11 Steps to Become a Full-Time Writer
Six years. That's how long it took me to become a full-time freelance writer.
Want to do it in half the time?
Here's how.
Step 1: Create a website and start posting long-form articles (1000-1500 words) on 2-3 topics that interest you every week. Don't worry if anyone is reading it yet. This will create long-term SEO and provide you a writing practice field.
Step 2: Go through at least two books or courses about copywriting/book writing/publishing. Get a certification if you can.
Step 3: Go back to the articles you've been writing and rewrite them/edit with the new skills you've acquired.
Step 4: Self-publish two books on Amazon using the articles you've written as the starting point. Don't worry if anyone buys a copy or not.
Step 5: Offer to edit/ghostwrite a book for free to someone who wants to self-publish. Use your articles and self-published books as your resume/proof.
Step 6: Do two more indie author books for low-cost. $1500-2500 is a good price point for editing. $2500-3500 for ghostwriting.
Step 7: Get reviews from everyone you've worked with so far and put them on your website. Join an association if you want to for leads and networking.
Step 8: Continue to work with indie authors but raise your pricing by at least 10% each project. At the same time, start applying as a ghostwriter/editor for publishers.
Step 9: Even after you get hired by a publisher, keep your indie pipeline open. You'll need fillers between contracts.
Step 10: Continue to scale these two pipelines until the income exceeds what you make at a 9-to-5, accounting for taxes, medical, etc.
Step 11: Say goodbye to your 9-to-5 and use your newfound time to search out new pipelines for writing/editing.
Cards on the table: My journey was a bit different than this because I had to learn through trial and error.
This is what I WISH I had done which would've sped the process up a LOT.
For my fellow full-time freelancers, what would you add? What was a step that helped you?
