Step 1 Write often Write as much and as often as you can. Take writing-intensive courses in journalism and English in college.

If your major is in a non-writing-intensive field, consider gaining additional writing experience by taking writing courses or a job as a copywriter or editor in a field related to your major after you graduate.

Step 2 Contact publishers Contact print and online magazine publishers about freelance opportunities. Libraries usually have books that list publishers’ addresses.

You will have the most success pitching ideas about subjects that you have some familiarity with.

Step 3 Meet publishing professionals Get to know publishing professionals in your field of interest by attending conferences and conventions.

Step 4 Network Network with other freelancers. Other writers may come across opportunities more suited to you and pass your information along to their editors.

Step 5 Check online job boards Check online job boards for writing opportunities. Job boards frequently list opportunities for paid columnists, bloggers, and web-content creators.

Hundreds of thousands of writing opportunities exist. Making the most of them is where the art of the freelancer really comes into play. A freelance writer is someone who writes without belonging to any single company or entity but acts like a small business or an independent contractor.[1]

It's possible to be a full-time freelance writer earning a living, or to be a part-time freelancer supplementing a regular income. Another role is to simply do it for fun or to build up a broader portfolio of skills. In this article, you'll get the basics on what it takes to ease your way into freelance writing as a career or hobby.

There are more graduates than ever entering an increasingly diminished job market. With opportunities in the arts and media as scarce as they've ever been, graduates are having to be more creative in the ways they earn money and gain experience in their chosen field. Although for many, freelancing is synonymous with living in your pyjamas and rejoicing you're not stuck in a 9-5 job, this wears off pretty swiftly, usually around rent day. However, for those with a flair for the written word, freelance writing can be worthwhile.

Everyone's path to getting freelance work is different, but as long as it leads to money in the bank, they're all just as viable. When starting out, many people turn to websites such as Freelancer, Elance or oDesk where you can bid for work. These can be great for building experience and a portfolio while getting paid for it. Just make sure the employers are verified to avoid getting into a situation where you've spent hours on work for them to conveniently disappear.