Freelance Writing

Freelance writing means writing for pay for different clients. Start with the basic words and the work.

• Learn the terms: pitch, brief, draft, edit, byline, deadline, rate, kill fee, invoice.
• Kinds of work: articles, web pages, newsletters, reports, product text.
• Name one kind of client and one topic you know well.
• Read five paid pieces and note the reader, length and style.
• Compare an article, a newsletter and a web page by length, voice and pay.
• List three subjects where you have real knowledge or experience.
• Find where clients post requests for writers and note what they ask for.

Activity. Read five paid pieces and fill a table of reader, length and style. Write your niche in one line.

Standard to meet. Task: study five pieces. Condition: public pages. Standard: table complete and niche fits one line.

A job has steps. If you can name them, you can plan your time and avoid surprises.

• The steps: pitch, brief, research, outline, draft, edit, submit, revise, invoice.
• A brief says reader, goal, length, tone, deadline and sources.
• Ask questions before you write.
• Agree how many rounds of changes are included.
• Write your questions for the brief as a checklist.
• Plan your time backward from the deadline.
• Agree the payment date before you start.

Activity. Write a one-page brief form with ten questions.

Standard to meet. Task: complete a brief for a pretend client. Condition: in one 30-minute conversation. Standard: brief states reader, goal, length, tone, deadline and rounds.

Now you apply the basics. Write a piece that is clear, true and easy to read.

• Put the main point first and use short words.
• Write three title options and pick the clearest.
• Use facts you can check and name your sources.
• Read aloud and cut every useless word.
• Use active verbs and cut hedging words.
• Check each number against its source and write the source down.
• Ask a friend to read the draft and say its main point.

Activity. Write a 600-word article and edit it twice.

Standard to meet. Task: write one article. Condition: from a brief, in two hours. Standard: one point, checkable facts, no spelling errors; second draft shorter and clearer.

Copyright, honest claims and privacy rules apply. Learn which ones touch your work.

• You own what you write unless a contract says otherwise; do not copy others' text.
• Quote briefly and name the source; do not present others' ideas as yours.
• Advertising and sponsored posts must be truthful and clearly marked.
• Personal information in your story falls under privacy law; ask consent. Check the current rules.
• Ask in writing whether the client wants exclusive rights or first rights.
• Keep interview notes and ask permission before you quote anyone by name.
• Label opinion as opinion and support facts with sources.

Activity. Build a table of rule, what you must do and where you checked, for ten situations.

Standard to meet. Task: build a rules table. Condition: from official public pages. Standard: each row has a dated source; unclear cases say 'check the current rule with the local authority'.

You are paid for results and time. Work out your cost per hour and what a project must earn.

• Time includes research, calls, drafting, edits and admin.
• Hourly cost = yearly costs and needed pay, divided by hours you can really bill.
• Compare per-word, per-hour and per-project pricing.
• Collect sales tax once registered; check the small-supplier limit with the tax agency.
• Include unpaid time for pitches and invoicing in your hourly cost.
• Set a minimum fee per project and state it in your quote.
• Ask for a deposit on large projects.

Activity. Time three pieces from start to finish and set a price for each.

Standard to meet. Task: price three projects. Condition: from your time log. Standard: hours, rate and total shown; a mentor can follow.

Clients hire writers they trust. Build a small portfolio and a steady way to be found.

• Make three samples that match the clients you want.
• Get written permission before showing client work.
• Send ten specific pitches, each with one idea for that client.
• Keep a list of contact, date, reply and next step.
• Create one page that lists your topics, samples and contact details.
• Write an introduction email under 100 words.
• Follow up once after a week.

Activity. Send ten pitches in two weeks and log replies.

Standard to meet. Task: run a two-week outreach. Condition: with consent rules met. Standard: ten pitches sent, replies logged, one lesson written.

A professional writer is careful with rights, secrets and facts.

• Write down who owns the text and what the client may do with it. Ask a legal adviser for large deals.
• Do not copy; use your own words or licensed text.
• Keep client files safe with strong passwords and backups.
• Fact-check names, prices, dates and quotes.
• Keep drafts and signed agreements in two places.
• Tell the client if a source needs a licence.
• Keep a client's private information out of your portfolio.

Activity. Write a one-page agreement and a delivery checklist.

Standard to meet. Task: produce both. Condition: reviewed by a mentor. Standard: scope, fees, rounds, rights and payment date are clear.

