How to Get Started As a Freelancer

Breaking into freelance journalism takes a lot of time, energy, and stamina. But just because it at times may be difficult, doesn’t mean it’s far from impossible. When you look at a seasoned media worker’s portfolio, you may feel a tad overwhelmed and wonder how exactly they got so many great clips at prestigious publications. But fear not: everyone has to start somewhere, and though there will certainly be a lot of rejection at first, you can land that first byline and be on the path to more opportunities. 

 Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting started as a freelancer.

Step 1: Manage Expectations 

There’s no guarantee that you will find initial success with pitching. It may take a lot of trial and error. The first step, in other words, is to manage expectations and accept that things may not go as you initially planned. Pearse Anderson, a freelance journalist who has been published in Teen Vogue and WIRED, recommends just jumping into it. 

“A lot of it is getting past that initial fear of rejection,” he says. “That initial 27 email shotgunning of pitches where you’re emailing everyone you could potentially email your idea with and preparing yourself for potentially 27 rejections.” 

“It can feel like a black box a lot of the time and really opaque,” Hannah Macready, a freelance journalist with bylines in Fast Company and Ambrook Research, says. “But part of the process of learning how to do it better is just doing it a lot.” 

Step 2: Craft The First Pitch

You may have heard a journalist discuss their “beat.” This usually doesn’t mean they are venturing into producing EDM as a side-hustle (though there’s nothing wrong with that). Rather, a beat is the specific topic they cover in their reporting and writing. For instance, some journalists cover science —rockets, research breakthroughs, lab scandals etc. — while others cover entertainment and culture. Though some refer to themselves as generalists, which means they cover a little bit of everything, you may find it easier to devote yourself to one specific topic. Okay, so how do you choose your beat?

“I really encourage people to pursue the interests they already have,” Anderson advises. “One of the best things for an editor to get across their desk is a deep niche dive.” 

If you’re struggling to come up with an idea, think about a topic, phenomenon, or pop culture event that fascinates you and go from there. 

Many freelance journalists sift through their social media feeds to get inspiration for a pitch. You may start to observe trends or hot topics that you want to weigh in. If you want to get into cultural reporting, you can start off by keeping up to date with new films, art gallery openings, album drops, and books. You may not get your dream assignment at first but once you score your first byline, you will start building up your portfolio. 

“It’s really important to just get your name out there,” Macready says. 

Step 3: Reach Out To Network For Gigs

There are many online spaces to look for gigs. In addition to Study Hall’s weekly opportunity newsletter (ahem) or Opportunity Finder, you can look through social media platforms like X or LinkedIn for gigs. Additionally, you can go on a magazine’s website and search for a pitch guide. If you really enjoyed an article or essay, you can write a kind email (or DM) to the writer and politely ask for an editor’s contact information.  You can also directly reach out to your network. 

Liz Goode, a freelance content strategist and copywriter, recommends that aspiring freelancers rely on word-of-mouth to find initial gigs. 

‘The best foot in the door is always going to be having someone there that you know,” she says. “That’s always the best way to get sort of someone to actually pay attention to you.” 

Let’s say you just published an article. Use that clip to send to prospective clients that you know from a friend-of-a-friend with a message that succinctly conveys I am on the market to do more work like this. 

Step 4: Maintain A Brand

There’s no guarantee that after you’ve racked up a few bylines, you will continue to get consistent work. Especially with the uncertainty of the media industry, you should expect some precariousness. That anchor gig you relied on may disappear. However, to ensure that you will get more opportunities, you should try your best to maintain an online presence. This doesn’t necessarily mean posting a lot on X, LinkedIn, TikTok or Instagram (though promoting your work can’t hurt). Rather, you should have a simple portfolio website that includes the work that you’re most proud of and a simple way to contact you.

Anna Medaris, a freelancer on the health beat, says that she recently was contacted by an editor who found her through her website. 

The health reporter advises that while these online portfolios are surely important, writers don’t have to fixate on making them absolutely perfect. 

“There’s a fine line between making sure you have out there for the world how you want to present yourself but also not getting so bogged down in developing that presence that you forget to actually write,” she says. 

Medaris believes that instead of obsessing over every single detail of a pitch or portfolio, producing quality content will make you stand out in the long run.

“Spending most of the time actually writing is going to benefit you the most,” she shares.

You’re bound to make mistakes and face disappointments. But as long as you’re staying true to your interests while also balancing the reality that there will be pieces you will have to write for experience, you will start gaining more confidence as a freelancer. 

Opportunity Finder is streamlining the process of finding editors, searching for rates, and sifting through pitch guides. This is a product built by former freelancers who have firsthand experience with pitching and contacting editors. Try Opportunity Finder.