30 Resources for Freelance Writers (with 7 Free Courses)

Considering going freelance? 

Or maybe you've already taken that step.

Here are some educational resources that can help you maximize success. 

Books

Cash Money Freelancing:  76 bright ideas to make more money from your freelance business
Tom Abrighton 

"When you go freelance, your fate is in your hands, and yours alone. No one is coming to the rescue. Very few clients will offer you more money than you ask for, no matter how deeply they value what you do. So if you want rewards, you have to hustle for them. That is an unchangeable truth of freelance life."

Secrets of a Freelance Writer: How to Make $100,000 a Year or More
Bob Bly 

"The first step to making a lot of money as a freelance writer is to avoid the 'poverty mentality' so many writers have."

The Well Fed Writer: Financial Self-Sufficiency as a Commercial Freelancer in Six Months or Less
Peter Bowerman 

"This business, while certainly not easy, is pretty simple, and entails a logical sequence of actions to be successful."

The Wealthy Freelancer
Steve Slaunwhite, Pete Savage, Ed Gandia

"As a freelancer, on those days when life is filled with roses and sunshine, it's easy to stay confident and upbeat. It's when the storms roll in -- and they will roll in -- that your mental toughness will be put to the test."

Survival Skills for Freelancers: Tried and Tested Tips to Help You Ace Self-Employment Without Burnout
Sarah Townsend

“What’s your response when someone asks you why you do what you do? Your initial thought may be 'To earn money', but money is a means to an end, not an end goal. Spend some time thinking about your purpose – the thing that drives you, and the reason you get out of bed in the mornings.”

The Flying Nun, A Light Bulb Moment and Me: 40 Years Making Money As a Freelance Writer (Hey, You Can Do It, Too!)
John Riddle

Don’t always accept what is being offered to you, whether it is for a magazine or an online assignment. If you feel it is worth more, don’t be afraid to ask!

The Freelancer's Business Brain: Work smart, win clients, make money (Freelance Writing Essentials) 
Tom Albrighton

While your work brain is serving customers out front, your business brain is in the back office, balancing books and drawing up plans. Together, your two brains make sure your freelance business is fiving you every thing you want.

"Seven great books, Scott, but which one should I start with?"

Use the Read sample feature on each book's Amazon.com listing. Along with the description, you should see enough to get an idea of which book best suits your style and your current needs. 

Free Courses

Get Paid to Write - https://elnacain.com/  You "pay" with your email address.

Freelance Writing Rockstar https://elnacain.com/course/rockstar/ You "pay" with your email address.

3 Steps to $1,000 Freelance Writing in 45 Days or Less - https://writingrevolt.lpages.co/3-steps-to-1k-reg  You "pay" with your email address.

Freelance Writing Path to Profits - https://writerslifeforyou.com/freelance-writing-path-to-profits/ You "pay" with your email address.

Break the Freelance Matrix - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7Dr13guodSNRjOFWyt13ltvpgSbPvJSu

Free Freelance Writing Course - https://carminemastropierro.com/free-freelance-writing-course/ You "pay" with your email address.

Learn How to Make Your First $1,000 Freelance Writing (in 30 Days or Less) -https://www.locationrebel.com/ You “pay” with your email address.

How to Land Your First Freelance Client - https://mindmycontent.mykajabi.com/land-your-first-client  You “pay” with your email address.

Free Guides

The Recession-Proof freelancer - https://freelancewriters.lpages.co/recession-proof-ebook-twl/ Learn how to find legitimate freelance writing jobs, earn a healthy income, and more. You'll "pay" with your email address.

The Ultimate Guide to Freelance Writing for Beginners - https://writerslifeforyou.com/freelance-writing-for-beginners/  Discover tools and resources to start freelancing and begin making money.

Paid Courses

38 Expert Tips for Writers on Medium - $49 Lessons and Exercises from the Top 100 Medium Writers & Stories  https://mediumwritingcourse.com/

Udemy: The Complete Freelance Writing Course $99.99, Start a Profitable Freelance Writing Business in 5 Weeks $99.99, The Complete Freelance Writing Online Course: Beginner to Pro $109.99 https://www.udemy.com/ 

Come Write With Us - $197 Crash course on launching a freelance writing career from scratch.   https://comewritewithus.teachable.com/

Earn More Writing - $199 Topics to help you start as a freelancer. https://earnmorewriting.com/

Creative Freelancing Freedom - $247 The essentials of becoming a freelancer. https://wanderful-world.teachable.com/p/creative-freelancing-freedom1 

Creative Class - $269 The business side of freelancing. https://creativeclass.co/

Freelance to 5K - $497 Skills you need to become a successful freelance writer.                                    https://inspire-your-success1.teachable.com/p/freelance-to-5k-2020  

The Writer’s Den - $40 per month with nearly two dozen courses (boot camps)  https://freelancewritersden.com/  

Freelance University - $59 per month with over 80 courses   https://www.freelanceu.com/university/

Free Articles

25 Things I Got Very Wrong, and Mostly Right, in 25 Years as a Freelancer - Matthew Fenton
https://winningsolo.com/25-things-i-got-wrong-and-right-in-25-years-as-freelancer/ 

Go to https://www.awai.com/ and search freelance and get links to articles such as 7 Ways to Find and Attract Quality Freelance Writing Clients and How to Make Your First $1,000 as a Freelance Writer

20 Online Gold Mines for Finding Freelance Writing Jobs - Kelly Gurnett  https://thewritelife.com/find-freelance-writing-jobs/ 

17 Freelance Writing Niches That Still Pay Big Bucks in 2022 - Karen Mackenzie https://smartblogger.com/freelance-writing-niches/  

The 5 Hardest Things About Being a Freelancer - Neil Robertson  https://www.fourninemarketing.com/post/the-5-hardest-things-about-being-a-freelancer

40 Freelance Copywriter Survival Tips - Jonathan Wilcock
https://www.sowhatif.co.uk/freelance-copywriting-survival-tips/

Tips from New York's Busiest Freelancer - Laura Tannenbaum
https://adaged.blogspot.com/2023/05/tips-from-new-yorks-busiest-freelancer.html

Free Video

Asking 6-figure freelancers what “the secret” to $100,000 is - Deya  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7FZf4gSQFU 

BONUS

This doesn't fit as "training" but it does as a "resource." And free always comes in handy. Even if it's limited and positioned so the free version will ease you into an upgrade.

Free Portfolio Websites 

Journo Portfolio  https://www.journoportfolio.com/  free version allows up to 10 free articles

Clippings.me  https://www.clippings.me/  free version allows up to 10 free articles

There are many other portfolio sites suitable for freelance writers that offer a free trial (as opposed to a free version), including: Writer’s Residence, Writerfolio, Format, and Pressfolio.

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More Resources:

18 Free Copywriting Courses

17 Books Writers Must Read

24 Free SEO Courses

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What you get out of any training, free or paid for,
is based on the commitment (time, attention, practice, etc.) 
you put into that training.

Education without action is entertainment.

You can take all the courses and read all the books,
but if you don't put that information into practice,
you're not going to get where you want to go.

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 I am not affiliated with or compensated by any of these courses/books/guides/articles/exercises, their authors, websites, or corporate entities. They are not listed in any particular order.