Check out online entry’s bibliographies; the more accurate the entry, the more detailed the cited sources are. Wikipedia has a full reference guide at the bottom of every entry; make sure you read through the list. Get different points-of-view before you make a judgment call—especially on controversial topics—to help you be more objective before you write. Keep a good list of your sources for an assignment whenever possible; you may be required to list them for your publication.
Freelance Writing Tip #5: Avoid Flame Wars
Online blogs, forums, journals, emails, etc. are a great tool for freelance writers to communicate with the outside world. Unfortunately, because people are disconnected from face-to-face contact, conversations (and egos) can very easily get out-of-control. Everything you say online has the potential to be copied, saved and emailed to some else. Remember this when you’re looking for work and networking; a strong sense of professionalism is key.
Freelance Writing Tip #4: Money Flows to the Writer
There are several publishers, agents, and other folk out there who claim to “get you published” if you pay them “x” amount of dollars. Writer Beware! As a creator, money is always supposed to flow toward the writer—not the other way around. So use your common sense; if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you’re still interested, it can’t hurt to do a little more checking to see whether or not that business is on the up-and-up. Regardless, you should never have to pay someone else for the work you do.
Freelance Writing Tip #3: Estimate Your Word Count
Many publications will either pay you by the word or by the page; one formatted page is equivalent to about 500 words. Figure out how many words you can realistically write in an hour, a typical week, or a month. There are several free word count meters available for you to use to help you determine what your limits are.
Freelance Writing Tip #2: Know What You Want
Regardless of whether or not you’ve been writing for 5 weeks or 50 years, knowing what you want is essential to freelance writing—especially in today’s market. Get an idea of what you want by talking to other writers and listening to their stories; read, read, read several different types of publications, books and webzines so you can get an idea of what you’d be interested in writing.