by Chesley Maldonado

Created on: March 02, 2009   Last Updated: February 09, 2012

Every aspiring freelance writer wants to know the secret to success. I have heard the stories of many writers who have taken a long winding road before finding the right path to a successful freelance writing career, and there are several common mistakes that are avoidable. Aside from these mistakes, there are many opportunities that new writers miss out on, not because they did something wrong, but because they didn't think about doing certain things. I have been a freelance writer for a few years now, and I would like to share my experience, as well as knowledge that I have gained from other writers who shared their stories.

Think Like an Entrepreneur

If you want to succeed, you have to have a business mind. Yes, freelance writing is a fun and rewarding career, but it is not without its mundane business-related tasks like bookkeeping, filing, marketing, and dealing with clients. When I first got started, I was shocked at the amount of time that I had to spend on things other than writing. Be prepared to think like an entrepreneur, and not just a creative genius or someone who likes to write. Think about profits, the number of hours you are willing to put in per day/week, and where you would like your career to end up down the road. Without setting goals and having a plan, it is difficult to measure your success as a writer.

Choose a Niche

There are several different avenues that you can choose from, and it is important that you decide on your niche. Your writing focus can fall under a variety of categories, including blog writing, magazines and trade publications, technical writing, children's writing and article marketing. By focusing on a specific type of writing, you can hone your skills much better and appear to be a specialist rather than a Jack,or Jill, of all trades.

Familiarize yourself with whichever specific writing market you select, and make yourself an expert in that particular type of writing. Once you establish yourself, you will find that clients will come to you for other writing services, and then you can expand your specialty and begin to add new services. That is how your freelance writing business will grow. You don't have to wait until someone asks you to try something new, but develop your skills to a high quality status in one area first, and then train for the next niche.

Be Professional and Courteous

Another key to success in freelance writing is good customer service. You should always be polite and professional. Pay attention to

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