Freelance Writers Appreciation Week is celebrated during the second week of February each year and this year, it takes place from February 9 to 15. It’s a time to recognize freelance writers, the unsung heroes who craft most of the written content available on the internet, in books, print magazines, and newspapers. While many freelance writers often work as ghostwriters and are mostly uncredited for their arduous jobs, these creative artists are truly priceless and important in the creation and marketing of online content.
History of Freelance Writers Appreciation Week
Every year, in the second week of February, Freelance Writers Appreciation Week offers an immense opportunity to appreciate writers who painstakingly apply their talent to entertain, inform, and educate a global audience. While the specific origin of this annual observance is not known, some sources say that Freelance Writers Appreciation Week was first observed in 2013.
The term “freelancer” is popularly attributed to Sir Walter Scott (1771 to 1832) who used the noun “free lances” in his novel “Ivanhoe” (1820) to describe a “medieval mercenary warrior” who fought for the highest bidder. Earlier, the term had also appeared in Thomas N. Brown’s “The Life and Times of Hugh Miller” (1809).
Though the Internet greatly revolutionized the world of freelancing, remote working, and outsourcing — or what’s now called the ‘gig economy’ — the art of freelancing and ghostwriting goes way beyond the era of digital commerce. As early as the commercial publication of books, stories, magazines, and other forms of written literature began, there have always been paid ghostwriters who wrote on behalf of other popular authors.
Freelancers have to overcome several occupational challenges to get their jobs done: long working hours, creative blocks, incommensurate remunerations, the pressure of deadlines, the absence of health benefits, and others. While some may not consider freelance writing a real job, there are freelancers around the world who are making a good living out of the career.
Today, freelance writers work on projects like paper books, movie scripts, novels, memoirs, magazines, press releases, and newspaper columns. You’ll also find their work in almost every aspect of online sales and marketing: web content, sales copies, e-books, newsletters, articles, blogs, product descriptions, and even keynote speeches. They’re the genius artists who employ their creativity to create engaging content worth consuming.
Freelance Writers Appreciation Week timeline
Sir Walter Scott uses the word “free lances” to describe mercenary warriors in his novel, “Ivanhoe.”
“The Father of Teleworking,” Jack Nilles uses the term “telecommuting” for the first time to refer to how he is working remotely on a NASA communication system.
Economist Frank W. Schiff writes an article for the “Washington Post” titled “Working From Home Can Save Gasoline,” and coins the term “flexplace.”
Freelancing platform Upwork reports 14 million registered users in 180 countries, grossing over one billion U.S.D. in annual freelancer billings.
Freelance Writers Appreciation Week FAQs
What is a good hourly rate for a freelance writer?
There’s no uniform hourly rate for freelance writers across the world. Rates for freelance writers often vary by the niche (specialization), level of experience, and negotiating power. While they often earn less, an ideal hourly rate should be about $30 per hour for beginners.
How much do freelance writers make?
Freelance writers earn $15 to $80 per hour on Upwork. According to Glassdoor, most freelance writers make up to $42,120 per month, while PayScale.com puts a part-time freelance writer’s salary somewhere between $24,000 and $115,000.
How much should a freelance writer charge per 1,000 words?
It’s hard to give a simple answer across the board. However, most freelance writers charge between $0.02 and $1 per word. That’s an average of $20 to $1,000 for every 1,000 words!
Freelance Writers Appreciation Week Activities
Send some new work
As a client, the easiest way to celebrate Freelance Writers Appreciation Week and appreciate your favorite freelancer is to hire them for some new work. Many freelancers live from paycheck to paycheck, and often spend many hours a week pitching to prospects. So, make your favorite freelance writer’s day by sending them some new tasks during this week. Don’t forget to tip them and drop a five-star review, too!
Refer a new client
Freelance writers are always seeking new connections, and they wouldn’t take a referral for granted. So, this is the best time of the year to introduce your favorite, hardworking freelancer to some new clients. They’ll appreciate your gesture, and deliver an excellent job to their new clients.
Share on social media
If you’ve hired any freelance writers and are familiar with their social media accounts, visit their social channels and share the content you love. Not only will this increase their visibility, but it could also help them attract new clients. You could also write a short testimonial about the writer, tag it, and share it with the hashtag #freelanceweek on social media.
5 Interesting Facts About Freelancing
Multiskilling freelancers
Only about 5% of freelancers hunt for jobs based on a single skill, while a staggering 95% accept jobs that require them to adapt and improve on their skill set.
Freelancing by choice
As of 2014, about 53% of freelancers admitted they chose their careers, while the rest were either dismissed from their full-time jobs or forced into freelancing.
Freelancing from home
25% of freelancers admit that they prefer the comfort of their home for work, and an equal percentage say their ideal work environment is a dedicated office space to separate their work and personal lives.
Male freelancers at risk
Though they’re more likely to earn more than their female counterparts, male freelancers are also more prone to be scammed by clients.
Growing the economy
According to statistics, in 2020, freelancers massively contributed about $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy — a 22% increase from their contribution in 2019!
Why We Love Freelance Writers Appreciation Week
It celebrates writers
Many writers write on behalf of their clients and are mostly unknown. Freelance Writers Appreciation Week allows us to celebrate these creative geniuses who are often overlooked, underappreciated, and deemed dispensable. Many of them work under unfavorable conditions to meet deadlines and deliver quality jobs and are mostly underrated.
It celebrates creativity
One of the greatest challenges of freelance writing is how writers are often derided by people who think the career is for quacks who couldn’t make it as full-time, published writers or “real” journalists. However, if you’ve ever hired freelance writers before, you must have met some exceptionally-gifted ones. This appreciation week allows us to celebrate their creativity, doggedness, and commitment.
It celebrates the essence of internet marketing
Internet marketing and content creation go hand-in-hand. Without freelance writers, much of the online content available to us today probably wouldn’t exist. Through this week, we can support those who pull all-nighters and cheer them on as they keep us informed through their creativity!
Freelance Writers Appreciation Week dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | February 13 | Sunday |
| 2023 | February 12 | Sunday |
| 2024 | February 11 | Sunday |
| 2025 | February 9 | Sunday |
| 2026 | February 8 | Sunday |
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