How To Become A Freelance Food Writer: 5 Steps To Success
There are so many different ways to become a freelance writer, and so many different kinds of writing that you can do as one. It’s easy to understand why so many people are doing it: it’s a great way to make a living or supplement yours, you can decide how much you want to work, when you want to work, where you want to work from, and how much you want to make.
One popular area of freelance writing is food writing. It’s a great topic to write on because it has applications in so many different places, from blogs to magazines to websites. So, if you’re passionate about food, and love to write, it could be a great fit for you.
Follow these 5 steps to success to become a freelance food writer:
- Pick a good website
- Specialize in something
- Build up your rates over time
- Put together a great portfolio or website
- Try to get repeat clients
Most freelancers work through a website where they can connect to clients, find projects, and even get paid through the website. There are many different options, each with a slightly different focus or reputation. So do some research and find out which one is the best fit for what you’re looking for and for the kind of food writing you want to do.
Writing can be a competitive market, so you should pick something to specialize in. You’re already well on your way having decided to write about food. But it can also be helpful to specialize in a certain kind of food or cooking. For instance you could write about vegan or raw cooking, ethnic cooking, backcountry cooking, or comfort food. Choose something that you enjoy and also that you are qualified to write about.
This is true of any kind of freelance writing. When you first start out you’ll be an unknown to the client, so you may need to charge a bit less than you normally would until you build up a reputation and portfolio. Then you can start charging what you’d like to be making.
This will also help you gain prospective clients’ trust. Put together a portfolio or website that highlights your best work and also a range of your work. Think of it as an opportunity to convince clients that you’ll do great work for them.
Getting repeat business will help you build a more stable writing career.