Now you run it for real. Take jobs, measure and decide how to grow.

• Set a 60-day goal, such as three paid pieces and one repeat client.
• Every week record hours, income, late payments and feedback.
• Ask each client for a short review.
• At the end choose: stop, change or grow, and write a 12-month plan.
• Track time per job to find which jobs pay best.
• Ask the repeat client what they will need next month.
• Set a new rate and plan when you will tell clients.

Activity. Run the pilot, keep the log and present a 12-month plan to a panel of three.

Standard to meet. Task: run a 60-day pilot. Condition: real clients, paid or agreed work. Standard: log complete, decision uses numbers, a panel can repeat the plan.

L1: Creative aware learner. You can define: name the main terms, people and rules of freelance Writing. Focus module: Know the words and the kinds of writing work (Understand, 6 h). Freelance writing means writing for pay for different clients. Start with the basic words and the work. Key points: Learn the terms: pitch, brief, draft, edit, byline, deadline, rate, kill fee, invoice. Kinds of work: articles, web pages, newsletters, reports, product text. Name one kind of client and one topic you know well. Read five paid pieces and note the reader, length and style. Compare an article, a newsletter and a web page by length, voice and pay. List three subjects where you have real knowledge or experience. Find where clients post requests for writers and note what they ask for.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Topic: home energy savings. Clients: a local energy firm's blog, a community newsletter, a magazine. If you read five pieces of 600, 800, 700, 900 and 500 words, the average is (600 + 800 + 700 + 900 + 500) / 5 = 700 words. Then set the activity: Read five paid pieces and fill a table of reader, length and style. Write your niche in one line. Mark against the standard: Task: study five pieces. Condition: public pages. Standard: table complete and niche fits one line. Check at this level (this question is covered in module 2: Explain how a writing job runs): What does a brief state? Model answer: Reader, goal, length, tone, deadline and sources. Level note: Start here if new. Evidence: a one-page glossary and a visit or interview note.

L2: Content assistant. You can describe: explain how freelance Writing works from first contact to result. Focus module: Explain how a writing job runs (Apply, 6 h). A job has steps. If you can name them, you can plan your time and avoid surprises. Key points: The steps: pitch, brief, research, outline, draft, edit, submit, revise, invoice. A brief says reader, goal, length, tone, deadline and sources. Ask questions before you write. Agree how many rounds of changes are included. Write your questions for the brief as a checklist. Plan your time backward from the deadline. Agree the payment date before you start.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. An editor asks for 800 words on heat pumps for homeowners. You ask: reader, tone, sources, deadline, pay. If the job needs 5 hours and the deadline is Friday, you plan 1 hour a day from Monday: 5 x 1 = 5 hours. Then set the activity: Write a one-page brief form with ten questions. Mark against the standard: Task: complete a brief for a pretend client. Condition: in one 30-minute conversation. Standard: brief states reader, goal, length, tone, deadline and rounds. Check at this level (this question is covered in module 7: Protect ownership, privacy and quality): Who owns your text? Model answer: You, unless a contract says otherwise. Level note: Evidence: a flow chart and a two-minute spoken explanation.

L3: Junior creator. You can apply: carry out a routine task in freelance Writing to a written standard. Focus module: Write a clear piece to a standard (Apply, 10 h). Now you apply the basics. Write a piece that is clear, true and easy to read. Key points: Put the main point first and use short words. Write three title options and pick the clearest. Use facts you can check and name your sources. Read aloud and cut every useless word. Use active verbs and cut hedging words. Check each number against its source and write the source down. Ask a friend to read the draft and say its main point.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Before: 'Heat pumps are a very interesting option.' After: 'A heat pump can cut your heating bill. Here is how it works.' Cutting a 900-word draft by 10 percent removes 90 words and leaves 810. Then set the activity: Write a 600-word article and edit it twice. Mark against the standard: Task: write one article. Condition: from a brief, in two hours. Standard: one point, checkable facts, no spelling errors; second draft shorter and clearer. Check at this level: Why write three titles? Model answer: To pick the clearest. Level note: Evidence: a supervised task record that meets the standard once.

