Jules Horne - How to Launch a Freelance Copywriting Business: Creative Writing for a Living

T his book is perfect for you if youre a creative thinker and writer who wants to earn a good living from your words. I wrote it to help creative writing students, journalists, and other skilled writers whove considered copywriting, but dont know whether its for them, or how to get started.

Its based on my own experience of starting a successful copywriting business from scratch, without help, advice, or books like this to guide me. In the middle of the Scottish countryside. With skylarks for company. And woefully slow broadband. If I can do it, you can.

This book will help you cut to the chase, and get going quickly.

Note that it assumes you can already write . It assumes youre a demon speller and grammar-wrangler. It assumes that one of the following is true:

• you have a creative writing or English degree or MFA, or
• youre a journalist looking for another income stream, or
• youve written as part of your professional life, or
• your writing has been published in other ways.

If this is you, read on.

Writing for business is a way for skilled writers to earn a good, dependable income. Someone writes all the websites, brochures, and marketing materials out there. Why not you?

In business, the people who write copy often arent writers. They may be business owners, or an employee who got landed with the job. They probably dont love writing as you do. Theyre probably less than good at it. In truth, their writing may be letting their business down badly. This is where you come in, with your magic pen and professional writing skills.

Businesses large and small need writers. They need them to make a connection with customers, to get the message out about their products, to sell and to survive.

Find that work, and you can make a good living, with work thats home-based and flexible, and fits well with family and creative life.

This book explains how to set up your freelance writing business, including:

• how to find customers and get paid work
• how to approach businesses professionally and with confidence
• how to wrangle money as well as words
• how to set up your workflow for greater productivity.

Youll also find recommended resources on copywriting and the distinct requirements of writing for business.

Im a working writer based in rural Scotland, where there arent any jobs for writers! So like most of us, I have a portfolio career. Over the years, as well as running my own copywriting business, Texthouse, Ive written Edinburgh Fringe First-winning plays, BBC radio drama, fiction, and song lyrics. I also teach on the Open University Creative Writing MA. My background is in languages (a German and French degree at Oxford University), followed by several years as a journalist with the BBC World Service and Swiss Radio International.

Ive always wanted to write full-time, and eventually returned home to work freelance. I now balance creative and commercial work to earn an independent living.

I wrote this book because it wasnt around when I started out. Im an ex-journalist and published writer. It should have been easy to figure out how to earn a good living. It took me several years of trial and error.

Why? Because when I started out, books on writing and business were aimed at agencies, marketers and companies with marketing teams. Enterprise training courses were equally hopeless for my needs. They were aimed at larger businesses, and traditional sectors such as manufacturing. Not sole traders looking for specific creative industries advice.

So thats whats in this book. Key takeaways include:

Your writing skills are valuable in a business context, but youll first need some sales and marketing tools and concepts to build on what you already know about the craft of writing.

Creative writing qualifications are unlikely to impress anyone in the business world. You need to reframe your skills for the business context, with evidence that resonates with business people.

Not all businesses need writing services. How do you find those that do? How do you present yourself? How do you demonstrate your value to potential clients?

Rates vary between companies and sectors. How do you work out what to charge? How do you prepare a quote? Project, day, or hourly basis?

You dont need extrovert salesmanship. You do need to show the value of your services. Where do you start? Do you need a leaflet, cards, website?

This book is laid out so that you can read it straight through, use it as a reference, or follow it as a course. I suggest you skim-read first, to get a sense of the territory, then dive into the sections closest to your situation.

Dont expect to take in everything at once. Make notes as you go, and read the book again in six months time. Youll take new insights from your different vantage point.

Dont try to tackle three fronts at once: marketing, admin, and writing. Instead, do a little of each at a time, to keep progress manageable.

• If youre completely new to copywriting, and want to know whether you might enjoy it, go to Is It For You?
• If youre a journalist or creative writer and want to understand how your skills translate to copywriting, head to Writing Skills Audit.
• If youre in a hurry to get your copywriting business started, zoom to .
• If you already do copywriting, and want ideas to streamline your process and be more productive, head to Systems and Nuts & Bolts.
• If youre ambitious to grow your income or expand, read the section on Business Growth .

If you find this helpful and want to share suggestions of your own, Id love to hear from you! After all, copywriting is evolving all the time, and were all in this together. You can email me at info@method-writing.com.

I wasted a lot of time by not understanding the markets for freelance copywriting, and approaching the wrong kind of business. I also wasted a lot of money because I didnt know the value of my skills, and often charged too little.

This book will save you years of floundering, by including:

• my mistakes, so you dont make them
• processes to follow
• practical advice to suit different writing backgrounds and skills