How to Start Freelance Writing: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

You want to start freelance writing, but you’re stuck on the basics. How do you get clients when you have no experience? How do you build a portfolio when you haven’t been published? And how on earth do you set your rates without underselling yourself? I’ve been there. I spent years building my freelance writing career from scratch—and I learned most of it the hard way. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from your first pitch to your first paid gig—and how to set up a simple online writing portfolio that actually gets you hired.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• Why Freelance Writing Is Perfect for Beginners
• Skills You Need to Get Started
• Choosing Your First Niche
• How to Build a Freelance Writing Portfolio as a Beginner
• How to Price Your Work Without Feeling Guilty
• How to Get Freelance Writing Clients as a Beginner
• How to Write a Freelance Writing Pitch Email
• Mistakes Beginner Freelance Writers Make
• Freelance Writing Tools for Beginners

Why Freelance Writing Is Perfect for Beginners

Let’s be honest—freelance writing is one of the most accessible side hustles out there. You don’t need a degree, you don’t need fancy equipment, and you don’t need years of experience to get started. If you can write clearly and meet a deadline, you’re already halfway there.

Freelance writing is also incredibly flexible. You can start it as a side hustle while working full-time, scale it up as you gain confidence, and eventually turn it into a full-time income if that’s your goal. Plus, the demand for content is massive. Businesses need blog posts, email newsletters, website copy, product descriptions, social-media captions—the list goes on.

But here’s the catch: how to start freelance writing with no experience is the question that trips up most beginners. The good news? You don’t need bylines in major publications to land your first client. You just need a clear plan, a few solid samples, and the confidence to pitch yourself.

Skills You Need to Get Started

Before you dive into how to become a freelance writer for beginners, let’s talk about the core skills that will help you succeed. The beautiful thing is that most of these are learnable—you don’t need to be born with them.

Clear, Conversational Writing

You don’t need to sound like Shakespeare. Most clients want writing that’s easy to read, engaging, and matches their brand voice. Practice writing like you talk, and you’ll be ahead of 90% of beginners.

Research Skills

Freelance writers often write about topics they’re not experts in. Being able to quickly research a subject, pull credible sources, and synthesise information is crucial.

Basic SEO Knowledge

You don’t need to be an SEO wizard, but understanding keywords, headings, meta descriptions, and readability will make you infinitely more valuable to clients. Most of this can be learned in an afternoon.

Deadline Management

This one sounds simple, but it’s non-negotiable. Clients will forgive a lot, but they won’t forgive late work. Get good at estimating how long projects take and building in buffer time.

Self-Editing

You don’t need to be perfect, but you should be able to catch obvious typos, tighten up rambling sentences, and make sure your work is polished before you hand it over.

If you’re missing any of these, don’t panic. You’ll pick them up as you go. The key is to start before you feel ready.

Choosing Your First Niche

One of the best freelance writing niches for beginners is one you already know something about. You don’t need to be an expert, but having a head start on the subject matter makes everything easier—from writing samples to pitching clients.

Popular Beginner-Friendly Niches:

• Health and wellness (fitness, nutrition, mental health)
• Personal finance (budgeting, side hustles, investing)
• Tech and SaaS (software reviews, how-to guides)
• Travel and lifestyle (destination guides, budget travel)
• Small business and marketing (email marketing, social-media tips)
• Parenting and family (product reviews, parenting hacks)

Don’t overthink this. Pick one niche to start with, but don’t feel locked in forever. As you grow, you can pivot or expand. The goal is to have enough focus that potential clients can see you as a strong fit for their project.

How to Build a Freelance Writing Portfolio as a Beginner

This is where most beginners get stuck. How to build a freelance writing portfolio with no experience feels like a chicken-and-egg problem: you need clips to get clients, but you need clients to get clips.

Here’s the truth: you don’t need published work to build a portfolio. You just need good writing samples that show what you can do.

How to Write Freelance Writing Samples With No Experience

Create your own samples. Seriously. Pretend you’ve been hired to write a blog post, email sequence, or product description—and then just do it. Here are a few ideas:

• Write a blog post for a fictional company in your niche (e.g., “5 Budget-Friendly Meal Prep Ideas for Busy Parents”)
• Draft a product description for a real product on Amazon
• Create a sample email newsletter for a brand you admire
• Write a case study based on a real success story you’ve researched

These are called spec samples, and they’re completely legitimate. I’ve used them, my students have used them, and they work.

