might be making some mistakes these editors don’t like, and guess what? If both The Guardian and Bustle don’t like it, chances are other editors won’t, either.

    2. Jessica Reed’s Pitch Clinic

    Every week, Guardian editor Jessica Reed reviews a pitch submitted by a freelancer to Medium. If you want to someday score a byline in the British publication, pay close attention.  Reed breaks down each pitch and provides critical feedback section by section.

    At the end, she’ll grade the pitch from A to F.

    If you’re interested in submitting a pitch you’re working on, you can email her — your query will remain anonymous.

    3. BinderCon

    BinderCon is a professional-development conference for women and gender-nonconforming writers. Its nonprofit, Out of the Binders, holds conferences twice a year in New York City and Los Angeles, offers workshops, and hosts a podcast, The BinderCast.

    At the first BinderCon ever, held at NYU’s campus in Manhattan, I signed up for speed-pitching sessions with prestigious editors at The Atlantic and Guernica. It was my first experience pitching an editor, and it happened to be in person.

    As expected of a newcomer and a college senior, I completely flunked both opportunities. But, I received some critical feedback I likely wouldn’t have gotten over email.

    To better understand BinderCon’s sessions, check out Women Who Pitch: Freelancing In The Digital Age on Medium. It’s a recap of a freelance writing panel from the most BinderCon in Los Angeles in March 2016.

    4. Morning Coffee Freelance Writing Newsletter

    Although this isn’t exactly a pitching resource, it’s an easy way to find and score freelance gigs to supplement your income. If you’re lucky enough to land one of these side jobs, the experience will likely benefit you as a novice freelance writer.

    The newsletter recently experienced an ownership change. Curator Brian Scott, who recently revived Online-Writing-Jobs.com, has passed the torch — and while there are some changes, you can still expect to learn about paid opportunities.

    In between jobs last fall, I responded to a Morning Coffee listing for a fashion blogger.

    Although I already had solid blogging experience, I wasn’t well-versed in fashion. But the site invited me on as a contributor based upon previous writing samples. I’m paid a small fee, and my posts go through very little revision and editing.

    It’s an excellent source to create my own passive income, based upon however many posts I decide to publish.

    5. Poynter Institute

    The Poynter Institute is a journalism education nonprofit located in St. Petersburg, Florida. Its News University offers training, both online and in-person, at varying prices.

    However, there are a ton of free webinars available with a free membership.

    I started listening to free webinars while completing homework in college.

    By day, I work as a copywriter for a real-estate marketing firm. I’m attracted to real estate-based webinars like How to Use Your Housing Data on Your Beat and How to Cover Housing Stories in Your Community. Because of Zillow’s sponsorship, these replays are available free of charge.

    6. Pitching Shark

    A college friend who also happens to be a freelancer shared this email newsletter with me early on in my freelancing career. It’s written by Sulagna Misra once a month.

    Last fall, I reached out to Sulagna about a pitch that was rejected a dozen times: A few months prior, I interviewed a woman tribal activist while studying abroad in India. She provided me a few tips, but it wasn’t until her next newsletter that I found the biggest advice: She introduced The Establishment’s call for pitches.

    Based upon what I had learned from this newsletter and its creator, I honed my pitch and sent it over to an editor at The Establishment. Despite previous rejections, my story found a new home with a warm welcome. It took me ten months to find a home for this one!

    7. The Freelancer by Contently

    Alongside The Write Life, I started following Contently’s blog, The Freelancer, when I started my career. The site’s articles constantly help me improve how I pitch stories.

    I frequently find fellow freelancers covering topics I never considered, such as the best email subject lines and why an editor isn’t responding to my pitch.

    Here of some of my favorites.

    Contently also offers an online portfolio system to compile your writing samples.

    What other resources would you recommend a novice freelance writer?

  • Tracking Freelance Earnings: January 2016 Income Report

    Tracking Freelance Earnings: January 2016 Income Report

    How was your first month of 2016? Did you set a freelancing goal? Did you take steps to achieve it? Let’s look at how I did this January, and check in with another freelancer about her freelancing goals.

    First, my January numbers:

    Completed pieces: 64

    Work billed: $5,676

    Earnings received: $4,884.30

    I wrote roughly 57,000 words in January, with an average per-piece earning of $89. My highest earning piece was $1,029, and my lowest-earning piece was $78.

    I would have earned more than $6,000 this month, except one client canceled an assignment. This is the kind of thing that happens once in a while, which means it’s always important to plan more work than you need. When I say I want to earn $5,000 every month, I know I need to plan to earn a little more, just in case something like this happens.

    Checking in on my freelancing goals

    How am I doing on my freelancing goals?

    I’m on target to maintain my $5,000 monthly income. I’m also working towards building new client relationships. However, I fell behind in my goal to work reasonable hours. I spent the first half of January ending my workday — and turning off social media — by 6:30 p.m., but during the second half of the month the hours started creeping up again.

    I’ve heard other people say 2016 already feels busier than 2015, so I’m curious if you feel that way as well. I have a lot of opportunities available to me this year, which means putting in extra hours to make sure I both manage my workload and build the foundation for the work I want to be doing in the second half of 2016.

    However, I have already made changes for February. The biggest change? Telling clients I already have a full workload for the month, and can’t start any new projects until March. Let’s hope I can keep that resolution and keep my workload manageable!

    But enough about me. I also made a goal to turn this column into a collaboration, so today we’re going to look at another freelancer and her 2016 goals.

    Q&A with MaryBeth Matzek of 1BizzyWriter

    MaryBeth Matzek is a freelancer whose work includes journalism, blogging and content marketing. She also owns a quarterly agriculture publication, Midwest Agriculture Almanac. Learn more about Matzek’s work at 1BizzyWriter, or follow her on Twitter at — you guessed it — @1BizzyWriter.

