Freelance Writing: 8 Steps to Becoming a Digital Nomad

A step-by-step guide to a location-independent career as an online writer

Photo by Thought Catalog on Unsplash

Starting a career as a digital nomad can be both exciting and intimidating. On one hand, you have the freedom to work from anywhere in the world and create your own schedule. On the other hand, you may not have a stable income, and you need to be self-motivated and disciplined to succeed.

I started my journey toward a location-independent career over a year ago, and I’m still struggling from time to time. But I’ve also learned a lot along the way, and I’ve realized that, although life as a digital nomad isn’t for everyone, it definitely is the life for me.

Here is a short guide to becoming a digital nomad, that covers the basics. I’m an online writer, so I write from my experience as an online writer, but most of these lessons can be applied to a variety of professions.

Establish your financial plan

Before you start your digital nomad journey, you need to establish your financial plan. Consider your income, expenses, and savings to determine how much money you need to support your lifestyle.

Here are some concrete steps you can take to create a financial plan:

1. Determine your current expenses: Start by tracking your current expenses to understand how much you are spending each month. Make a list of all your bills, rent/mortgage payments, food, transportation, and other expenses.
2. Estimate your future expenses: Once you have a clear understanding of your current expenses, you can estimate your future expenses as a digital nomad. Consider the cost of travel, accommodation, and other expenses that may differ from your current lifestyle.
3. Calculate your income: Determine how much money you will be earning as a digital nomad. This may include income from freelancing, remote work, or any other sources.
4. Set financial goals: Identify your financial goals and set a timeline for achieving them. This may include saving a certain amount of money, paying off debt, or investing in a retirement fund.
5. Create a budget: Use the information you gathered to create a budget that reflects your income and expenses. This will help you stay on track and avoid overspending.
6. Build an emergency fund: As a digital nomad, you may face unexpected expenses or income fluctuations. Build an emergency fund that can cover at least three to six months of your living expenses.
7. Consider your taxes: Depending on your location and income, you may be subject to different tax laws. Consult with a tax professional to ensure you are paying the correct amount and taking advantage of any deductions or credits.

Develop your skills

The second (and, I’d say, the most important) step to becoming a successful online writer (or online anything) is to hone your writing skills. There really is no shortcut to this: you have to be able to deliver quality work.

There are many ways you can practice your writing skills. You can take online courses or read books on writing to improve your craft. Make sure to practice writing regularly and seek feedback from others to improve your writing.

Habits are crucial here. As James Clear writes in his famous book Atomic Habits:

“All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision. But as that decision is repeated, a habit sprouts and grows stronger. Roots entrench themselves and branches grow. The task of breaking a bad habit is like uprooting a powerful oak within us. And the task of building a good habit is like cultivating a delicate flower one day at a time.”

Once we’ve formed the right habits, we don’t have to use as much willpower to perform certain tasks anymore. We just do them.

So try to make a habit out of writing, and try to build good writing habits.

6 Ways To Build Better (Writing) Habits

Build a portfolio

Your online presence is crucial when you’re working as a digital nomad. To attract clients, you need to have a portfolio that showcases your writing skills.

To do so, you can create a professional website and social media profiles to showcase your skills and experience. You can also use platforms like LinkedIn and Upwork to find freelance work.

Network with other writers (online)

Networking is important: you can learn from each other's experiences, help each other get assignments, and collaborate together on new projects.

The idea of going to an event just so that it might help further your career felt uncomfortable and forced to me. It felt like every social interaction would be reduced to something transactional.

However, after freelancing for some time, I have gained a newfound appreciation for the significance of building a strong network. Particularly for those starting out in their careers, a reliable network can prove invaluable.

It not only helps establish your reputation and secure new assignments, but it also provides a sense of community in an otherwise solitary profession. With a solid network, you have access to individuals to confide in, exchange experiences with, and seek guidance from.

For this reason, I believe a good network should consist of people that could potentially give you assignments, but also of people in the same field of work with whom you can share ideas and tips.

Preferably, you should connect with people who are in the same field as you are, but who have a bit more experience.

