So, you’re wondering, “What does a freelance writer do?” This is a valid question if you are thinking about a side hustle or a career change. A freelance writer creates written content for clients on a self-employed basis. Depending on their speciality, they might write blog posts, website copy, emails, articles, case studies, social media content, reports or marketing materials.
However, the job involves more than putting words on a page. Freelance writers also research topics, understand audiences, communicate with clients, edit their work and manage their own businesses. In fact, writing is only one part of the job.
So, if you’re considering becoming a freelance writer, it’s worth understanding what the work actually involves before you start looking for clients. The good news is that there’s plenty of variety, and you can build a career around the type of writing you enjoy most. And there’s a lot more than you might think, from landing pages to B2B copywriting and press releases to ad campaigns.
Today, freelance writers are also more common these days, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that writers and authors held around 135,400 jobs in 2024, with 63% classified as self-employed. As such, employment in the field is also projected to grow by 4% between 2024 and 2034.
So, what does a freelance writer do on a typical day? Let’s take a closer look.
What does a freelance writer do?
A freelance writer produces written content for businesses, publications, agencies, individuals and other organisations. However, unlike an employed writer, a freelancer usually works for multiple clients rather than having one permanent employer (although this can happen with something like a long-term contract with an agency). Typically, though, they may be hired for a single project, a regular monthly assignment or an ongoing retainer.
At a glance, a freelance writer’s work might include:
- Researching subjects and gathering information
- Writing blog posts and articles
- Creating website content
- Writing marketing copy
- Producing email newsletters
- Interviewing subject-matter experts
- Editing and proofreading content
- Optimising content for search engines
- Adapting writing for different audiences
- Taking feedback from clients
- Managing deadlines and workloads
- Finding and pitching to potential clients
- Invoicing and managing their business
However, the exact mix depends on the writer’s niche. For example, a freelance copywriter might spend most of their time creating persuasive sales pages and email campaigns. A freelance content writer, meanwhile, might spend much of their week researching and writing SEO blog posts.
If you are seriously considering becoming a freelance writer in any capacity, then you might find my latest video useful:
What types of writing does a freelance writer do?
One of the biggest attractions of freelance writing is the range of work available. For instance, you don’t necessarily have to become a generalist. In fact, specialising can make it easier to explain what you offer and attract the right clients and here are some of the most common types of freelance writing.
Blog writing
Blog writers create informative or entertaining articles for websites. A business might hire a freelance writer to produce two or four blog posts every month. These could answer customer questions, explain products or services, or attract visitors through search engines. For example, a financial company might hire a writer to create articles about budgeting, mortgages and investing.
Website writing
Freelance writers can also create the words that appear on company websites. This could include:
- Homepages
- About pages
- Service pages
- Landing pages
- Product descriptions
- FAQs
- Contact pages
However, there is much more to just writing, and website writing requires more than good grammar because every page has a purpose. As such, the writer needs to understand what the visitor wants to know and what the business wants them to do next.
Copywriting
Copywriters are skilled at things like ads, and as such, they create persuasive content designed to encourage a specific action using methods like CTA (Call to Action). That action could be making a purchase, signing up for an email list, booking a call or downloading something. Generally, copywriting can include:
- Advertisements
- Sales pages
- Email campaigns
- Product descriptions
- Social media adverts
- Brochures
- Landing pages
This is where writing and marketing overlap, and you can find yourself leaning into territories such as digital marketing and search engine optimisation (SEO), which I will explain further.
SEO writing
Search engine optimisation (SEO) writers create content designed to be useful to readers while also making it easier for search engines to understand and discover. An SEO writer might research keywords, analyse search intent, structure content around relevant questions and make sure important information is easy to find.
However, modern SEO writing isn’t simply about inserting keywords repeatedly. Good writers need to create genuinely useful content that satisfies the reader’s reason for searching. You may have also heard of AEO (Answer Engine Optimisation) and GEO (Generative Engine Optimisation) but they are beyond the scope here.
Technical writing
If you have specific knowledge or can research well, you can get into technical writing. Technical writers explain complex subjects in a clear and accessible way. On a day-to-day basis, they might produce content such as:
- User guides
- Software documentation
- Instruction manuals
- Technical articles
- Knowledge-base content
- Product documentation
This type of writing can be particularly valuable in industries where the subject matter is complicated, and the pay usually reflects this as well!
What does a freelance writer do before writing?
There are many things that people assume wrongly about freelance writing. One common misconception is that freelance writing starts when you open a blank document. But usually, it starts much earlier.
Before writing, a freelancer needs to understand the assignment. That usually means finding out what the client wants, who the content is for and what the finished piece needs to achieve. These are absolutely critical for pleasing a client.
A typical pre-writing process might look like this:
Now, imagine you’re asked to write a 1,500-word article about choosing accounting software. You can’t simply start writing because you probably know next to nothing about the subject. So first, you might need to understand:
- Who the intended reader is
- What problem they’re trying to solve
- Which products or services are being discussed
- What competitors are publishing
- Which questions readers commonly ask
- What tone the client expects
- Whether SEO requirements apply
- What action the reader should take afterwards
Consequently, good freelance writing often involves considerable thinking before the first sentence is written. Often, starting a new post can be the most challenging part, but as you will learn, you can become unstoppable once you get going!