    ND: What is your freelance life like?

    MM: Busy. I feel like I constantly have multiple irons in the fire at all times, but it’s better than the alternative — not having enough work. 2016 marks my 10th year as a freelancer and honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love the flexibility it gives me to help out at my children’s school, with their sports teams and not having to worry or explain why I need time off for doctors’ appointments, illnesses, etc. I write primarily for publications — mostly business and trade focused.

    What would you like to improve about your freelancing career?

    I would like more balance — at times, the work can seep into my family time, which is not what I want. I would like to replace lower-paying clients with ones that pay more so I can earn more and work the same amount (or less).

    What steps are you taking to help you get there? Have you had success so far?

    I have let one client go that was too much work for the money to free up my time to find additional, better-paying work. After doing that, I was able to connect with a trade magazine publisher that provided me with a lot of work. As for finding a balance and being more organized, that’s still a work in progress. I always start out Mondays with good intentions, but by the end of the week, my desk is a complete mess.

    Do you have an income goal for 2016?

    In 2015, I grew my income by nearly $20,000 so I would like to maintain that gain in 2016 and if possible grow it by a few more thousand.

    What steps are you taking to hit that income goal? Have you had success so far?

    We’re only a month into the year so I haven’t had too much time to find new partnerships, but I continue to work on growing the ones I have with clients and publications. I know I need to send out additional letters of inquiry and pitches to publications and websites that I’m interested in writing for and need to build that time into my schedule every week.

    What is the hardest part of freelancing, for you?

    Finding balance between too much work that I can’t breathe and that not having enough work that I panic about never finding work again, which is ridiculous I know since I have several clients I can consistently rely on for work each month. But as I found out in 2015 when two smallish clients cut their budgets and I lost work, I can’t always rely on that.

    What do you feel like you do really well as a freelancer?

    Write compelling, well-written articles on time. Editors also love that I’m easy to work with — want me to find another source or have the story in by Friday? Sure, I can do that. My 11 years of daily newspaper experience provided me with a great skill set that allows me to just do that.

    What advice do you have for other freelancers?

    Don’t give up and always make your deadline. And if you need more time, ask for it and explain why at least one day before the deadline. As an editor on the other side of the table, nothing is worse than when you expect a story and then have it not show up.

    Share your January stories

    Now that you’ve seen my freelancing update and learned how MaryBeth Matzek is planning to structure her goals for 2016, it’s time to share your January stories. How did you do this month? Did you make your income goal? Did you pitch a new client? Did you write something you’d like to share with us?

    Share your January successes and struggles in the comments.

    If you’d like to be part of a future Tracking Freelance Earnings column, email me at dieker.nicole@gmail.com. See you all next month with a new update!

  • The 100 Best Websites for Writers in 2016

    The 100 Best Websites for Writers in 2016

    Editor’s note: Looking for our most updated list of best writing websites? Here’s our list for 2021.

    Internet overwhelm is real, guys. How many unread articles and blog posts do you have in your RSS reader? And what about those Facebook and Twitter feeds?

    How do we keep track of it all? As writers, we want to keep up with the latest industry news, advice and opportunities, but we don’t have time to sift through everything happening in the online world.

    That’s why we created this year’s list of the 100 Best Websites for Writers. Thanks to your suggestions, you’ve helped us curate hundreds of websites to bring you the best of the best. Many are tried-and-true favorites previously featured in our 2014 and 2015 lists, and we’re excited to have dozens of newcomers to showcase this year.

    No matter what you want to accomplish in 2016, we’re sure you’ll find quality inspiration and resources.

    We’ve broken this year’s list into seven categories: Blogging, entrepreneurship, creativity and craft, freelancing, marketing, publishing, and writing communities. All sites are listed in alphabetical order within their categories, and the numbers are for easy tracking (not ranking).

    And if you’re looking to keep up with these sites on a daily basis, here’s an easy way to do that: we’ve compiled a Twitter list of all the websites in this post. Click here to subscribe via Twitter.

    Warning: this list may inspire you to start your own website! If you want to start your own website or blog, here’s our step-by-step guide.

    Sit back and explore. Cheers to the amazing resources you’ve helped us collect!

    blogging

    1. Be a Freelance Blogger

    Sophie Lizard is here to teach you how to take your freelance blogging skills to pro level. Through her blog posts, free community and jobs board, you’ll be able to increase your blogging income and become an expert in your niche.

    Post you’ll like: The Batman vs. Superman Guide to Freelance Blogging

    2. Beyond Your Blog

    Are you working to grow your blog audience? Beyond Your Blog provides practical tips and resources for getting published on other blogs and and in digital publications, so you can tap into new groups of engaged fans.

    Post you’ll like:  8 Things to Avoid When Pitching a Website or Print Publication

    3. Boost Blog Traffic

    In the big blogosphere, it’s hard to stand out and let your voice be heard over the noise. Jon Morrow and the Boost Blog Traffic team offer a wealth of resources to increase traffic to your site and build community — without sacrificing quality content.

    Post you’ll like: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Irresistible Subheads

    4. Copyblogger

    Take your content marketing, SEO and community building skills to the next level with Copyblogger’s library of free ebooks, blog posts, forums and more. It’s a leading resource for professional blogging from the creators of the Rainmaker Platform for digital marketing.

    Post you’ll like: 10 Content Marketing Goals Worth Pursuing

    5. ProBlogger

    It’s a trustworthy blog about how to blog. Founder Darren Rowse and the ProBlogger team bring you all the latest news and tips to build a better blog. This site offers extensive resources on how to monetize your blog as well as a job board constantly updated with new opportunities.

