It’s normal to have doubts and fears when trying to become a freelance writer. Especially if you’re giving up a steady full-time job to make it happen. But you can do it!

What are some signs that you’d make a great freelance writer? Just asking if you’re good enough is already a sign that you care enough to make it work. If anyone has ever complimented your writing, you’re an avid reader, and you’ve got even just a basic understanding of spelling and grammar, chances are you’ve got what it takes.

In this article, I’ll give you some signs to look for that suggest you’d be an excellent freelance writer.

Signs You’d Make A Great Freelance Writer

Who would want to pay you for your work when you have no education or experience?

It’s normal to have thoughts like these when you’re just getting started as a freelance writer.

But the truth is all you’ve got to do is be able to solve a problem. Then people will be glad to hire you!

There are millions of different businesses out there with all kinds of budgets and writing needs. So there’s a ton of opportunities for you to get paid for your writing.

Even if your English isn’t the best, you’re already likely better than most writers who have English as a second language and charge 1 or 2 cents per word. If someone in Malaysia or the Philippines can make a living by writing blogs that aren’t even in their native language, what’s stopping you from becoming a successful freelance writer?

Here are some signs that show you’re ready to take that next step and become a freelance writer.

You Wonder If You’re Good Enough

Just asking yourself if you’re good enough already shows that you care. It’s also a sign that you’re willing to improve yourself.

Striving to be better is how you’ll learn and improve as a freelance writer. And the better you get, the more you’ll be able to charge for your work.

Someone Has Complimented Your Writing Before

If anybody has ever told you that you’re a good writer, then you have what it takes to start freelancing. If you did well in English class, or if you’ve ever won a writing competition, those can be signs that you’d excel writing for a living too.

You Have A Basic Understanding of Spelling and Grammar

My spelling and grammar are far from perfect. And they don’t need to be! Half the time I don’t know what the difference between a verb and adjective are. If you’ve got even a basic understanding of spelling and grammar, that’s good enough.

If you’re a bit above average when it comes to writing, that will certainly help. But what really matters is whether you enjoy it. There are plenty of tools like Grammarly that can fix most of your spelling and grammar mistakes for you.

Before you quit your job to follow your dream, make sure to read my article When Should You Quit Your Job To Become A Full-Time Freelancer or Entrepreneur?

You Find Yourself Catching Typos All The Time

Whenever you read the newspaper, flyers, or any other kind of writing, are you always catching typos?

That’s a pretty good sign that you’d be a great writer. Or possibly an editor too!

If you’ve got enough of a critical eye to notice other people’s mistakes, then you’ll likely have just as high of standards for your own writing.

You’re An Avid Reader

Personally I’m not an avid reader in the traditional sense. But I do spend a ton of time reading and replying to comments on forums and sites like Reddit, and generally reading a lot of online content.

Whether you read fiction, nonfiction, or just a lot of text while browsing the web, then you’d probably do just as well at writing it as reading it.

You’re Disciplined

As a freelance writer, you’ll be your own boss.

So you’ll need the discipline to set and meet deadlines for yourself, without anyone else pushing you.

If you’re able to get work done and not slack off, that’s one piece of the puzzle when it comes to making freelance writing your career.

Conclusion

You might have your doubts about whether you’re good enough to become a freelance writer. But if you care enough to be reading this article, chances are that you have what it takes.

There’s no degree or specific credentials that you need to get started. I went to school for business, not English or writing. And I had no previous writing experience.

So if you think you’d like to be a freelance writer, just give it a try. You can start in your spare time and just do a bit of writing in the evenings and on weekends.

Otherwise you’ll always be left wondering “what if.”