L4: Professional creator or freelancer. You can analyse: diagnose why a freelance Writing result missed its target and fix it. Focus module: Follow Canadian rules for writers (Evaluate, 8 h). Copyright, honest claims and privacy rules apply. Learn which ones touch your work. Key points: You own what you write unless a contract says otherwise; do not copy others' text. Quote briefly and name the source; do not present others' ideas as yours. Advertising and sponsored posts must be truthful and clearly marked. Personal information in your story falls under privacy law; ask consent. Check the current rules. Ask in writing whether the client wants exclusive rights or first rights. Keep interview notes and ask permission before you quote anyone by name. Label opinion as opinion and support facts with sources.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. A client asks you to write 'Best in Canada'. You ask for proof; there is none, so you write a claim you can verify. You keep the exchange with the client in your files. Then set the activity: Build a table of rule, what you must do and where you checked, for ten situations. Mark against the standard: Task: build a rules table. Condition: from official public pages. Standard: each row has a dated source; unclear cases say 'check the current rule with the local authority'. Check at this level: What must sponsored posts do? Model answer: Be truthful and clearly marked. Level note: Evidence: a fault or gap analysis with a fix and a repeat test. This course targets this level.

L5: Senior creator or studio lead. You can evaluate: judge options for freelance Writing against cost, risk and quality. Focus module: Find clients and show proof (Create, 6 h). Clients hire writers they trust. Build a small portfolio and a steady way to be found. Key points: Make three samples that match the clients you want. Get written permission before showing client work. Send ten specific pitches, each with one idea for that client. Keep a list of contact, date, reply and next step. Create one page that lists your topics, samples and contact details. Write an introduction email under 100 words. Follow up once after a week.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. You pitch a local newsletter: 'Three ways renters can cut winter bills. 500 words.' You attach a short outline. If you send 10 pitches and 2 get a reply, 2 / 10 = 20 percent. Then set the activity: Send ten pitches in two weeks and log replies. Mark against the standard: Task: run a two-week outreach. Condition: with consent rules met. Standard: ten pitches sent, replies logged, one lesson written. Check at this level: What is a pitch? Model answer: A short offer of an idea to a client. Level note: Evidence: an options paper with numbers and a recommendation defended to a panel.

L6: Creative director or editor. You can create: design and pilot a new offer or process in freelance Writing. Focus module: Protect ownership, privacy and quality (Evaluate, 6 h). A professional writer is careful with rights, secrets and facts. Key points: Write down who owns the text and what the client may do with it. Ask a legal adviser for large deals. Do not copy; use your own words or licensed text. Keep client files safe with strong passwords and backups. Fact-check names, prices, dates and quotes. Keep drafts and signed agreements in two places. Tell the client if a source needs a licence. Keep a client's private information out of your portfolio.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. Your contract says: 'The client owns the final text once paid in full. The writer may show it in a portfolio.' If you cannot show a quote's source, you remove the quote before you deliver. Then set the activity: Write a one-page agreement and a delivery checklist. Mark against the standard: Task: produce both. Condition: reviewed by a mentor. Standard: scope, fees, rounds, rights and payment date are clear. Check at this level: What should an agreement list? Model answer: Scope, fees, rounds, rights, payment date and privacy. Level note: Evidence: a pilot with measured results over at least 30 days.

L7: Agency owner or head of content. You can lead: run a team or business in freelance Writing and develop others. Focus module: Run a real pilot and decide (Create, 8 h). Now you run it for real. Take jobs, measure and decide how to grow. Key points: Set a 60-day goal, such as three paid pieces and one repeat client. Every week record hours, income, late payments and feedback. Ask each client for a short review. At the end choose: stop, change or grow, and write a 12-month plan. Track time per job to find which jobs pay best. Ask the repeat client what they will need next month. Set a new rate and plan when you will tell clients.

Speaker notes. Teach: open with the worked example. After 60 days: 4 pieces, 24 hours, 900 dollars billed, one repeat client. 900 / 24 = 37.50 per hour, below the 45 you planned, so you raise your rate. Then set the activity: Run the pilot, keep the log and present a 12-month plan to a panel of three. Mark against the standard: Task: run a 60-day pilot. Condition: real clients, paid or agreed work. Standard: log complete, decision uses numbers, a panel can repeat the plan. Check at this level (this question is covered in module 7: Protect ownership, privacy and quality): What should an agreement list? Model answer: Scope, fees, rounds, rights, payment date and privacy. Level note: Evidence: a record of results over a year and of people you have coached to a higher level.