    Post you’ll like: 10 Simple Hacks That Will Increase Your Blog Traffic

    6. Sark e-Media

    With practical and motivational articles and a free 30-day blogging challenge, Sarah and Kevin Arrow help bloggers gain confidence in their writing so they can get the recognition and reach they deserve.

    7. The Daily Post

    You’ve picked out a website name, a theme, and have your WordPress site all set up — now what? At The Daily Post, the WordPress team helps you navigate your growth as a professional writer, with daily writing prompts, interviews with successful bloggers, writing and photo challenges, and WordPress tips.

    Post you’ll like: Writing About Books, Movies, Music: Quick Tips

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    8. Aerogramme Writers’ Studio

    Aerogramme Writers’ Studio keeps you up to date on writing news and opportunities, including contests, calls for submission, and MFA programs. The blog also contains tons of articles on the art of writing.

    Post you’ll like: Who Is Your Boo Radley? Finding Characters Who Motivate You To Write

    9. Ann Kroeker

    Author and writing coach Ann Kroeker is on a mission to help writers reach their goals by maximizing curiosity, creativity and productivity. Her website is home to numerous blog posts, podcasts and resources for writers.

    Post you’ll like: Write in the Middle of Traveling

    10. A Writer’s Path

    Author Ryan Lanz’s website is a wealth of information for aspiring authors. His blog features frequent guest posts, and his Writer’s Toolbox is constantly updated with his favorite picks for websites, blogs, music, apps and people.

    11. Bane of Your Resistance

    Using research in the creative process and neuroscience, Rosanne Bane takes on the big issue of writing resistance in all its forms: writer’s block, procrastination, perfectionism and more. Her weekly posts offer science-backed fixes to common problems for writers.

    Post you’ll like: Momentum Beats Writer’s Block Every Day

    12. Brain Pickings

    Maria Popova created Brain Pickings to document her intellectual, creative and spiritual growth. It’s an exploration into the brilliant discoveries of different disciplines, and how we can “cross-pollinate” these ideas to move us forward in creative thinking.

    Post you’ll like: How to Save Your Soul: Willa Cather on Productivity vs. Creativity, Selling Out, and the Life-Changing Advice That Made Her a Writer

    13. C. S. Lakin’s Live Write Thrive

    Author, editor and writing coach C. S. Lakin loves helping writers get their manuscripts ready for publication. On Live Write Thrive, she writes about proper scene structure, character development, editing and crafting a fantastic story.

    Post you’ll like: 3 Things You Must Have in Your Novel’s First Paragraph

    14. Elizabeth Spann Craig

    Prolific mystery author Elizabeth Spann Craig blogs about all things relevant to a writer’s life, including public speaking, productivity, gaining visibility and connecting with the wider author community. Her weekly roundup of writing articles is also a reader favorite.

    Post you’ll like: Tracking Our Recurring Storylines

    15. Fiction University

    Janice Hardy understands that there’s no “right” way to write. So instead of giving advice on what writers should be doing, she explains how you can make industry rules work for you. With new articles and guest columns every day, you’ll gain valuable insight into the book-writing and publishing process.

    Post you’ll like: Why We Should Do Bad Things To Our Characters

    16. Ink and Quills

    With more than 10 years of studying the craft of writing under her belt, Kaitlin Hillerich created Ink and Quills to help other writers reach their novel-writing goals and tell beautiful stories. With blog posts, worksheets, ebooks and courses, there’s tons to explore.

    Post you’ll like: How to Create Life-like Characters in 6 Steps

    17. Inky Girl

    Inky Girl is the place for children’s book writers and illustrators. Debbie Ridpath Ohi shares original comics, interviews with industry experts, and advice on telling unique stories. Her series on writing picture books is a reader favorite.

    Post you’ll like: Why Picture Books Are Important

    18. KidLit411

    KidLit411 is the ultimate place for children’s writers and illustrators. Founders Elaine Kearns and Sylvia Liu curate the latest in the industry, including new blogs, conferences, awards, writing challenges, publishing resources. They also post weekly author and illustrator interviews and have a thriving facebook community.

    Post you’ll like: The Weekly 411

    19. Live Write Breathe

    Live with passion, write well, and remember to breathe. These are the core principles of author Janalyn Voigt’s site, where she reminds aspiring authors that only when we lead a passionate life can we properly fuel our writing and succeed.

    Post you’ll like: How to Make Time to Write a Novel

    20. Positive Writer

    In the pursuit of creating work that matters, all writers get stuck from time to time. Doubts can creep in, and it’s sometimes hard to get back on track. Bryan Hutchinson offers motivating blog posts to help you move beyond writing paralysis and finish the work you set out to create.

    Post you’ll like: The Audacity to Be a Writer

    21. ProWritingAid

    The ProWritingAid blog is all about transforming good writing into great writing. From grammar tips, writing techniques, and software recommendations, this blog is a great resource if you’re looking to polish your prose.

    Post you’ll like: 5 Tricks for Writing Fast Without Losing Quality

    22. Script

    For more than 15 years, Script has been the top place to go for inside information on writing for film and television. With how-to articles, interviews, podcasts, influencer columns, webinars, courses and resource directories, you’ll find everything you need to keep up with the industry.

    Post you’ll like: Choosing Projects: Which Screenplay Should I Write Next?

    23. Susan Dennard

    In her blog and newsletter, author Susan Dennard shares her secrets: from planning your novel and  maximizing productivity, to facing writing fears and getting published.

    Post you’ll like: Maintaining Passion for a Story

    24. The Write Practice

    The number one thing all successful writers have in common? Practice. At The Write Practice, Joe Bunting and his team help you develop your writing rhythm and grow into your voice and identity as a writer.