For more ideas and examples, take a look at this post: Writing Samples: What If I Haven’t Been Published?

How to Create a Freelance Writing Portfolio for Free

Once you’ve got a few samples, you need somewhere to show them off. This is where a writing portfolio website comes in. I built Writer’s Residence because I was tired of messing around with clunky website builders that required coding or expensive themes. You shouldn’t need to spend hours figuring out WordPress just to showcase your work.

With Writer’s Residence, you can set up a clean, professional portfolio in minutes—no tech skills required. Try it free and see if it fits your workflow. I personally handle customer support, so if you get stuck, you’re talking to a real human who understands what freelance writers need.

For inspiration and further reading, see: Freelancer Writer Portfolio Examples: How to Showcase Your Best Work

What to Include in Your Portfolio

• 3–5 writing samples in your niche
• A short About page that introduces you and explains who you write for
• A clear Services section (even if it's just “blog posts” and “website copy” to start)
• A way for clients to contact you (email or contact form)

That’s it. Keep it simple. Over-complicating your portfolio is one of the top mistakes beginners make.

Want a full checklist? Check out: Writing Portfolio Checklist: 5 Must-Haves For An Attention-Grabbing Online Portfolio

How to Price Your Work Without Feeling Guilty

Ah, pricing. This is where beginner freelance writers either undersell themselves into burnout or price themselves out of the market. Let’s find a healthy middle ground.

Freelance Writing Rates for Beginners

According to Elna Cain’s 2025 “Freelance Writing Stats & Facts” survey of 530 writers:

• 34% reported rates between US $0.05/word and $0.20/word.
• Meanwhile, 21% said they earn between US $5,000 – $10,000/month. 

These numbers show two things: rates vary wildly, and many writers remain in the lower-end word-rate zone. Which means you’ll rarely succeed by simply charging the “industry average” — especially if you’re just starting out and working with low-budget clients.

Let me give you my perspective. When I first got started, I published my first piece — a short news article in a UK national newspaper (you can read about it here: How I got my first writing gig). I was paid £250. That might sound good, but if you do the math on the time it took for pitching, researching, rewriting and editing—it was pretty poor pay for the effort. In fact, I no longer think this approach is worthwhile (although some will disagree).

Today I work in a niche I know well (data & technology) and I target businesses rather than publications. My current rates range from £50–80 per hour, which is far more sustainable.

Here’s the lesson: lean into your strengths. You might dream of being a travel writer, but if your background is in interior design or veterinary science, starting by pitching in those niches will get you paid work, build experience and confidence.

Also: many people talk about charging per word, but honestly, I’ve never priced myself like that. It’s fine for some writing types. But when you move into the bigger leagues, you can charge by the hour, day, or project. Don’t feel boxed in by the “$0.10/word” mentality.

Hourly vs. Per-Project Pricing

Most freelance writers charge per project, not per hour. It’s easier for clients to budget and it rewards you for getting faster over time. If a blog post takes you 3 hours and you charge $100, that’s roughly $33/hour. As you improve, that same post might take you 90 minutes—now you’re earning $66/hour for the same fee.

Don’t be afraid to adjust your rates as you grow. It’s part of the process.

How to Get Freelance Writing Clients as a Beginner

This is the big one. How to find freelance writing jobs for beginners without feeling like you’re shouting into the void.

Referrals

One of the most interesting findings from Elna’s survey was about how writers actually land clients. The top method? Referrals. Her data show that referrals were more common than cold-pitching, job boards, or LinkedIn outreach. 

This might feel uncomfortable to us introverted writers — yes, I get it — but the message is clear: your best clients will likely come from someone who already knows your work or trusts your recommendation.

My own journey backs this up. After I stopped chasing low-pay pulses in publications and instead focused on building my network and doing excellent work in a niche I understood, the referrals started to flow.

So what can you do?

• Ask past clients (even small ones) for introductions or testimonials.
• Build a simple “referral incentive” or mention in your proposal: “If you’re happy with my work, I’d appreciate it if you’d pass my name on.”
• Join niche forums, Slack groups, or communities of your ideal client and quietly build relationships. You don’t need to shout — just be visible and helpful.

The bottom line: If you want consistent freelance writing work that pays well, referrals are gold. Build your portfolio + reputation + network and leverage that, rather than relying on one-off cold pitches. Learn more about how to get freelance writing clients on LinkedIn.

