What is Freelance Technical Writing?
The demand for freelance technical content writers is increasing.
In this article, we’ll go over technical writing, how to become a freelance technical writer, tips for success, and the top websites for finding freelance technical writing jobs.
Let’s dive right in.
What is Freelance Technical Writing?
Freelance technical writing is when a technical writer works with clients rather than working full-time at a company to convert technical concepts and information into digestible content.
It’s different from article writing, report writing, and blogging because it involves using complex information and certain writing styles.
Bloggers, copywriters, and content writers may be able to write blogs and articles about information technology, HTML, SEO, social media, and other topics. Still, they might be unable to develop user manuals and other technical documentation.
Some examples of technical writing include instruction manuals, case studies, white papers, orientation manuals, API documentation, release notes, financial reports, company documents, FAQs, and more.
Technical writers need complete technical knowledge of the subject matter and excellent writing skills. They may also require direct technical skills, communication skills, and years of experience in the industry.
Technical writers follow a style guide, but some technical writer jobs may require using unique templates. In any case, tech writing requires you to be familiar with various writing styles.
Freelance technical writing became popular because many small businesses found it hard to hire full-time or even part-time technical writers. That’s primarily because the average technical writer salary is above the national average wage.
As a result, you will find several writing freelancers on various sites. You’ll find countless new job postings on different sites with people looking for high-quality freelance technical writing experts. Some jobs require complete technical writing tasks, while others require proofreading tasks.
In any case, many technical writers today prefer freelance remote work, especially because it helps them develop a strong and diverse portfolio.
How Can You Become a Freelance Technical Writer?
Becoming a freelance technical writer would be hard if you have no prior experience in technical writing or writing. However, if you’ve worked as a technical writer at an organization or in technical communications, it would be easier to get into freelancing.
You don’t necessarily have to focus all your efforts on freelancing; you can do it alongside a technical writer job. That’s because freelancer technical writing jobs can have extremely varying pay ranges.
To become a freelance technical writer, you just need to start finding projects online. You can find several freelance projects on different freelancing websites. Alternatively, you can make a profile on sites like LinkedIn and sell your services by showcasing your portfolio and getting leads.
While large organizations prefer hiring in-house remote technical writers, thousands of small businesses rely on freelancers. That’s especially true for hundreds of websites, small SaaS companies, and other online ventures that show up each day. They rely on freelancers for their writing needs.
Therefore, you’ll always find freelance technical writing work at all times. You might be writing user manuals, website FAQs, release notes, or even financial documents; however, you will always be able to find some technical writing tasks.
If you have a strong portfolio, you can negotiate the prices of these freelancing jobs. The stronger the portfolio you have, the better rates you get. It also helps to get some technical writing certifications to showcase your skills and abilities.
To become a freelance technical writer, you don’t necessarily need to know everything from the start. You learn as you complete projects and develop a better freelancing profile.
Top Websites for Freelance Jobs/Technical Writing Jobs
The best way to find freelancing jobs for technical writing is to look into different freelancing websites. While you may be able to find leads by making a website or profile on LinkedIn or other forums, the best way to find several jobs is on freelance websites.
There are tons of websites that offer technical writing jobs and offers. However, building a freelance profile takes time and effort, and it’s best to stick to any platform at any given time. The more focus and effort you put into one platform, the better the freelance profile you develop. As a result, you’ll get more lucrative jobs and offers.
You can consider any of the following freelancing websites to start your freelance technical writing career. It’s best to make a profile on each platform and try it out to figure out what platform works best for you.
1. Upwork
Upwork is one of the most well-known freelancing websites used by millions in the United States and the world. You can practically find jobs for every task that can be potentially outsourced. You’ll also find job posts for location-based tasks.
At any point, you’ll find hundreds of technical writing jobs in the US alone. They may pay a fixed price per project or on an hourly basis. However, you’ll find that the hourly rate for technical writing ranges between $30-$50.
Sometimes, you’ll find that technical writer jobs are often categorized under the content writing and content marketing category. Therefore, it’s also best to check out those categories for technical writing jobs.
You can sort out the jobs by getting the most relevant or the newest results. Furthermore, you must submit a proposal when you apply for a job. Including some past work and your portfolio is best since you’ll be competing with several other freelancers.
You can include additional tags and filters to find technical writing jobs related to your field or industry.
You can find the current list of freelance technical writing jobs on Upwork here.
2. FlexJobs
FlexJobs is a member-ship-based freelance website accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with an A+ rating. Along with its partner sites, Remote.co and 1 Million for Work Flexibility, the site offers freelance jobs, company directories, and job search resources.
You can also find remote, part-time, and full-time jobs on the site and freelance jobs. When you search for technical writing jobs on FlexJobs, you’ll be bombarded with many job posts, including freelance jobs.
It’s best to set up more filters to get only freelance opportunities. You can also search according to job availability, location, featured jobs, industries, and even specific companies.
Ideally, familiarize yourself with how the freelance market works on FlexJobs. Consider signing up and sending a proposal for any technical writing job that seems to work for you.
You can check out all the freelance technical writing jobs on FlexJobs here.
3. Freelancer
Freelancer is one of the largest and oldest freelance marketplaces in the world. The site works similarly to most freelancing sites, where you make an account, put in some proposals, and work to develop your freelance profile.
It may be hard to start your freelance career on Freelancer, especially considering there are tons of people with firm profiles and years of experience. As a result, you may have to work with smaller and less-paying technical writing jobs at first. However, as you progress and complete more projects, you’ll be open to better, higher-paying freelance jobs.
