Believe it or not, there are a lot of jobs available for writers. Whether they are all well-paying is a conversation for another time. However, the amount of writing that needs to be done is bountiful.
From blogging (cough), copywriting, ghostwriting (yeah, a lot of those celebrity books are written by someone else), journalism, and technical writing there seems to be an endless amount of writing needed. Yes, there is a difference between the writing a journalist does and a blogger, but I’m proof that one does not keep you from doing the other.
The larger point is being, writers of all educational backgrounds and talents can thrive as freelancers in the digital era. Remote work is also a natural fit for writers.
Let’s look at me for examples; I am a journalist who is currently working on a novel – why exactly do I need a brick and mortar office location?
If you’re imagining a scene from All The President’s Men, that doesn’t fit for the modern journalist. There is absolutely no need for me to work from a noisy office, with constant ringing phones, and dozens of other journalists making a fuss throughout the day.
That’s quite distracting, especially if I need to complete research, conduct an interview, or speak to a source. With programs like Zoom, there is little to be gained from the traditional office journalism model.
Note: There’s a noise cancelling solution called Krisp which can help in situations like working from a noisy environment or a shared office space. It mutes background noise on both sides during any remote conference that you have. You can pair it with any microphones, speakers, headphones and conferencing apps as you want.
Obviously, writing a novel for myself isn’t for an employer. Yet, when taking into consideration the final product will be published by a multimedia company I cofounded, it’s possible some would say that working from a traditional office would make sense.
Without going into all the data; I’ve done that several times, I and my partners are easily able to communicate remotely without much hassle.
What Does Remote Writing Look Like?
It’s really straight forward, all you have to do is write. With the plethora of project management software, the ability to use a laptop from almost anywhere, and the creative nature involved with writing – it truly fits the remote writing venue.
With the rising prices surrounding real estate, it’s nearly irresponsible for businesses built around writing content to rent office space. Therefore, digital nomads and freelance writers are in a perfect position to take advantage of the growing digital marketplace.
Imagine waking up at 10am, taking your time to eat breakfast, writing for several hours, taking a break, and writing again for a few more hours to end your workday. That’s basically what the life of a digital nomad or freelance writer is.
Academic and journalism writing are slightly different; requiring a bit more research. However, individuals have the freedom to work from where they want and make their own schedules in a lot of circumstances.
Remote Work Writing Is The Future
Remote work opportunities are increasing across the globe. Hiring managers expect the trend to continue, remote workers surveyed enjoy the experience far more than traditional office work, remote workers are more productive, and the list continues.
With writing being easy to do from a mobile location, there’s little benefit for teams built around the vertical to not turn over to a remote work model. While several individuals of the team could work from a central location for logistical reasons, the remainder of the team would be better off from working from the comforts of their own home.
Should companies be ‘forced’ to embrace the remote writer model? Of course not.
Although, I’ve yet to find a negative aspect associated with these teams going fully mobile. Content farms, news outlets, and small businesses already employ a similar model by hiring freelancers to write from their homes.
Despite misinformation being spread by several individuals, remote workers do not harm company culture, nor do they become burdens. With the amount of research debunking such thought, it’s alarming to see individuals continue to make false claims.
Basically, all trends point towards the percentage of remote workers continuing to rise, including remote writers.
What Does This Mean For You?
If you’re interested in dipping your toe into the realm of digital nomads and freelancers, this is the perfect time to get involved. While not everyone is a great natural write, numerous teaching platforms exist to provide novices with the skills necessary to begin their journey as digital writers.
For those with writing experience, or were apart of writing-intensive college programs, then there is little standing in your way of immediately launching a profile on Upwork.
If you have to use a college paper or work examples from an office job as proof of your skills, many clients will gladly accept those in place of specific experience to the vertical they are hiring for.
At the end of the day; writing is writing
In the very least, new freelancers will be able to boost their income while they work towards making a full-time living as a remote work writer. At first, newcomers may have to take painful writing assignments about dry topics — but it will bear fruit in later months once you accumulate a solid portfolio.
There are numerous opportunities for writers to take advantage of social media if they wish to specialize in a specific topic while building their own website as well.
Opportunities in remote writing are endless for those willing to put in the work and push towards their personal goals.
