Oh no! Where have the freelance writing gigs gone?

If you have been in the freelance writing business for any amount of time, you should know that freelance writing gigs don’t really dry up. Like water when there’s a major shift in the environment, the freelance writing gigs just go somewhere else. The shifts that can happen in the freelance writing world is often connected with the economy. But because we live in an age where information is gold, there will always be freelance writing gigs in the offing. All you need is a divining rod to find out where they are.

Flexibility is the way to find freelance writing gigs

Most freelance writers favor a niche market, and some of these niches are naturally seasonal. An example would be academic papers and referenced material in general. That’s all right if freelance writing is more a sideline than anything else. But if freelance writing gigs are your main source of income, then it’s like being laid off work when you don’t have a steady stream of freelance writing gigs. The best way to ensure you have a regular income is to identify other types of freelance writing gigs you can do when your favorite niche goes off on a vacation.

A report on the state of the freelance writing market in 2008 provided some excellent suggestions on market niches where freelance writing gigs are abundant. Some, like technical writing and medical transcription, requires some specialized knowledge, but what is the Internet for? The key to finding enough freelance writing gigs to keep you going is flexibility.

You need to be flexible about the freelance writing gigs you can do as well as where you go to look for them. Don’t stick to just one or two  sites that you’ve used over the years to get freelance writing gigs. Explore unknown territory and sign up for as many job sites as you can. Putting yourself out there will increase your chances of being considered for the freelance writing gigs you like.

Get the lowdown on freelance writing gigs

Do some networking and get some information from other freelance writers. Forums and blogs are especially valuable to you because they usually provide helpful insights and suggestions on how to find freelance writing gigs. Those who make a living with freelance writing gigs are more likely to know where to dig for nuggets, and most are willing to give fellow writers a heads-up.

When freelance writing gigs seem elusive, the worst things you can do is stay in one place and bemoan your situation. Get up, get going and get flexible. Find out where the freelance writing gigs mother lode has gone off to and start digging!

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