You can search for freelance technical writing jobs on Freelancer using specific keywords. Keywords help you find jobs related to your industry, specialty, and writing type. You can also choose whether you want an online job or something geographically close to you.
You can filter your search by including minimum budgets, durations, and contests. Furthermore, you can also search according to the required skills and language if you specialize in a niche subject matter.
In any case, you can check out most of Freelancer freelance technical writing jobs here.
4. Fiverr
Fiverr is a massive freelance website that has gained considerable momentum in recent years. It became so large because it took a unique approach to freelance work. Rather than people posting jobs and freelancers applying to them, Fiverr reversed the process.
Therefore, freelancers develop pitches that showcase what they do and include a complete portfolio. Employers can scroll through several potential pitches and start a conversation with the freelancers they consider right for the job.
As a result, freelancers have to develop a pitch where they showcase their strong suits and the best of their portfolio.
You should upload your best technical writing pieces as a freelance technical writer in your pitch. If you’re new, you should keep reasonable prices; as you progress, you can increase your rates.
You can check out these pitches by other freelance technical writers to develop your pitch on Fiverr.
Tips on Becoming a Great Freelance Technical Writer
Becoming a freelance technical writer is one thing, but you’ll compete with thousands of other freelance technical writing experts. You need to be able to compete with them immediately to jumpstart your freelance technical writing career.
While having excellent writing skills, communication skills, and technical writing experience is mandatory, you should focus on some additional tips. If you want an in-depth look into these tips, check out our Technical Writing Certification Course.
The following tips can be used to give you an edge in freelance technical writing, especially if you’re starting.
1. Develop a Strong Technical Writing Portfolio
Having some experience under your belt is crucial when starting your freelance technical writing career. Since you need to be able to show your skills, the best way to do so is to develop a technical writing portfolio.
You should use any past work if you don’t have much experience. If you have much experience, choose the best work to showcase in your portfolio. If you have no previous work, you can create new samples so potential clients can check your capabilities.
You can develop new samples by creating supporting documents for famous apps, developing custom instruction manuals, or creating user guides for products you use.
In any case, it’s crucial to have a strong technical writing portfolio so you can always showcase your abilities.
2. Find a Niche You’re Good In
Every person tends to be more knowledgeable and sound in one industry or subject matter rather than several. It’s critical to find an industry you’re good in, where you can consider yourself an expert on various issues.
Finding your industry and interest is the best way to find your niche. You should focus on one single sector, one single aspect, and work to improve yourself accordingly. The more defined your niche is, the better it is for you because you won’t be competing with many freelance technical writers. You’ll just be competing with a handful of technical writers who work in the same niche as you do.
Once you find your niche, you should focus on gaining more knowledge of that field, strengthening your writing skills accordingly, and finding permanent freelance clients.
3. Use Templates and Double-Check Everything
While technical writing requires specific knowledge, you must follow typical guidelines and formats. The best way to ensure you’re doing it right is by using templates. You can look at different technical writing examples, samples, and templates to understand how to proceed.
After you’re done, you should make a habit of double-checking everything, especially when you’re proofreading and editing your document. Cross-check your documents with templates and other examples to ensure the right format and writing style.
Making a Freelance Technical Writing Career
As technical writing freelancers, you must increase your knowledge of various topics. It’s crucial to stay on top of all the developments to develop a name for your industry.
As a freelance technical writing expert, you should be able to work under varying timelines, budgets, and different forms of clients.
It’s equally important to be able to understand what the client wants and to be knowledgeable about any given task.
In any case, it’s important to build your freelance technical writing career by taking on several projects and producing great results.
FAQs
Here are the most frequently asked questions about freelance writing.
How do I start editing technical documents as a freelance technical writer?
To edit technical documents as a freelance technical writer, develop a strong understanding of technical writing principles and the specific requirements of the documents you will be editing. Start by familiarizing yourself with styles and standards commonly used in technical writing, such as the Microsoft Style Guide or the Chicago Manual of Style. Additionally, building a portfolio that showcases your ability to edit documents effectively can help attract potential clients. Networking with other professionals in the industry and joining relevant online forums and communities can also provide valuable opportunities and insights.
What tools and software are recommended for editing technical documents?
Successful document editing often requires the use of specialized tools and software that enhance accuracy and efficiency. Adobe FrameMaker, Microsoft Word, and MadCap Flare are widely used for their robust features that support technical writing, such as style management, version control, and cross-referencing. Additionally, grammar and syntax-checking tools such as Grammarly or ProWritingAid can be invaluable for ensuring clarity and correctness in technical documents. Selecting the right tools will depend on the specific needs of the projects you handle and any client preferences.
What are the common challenges in technical communication, and how can you overcome them?
Editing technical documents can present several challenges, such as dealing with complex information, ensuring accuracy, and maintaining consistency across the document. To overcome these challenges, understand the subject matter and communicate with the author to clarify any ambiguities. Developing a systematic approach to editing—such as checking for clarity, coherence, grammar, and technical accuracy sequentially—can also improve the quality of your edits. Additionally, using style guides and creating a checklist of common errors specific to the technical field you are working in can help maintain high standards in your editing tasks.
If you are new to technical writing and are looking to break-in, we recommend taking our Technical Writing Certification Course, where you will learn the fundamentals of being a technical writer, how to dominate technical writer interviews, and how to stand out as a technical writing candidate.
