Our top 10 freelance writing posts of 2017

Take it from all of us – there is nothing more exciting than seeing your name in print for the first time. It leaves you wanting more, and more, and more! If you're working as a freelancer, or have dreams of becoming one, you'll find plenty of useful resources and advice and inspiration on our blog. So, without further ado, (drumroll please…) presenting our top 10 freelancing posts for 2017:

1. Have you considered these freelance writing revenue streams? This post by Valerie Khoo and Allison Tait is based on their Masterclass at the Storyology Conference run by the Walkley Foundation. Called “Turn Your Passion into Productivity and Profit”, this highly successful class looked at revenue streams such as custom publications, corporate work, content writing, books, and social media writing.

2. What new freelance writers need to know about tax by Liz Russell, Senior Tax Agent with Etax, is one of our most popular posts. Here, Liz clearly outlines the pitfalls of writing as a hobby, how to plan ahead for a tax bill (it will happen!) and relevant tax deductions. This post should be bookmarked!

3. Writing feature articles: A question of good questions by Allison Tait is a thought-provoking piece about being well prepared when interviewing. If you aren’t getting the right answers, maybe you need to re-think your questions; and the key is to listen.

4. Organising your research for content and feature writing by the highly organised Valerie Khoo is a must for every freelance writer, as she outlines her tried and true methods of saving time and streaming workflow through mind-mapping, researching, filing, and record-keeping. This is a must for every writer.

5. Ask Valerie: How can I get into corporate writing? Valerie Khoo looks at the unique world of corporate writing. Sure, it may not seem as glamorous as travel or crime writing – but don’t dismiss it. If you like working in a corporate environment and in a logical fashion, this could be just the thing for you.

6. Lisa Schofield’s transition from banking to freelance journalist and corporate writer started when she took AWC’s Magazine & Newspaper Writing Stage 1 course. She says the practical nature of the course meant she was able to acquire and hone the skills she needed to be able to write, and since then she has never looked back!

7. Lindy Alexander: From social worker to successful freelance magazine writer. Lindy always wanted to write and happened to be six months pregnant when she took our Magazine and Newspaper course. She says it’s the most important thing she’s done in her life to turn her dream of being a writer into a reality.

8. 7 effective time management tips for freelance copywriters. These pointers are important to remember. This is one of the most valuable posts for freelance writers in terms of organising a foolproof plan of attack from the get-go.

9. How to write a media release. Editors and journalists are busy people, so if you want to get your story published then your media/press release must be faultless. This post explains the structure to a media release that will get results. And you can further develop your skills with our How to Write Media Releases online course.

10. Improving your “paydar” – How to tell if a publication pays freelance writers. Top tips to avoid having to call yourself a “starving writer” all your life!

And there you have it. The top 10 freelancing posts from the last 12 months, which when combined, make an invaluable writer’s resource.

If you’ve always had a yearning to write but never had the courage to do anything about it, now is the time to make a change. The life of a freelance writer is stimulating, and yes, a little scary at times, but also challenging and very liberating – so just follow your heart like Lisa and Lindy did. Find the course with your name on it and join us online or in class in 2018, and let us help you find your voice.