How To Start Freelance Writing With No Experience

When I first tried to figure out How To Start Freelance Writing With No Experience, I felt like I was trying to sneak into a job interview wearing pajamas.

man-wearing-pajamas

Everyone else online seemed to have portfolios, niches, websites, and confidence. Meanwhile, I was over here wondering if my ability to write long text messages counted as “experience.” Spoiler: it didn’t. But it also didn’t matter. I just really wanted to know how to make money online freelancing, where to find freelance writing jobs and the best places to apply for writing jobs.

Freelance writing is one of the few online careers where you can start with absolutely nothing except a laptop, Wi‑Fi, and the willingness to type words that hopefully make sense. I started with zero experience, zero connections, and a writing style that could best be described as “chaotic enthusiasm.” If I can learn this, you can too.

Let’s walk through exactly how to start freelance writing with no experience — the real version, not the influencer version where they pretend they made $10k their first month.

If you’re exploring different ways to earn money online and freelance writing feels like one option on a long list, you might also like my guide on Simple Online Jobs Anyone Can Do — it’s a great overview of beginner‑friendly online work.

Why Learning How To Start Freelance Writing With No Experience Isn’t As Scary As It Sounds

scared-woman

The phrase “freelance writing” sounds fancy, but it’s really just writing things people already need. And those things are surprisingly normal.

Think everyday content like:

blog posts
emails
product descriptions
social media captions
how‑to guides
reviews
beginner tutorials
list posts
newsletters
simple website pages

None of this requires a degree, a fancy website, or a portfolio that looks like it belongs in the Louvre. You just need clarity, consistency, and the willingness to write even when your inner critic is screaming, “Who let you do this?”

Trust me — everyone’s inner critic screams 😱 that. We write anyway.

What Freelance Writing Really Is (And What It Definitely Isn’t)

Before I learned how to start freelance writing with no experience, I had a very dramatic idea of what freelance writers did. I pictured someone in a café wearing glasses, 🕶️
sipping a latte, typing profound thoughts while strangers admired their brilliance.

Reality check: I write 90% of my articles in sweatpants while eating snacks I swore I wouldn’t eat.

man-eating-snacks-looking-at-computer

Freelance writing is much simpler than people make it.

Freelance writing IS:

writing helpful content for clients
getting paid per article, per word, or per project
learning as you go
a flexible way to earn money from home
something you can start today

Freelance writing is NOT:

reserved for English majors
about sounding like a Victorian poet
a job where you need to know everything
something that requires a perfect portfolio

If you can explain how to make a sandwich, you can write a how‑to article. If you can rant about something for five minutes, you can write a blog post. If you can follow instructions, you can write for clients.

The bar is lower than you think — in a good way.

How To Start Freelance Writing With No Experience (The Beginner Roadmap)

This is the part I wish someone had handed me when I started. Instead, I spent weeks reading conflicting advice, watching YouTube videos at 2 a.m., and rewriting the same paragraph 47 times. You don’t need to do that. Here’s the simple, realistic path that actually works.

how-to-start-freelance-writing-with-no-experience

Choose a Beginner‑Friendly Niche

Picking a niche doesn’t mean locking yourself into one topic forever. It just helps you look focused instead of chaotic. When I started, I chose “simple how‑to guides” because I liked explaining things and because it sounded less terrifying than “cryptocurrency writing.”

Beginner‑friendly niches include:

lifestyle
productivity
parenting
travel
personal finance
beginner tech
health and wellness
home organization
simple tutorials
food and recipes
self‑improvement

Example of choosing a niche:

Let’s say you love organizing your house. You could write:

“5 Ways to Declutter Your Kitchen in 20 Minutes”
“How to Organize Your Closet Without Spending Money”
“Beginner’s Guide to Creating a Weekly Cleaning Routine”

Boom. You have a niche.

Pick something you can talk about without Googling every second word. If you can explain it to a friend without sweating, it’s niche‑worthy.

And remember: Picking a niche is like picking a snack — you can always grab a different one later.

man-holding-up-snacks

Create Three Simple Writing Samples

This is where most beginners panic, but writing samples are just mini‑articles you write yourself. No clients required. No permission needed. When learning how to start freelance writing with no experience here is what you need to keep in mind.

Each sample should be:

600–1,000 words
clear and helpful
written in your chosen niche
formatted with headings and short paragraphs

Example writing sample ideas:

If your niche is productivity:

“How to Plan Your Day in 10 Minutes”
“Beginner’s Guide to Time Blocking”
“5 Productivity Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To)”

If your niche is parenting:

“How to Create a Calm Morning Routine for Kids”
“Simple Lunch Ideas for Busy Parents”
“How to Set Up a Homework Station at Home”

If your niche is travel:

“How to Pack Light for a Weekend Trip”
“Beginner’s Guide to Budget Travel”
“5 Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Solo Trip”

My first samples were… let’s call them “enthusiastic but confused.” And yet, they still got me work. Yours will too.

Build a Simple Beginner Portfolio

A portfolio doesn’t need to be a website. It can be:

a Google Drive folder
a Notion page
a Medium profile
a Canva one‑page PDF

Your portfolio only needs:

your name
a short intro
your three writing samples
a contact email

Example of a simple intro:

“Hi! I’m a beginner freelance writer who specializes in clear, beginner‑friendly content. I love writing how‑to guides, list posts, and helpful articles that make learning easy. I’m currently taking on small projects to build my experience and help clients create simple, engaging content.”