    Post you’ll like: 10 Secrets to Write Better Stories

    25. Witty Title Here

    Witty Title Here is the blog “For female writers who give a damn,” offering writing advice, inspiration, writer spotlights, and more — all with a feminist twist. This site also publishes reader-submitted pieces and is a great place for writers who are just starting out and finding their voice.  

    26. Write or Die

    Writer Mandy Wallace believes that when it comes to writing, don’t wait to become inspired or for luck to strike. Just “Show up, shut up, and write,” and sooner or later it will all come together. Wallace’s blog documents the writing lessons she’s learned and offers practical guides for upgrading your own writing.

    Post you’ll like: Where to Find Story Ideas So Good, They Practically Write Themselves

    27. Writers Helping Writers

    Authors Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi are dedicated to creating one-of-a-kind resources that writers will actually use. Their books and blog posts focus on helping writers become better storytellers, and their One Stop For Writers library is teeming with tools for planning, researching and writing your book.

    Post you’ll like: The Subtle Knife: Writing Characters Readers Trust But Shouldn’t

    28. Writers In The Storm

    Just like their characters during perilous times, writers must weather the storm of their profession — and shifting industry tides. Run by a group of authors, the Writers In The Storm blog provides inspiration and tips for writers during all stages of the process.

    Post you’ll like: Honey, I Broke the Writing Process

    29. Writer Unboxed

    Frustrated their analytical articles about books and movies were rejected, founders Therese Walsh and Kathleen Bolton decided to create Writer Unboxed in 2006 so they could freely publish their observations. It has since grown into a thriving community where writers of all levels can contribute their thoughts on the craft of writing.

    Post you’ll like: Creative Work is Performance. Assess Your Creative Health Now.

    30. Write to Done

    Write to Done is all about learning to write well. Founder Mary Jaksch brings the age-old advice to keep writing to a whole new level, noting that it’s not practice that makes you a better writer — it’s practice directed in a positive way.

    Post you’ll like: 201 Ways to Arouse Your Creativity  

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    entrepreneurship

    31. Author Media

    A writer’s website should be robust enough to support their growing online platform, but also simple to use. The team at Author Media is made of web designers, coders, and social media managers who share tips, resources, and plug-ins for fantastic author websites.

    Post you’ll like: 7 Ways Author Websites Irritate Readers (And What to Do About It)

    32. High-Income Business Writing

    In the High-Income Business Writing podcast and blog, Ed Gandia brings you everything you need to know about building a successful career in commercial writing. With over a decade of experience, he lets you in on the strategies and secrets of various  industries so you can find great clients and command top fees.

    Post you’ll like: Why You Should Start a Newsletter (and How to Keep it From Being a Drag)

    33. Men with Pens

    In the world of business, content is king — and that means your content creation, blogging, and online marketing have to be on point. Men with Pens, led by James Chartrand, has over 1,000 blog posts to help with all your content marketing, website-writing and small-business needs.

    Post you’ll like: 7 Simple Ways to Write a List Post That Gets Read

    34. Paid to Exist

    Jonathan Mead at Paid to Exist believes you can and should get paid for doing the things you’re passionate about. His blog, training programs and resource “backpack” can help you create a career you love on your own terms.

    Post you’ll like: Why quitting your job won’t solve all your problems

    35. Penelope Trunk

    Penelope Trunk has founded four startups, and she knows a thing or two around building community. Read her blog for life advice, career advice, and everything inbetween.

    Post you’ll like: How to pick a career you’ll like

    36. Productive Flourishing

    Productive Flourishing is the place for “doers,” the people who are ready to use their creative talents to help themselves and the world around them. At Productive Flourishing, you’ll learn about the new world of work and how to thrive in it.

    Post you’ll like: Clarity, Commitment, and Community: The 3Cs of Successful Thought Leaders

    37. Riskology

    To be a great entrepreneur and make your mark in this world, you have to be able to own who you are and believe in yourself. The team at Riskology presents science-backed strategies for embracing who you are and going for your goals.

    Post you’ll like: Law of Equal Effort: How to Do Big Things Without Burning Out

    38. Seth Godin

    Seth Godin’s daily bits of wisdom on business, marketing and life help you approach your work in new ways. His posts never fail to  inspire an energy to “Go, make something happen.” No matter your industry, Godin’s blog is not to be overlooked.

    Post you’ll like: Pumpkin Seeds

    39. Side Hustle Nation

    At Side Hustle Nation, you’ll learn how to take your tiny entrepreneurial streak and propel yourself to full financial freedom. Nick Loper’s blog and podcast spotlight different types of side gigs, along with case studies to fuel your business savvy.

    Post you’ll like: 5 Steps to Turn a Hobby Into a Business

    40. The Creative Penn

    Author Joanna Penn has built a best-selling writing career, and she wants to help you do it, too. Her site has a wealth of resources on self-publishing and platform-building — from her articles and ebooks to her popular podcast library of author interviews.

    Post you’ll like: Social Media Tips for Writers with Frances Caballo

    41. The Identity

    At The Identity, Lis Dingjan and her team help entrepreneurs build beautiful websites, courses, applications and systems. Her blog is an archive of her thoughts about system development, creativity, entrepreneurship, marketing, and going for your goals.

    Post you’ll like: The Thing About Money

    42. Untamed Writing

    “Your life is YOUR life. You should be able to do whatever you want with it.” So says Karen Marston, founder of Untamed Writing, her internet home for helping people build a freelance writing career they love without having to sacrifice their freedom. Here you’ll find a full archive of blog posts, resources, and courses to develop your writing skills, fearlessly approach clients, and maintain a successful career.