What Does a Freelance Writer Do for Research?
Often overlooked, research is another important part of answering the question, “What does a freelance writer do?” Writers often need to become temporary experts in subjects they don’t know particularly well. That doesn’t mean you need to know everything about a topic before starting. Instead, you need to know how to find reliable information and turn it into something useful for the reader. Typical freelance writing research might involve:
- Reading reputable websites
- Reviewing industry reports
- Checking statistics
- Studying competitors
- Reading academic research
- Interviewing experts
- Reviewing company information
- Checking primary sources
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics specifically lists conducting research to obtain factual information and authentic detail among the typical duties of writers and authors. That matters because clients aren’t simply paying for someone who can type quickly. They’re paying for someone who can take information, understand it and communicate it clearly.
What does a freelance writer do for audience engagement?
Another major part of the job that many writers ignore is learning how to change your writing style and tone for different audiences. This is one of the most critical parts of freelance writing, and your clients will expect this for good reasons. For example, imagine writing about the same cybersecurity product for three different readers, such as:
A technical manager:
A technical manager may want detailed information about functionality, integrations and security.
A business owner:
Business owners care more about cost, risk and the potential return on investment.
A general consumer:
General consumers simply want to know whether the product is easy to use and worth buying.
As you can see, the subject hasn’t changed, but the writing must. The various types of readers come with different experience levels and expectations, and your copy must be able to speak to them. That’s why audience research is such an important freelance writing skill, and one that will land you more jobs than other writers who ignore it.
What does a freelance writer do after writing?
Writers often write many different drafts and work with clients on revisions when crafting an article. That’s why finishing the first draft doesn’t necessarily mean the job is finished. Professional freelance writers usually spend time editing and improving their work before sending it to the client, and payment can even be withheld until the client is happy. So, this can involve checking things like:
- Grammar and spelling
- Sentence structure
- Accuracy
- Tone of voice
- Repetition
- Flow
- Formatting
- Facts and statistics
- Links and sources
- SEO requirements
Then, the client may request changes, which is known as a “revision”. Revisions are common, as you won’t usually always get a happy client the very first time. Some can be picky and difficult, but most just want what they are paying for. Perhaps they want a section expanded, the tone made more conversational or the introduction rewritten.
Here’s a reference image that breaks it down for you:
A good freelancer needs to respond professionally rather than treating feedback as criticism. So stay polite and don’t take it personally. After all, the goal is to produce something that works for the client and their audience. And when you do that and get the praise for it, it feels amazing knowing you have a satisfied customer.
Freelance writing involves running a business
This is perhaps the biggest difference between being a freelance writer and being an employed writer, and one that many newcomers have a hard time dealing with. As a freelancer, you’re not only a writer. You’re also running a small business. And that means you may need to spend time on:
- Finding potential clients
- Sending pitches
- Applying for writing projects
- Networking
- Maintaining a portfolio
- Negotiating rates
- Writing proposals
- Managing contracts
- Invoicing
- Tracking income and expenses
- Planning workloads
- Following up with leads
- Filing tax returns
The business side can feel strange when you’re starting out. However, it becomes much easier once you develop systems and routines. The scale of self-employment also shows that freelancing isn’t an unusual way to work. In the UK alone, an estimated 4.2 million people were self-employed in their main job in 2024–25, according to the most recent government figures.
What does a freelance writer do to find clients?
Finding clients is one of the most important parts of freelance writing but also one of the most challenging. This is mainly because there isn’t one guaranteed route, so freelancers often use several methods at once. For example, they might find work through:
- Personal networking
- Freelance marketplaces
- Writing agencies
- Cold pitching
- Referrals
- Existing contacts
- Their own business or service website
- Industry communities
- Previous clients
- Developing a blog
- Crafting an online portfolio
Over time, referrals can also become particularly valuable, much like any other self-employed business. For example, imagine you write a great article for a marketing agency. The agency is happy with your work and recommends you to another business. That business then hires you regularly.
Suddenly, one writing project has created a new client relationship. And that’s why producing good work and communicating professionally can be just as important as finding the initial opportunity. Another opportunity can also then lead to another, then anther and so on!
Do freelance writers need to specialise?
Not necessarily. You can start as a general freelance writer and experiment with different types of work. However, specialising can eventually make your marketing much easier because you can target specific niches. For instance, compare these two descriptions:
“I’m a freelance writer who can write pretty much anything.”
with:
“I’m a B2B technology writer who creates thought-leadership articles for SaaS companies.”
The second description immediately tells a potential client who the writer helps and what they do. You could specialise by type of writing, industry or both. For example, you could target popular online niches such as:
- B2B copywriting
- SaaS content writing
- Financial writing
- Healthcare writing
- Technical writing
- Travel writing
- Email copywriting
- SEO content writing
But don’t worry too much about this when starting out. You don’t have to choose your lifelong speciality on day one. Instead, it is better for yourself and clients if you use your early projects to discover which subjects and formats you enjoy most. This is more important than you might think as it can be challenging to write about something you don’t like.