That’s it. No bells, no whistles, no 47‑page writing manifesto.

man-holding-a-bell-whistling

Start Pitching Beginner‑Friendly Platforms

This is the part that scares most beginners, but pitching is just sending a message that says, “Hey, I can help you with writing.” You don’t need to sound fancy. You just need to sound human.

Beginner‑friendly places to find writing gigs:

Upwork
Fiverr
Freelancer
ProBlogger
Reddit r/HireAWriter
Facebook writing groups
Medium Partner Program
Textbroker (low pay but good practice)

For the complete list of beginner‑friendly writing platforms, check out my full guide.

Example of a simple pitch:

“Hi! I saw your post looking for a writer. I’m a beginner freelance writer who specializes in simple, clear content. I’d love to help with your project. Here are a few samples of my writing. Let me know if you’d like to work together!”

Your first client might pay $10. Mine did. I celebrated like I’d won the lottery. That $10 turned into confidence, and confidence turned into better clients.

If you want another way to earn while you build your writing skills, website testing is surprisingly beginner‑friendly. I break it down step‑by‑step in How To Make Money Testing Websites.

Learn the Basics of Writing Online

You don’t need to master SEO or copywriting on day one. You just need the basics.

Learn:

how to write clear sentences
how to format blog posts
how to use headings
how to write for humans
how to research quickly
how to avoid sounding like a textbook

Example of improving clarity:

Instead of:

“Productivity is a multifaceted concept requiring strategic implementation.”

Write:

“Being productive just means getting things done without losing your mind.”

The more you write, the better you get. Writing is a skill built through repetition, not perfection.

The Fastest Way to Learn How To Start Freelance Writing With No Experience

The fastest way to learn is to write badly until you write well. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it’s true. Every writer starts out rough. Every writer improves by doing. Every writer cringes at their early work — and that’s a good sign.

Here’s what helped me improve quickly:

Read articles in your niche

Not to copy — but to understand structure, tone, and flow.

Practice writing daily

Even 10 minutes counts. Consistency beats intensity.

Use simple language

If you wouldn’t say it out loud, don’t write it.

Study headlines

Without a good headline, your article’s just begging to be read.

woman-holding-sign

Learn basic SEO

Just enough to understand keywords and formatting.

Get feedback

Even one helpful comment can improve your writing dramatically.

Example of a daily writing habit:

Day 1: Write a 200‑word paragraph
Day 2: Write a 300‑word how‑to
Day 3: Rewrite something you wrote before
Day 4: Write a list post
Day 5: Write a short story
Day 6: Write a product description
Day 7: Edit your favorite piece

Small steps add up fast.

How To Start Freelance Writing With No Experience and Actually Get Paid

Let’s talk money, because that’s why you’re here. When I started, I had no idea what to charge. I undercharged, overworked, and learned the hard way. You don’t have to. You just have to know how to write articles that make cash.

Realistic beginner rates

$10–$25 per article (starter)
$30–$50 per article (intermediate)
$75–$150 per article (experienced)

Example of raising your rates:

If you start at $15 per article:

After 5 clients → raise to $25
After 10 clients → raise to $40
After 20 clients → raise to $60

Clients pay more for reliability than brilliance. If you can meet deadlines and not vanish into the abyss, you’re already a premium writer in their eyes.

If you’re still learning to write and need to make money now a good way is do a few Beginner Data Entry Jobs You Can Start Today, while you improve your skills.

Where to Find Beginner Writing Gigs Without Losing Your Mind

Here’s a quick comparison to help you choose platforms:

Platform	Difficulty	Pay	Best For
Upwork	Medium	Medium	beginners with samples
Fiverr	Easy	Low–Medium	quick starter gigs
ProBlogger	Hard	High	confident beginners
Reddit	Easy	Medium	fast gigs
Facebook Groups	Easy	Medium	networking
Medium	Easy	Low–High	building authority

Example of a first gig:

woman-cleaning

I once wrote a 700‑word article about “5 Ways to Clean Your Microwave.”
Was it glamorous? No.
Did it pay? Yes.
Did it lead to more work? Absolutely.

Start with the easy ones. Build confidence. Then move up.

How to Write Simple Articles Clients Love

Clients don’t want complicated writing. They want clarity, structure, and usefulness.

A simple article structure that works:

a hook
a clear intro
short paragraphs
headings
examples
a clean conclusion

Example of a hook:

“Working from home sounds great until you realize your couch is whispering your name.”

Example of a clean conclusion:

“Start small, stay consistent, and your writing will improve faster than you think.”

If you can follow this structure, you can write articles clients will happily pay for.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make (And How to Avoid Them)

I made all of these mistakes. when I was learning how to start freelance writing with no experience You don’t have to.

writing like a college essay
using big words to sound smart
forgetting headings
not editing
overthinking every sentence
waiting too long to pitch
thinking they need a website first

Example of overthinking:

I once spent 45 minutes trying to decide between “5 Tips” and “Five Tips.”
The client did not care.
At all.

Momentum matters more than perfection. A messy start beats a perfect “someday.”

Final Thoughts: You Really Can Learn How To Start Freelance Writing With No Experience

If you’re still reading, you already have the determination most beginners lack. You absolutely can learn How To Start Freelance Writing With No Experience, even if you feel like you’re winging it. I started with nothing but a laptop and questionable confidence. Now I write online every day — and you can too.

Start small. Write often. Pitch early. Improve as you go. And if anyone tells you that you can’t learn How To Start Freelance Writing With No Experience, smile politely and keep writing. They’ll be asking you for tips soon enough.