How To Start Writing For Beginners + 17 Easy Expert Tips!

Have you always been drawn to words? Is reading one of your hobbies or are you working to start a side hustle by writing? It’s time to get excited, as this article will cover everything you need to know on how to start writing for beginners.

Yes, you can write even if you don’t have any experience and even if the impostor syndrome may be weighing you down.

Writing is a skill, and just like any other skill, you can learn how to master it.

3 years ago I thought about becoming a writer. I loved writing, I enjoyed reading, and one day I thought of monetizing this skill.

With practice, I improved my skill and now it’s your turn to learn how to do so.

Grab my e-book here to learn my exact strategy to become a Freelance Writer in 60 days when you have no experience.

How To Start Writing For Beginners Tips

Choose a niche
Take courses
Writing exercises
Read like there’s no tomorrow
Experiment with different forms of writing
Start in the middle
Set a conducive environment
Be open to learning
Grammar check
Evoke emotions
Join writing groups
Research well
Plan everything out
Create a routine
Discover and hone your writing style
Allow mistakes
Consistency is key

What Is Freelance Writing For Beginners?

Being a freelancer means that you’re working for yourself and you’re not employed under any personnel.

Freelance writing operates similarly.

With freelance writing, a company will hire you as an independent worker and you get paid based on the agreed terms and conditions. Depending on the company, you can get paid hourly, or set a fixed rate for a piece that you write.

If you’re looking to embark on your freelance writing journey, check out this article for a detailed, 8-step guide on how to start writing for beginners.

How To Become A Writer For Beginners?

Since you’re new to the world of writing, you might not know that there are many types of writing out there.

If you think about writing, and your mind goes straight to the recent chick-lit novel you finished, and you’re starting to freak out because you think you can’t write a novel, I’m going to stop you right there.

There are different styles of writing for you to test the waters.

You’ve read magazines, textbooks, articles online, and the newspapers, they’re all written by someone, aren’t they? This goes to show that if you can’t churn up words about two people falling in love, it’s alright, you can try something else.

Here are some examples of the types of writing available:

Blog posts
Article
Poetry
Online magazine
Novels
Script
Essays
Short stories

17 Best Writing Tips For Beginners

1. Find Your Niche

Now, there are thousands of topics that you can write on, you need to narrow them down and pick a niche.

I think this is the most important step for when you want to start writing.

Choosing and sticking to a specific niche makes you a specialist of some sort because let’s face it, if you’re in search of a birthday cake, are you going to a baker or a chef to place your order?

When you’ve mastered a specific niche, it will be easier for you to find clients surrounding that niche, and vice versa.

These are a few things to consider when choosing a niche:

Personal experience – your interests, experiences, or passions
Story – a creative storyline with engaging characters
Issue – ongoing or past issues that require a solution

freelance-writing-courses-Elna-write-to-1k

2. Take Writing Courses

Even though there are plenty of free resources online, you can accelerate your learning (and income) by taking writing courses (That’s what I did)!

It can be overwhelming to learn everything on your own and there’s no shame in seeking help from a mentor. Paid courses offer the exact steps you need in order to be a great writer, saves your time and with the right mentor, it could save you money too.

A commendable course would be Write to $1K by Elna Cain. Elna Cain is a seasoned freelance writer with years of experience and now she’s aiding others who are wondering how to write for beginners.

3. Writing Exercises

More often than not, the best way to get better at something is simply to practice doing it. However, sometimes you can practice with additional tools like writing exercises tailored to develop your skills.

Writing exercises can help jolt ideas and creativity especially if you’re new and you’re wondering how to write articles for beginners.

You can read more about them below but these are some examples of writing exercises:

4. Read Like There’s No Tomorrow

This can’t come as a surprise to you as almost every great writer is an avid reader.

It does not matter what you start with, great novels, history textbooks, or even self-development books, get going with your reading.

Reading improves your comprehension and vocabulary, both qualities that will impact your writing. Having exposure to many words will help you to become well-spoken and articulate, which will be a confidence boost when you’re writing a piece.

You will gain bits and pieces of information when reading. The more knowledge you have, the easier it will be for you to write.

5. Experiment With Different Forms Of Writing

Writing is not limited to the articles or Buzzfeed quizzes you click on trying to find out which type of pizza you are.