    43. Writing Happiness

    You have a great online business and an active blog. Now it’s time to up the ante and create some digital products. Look no further than Marya Jan’s website for guidance on creating ebooks and online courses.

    Post you’ll like: How to make sure your ebook will sell before you write a single word

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    freelancing

    44. About Freelance Writing

    This site lives up to its name, with hundreds of practical posts on how to market your skills, price your projects, and deal with the nitty-gritty aspects of a freelance business. Around for more than  a decade, About Freelance Writing is a tried and true favorite for many writers.

    45. Comps & Calls

    On the first of each month, Cathy Bryant posts an extensive list of competitions, contests and calls for submission. She notes whether they’re paid or not, for quick skimming. This site is a great one-stop-shop for all recent writing opportunities.

    Post you’ll like: Comps and Calls for January 2016  

    46. Freelancer FAQs

    You have questions, they have answers. Team members and  guest contributors at Freelancer FAQs address all the things you’ve ever wanted to know about freelance life, including marketing, getting started, recommended resources, money management and more.

    Post you’ll like: How Does a Freelance Writer Stay Organized When They’re Too Busy?

    47. Freelancers Union

    You live to write, but remember that as a freelancer, you’re also an independent business owner. This means dealing with contracts, handling your own health insurance, figuring out taxes and more. The Freelancers Union is the major hub for everything having to do with living a great freelancer life.

    48. Freelance Writers Academy

    The founders of Freelance Writers Academy say enough is enough when it comes to low wages and content mills. In this community of freelancers helping freelancers, you’ll find valuable advice and resources for freelance business building as well as employment leads.

    Post you’ll like: 13 Worthwhile Hobbies That’ll Make You Better At Brainstorming Freelance Writing Topics

    49. Freelance Writing

    It’s been around since 1997 and is still going strong: Freelance Writing has an extensive archive of articles, tutorials, media and resources all geared to helping you build a successful career. Its jobs listings are updated daily, so you’re always in the know about new opportunities.

    Post you’ll like: 6 Freelance Writing Niches That Are Often Overlooked

    50. Freelance Writing Jobs

    With a job board updated daily and more than eight years of freelance writing and blogging tips, this site is a favorite for writers all over the world. It’s regularly updated with all the latest trends and resources freelancers should know about.

    Post you’ll like: How to Engage a Reader When you are Writing About a Boring Topic

    51. FundsforWriters

    Hope Clark believes writing can be a realistic career for all writers. Her weekly newsletter lists the best competitions, grants and other well-paying markets, and her platform has grown to include a blog and a bi-weekly paid newsletter with even more high-paying opportunities per issue.

    Post you’ll like: No Room for Snark

    52. LittleZotz Writing

    Lauren Tharp has found a way to write as a freelancer full time and is dedicated to helping other writers do the same. With bi-monthly newsletters and blog posts along with a brand new podcast, LittleZotz is a great source of practical tips for your freelance life.

    Post you’ll like: 12 Common Freelance Writer Mistakes

    53. Make a Living Writing

    At Make a Living Writing, Carol Tice is dedicated to helping writers move up from low-paying marketings and start earning more from their work. With her blog, ebooks, and paid community, you’ll find awesome advice, support and resources to grow as a freelance writer.

    Post you’ll like: How I Made 6 Figures as a Freelance Writer

    54. Productive Writers

    As a full-time freelance writer, John Soares loves what he does. But he’s also interested in getting the most out of life and not having to work around the clock. At Productive Writers, he shares strategies to help freelancers get high-paying gigs, finish them quickly and get back to life.

    Post you’ll like: 8 Simple Steps to Writing Faster

    55. The International Freelancer

    Freelancing isn’t the same everywhere in the world. Mridu Khullar Relph created The International Freelancer to provide targeted advice and resources to freelancers who work outside of the U.S. and U.K. This community is also a great source of support for U.S.-based writers looking to break into the global market.  

    Post you’ll like: The Nuts and Bolts of Turning a Story Idea Into a Query

    56. The Middle Finger Project

    Above all else in your freelance career, you want to build a business that feels good, is fun, and is totally you. Ash Ambirge provides an entertaining (and often NSFW) take on being fearless in your business ventures and dealing with the hard stuff in a bada** way.

    Post you’ll like: Business Lacking Direction? Start With the Money

    57. The Renegade Writer

    We often think that to be successful, we have to follow the rules and play the game. At the Renegade Writer, Linda Formichelli offers advice on breaking into the world of writing by breaking the rules. If you’re looking to build a freelance writing career on your own terms, this is the site for you.

    Post you’ll like: How to Work Less and Earn More as a Freelance Writer

    58. Winning Writers

    Winning Writers is a go-to source for information about contests for poets and writers. It sponsors four annual contests and keeps tabs on many other writing competitions. Subscription

    Subscribe for free to gain access to Winning Writers’ database of writing contests.

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    59. Build Book Buzz

    When it comes to book publicity and marketing, you can definitely DIY it. Author and public-relations star Sandra Beckwith provides articles, training programs and other resources that help take the guesswork out of book marketing.

    Post you’ll like: Put Your Fictional Characters on Social Media

    60. Giving Voice to Your Story

    We all have a story — a key message we want to share with the world. Through her blog and corresponding radio show, Dorit Sasson helps writers, entrepreneurs and thought leaders build a trusting relationship with their audience so they can share their message and reach new levels of success.

    Post you’ll like: How Blogging Connects Authors with their Target Readers

    61. Jessica Lawlor

    Don’t let low confidence get in the way of your marketing success. Join Jessica Lawlor and the #GetGutsy community to find inspiration and tips on how to step outside your comfort zone and go for your goals.