Freelance Writing Job Boards for Beginners

This is often a natural starting point, though TBH, freelance writing job boards are a minefield. Competition is fierce and the pay can be awful, especially if you're just getting started:

• Upwork: Competitive, but great for beginners to build a client base
• Fiverr: Good for offering specific services at set prices
• Contently, Scripted, and Compose.ly: Platforms that connect writers with brands
• ProBlogger Job Board: High-quality postings for blog and content writers
• Freelance Writing Jobs (freelancewritinggigs.com): Curated daily listings

Cold Pitching (Yes, Really)

This is how you land your first freelance writing job outside of job boards. Find small businesses, startups, or publications you'd love to write for—and pitch them directly. This is how I got my start (see how I scored my first freelance writing gig).

Cold pitching sounds intimidating, but it’s honestly one of the most effective ways to get clients—especially ones who pay well. We’ll talk about exactly how to do this in the next section.

How to Write a Freelance Writing Pitch Email

Alright, let’s talk about how to pitch freelance writing clients as a beginner. Your pitch email is your first impression—so let’s make it count.

Anatomy of a Great Pitch Email

Here’s a simple formula:

1. Subject line: Keep it short and relevant (e.g., “Freelance Writer for Your Health Blog”)
2. Greeting: Use their name if you can find it
3. Opening line: Mention something specific about their business or content
4. Your pitch: Briefly explain what you can do for them (e.g., “I’d love to write blog posts that help your audience [specific benefit]”)
5. Proof: Link to 1–2 relevant samples or your portfolio
6. Call to action: Suggest a quick chat or ask if they’re interested
7. Sign-off: Keep it friendly and professional

Sample Pitch Email

Subject: Freelance Writer for Your Personal Finance Blog

Hi [Name],

I came across your blog while researching budgeting tips for millennials, and I loved your post on automating savings. It’s clear you’re helping people take control of their finances in a way that actually feels doable.

I’m a freelance writer who specialises in personal finance content, and I’d love to contribute a few blog posts to your site. I focus on making money topics approachable and actionable—no jargon, just practical advice.

You can see a few samples of my work here: [link to portfolio]

Would you be open to a quick chat about how I could support your content goals?

Thanks for your time,
[Your Name]

See? Not scary. Just human.

Mistakes Beginner Freelance Writers Make

Let’s speed through the most common traps so you can avoid them:

• Underpricing out of fear: You’re not doing clients a favour by charging $5 per article. You’re devaluing your work and burning yourself out.
• Skipping contracts: Always get the scope, deadline, and payment terms in writing. Always.
• Not asking questions: If the client’s brief is vague, ask for clarification. It’s better than guessing and getting it wrong.
• Overloading your portfolio: You don’t need 20 samples. Three to five strong ones are plenty.
• Ignoring red flags: If a client is rude, vague, or asking for free “test” work beyond a reasonable scope, walk away. Learn how to avoid freelance writing scams by trusting your gut.
• Waiting to feel “ready”: You’ll never feel 100% ready. Start anyway.

Freelance Writing Tools for Beginners

You don’t need a ton of tools to get started, but these will make your life easier:

• Grammarly (grammarly.com): Catches typos and grammar issues (the free version is fine to start)
• Google Docs (docs.google.com): Simple way to share files for free
• Hemingway Editor (hemingwayapp.com): Helps you write clear, concise sentences
• Trello (trello.com) or Notion (notion.so): Keep track of pitches, projects and deadlines
• PayPal (paypal.com) or Stripe (stripe.com): Easy ways to accept payment
• Writer’s Residence (sign up free here): Build your portfolio without the headache of WordPress or expensive web designers

Start with the basics and add tools as you grow. Don’t let shiny software distract you from actually writing.

Final Thoughts: How to Start Freelance Writing With No Experience

If you’ve made it this far, you’re already ahead of most people who think about freelance writing but never actually start. The truth is, how to start freelance writing as a side hustle or full-time career boils down to this: create a few solid samples, set up a simple portfolio, and start pitching.

You don’t need a journalism degree. You don’t need to have been published in major outlets. You just need to show up, do good work, and treat it like a real business—because it is.

If you’re ready to build your portfolio and start landing clients, sign up for Writer’s Residence and get your portfolio live in minutes. I built it because I needed something simple, and I think you’ll find it fits the way real freelancers actually work.

Now go write something great.