Writing, especially freelance writing has always been perceived as a glamorous job. But in most cases than not this is not quite the scenario. Freelance writing is not as simple as sitting at the computer in a state of creative bliss and writing at one's heart's content.  You need rigorous preparation to establish yourself as a freelance writer.

Excellent writing skills are quite evidently the pre-requirement for a writing job. A degree in journalism or English is an added advantage. If you do not belong to a related field but have command over the language you want to write in it is better to start practising by writing for online communities. Invite feedback from peers or writing experts to know exactly where you stand. If needed, you can also enrol yourself for a writing course.  You can also look up various websites offering writing tips. These would not only help improve your writing skills but would also give you a fair idea about the industry. Once you are confident of your writing apply to freelancing websites. There is a huge abundance of websites recruiting freelance writers for online content writing.  This would help you learn the tricks of the trade. Writing on varied topics would widen your spectrum of knowledge and you would also learn to stick to deadlines. You can also volunteer to write for community publications.

Once you have gathered relevant experience you can apply to editors of publications.  With thousands of articles reaching an editor's desk it is difficult to get approval by simply sending an article.  So it is better to send a query letter to an editor through which you can give your qualifications and propose your idea for an article. You can also send an article "on spec". This means the editor would read your article but would not be under any obligation to publish it.  You also need to invest in a portfolio which would consist of photocopies of your published articles. This would help establish your experience as a professional writer.

Finally you must keep in mind the trials and tribulations of freelance writing. There are uncertainties galore. You need to continuously look for opportunities to keep yourself employed. There can be phases, long or short, when you might go completely out of work. You need to be very practical about your decision to take up freelance writing as a career and it is advisable to have another job to meet financial demands.

About the Author:
Varun M is a well known name in the arena of content writing. He has been a regular article contributor to various international article submission web directories. His articles and opinions have been widely accepted as the point of reference for respective subject matter.