And just because you’re location-independent, doesn’t mean that it’s not possible to network. There are many ways to network online, for example:

1. Join online writing communities: There are many online communities for writers such as forums, social media groups, and writing groups on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, or Reddit. Join these communities and engage with other writers by sharing your work, providing feedback, and participating in discussions.
2. Attend virtual writing events: Many writing events have moved online due to the pandemic, such as virtual writing conferences, workshops, and webinars. Attend these events and connect with other writers through chat rooms or online networking sessions.
3. Collaborate on writing projects: Find other writers with similar interests and collaborate on writing projects. This could include co-authoring a book, contributing to a blog, or starting a podcast together.
4. Guest post on other writers’ blogs: Reach out to other writers who have a similar audience to yours and offer to write a guest post for their blog. This can help you reach a new audience and build relationships with other writers.
5. Connect on social media: Connect with other writers on social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Engage with their content, share their work, and collaborate on projects.

Remember, networking is all about building relationships, so be genuine, show interest in other writers’ work, and be willing to help others as well.

Find remote work

If you’ve established a financial plan, created an online network, and developed your skills, it’s time to actually find remote work.

Luckily, there are many ways to find remote work as a digital nomad. You can search for job boards that specialize in remote work, such as Remote.co, We Work Remotely, and FlexJobs.

You can also use freelance platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer to find short-term projects or ongoing work.

3 Underrated Income Streams for Writers

Diversify your income

You probably heard this one before, but diversification really is the key to success as a freelancer (and the key to having some peace of mind).

As an online writer, your income probably won’t be consistent — I know mine isn’t. To mitigate this, I put a lot of effort into diversifying my income streams. Here are some popular income streams for online writers:

1. Freelance Writing: You can offer your writing services to businesses, websites, or individuals. Freelance writing can provide a steady income stream if you are able to establish a strong reputation and network.
2. Affiliate Marketing: Affiliate marketing involves promoting products or services through your writing and earning a commission on any resulting sales. You can join affiliate programs related to your writing niche and recommend products or services to your readers.
3. Sponsored Content: Sponsored content involves writing articles or reviews for a brand or company in exchange for payment. You can reach out to businesses or sign up for sponsored content platforms to find opportunities.
4. Self-Publishing: If you have a book or e-book idea, you can self-publish and sell it on Amazon or other online marketplaces. Self-publishing allows you to retain control over your work and potentially earn passive income.
5. Teaching: You can teach writing skills online through webinars or courses. This can be a good source of income and can also help you establish yourself as an expert in your field.
6. Advertising: You can monetize your website or blog through advertising. You can sign up for advertising networks like Google AdSense or work with brands directly to display their ads on your website.
7. Consultancy: You can offer writing consultancy services to businesses or individuals who need help with their writing projects.

Remember to choose income streams that suit you: I always try to pick income streams that align with my skills, interests, and niche.

As I wrote in my story on starting out as a full-time freelance writer with no financial satefy net, I use four criteria to decide whether it’s worth continuing to pursue that particular income stream in the future:

• Enjoyment: How much did I enjoy doing it?
• Money: How much money did it make me? And is there potential for growth?
• Skill development: How much did help me develop (relevant) skills? And is there potential for growth? Does it fit my current skill set?
• Network: Did it help me build a (relevant) network? Will it continue to do so in the future?

Be professional

This one is often overlooked, but in my opinion very important as well: be professional.

Treat your online writing career like a business. Respond to emails promptly, meet deadlines, and communicate clearly with clients. Be professional in all your interactions, and your clients will be more likely to recommend you to others.

It also helps in taking yourself seriously: something I struggled with when I just began as a freelance writer.

When my friends asked me for coffee during the workday, for example, I just said ‘yes’ because saying ‘I’m working’ felt like an excuse (after all, if you’re in charge of your own hours, you can find some time to meet up with friends right?).

But I’ve since learned how important it is to treat your freelancing gigs as any other job. You have to show up. You have to put in the hours. You have to take it seriously.

Stay motivated

Working as an online writer can be isolating, from time to time, and it’s easy to lose motivation. Find ways to stay motivated, whether it’s by setting goals, taking breaks, or seeking support from others. And try to remind yourself why you started doing it in the first place.

Because, even though being a digital nomad can be a struggle, and it can be hard to find motivation from time to time, it’s also an opportunity to live a fulfilling and adventurous life.

A life where you can meet new people, travel to new places and set your own schedule: a life of freedom and creativity.

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