Just do a quick search on article writing for beginners or content writing for beginners, and you will be bombarded with an endless supply of results.

If you feel like you don’t have the flare to write the next great science fiction novel, don’t sweat about it too much, try out some of the writing types mentioned below to see which is more appealing to your writing style.

Essays
Content Writing
Article
Script Writing
Audiobooks and Podcasts
Poetry
Blog

6. Start In The Middle

So you’ve picked your niche and the title of the first article you’re about to write but you can’t seem to write out the first sentence.

You have all these ideas you’d like to put to paper but you can’t find the words for the perfect opening sentence, so this is how to start writing for beginners.

Start in the middle.

Work your way through all the key points of your articles and build a strong body. There’s no point in reading an article with only good introductions and conclusions but there’s no valuable information for your readers to take away.

Once you’ve sorted the content, then go back to your introduction and craft up a few sentences to give your readers a gist of knowledge that they’re about to receive.

7. Set Up A Conducive Environment

What does your working environment look like?

Are you someone who’s only able to focus and get work done if it’s pin-drop silent or can you work with some white noises in the background?

Decide and know how you work best and set up your space accordingly.

Even though you’re just starting out and you might think that your working space has no correlation to the result of your work, you’re mistaken.

I have the attention span of a bug and I can’t work in a cafe or anywhere with noises, I would be too distracted and would not get any work done. I need a quiet space with some soft piano ballads playing in the background for optimum focus and production.

Find out how you work and set up your environment for success.

8. Be Open To Learning

Be open to learning new information when it comes to writing. Try to constantly improve your knowledge and have the urgency to always upskill yourself.

When you’re starting out with writing, you will be receiving feedback and you’ve got to be open to them even if they’re bad. Do not be afraid of the possibility of receiving bad feedback, and instead, take it in a constructive way.

Find the merit in this feedback and do not let them consume you.

There’s an abundance of information available for you to learn about writing, and most of them are free on the internet.

9. Grammar Check

Make use of free online tools like Copyscape and Grammarly to ensure you produce error-free writing that would not trigger any Grammar-Nazi reading them.

Having a properly articulated writing piece will not only impress your clients and attract more readers, but it also serves as a great confidence boost for your future work.

10. Evoke Emotions

You want your readers to be hooked to your writing and this is not limited to fiction or story writing.

Imagine if you’re writing a piece on money management and achieving financial freedom. You readers should be filled with the joy and excitement of finally learning about the steps to achieve financial freedom.

If your interest is in gardening and you’re planning to attract all those with green thumbs to learn about growing their own herbs indoors, how do you want them to feel when they’re reading your piece?

Keep that in mind when you’re writing.

You want to add value to your readers. They should feel like they’ve learned everything there is to learn with just your piece.

11. Join Writing Groups

What better place to start your writing than being surrounded by other people who are on the same boat as you? There are plenty of Facebook groups with members who are equally hesitant to take the first step towards writing.

The bright side to this is that these groups are filled with experienced writers who oftentimes are happy to share their pearls of wisdom in order to help a beginner writer.

Some of the Facebook writing groups are:

12. Research Well

Being able to research well is an important skill as a writer.

Even as a freelance writer for beginners, you want to produce articles that are educational and accurately represented.

Link your piece to articles that can back up any facts you state and make Google your absolute BFF.

13. Plan Everything Out

Okay, this tip may or may not work for everyone but it does for me. When I think of a topic, I plan the details out.

What is your main idea?
How is it going to grasp the attention of your readers?
Do you have interesting sub-points that are easy to read and understand?

These are some details that can be handy when you’re trying out freelance writing for beginners.

14. Create A Routine

If you’re starting out with writing, it is most probably going to start as a part-time gig. You should create a routine and schedule the task just like you would with a regular job.

Do you work better in the wee hours of the morning, or well into the night?

Create a sustainable routine where you block a few hours each day to build baby steps towards becoming a successful writer.

15. Discover And Hone Your Writing Style

The only way for you to discover your writing style is to try out many different writing concepts.

Once you’ve found the preferred style, constantly upgrade your work.

Write more pieces revolving around your style and update your content. Having a well-written piece reflects well on you.

It shows your readers that you take the time to provide only the best information and storyline for them.

