Working at home as a writer is one of the largest work at home categories. Being a freelance writer has traditionally been a work at home job, and now that working at home is becoming more popular, there have been more writers in the industry. If you like to write and have a good grasp of the language, you will never be at a loss for the work at home writing jobs.

Starting your career as a work at home writer is as easy as doing some internet research and applying for a job. There are many ways to break into the writing field, even if you have no previous experience. Online opportunities abound, and there are still many writers who stay exclusively in the print market.

While many writers dream of one day writing the great novel, most writers are realistic in knowing that they are going to have to do some other types of writing to get paid on a consistent basis. Writing for pay is mostly, if not exclusively, done in the non-fiction genre. While occasionally you will find contests for fiction writing or for poetry, these opportunities are few and far between when compared to the non-fiction opportunities.

Writing from home as a WAHM requires that you have a reliable internet connection, good written communication skills and the ability to be a self-starter. As a writer, you will be in charge of your time and your projects. There will always be deadlines to meet and new writing opportunities to try. You will be responsible for balancing your writing with the rest of your life. You must also have the ability to research a wide variety of topics. As you accept assignments, you will be challenged to learn about and write about topics that you may have little experience in.

Freelance writing from home can break down into three specific areas: writing for print, writing for the web and blogging. Although blogging is technically writing for the web, there are many distinctions that make it different from other web writing opportunities.

Writing for Print

Writing for print is what people generally think of when they hear the term freelance writer. WAHM writers who write for the print markets need to first build a reputation as reliable and eloquent writer. If you have never written for the print markets before, start with smaller, local publications and then work from there. You will need to find a list of publications that are accepting queries. Queries are a combination of a letter of introduction and a pitch for a story idea. Most writers rely on the a href=”http://www.writersmarket.com/” target=”_blank” title=”WritersMarket.com”>Writers Market reference guide for lists of publications. The Writers Market has comprehensive information on a variety of newsletters, magazines and other publications that are taking queries. Start with topics that you know the most about and try writing a few queries to get yourself going in the print market.

The only drawback to writing for print is that the period between when you write and when you get paid can be months long. For many WAHMs, this is just not feasible.

Writing for the web

Writing for the web; however, can meet their income needs and still allow them to write from home. There are many categories of writing for the web. You can be a ghostwriter for ebooks or other internet media. Many people need copywriters to provide content for their sales letters and websites. You can also offer your services to webmasters who need fresh content for their blog or newsletter. The opportunities are endless.

Blogging

Blogging is yet another way to make money as a WAHM writer. Blogs are an ever-growing form of internet media. Blog writers generally provide their own content. You can make money as a WAHM by starting your own blog and posting to it daily. If you love to write, you can start several blogs at once and multiply your earnings. Once you become an experienced blogger, you can apply for blogging jobs and post for other people.

There are hundreds of direct sales companies that offer WAHMs the ability to make money and stay home with their children at the same time. When you work in direct sales you are an independent contractor for a company. You are in charge of selling their products or services, which you then get at a discount. Your income comes from the difference between the price you charge your customers and the price you pay for the items. You can also normally earn money from commissions off of the sales of your recruits.

Going with a direct sales company is a great way to start a work at home business. Direct sales companies offer stay at home moms an affordable way to start up their own business. There are very little costs involved. Normally a starter kit can be purchased for $100 to $200. Compare with opening a regular store that will cost thousands. Some companies even offer the opportunity to earn a starter kit for free.

Working a direct sales business also means that you have flexibility in your work schedule and your income. You make all of the decisions on when you hold parties or demonstrations. Your income is directly proportionate to the efforts that you put into your business. The more demonstrations you book and the more new clients you meet, the more you will make. You will also receive support and encouragement from fellow consultants. Weekly sales meetings help keep you motivated and give you fresh ideas for your business. You will network with other consultants for support and praise. Your up line or recruiter will also provide you with lots of help as you get your business started.

To be successful in direct sales, you will need to have great people skills. The products are really second to your personality. Your presence and your customer service will be what sell your items. You will also need to be very organized. As an independent sales rep, you will be in charge of tracking your sales and paying the appropriate taxes. You will need to schedule your parties, shows or demonstrations and follow up with your customers in a timely manner.

Once you have decided that direct sales is right for you, its time to choose while direct sales company you want to work with. It is recommended that you choose a company that offers product that you already like or have experience with. The best sales person are those who are enthusiastic about their products. Trying to sell something that you do not use yourself or that you are not that interested in will make you appear insincere to your customers.

Think about your direct sales company choice in the long term. This will be your business that you put your name on, and you will invest your time and money in. Research your options thoroughly and make sure that you sign up with a trusted company. Do not feel pressured by a sponsor to sign right away. This is your decision and it is up to you whether or not you want to join.

Also, make sure to ask a lot of questions. Know everything that you can about the company before you sign up. Understand the commission structure, how products are sold and if there are any monthly minimums. Make sure you understand how much your starter pack will cost and what the kit includes. Will there be anything else you need to buy immediately? Will you need to buy inventory? Understand how ordering works and how the products get to the customers.

If you are really serious about an opportunity, search online and see what other consultants have to say about the company. Find out what customers are saying about the company. If there is more bad than good being said about a company and its consultants, then that is a huge red flag. Also, visit the Federal Trade Commission and Better Business Bureau websites. They can give you information about the trustworthiness of a company.