What skills does a freelance writer need?
Writing ability is obviously important, but successful freelancers need a broader skill set that complements each other.
Writing skills
You need to communicate ideas clearly, structure information logically and adapt your writing style to different audiences.
Research skills
You need to find useful information quickly and recognise reliable sources.
Editing skills
You need to spot unnecessary words, awkward sentences, repetition and unclear ideas.
Communication skills
You need to understand briefs, ask sensible questions and respond professionally to feedback.
Time-management skills
Freelancers often have several deadlines at once. Therefore, being able to organise your workload is essential.
Marketing skills
You need to explain your services, promote your work and find potential clients.
Business skills
You also need to understand pricing, contracts, invoices and basic financial management.
In other words, becoming a freelance writer isn’t simply about becoming a better writer. It’s actually mostly about becoming a better professional writer who can produce consistently good results.
What does a freelance writer’s day look like?
There’s no single typical day because freelance writers have different clients, schedules and workloads.
However, the day of a freelance writer might look something like this:
9:00 – 9:30: Check emails and review deadlines.
9:30 – 11:00: Research a new article.
11:00 – 12:30: Write the first draft.
12:30 – 1:30: Lunch.
1:30 – 2:30: Edit an existing client’s article.
2:30 – 3:00: Respond to client feedback.
3:00 – 4:00: Work on a new proposal or pitch.
4:00 – 5:00: Finish another assignment and send an invoice.
Of course, your day could look completely different. Some writers work early in the morning and others prefer evenings. Some might also work four days a week, while others work around another job. As such, it is a good idea to try to find your personal golden hours when you can work to your best ability.
Of course, the flexibility is one of the biggest benefits of freelance writing, although it also means you need to manage your own time carefully. The BLS notes that many self-employed writers set their own hours, while also highlighting the pressure of managing multiple projects and continually looking for work.
Is freelance writing a good career?
Freelance writing can be a good career if you enjoy writing, learning and working independently. However, it isn’t simply a case of sitting at home and writing whenever inspiration strikes. You need to be comfortable with deadlines, client feedback, self-promotion and periods when work may be less predictable. On the other hand, freelance writing offers several attractive benefits, including:
- Working with different clients.
- Choosing your areas of specialisation.
- Working remotely.
- Potentially setting your own schedule.
- Building recurring client relationships.
- Developing multiple income streams.
- Gradually increasing your rates as your experience grows.
The earning picture also varies significantly. For context, the U.S. BLS reported a median annual wage of $72,270 for writers and authors in May 2024, although this figure does not represent freelance earnings specifically, and BLS wage data exclude self-employed workers. Therefore, it’s better to treat salary statistics as broad industry context rather than a promise of what a freelance writer will earn.
In fact, it is likely that your actual earning potential,especially when starting out, will be significantly lower. However,each article you write and client you earn is like planting a seed for your forest to grow – and that takes time and patience.
How can you become a freelance writer?
Walking before you even consider running is the best approach here! You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. So, a practical starting point is to:
- Improve your writing skills.
- Learn about different types of writing.
- Choose a few areas you’d like to explore.
- Create writing samples for your portfolio.
- Learn how to find potential clients.
- Start pitching for suitable projects.
- Deliver excellent work and ask for testimonials.
- Develop your speciality as you gain experience.
Building a portfolio to share is an excellent advantage. However, it doesn’t need to contain dozens of published client projects. You can actually create your own samples to demonstrate what you can do. For example, if you want to become a B2B copywriter, you could create a mock landing page, email sequence and product description. The important thing is to demonstrate the type of writing you want potential clients to hire you for.
However, be sure to make it clear that any mock examples are labelled as such, or it could tarnish your reputation.
Consider this workflow when starting out:
Freelance writing is more than writing
So, what does a freelance writer do? In simple terms, a freelance writer researches, writes and edits content for clients while managing their own freelance business. However, that’s only the short answer.
In reality, freelance writing combines writing, research, marketing, communication, project management and business skills. Some days you’ll be deep in research for a 2,000-word article. On others, you might be pitching a new client, editing copy or planning your next month’s workload. That’s what makes freelance writing both challenging and interesting.
And if you’re building your skills as a productive writer, the key is not to try to master everything at once. Start by becoming a strong writer, experiment with different forms of writing and gradually learn the business skills that allow you to turn those writing skills into a career.
Summary
A freelance writer creates written content for clients while working independently rather than as a permanent employee. The work can include blog posts, articles, website content, copywriting, emails, technical documents and many other formats.
However, freelance writers do far more than write. They research subjects, understand audiences, communicate with clients, manage deadlines, edit their work and find new business.
If you’re thinking about becoming a freelance writer, start by improving your writing, creating a portfolio and exploring different specialisms. You don’t need to know exactly where your career will take you from the beginning. Instead, use each project to learn what you’re good at, what you enjoy and where you can provide the most value.