16. Allow Mistakes

Mistakes and failures, they’re all part of life’s lessons alright? Give yourself some grace and let yourself make some mistakes.

You only live once. Take that chances. Make as much mistakes. That is how you grow and improve.

Your first article isn’t going to be as good as your 50th article. Be sure to learn from your mistakes and find ways to improve your work.

17. Consistency Is Key

Being consistent with something reflects on your tenacity and perseverance. This quality applies to all aspects of life.

Say you’re wanting to get lean, the only way to achieve a certain aesthetic goal is to be consistent with fueling your body with nutritious food and working out.

If you want to get better at writing, write every day.

Practice your skill just like how you would train your muscles to get stronger. Consistency is what transforms average to successful, it isn’t rocket science, it simply is the commitment to enhancing yourself.

Don’t cloud yourself with self-doubt when you’re wondering how to start writing for beginners, get started and stick with it.

11 Gold Mines Job Boards To Find Freelance Writing Jobs

11 Best Places To Find Freelance Writing Jobs

Writing industry-specific job boards.
Freelance job boards.
General job boards.
Twitter.
SEO agencies.
Content marketing agencies.
Web design agencies.
Digital marketing agencies.
Advertising agencies.
Content mills.
Cold pitching.

9 Getting Hired Tips For Freelance Writing Jobs

Ensure that your letter of introduction and cover letter must be well-written and proofread before submitting.
Build online portfolio to appear credible and professional.
Market yourself clearly and confidently on your social media.
Build domain authority by producing the same type of contents to develop your skills and expertise, and become the go-to specialist writer for that specific niche and quality writing.
Prepare relevant writing samples for potential employer review.
Gather written or video testimonials from past and current clients.
Tap into your existing networks and let them that you are looking for writing gigs.
Network with other freelance writers for advices, resources and referrals.
Always follow up after cold pitching and after applying for gigs.

FAQs on How To Start Writing For Beginners

How Should A Beginner Start Writing?

8 Ways To Start Writing Are:

Start in the middle when you do not know where to begin.
Add a title before you write.
Write as much as you can even badly.
Start writing one at a time and build up over time.
Incentivize the readers.
Create a story as you write.
Create a synopsis.

How Can I Teach Myself As A Beginner To Write?

A Great Writer Practice As Follows:

Perceive writing as a mindfulness practice.
Learn to overcome writing fear.
Write daily.
Learn to type and think quicker.
Allow yourself to make mistakes.
Create deadlines for your writing.
Learn to overcome resistance.
Time yourself as you write.
Care about your brainchild created by your writing.
Read a lot.

AP’S: Writing is merely a skill that can be developed into a tool to discover your passion or earn extra income. The first and most important thing to do is to start. No matter how overwhelming you feel or how daunting it can seem to venture into something with no experience, just start. Implement one of the 17 tips mentioned above to help you hone your writing skills and ignore all limiting self-beliefs you have about yourself.

How Do I As A Beginner Start Writing With No Experience?

10 Ways To Start Writing As A Beginner With No Experience:

Write a few writing samples.
Find a blogger or writing companies that hire.
Create an online portfolio.
Launch your own blog.
Write for free for friends and families.
Ask for their testimonials.
Fix your grammar as you write.
Learn and try to master SEO.

What Are The 5 Writing Skills?

5 Basic Writing Skills Are:

Research. Thorough and meticulous research allows writers to find concise information and be able to write compellingly about a particular content topic.
Outlining. Outlining is planning out the structure and flow of your written piece.
Reading comprehension. Reading comprehension helps you understand your point from readers’ perspective.
Editing.
Time management.

Do Ghostwriters Get Paid?

Ghostwriters get paid on average between USD10,000 to more than USD50,000 for memoirs or non-fiction books. Ghostwriters can earn between USD150 to more than USD500 for articles or blog posts. The rates for ghostwriters vary based on the word count, the skills of the writers, and the goals of the clients and budgets.

What To Do When I Have Writer’s Block?

These Are 7 Tips To Overcome Writer’s Block:

Read a lot to overcome the stagnancy of ideas.
Plan a deadline and make it a habit.
Use the Pomodoro technique by setting the timer for 25 minutes to write productively.
Write as it is even badly.
Change or refresh your writing environment.
Use the writing prompt.