    Post you’ll like: A Reverse To-Do List: What What You Say NO to Matters More Than You Think

    62. Kikolani

    Founder Kristi Hines  brings you the latest strategies, trends and how-tos in digital marketing. Kikolani is a must-have resource for business and professional bloggers who want to make their brands stand out.

    63. Michael Hyatt / Full Focus

    Michael Hyatt is the bestselling author of Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World, and his blog will help you do just that. Read for tips and resources about personal development, productivity, leadership, influence and more.

    Post you’ll like: 5 Steps to Building a Platform When You Hate Selling Yourself

    64. Quicksprout

    Recognized as a top entrepreneur and influencer by The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and even President Obama, Neil Patel is definitely a go-to guy for all things online marketing. He’s helped companies like Amazon and NBC increase their revenue, and his insanely useful content is sure to help your business as well.

    Post you’ll like: The Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Audience Before Your Business Launches

    65. Shelley Hitz

    Shelley Hitz believes everyone has a message, and she’s on a mission to help you reach your target audience and build your author platform. With her blog posts, podcast, and Author Audience Academy, you’ll find tons of content on book writing, publishing, and marketing.

    Post you’ll like: How to Set Up Your Goodreads Author Profile (And Why You Should!)

    66. Social Triggers

    To be successful in business, you’ve got to be able to persuade. At Social Triggers, marketing expert Derek Halpern shares his best tips, strategies and scripts for growing your audience and making the sale. His techniques are data driven, using the latest finds in psychology and social behavior.

    Post you’ll like: How to Email Influential People — And Get Responses Fast

    67. The Story of Telling

    Bernadette Jiwa says the secret sauce to great marketing is building context and understanding between you and your audience. Read her blog if you see marketing as not just a department, but also part of a holistic — and successful — entrepreneurial experience.

    Post you’ll like: The Value of Unknowns

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    68. Author.Pub

    Getting published is hard, and it only gets more complicated with a rapidly growing and shifting industry. That’s where Author.Pub steps in: helping aspiring authors manage the overwhelm of the publishing and marketing process through blog posts, guides and directories of trusted names and companies in book publishing.

    Post you’ll like: What NOT to Say to a Literary Agent (or Editor)

    69. Bent on Books

    The Bent on Books blog is run by Jenny Bent and a team of literary agents. Every month, they share their agent “wishlist” — the types of books they are looking to represent — as well as advice on marketing, publishing, working with an agent and more.

    Post you’ll like: How to Fire Your Agent

    70. Better Novel Project

    Christine Frazier takes a scientific approach to writing a best-selling novel. She deconstructs popular books to pinpoint the common elements they share. These findings are then incorporated into the “master outline” for a better, research-backed novel.  Follow along for insights on plot, word counts and character development.

    Post you’ll like: How to Create a Remarkable Villain (Beyond the Cliches!)

    71. Blots & Plots

    Founder and author Jenny Bravo offers personal anecdotes and guidance for writers who want to take a leap into the publishing world. The blog itself reads like a story, so it’s best to start at the very beginning to watch Bravo’s own publishing process unfold.

    Post you’ll like: 5 Ways to Create Your Own Writing Space

    72. Goins, Writer

    Best-selling author Jeff Goins created his site to inspire others to awaken to their creative gifts and develop their true voices. Through his blog posts, podcasts, and newsletters you’ll get an inside peek into the life of a successful creative professional, as well as practical advice for pursuing your own art.

    Post you’ll like: The Secret to Effortless Writing

    73. Go Teen Writers

    Stephanie Morrill knows a love of writing often starts at a young age. That’s why she created Go Teen Writers: to provide encouragement, community and wisdom to aspiring teen writers who want to learn more about how to finish a novel and get it published.

    Post you’ll like: What Teen Writers Should Know About Pitching Their Book

    74. Guide to Literary Agents (Writer’s Digest)

    One of the most popular blogs in publishing, Chuck Sambuchino’s Guide to Literary Agents is the go-to place for all types of information on finding literary agents, sending query letters, building an author platform and marketing your book.

    Post you’ll like: 5 Things I Learned on Deadline

    75. Helping Writers Become Authors

    Consider K. M. Weiland your writing and publishing mentor. With hundreds of blog posts, instructional e-books, and an exclusive e-letter, her website is the perfect place to find the answers to all your burning questions. She also responds to every email she receives (really!) about writing, publishing and marketing fiction.

    Post you’ll like: My Writing Process: How I Use Scrivener to Outline My Novels

    76. How to Plan, Write and Develop a Book

    Through her blog posts, weekly writing exercises, and 12-week book development courses, Mary Carroll Moore is devoted to helping writers bring their novels to fruition so they can move forward in the publishing process.

    Post you’ll like: Where Do You Get Your Ideas? A Basic Primer of a Novelist’s Writing Process

    77. Indies Unlimited

    Indies Unlimited is an overwhelming source of writing, publishing, tools and news resources for independent authors. With thousands of blog posts and weekly features like Tuesday Tutorials and Thrifty Thursday, you’ll always be able to learn something new.

    Post you’ll like: Self-editing: A Helping Hand

    78. Jane Friedman

    Former publisher Jane Friedman explores the intersection of publishing, authorship, and the digital age. With more than 15 years in the industry, Friedman knows her stuff — and her blog is a wealth of information on how to embrace the “future of authorship.”

    Post you’ll like: 5 Observations on the Evolution of Author Business Models

    79. Jody Hedlund, Author

    Follow along on Jody Hedlund’s writing journey. Her blog is full of advice, encouragement, and inspiration about writing and surviving today’s challenging publishing industry.

