Whether you are planning on freelancing full-time, or just part time to get started in the industry or bring in a little additional income, working as a freelance writer is considered an ideal job for many people. It’s not always a walk in the park, though — it can take a lot of work to secure regular gigs or clients, and you always have to be on your game. Here are a few tips for freelance writers.

Never stop marketing.

Most freelancers expect to do a lot of marketing early in their careers, when they are still looking for work and regular clients, but the truth is that marketing will always be a major part of your job as a freelance writer. Even established freelancers spend as much as a third of their work hours doing marketing. This includes trolling job boards, maintaining a website and/or blog, and approaching potential clients.
Apply for gigs you are qualified for.

When applying for gigs or cold-calling potential clients, remember to stick with jobs you have a background in. For instance, if the job is writing scientific copy and you failed biology, don’t apply for the job! Now, if science writing is something you’re interested in, you can take scientific writing courses to give you the background you need, but don’t waste time — yours or the employer’s — by applying for jobs you don’t have the necessary qualifications for.
Remember the importance of variety!

Speaking from experience, the fastest way to get burnt out is to forget about the importance of variety. Make sure you have a lot of different kinds of projects, writing on different subjects, or you will get bored with your work. Having an area or two that you specialize in is a good idea, as it will help you find work, but if you focus on it too much you will get burnt out!
What about you? How long have you been freelancing, or are you just getting started? What tips do you have for other freelancers — what tricks have you found work best for you?