How To Write A Book For Beginners

6 Important Tips To Start Writing A Novel

Determine the imaginary world or plot line where you want to pour your energy into.
Create a storyboard of the imaginary world.
Create a set of characters.
Determine the ending of your novel.
Break the story into scenes or acts.

How To Become A Good Writer For Beginners

Make writing daily as a habit.
Force yourself to read every day anywhere.
Capitalize each sentence.
Avoid using exclamation points.
Think from your readers’ perspectives.
Remove the filler phrases and buzzwords.
Sign up for a free online writing course.
Use a writing template to create a standard.

How To Write A Story For Beginners

These are the steps on how to start writing a story for beginners:

Write a strong opening sentence.
Engage the readers with the story characters.

Elicit the readers’ emotion.
Begin your story with a photograph.
Write a compelling first paragraph.
Leave a hint on how the story unfolds.

FAQ

How Can I Teach Myself To Write?

Writing is merely a skill that can be developed into a tool to discover your passion or earn extra income.

The first and most important thing to do is to start.

No matter how overwhelming you feel or how daunting it can seem to venture into something with no experience, just start.

Implement one of the 17 tips mentioned above to help you hone your writing skills and ignore all limiting self-beliefs you have about yourself.

How Do You Write A Good Story For Beginners?

For a start, put yourself in the shoes of potential readers. When you’re thinking of a topic to write on, cater it to a target audience.

Once you’ve narrowed down your niche, look up for all those writers who have mastered said niche and shadow their work. Observe the writing style and there is any that piques your interest.

In terms of writing a story, you should revolve them around these basic elements:

Character
Plot
Theme
Structure
Setting
Style and tone

Beginners Writing Exercises

It doesn’t matter if you’re thinking of freelance writing for beginners or you simply want to improve your writing skills, these 5 exercises will benefit you.

1.Alphabet Method

This method is great to spark the creativity in your brain that may have dampened out.

How this works is that you start writing a sentence with the letter A and continue writing the next sentence starting with the letter B, and so on and so forth.

For example, it can be something like this.

“A blind man found it difficult to maneuver through the fresh market. Being blind recently, he has relied on his senses to get him through the day, but in this bustling market, he can’t seem to focus on his senses. Catching onto a pole, he stopped for a minute to calm himself down before resuming his journey.”

As the alphabets go on, it will be challenging to come up with creative sentences, so this is a great way to see what you can come up with.

2.What If Method

This method is exactly as it sounds.

When you’re facing a wall and can’t seem to come up with any ideas to write, try asking yourself a “what if” question.

Perhaps, try writing from a different perspective, or ask yourself “what if” the reader required any additional information instead? Prompting questions like these will solve some questions you may have on how to start writing for beginners.

3.Benjamin Franklin Method

There are 5 simple steps to the Benjamin Franklin method.

Find a piece that you’d like to mimic.
Make notes of your opinions on the ideas/sentence/plot.
Wait a couple of days, then write with your own words on the same topic based on your notes.
Refer to the original piece and compare them with the piece you wrote.
Correct any mistakes that you spot and improvise.

4.Dear Younger Self

Write a letter to your younger self, pick and age or time you’d like, and start writing. Is there anything you’d like to tell your younger self?

This exercise allows you to reflect and be mindful of what’s happening now versus back then, instead of drifting through your thoughts daily.

5.1000 Words A Day

No, don’t be frightened! Yes, 1000 words can seem overwhelming but that’s just the hurdle at the beginning that you’ve got to breakthrough.

You’re going to be uncomfortable writing 1000 words every day but when you’re consistent with it, you’re going to find ideas coming to you quicker, resulting in better content for your readers.

Your first 1000 words may take you a week to write, but as you keep at it, you will be surprised at how quickly you can write 1000 words with practice. Ideas and words will be flowing out before you know it.

Conclusion

There you go, 17 practical tips to get you to stop your thoughts from wondering how to start writing for beginners and start turning these steps into action.

Learning how to start writing for beginners will take time and it isn’t a skill to be learned in a day.

It takes time and practice but be confident and trust that this skill can be developed and polished into something great.

DISCLOSURE

Some of the links on here are affiliate links and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. Hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.

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