by Doreen Martel

Created on: August 21, 2010

Horror stories about clients who are slow to pay, clients that refuse to pay, rejected work and more make people wonder why anyone would want to be a freelance writer. Combine these things with long hours, the very real possibility of writers block and it is probably difficult for people to understand why anyone would want to be a freelance writer.  There is another side to freelance writing that many people never hear about and do not necessarily understand. These are some of the reasons why people want to be a freelance writer:

Driven to Write

There are freelance writers who simply love to write. They are driven by something inside that allows them no choice but to put words on pages and share stories with others.  This type of freelance writer may have a strong educational background, be a great creative writer or have extensive knowledge about a single topic.

Desire to Share Knowledge

Some freelance writers write because they love to share information and knowledge. In many cases, these writers find satisfaction in helping other people succeed. They often share success stories, information that is helpful to others starting out in a specific field or stories about things they are very passionate about.

Enjoys Niche Research

There are freelance writers who enjoy researching information about a single topic and then sharing that information. While many freelancers enjoy sharing existing knowledge, others have a thirst to learn new things on an ongoing basis. Those who enjoy researching and writing about what they have learned often find niche markets that can be very lucrative.

Unlimited Market Opportunities

With the growing need for online content, many have found that freelance writing provides nearly unlimited opportunities for income and growth. Many freelance writers start off with writing casually on their own blog, and soon they find that they have more work than they know how to handle.

Flexibility in Hours

Both men and women who stay at home may elect to turn to freelance writing as a means of additional income. One of the reasons is the flexibility that is offered to freelance writers.  While many writing assignments have deadlines associated with them, there are many online content sites that do not tie freelance writers to deadlines allowing for great flexibility.

Low Expenses

Freelance writers could have the lowest costs associated with any freelance business.  Most freelance writing assignments involve little more than a word processing program. There are several free word processing programs that are easily accessible to freelance writers. Return on investment is much higher for freelance writers than many other freelancing professionals.

Summary

While there is little doubt that freelance writing has some downsides, there are many benefits.  The reasons why anyone would want to be a freelance writer may vary from person to person, but for many, it is a great way to make a living as well as to share information and ideas.

Learn more about this author, Doreen Martel.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.