Freelance writing can be a very stimulating career or source of supplementary income, but it's not as easy to get into the business as it may seem from the outside. As with any kind of work there are a number of snags and hidden wastes of time mixed in with real opportunities. Here are a few ways to make sure you don't get caught up in unfortunate setbacks on the road to your next fulfilling job.

Go In A Skeptic, Come Out A Success

For every genuine writing job out there, you'll find at least ten scams. There's no way to be 100% sure a given job is the real deal, but there are several clear indicators that you've got fool's gold in your hand. The most obvious indicator of a scam is what I call "sales language". No real job listing will include wording one might find in a contest ad. Promises to MAKE $$$ NOW, etc. aren't real, paying jobs, ever.

You should also be wary of listings that fail to give any specifics whatsoever. A genuine job will ask for something like, "5-10 articles on Green Energy topics" while questionable listings will tend to read, "Write blogs for a local company".

Another important detail is a pay rate. Solid figures are clear indicators of real work, while vague terms like "Negotiable" and "Competitive" often mean you've found a false lead.

Build a Portfolio

Practically no paying client will give a job to a writer who has no relevant portfolio. This may seem like a Catch-22, but there are plenty of ways to develop a healthy volume of work samples before you go pro. There are plenty of "How To" websites, for example, that will allow any individual to create a free account and produce topical content in exchange for ad revenue. Even if you write ten article-length pieces for these sites you probably won't see more than a few cents in profit, but those ten pieces will open up an entire professional sector to you.

Time is Money

Similar to the above, no professional writer should pursue work with a client who isn't willing to accept his or her relevant portfolio as proof of qualification. If a potential client asks you to produce some "sample" pieces on a particular topic even after seeing your resume and portfolio, then that client has no intention of paying a writer for content. Shady as the practice is, many real companies collect large amounts of content by tricking over-eager writers into producing work for free.

Be Persistent

Having to generate all of your own leads can be exhausting and discouraging, especially when so many job listings are false. Don't let that initial grind get you down. Within 6 months to a year, you should be able to accrue a respectable client list and one heck of a portfolio. Apply for a lot of different gigs, put your best foot forward and by sheer virtue of numbers you will come across enough real, paying jobs to build a worthwhile career out of freelance writing.