    Post you’ll like: 5 Traits that Foster Publishing Success

    80. Lisa Romeo Writes

    Non-fiction and freelance writer Lisa Romeo blogs on various helpful topics, like how to reclaim your writing life, get through troublesome pieces and navigate the business of writing. Her biggest piece of advice? Write first, and read blogs second!

    Post you’ll like: Unfinished: When it Comes to Personal Stories, Aren’t They All?

    81. Literary Rambles

    At Literary Rambles, blog partners Casey McCormick and Natalie Aguirre interview and highlight children’s book authors, literary agents and agencies. Get an inside look at the world of children’s book publishing.

    Post you’ll like: Researching Literary Agents Part I

    82. Nail Your Novel

    On Nail Your Novel, bestselling ghostwriter and book doctor Roz Morris shares her best traditional and self-publishing tips as well as musings on the writing process. Be sure to check out her radio show “So You Want to Be a Writer?”

    Post you’ll like: 5 Things That Established Authors Would Tell New Writers

    83. Novel Publicity

    The team at Novel Publicity believes every story should be told, and have its own platform and loyal fans. With that core belief in mind, it provides guidance on writing, marketing and publishing. Posts cover everything from social media strategy and book design to finances and author blogging.

    84. Rachelle Gardner

    Rachelle Gardner’s website is one of the most popular literary-agent blogs. Her blog archive is a great resource for sound advice on how to find and partner with the right agent, hone your elevator pitch, write a query letter and more.

    Post you’ll like: What’s an Author-Agent Agreement?

    85. She’s Novel

    It took Kristen Kieffer two and a half years to finish her first draft — then she realized she had made every mistake in the book. She vowed not to let these personal lessons go to waste, so she created She’s Novel, a blog and resource hub that helps writers more-easily navigate the journey of crafting brilliant novels.

    86. Standoutbooks

    You’ve written your book. Now what? Standoutbooks has tons of articles, templates, tools and resource recommendations for getting your book published and marketed to the max. Be sure to grab your free Book Marketing Plan and Press Release templates.

    Post you’ll like: Understanding Cultural Trends Can Help You Write a Bestseller

    87. Terribleminds

    If you’re looking for the honest — and often hilariously vulgar — truth about writing, Chuck Wendig is your guy. He’s not afraid to say what we’re all really thinking, which makes Terribleminds the perfect place to gain some writing confidence and get back to creating.

    Post you’ll like: Writing Advice Is Bullshit

    88. The Book Deal

    Established editor and industry insider Alan Rinzler offers advice on traditional publishing, self-publishing, landing an agent, marketing and more.

    Post you’ll like: What 4 Top Agents Desire in a Memoir

    89. The Kill Zone

    At The Kill Zone, you get access to the minds of 11 top suspense writers and publishing professionals. Each day brings new blog posts and insights into publishing, marketing and the writing craft.

    Post you’ll like: 12 Tips for a Book Blog Tour

    90. The Passive Voice

    Navigating publisher and writing contracts? Want to brush up on your knowledge of intellectual property litigation? Attorney David Vandagriff offers his (sometimes snarky) musings on the legal side of the writing business.

    91. The World’s Greatest Book

    You have a fantastic manuscript, and now it’s time to make it into a beautiful book. Author, editor and graphic designer Dave Bricker offers straight talk on the book production and publishing business, with insights on book design, typography and marketing.

    Post you’ll like: Book Design Basics: Choosing a Book Font

    92. Writability

    YA writer and soon-to-be-published author Ava Jae has made Writability her internet home for five years, sharing vlogs, book reviews, writing tips and how-tos, and blog posts about her own journey to getting published.

    Post you’ll like: How to Turn an Idea into a Plot

    writingcommunities

    93. 1st 10 Pages

    First impressions count, and that rule still applies in the writing world. At 1st 10 Pages, writers can post the first 10 pages of their work, to be anonymously reviewed by established industry insiders. Submit the beginning of your novel or movie script and see if you’re hitting the mark.

    Post you’ll like: Before You Submit To That Contest

    94. Fiction Writers Group

    This Facebook group of nearly 10,000 traditional, self-published and indie authors has been around since 2009. It’s a popular source of community and camaraderie without slimy self-promotion. The community also publishes three anthologies a year.

    Check out their member guidelines here.

    95. Scribophile

    At Scribophile, you’re sure to get high quality feedback on your work. The community works on a “karma points” system, in which you spend points in order to submit your writing, and receive points when you provide exceptional critiques. Scribophile also hosts free writing contests and hosts an active forum.

    Learn more about Scribophile here.

    96. She Writes

    Over 27,000 writers of all levels of expertise have joined this buzzing community, founded by author Kamy Wicoff. At She Writes you can create your own profile, build your network, share your work, get expert advice and feedback and discuss all types of things in the forum.

    Post you’ll like: 5 Tips for Turning Your Career into a Novel

    97. Two Drops of Ink

    Two Drops of ink is a literary blog accepting submissions from writers of almost any genre. The editors also post book reviews and blog posts about writing and the publishing industry.

    Post you’ll like: Memory Lane: Memoir and Reverse Writing

    98. Wattpad

    At Wattpad, “Stories are made social.” Hailed as the world’s largest community of writers and readers, members are free to post and read original stories and engage in conversation with each other. This is a great platform to build buzz around your writing.

    Join the community here.

    99. Write On

    The Amazon Kindle platform has branched out, creating an ultimate online community for writers at any stage of the creative process. Here you can talk shop on everything having to do with writing and publishing, and you can submit your writing and ideas for reviews and feedback.

    Start on the writer’s forum.

    100. Yeah Write

    To spotlight smaller blogs, Yeah Write hosts weekly writing challenges for nonfiction, fiction and poetry, and microstories. The entire community gets to vote on the most impressive stories and discover new favorite writers.

