What is Freelance Writing? And 3 Things You MUST Know

We’ve been teaching people how to build freelance writing businesses for over a decade inside Location Rebel Academy.

But even with all the content we’ve created, we’ve kind of skipped the most obvious question:

What is freelance writing, exactly?

And if you’re just starting out, the answer isn’t always as simple as it sounds.

So let’s go back to basics and clear up some confusion about what freelance writing actually is, what it includes, and what new writers should focus on first.

Everything You Need to Know About Freelance Writing in 5 Minutes

Want all the basics of becoming a freelance writer summed up in 5 minutes? Then this is the fast-paced video for you.

What Is Freelance Writing?

Freelance writing is getting paid to write.

That’s it.

But unlike a full-time writing job where you’re on salary and on payroll, a freelance writer is self-employed. You work with clients on a project or retainer basis, invoice them directly, and you decide who you work with (and when).

Sometimes it’s a single blog post. Other times, it’s a 6-month retainer writing newsletters, whitepapers, or SEO content.

You’re not on staff or in-house; you’re a writer for hire.

What Makes Freelance Writing So Popular?

People love freelance writing because you choose your clients, your projects, and your schedule. You can freelance part-time, full-time, or alongside another job.

Some writers work with one or two anchor clients every month. Others love juggling lots of different assignments. There’s no one way to do it, there are many paths to be successful at freelance writing.

You also control how you charge:

• Per word (common for blog writing or SEO content)

• Per project (popular for copywriting or email series)

• Hourly (some agencies prefer this)

• Monthly retainer (ideal for ongoing work with 1–2 core clients)

What are the most common types of freelance writing? 

What kind of writing can you get paid to do? Pretty much anything! 

Freelance writing covers a massive spectrum of work. This is where many aspiring freelancers start to get lost. Basically, any written communication you can think of will fall under the umbrella of freelance writing.

Here are a few examples of different freelance writing projects:

• Blog posts
• Social media posts
• Company emails
• Newsletters
• Sales pages
• eBooks
• Writing guides
• Landing pages
• Technical instructions
• Magazine articles
• About pages
• Reported articles
• Resumes
• Case studies
• Press releases
• Whitepapers
• Reports
• Speeches
• Video sales letters
• Direct mail sales letters
• Radio/podcast ads
• Podcast descriptions
• Social media ads
• Editing freelance writing work

This list could go on (and on). 

Everything you see in that list falls under the general umbrella term of freelance writing. People ask how is freelance writing different from blog writing or copywriting? The answer is blog writing and copywriting are types of freelance writing.

For example, a copywriter is a freelance writer. They just offer a different type of writing than a blog writer or resume writer.

Check out how to become a copywriter.

Something else that confuses people is ghostwriting. It’s another type of freelance writing. All ghostwriting means is that when you write something, like a blog post for a company, they publish it under someone else’s name instead of yours. 

Check out how to become a ghostwriter.

What are the best types of freelance writing jobs for new writers?

Ok, let’s say you want to get into freelance writing and start from scratch. Are some types of freelance writing roles better than others for beginners?

If you’re just starting out these are some of the places we’d consider looking for work:

Here’s a quick rundown of some other good starting points as well:

Blogging:

This is by far the most popular type of freelance writing. A client hires you to write a blog post for them. You can ghostwrite blog posts or write them under your name.

Ghostwriting:

In the B2B (business-to-business writing world, ghostwriting blog posts, guides, and whitepapers is very common.

Email writing:

Clients hire you to write a series of emails called campaigns, like a welcome campaign. These are more sales-focused. Some clients may want you to write a monthly or weekly newsletter.

Copywriting:

Copywriting is writing that gets people to take action, usually buying something. Sales letters are a common type of copywriting but copywriting also covers email campaigns and social media ads and posts too.

Editing:

Freelance editing or proofreading is another type of remote writing job too. Writers need editors to help make their writing better. Writers or brands hire editors to go through the content and make sure it looks good, has no errors, fits the required tone, etc. 

Bonus: Many clients now use AI tools like ChatGPT to generate first drafts. That means freelancers who can clean up, clarify, and polish AI content are in high demand.

3 Things You MUST Know About Freelance Writing

1. Freelance Writing Is a Business, Not Just a Skill

Yes, writing well matters. But clients hire you because you’re easy to work with, deliver on time, communicate clearly, and solve problems.

That means:

• You need to market yourself (with outreach, not just job boards)

• You need to send invoices, follow up, and track income

• You need to manage client expectations like a pro

Being a freelance writer means you’re not just a creative — you’re running a small business.

2. Clients Don’t Care About Your Degree, but They Do Care About Your Samples

You don’t need an English degree, journalism background, or special certification to get paid to write.

You need:

• A clear writing style

• A relevant sample (even if it’s self-published)

• The ability to make your writing sound like their brand

One good sample in the right niche beats five years of vague experience.

3. Consistency is Everything

Most new writers think they need to be “great” to get hired.

In reality, clients want:

• Solid writing that’s done on time

• Clear structure and voice

• Someone who makes their life easier

You don’t need to be brilliant. You just need to be consistent.

Write clearly, deliver fast, and be reliable.

That’s what gets you hired again and again.

Ready to Take the First Step?

Freelance writing isn’t some mysterious skill reserved for a select few. It’s a practical, learnable business.

The hardest part? Starting.

The good news? You don’t need everything figured out to make progress. You just need to:

• Understand what freelance writing really is

• Pick a path that fits your goals

• Commit to getting a little better with every project

Whether you’re writing blog posts, emails, or whitepapers, your job is to communicate clearly, help clients hit their goals, and build trust over time.

Start with what you know. Publish a sample. Send your first pitch.

That’s how it begins.

And once it does? You might be surprised how far it can go.

Want to get started with freelance writing the right way?

Check this out: How to Become a Freelance Writer.

Sean Ogle

Sean Ogle is the Founder of Location Rebel where he has spent the last 12+ years teaching people how to build online businesses that give them the freedom to do more of the things they like to do in life. When he's not in the coffee shops of Portland, or the beaches of Bali, he's probably sneaking into some other high-class establishment where he most certainly doesn't belong.