Being a remote writer is one of the most sought-after positions, and with good reason. Writers spend time reading books, white papers, and blogs. The way writers make us feel does not compare to many things. We can feel the emotion behind a Nicolas Sparks novel, the excitement of heading to our next destination through an inspiring travel blog, or even a social media post that makes your mouth water over a new recipe.
Writers are everywhere, but stepping into this world is not always the easiest. It is a highly saturated market that will take time and dedication to make a name for yourself. You have to be content with scraping the bottom of the barrel for a while, charging $.03 per word for someone to give you a chance, but believe me when I say the hard work pays off.
Throughout this article, I will walk you through the skills you need to land writing jobs, 5 steps to break into the world of writers and the best sites to find remote work!
What Do Remote Writers Do?
Remote writers are here to grasp the attention of a reader. Whether that be through a novel, a newspaper article, or an advertising copy. Writers are in charge of entertaining, convincing, and informing audiences everywhere. Attention to detail is critical in a remote writer’s role, along with research, organizational skills, editing, and revision of pieces.
Top Skills That Will Land You A Writing Job
When walking into an interview, be prepared. Show past work with confidence and let them know you have the expertise to dominate this role. Below are some focus points to land you your dream job.
Strong Writing Skills
Many people are mistaken about the qualifications of becoming a remote writer. An extensive background in literature, journalism, or creative writing is not necessary, it is just a plus. Do you have a natural draw to creative writing or informational pieces? Do your sentences have a flow and sharp understanding? The movement of the story, captivating wording, character descriptions? But here are a few things that are a must:
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Concise grammar & punctuation
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Ability to do research & develop it into clean material
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General flow in tone & style
Find A Position Within Your Niche
Filter through online job descriptions to see if you are a good fit for a specific role. By determining your expertise the work will fall naturally into what you might be best at. Not everybody is cut out for writing 12-page white papers, some do better in the travel business or product descriptions. Trust your gut and impress your interviewer with your strongest skill set!
Bring Along Writing Material
Be proud of your work! Walk in with your gratifying piece and flaunt it. Most employers will love the confidence and are more than happy to take a peak. This also gives them a taste of dedication. You are there for a reason and they now know you’re serious about it.
Do Your Research
Know as much about the company as you can, what they advocate for and strive to grow to. Educate yourself on their current writers and maybe even your favorite piece. Being knowledgeable about their mission and values will show you are highly interested in the role.
Ability To Accept Critical Feedback
This one is extremely important especially when working with clients of different genres. Some clients might be pickier than others, and just because your last customer loved your work doesn’t mean the next one will as well. You have to be able to take a step back, listen and work with them one on one.
Dress To Impress
Walking into an interview dressed and ready to show off will never get old! It shows many things besides just looking good. You care about yourself and in the end you would be a figure of their company, so it never hurts.
Market Your Skills
It is always smart to have a resource to show your work. Many writers create their own website to showcase their best projects. This not only enhances your skill sets but makes you stand out professionally. Once you have some solid work published, it makes the process much smoother and you will feel more confident about applying for jobs.
You Landed The Job! Now, What’s My Tone?
When landing a new gig some writers get confused on the essence of the tone they are meant to perceive. Am I writing with my own corky tone? Or a more straightforward and knowledgeable tone to catch the attention of my reader? Don’t worry too much, most employers will tell you right off the bat exactly what they are looking for. If they don’t, make sure to ask before writing a new starter piece. The last thing you would want is to write a whole article and have them hate it.
How Do I Secure My Jobs Long-Term?
Job roles shift all the time, and writing jobs don’t slide by unscathed. Stay refreshed.
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Dust up your grammar
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Don’t let little errors slip through the cracks
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Do the annoying work
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Pick up small gigs outside your comfort zone
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Outlines are your friend
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Take a quick online course
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Read like your life depends on it
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Continue in depth research
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Keep up with SEO trends
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Have someone look over your drafts
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Just keep writing
Where To Land Writing Jobs
These are the top three best starter sites to find the niche you might be looking for. Competition is high on these sites, but endless amounts of work almost daily.
Lastly, these forums will post work remote work regularly as well:
Once again, taking the time to filter through these job postings will be the easiest way to find what you will like the most. As well as what best fits your standards.