    Check out the writing challenges of the week.

    What writing sites would you add to this list? Did we include all your favorites?

  • Tracking Freelance Earnings: December Income Report From Nicole Dieker

    Tracking Freelance Earnings: December Income Report From Nicole Dieker

    How was your 2015 freelancing year? Did you land a new client? Hit a financial goal? Write something you were truly proud of?

    For those of you who have been following me all year, it’s time to take a look at my numbers and what I consider my biggest freelancing accomplishments. It’s also time to start planning my 2016 freelancing goals, including my goals for this column!

    Here are December’s numbers:

    Completed pieces: 55

    Work billed: $4,328

    Earnings received: $7,492.26

    I wrote a little over 40,000 words in December, completing 55 pieces with an average per-piece earning of $79. My highest earning piece was $944.

    A lot of publications take time off over the holiday season, and I was able to plan a full week away from work — which also meant my December earnings were lower than my $5,000 monthly income goal. I didn’t mind, though, because my year-end earnings received totaled $63,571.12 — $3,500 more than my $60,000 goal.

    In other words: I beat the freelance income goal I set for 2015.

    How I achieved my goal

    If you’ve been following my Tracking Freelance Earnings columns since the beginning, you might remember that in my first column, I listed my 2014 freelance earnings as $43,059.02.

    In 2015, I increased my freelance earnings by $20,000. That’s the kind of raise you rarely get in a so-called “real job!”

    How’d I do it? It comes down to two basic components:

    I set the goal

    Freelancing is different from other types of jobs because it doesn’t have specific boundaries. I can take on as many or as few pieces as I want — my only limit is the number of hours per day I am willing and able to work!

    So, when I decided at the beginning of 2015 that I wanted to earn $5,000 a month from my writing, I made a commitment to myself — and to you — that I would actively work to take on enough pieces to hit that goal. If I lost an income source (and I did), I would find another one. If I didn’t have enough work to fill out the month, I’d start hustling for more.

    It’s important to note I didn’t hit my $5,000 goal every month. Setting a goal doesn’t guarantee it will happen. Sometimes your regular clients won’t have the budget to assign you an extra piece, and sometimes the pitch you send out will get turned down. (If every pitch you send out gets turned down, make sure to read my other Write Life column, Pitch Fix.)

    But since I was working to earn at least $5,000, that meant some months I earned $4,000 and some months I earned $6,000. It averaged out to a successful freelancing year, even though I didn’t always hit my monthly goal.

    I had the freelancing background to achieve the goal

    I had two years of full-time freelancing experience before I set my 2015 income goal. I didn’t go from $0 to $60,000; I went from $35,000 to $43,000 to $63,000. If I hadn’t already had two years of building my skills and growing my network, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this goal.  

    I also picked a monthly income goal close to what I was already earning; by the end of 2014 I was regularly earning around $4,500 per month, so I decided to see if I could bump that up to $5,000.

    This goal was a stretch for me, but it was also a realistic stretch. If you want to set your own income goal for 2016, it’s important to choose a realistic stretch goal of your own, such as:

    • Taking your highest monthly earnings from 2015 and trying to match those earnings every month in 2016
    • Finding one new higher-paying client every three months
    • Sending out one new pitch per week

    Whatever 2016 goal you choose, make sure it’s just achievable enough that it doesn’t feel impossible. Then stretch yourself to make it happen. As you work towards your goal, you’ll probably start meeting other writers, editors and clients who can help you achieve it even faster. That’s what happened to me.

    My biggest freelancing accomplishments

    Hitting my freelance income goal was a huge accomplishment for me this year, but it’s not the only thing I’m proud of. Here are some of my 2015 highlights:

    • Writing the comedy piece “The Economics of Neko Atsume” at The Billfold, which received enormous positive response when I published it in June and gets a steady stream of new readers every day
    • Taking on additional writing and editorial responsibilities at The Billfold and being part of the team as The Billfold partnered with Medium
    • Writing “10 Mistakes That’ll Ruin Your Freelancing Career,” one of the three most popular pieces of 2015 at The Freelancer
    • Launching Pitch Fix at The Write Life
    • Providing financial advice to high school students at SparkLife
    • Funding the first draft of my novel The Biographies of Ordinary People through Patreon
    • Landing my first $1-per-word client
    • Earning enough money to move out of a studio apartment (with no kitchen) and into a one-bedroom
    • Successfully renegotiating many of my freelance rates for 2016

    I’m still working to improve my writing and connect with my audiences, but I’m happy with the work I’ve done this year.

    Goals for 2016

    This year, I’d like to maintain my $60,000 freelancing income. It would be nice if I grew my income, and I wouldn’t be surprised if I hit $65K this year, but I don’t expect another $20,000 jump.

    Instead, I want to focus on working reasonable hours. I’ve written before about the struggle to keep my workweek around 40 hours, and I want to make it a priority in 2016. Now that I feel like I’m earning enough, I can start to put the rest of my life back in balance.

    I also want to continue to build connections and new client relationships. A freelance career is an ever-changing thing, which means I always need to be working towards finding that next big job. If I want to keep my earnings constant and work fewer hours, I also need to land higher-paying assignments. That’s how it works.

    Finally, I want to build this column into a collaboration. I’m going to continue sharing my monthly income with you, but we’ve had a whole year of hearing about me. What about you?

    I’d love to interview some of you about your monthly earnings, as well as your freelance goals and what you do to achieve them. If you’re interested in being part of a future Tracking Freelance Earnings column, email me at dieker.nicole@gmail.com.

    Here’s to a new year!

    Did you achieve your 2015 freelancing goals? Write something you’re especially proud of? Share your accomplishments in the comments!