The garbage gigs and the decent gigs really aren’t that difficult to separate. But just in case you’re still waiting for the good ones to come along, here are some signs you’ve hit the freelance writing jobs jackpot:

1. You’re being fairly compensated. — How much is that exactly? I don’t know. Nor do I care. The actual number will vary depending on where you live and what your cost of living is. But if you’re not being paid enough to cover all of your bills, pay your taxes, have something left to grow the business, and still have enough for your health insurance, retirement, and other benefits, you’re not there yet. Keep trying.
2. Your clients know how to communicate. — When you truly love your clients, that’s certainly a contributing factor to a great freelance writing gig (although it doesn’t make the job cut it by itself). If a client can tell you what they want rather than give you the “I’ll know it when I see it” speech, you’re on the right path.
3. You have few, if any, edit requests. — There is nothing wrong with getting edit requests from time to time. If you’re getting them constantly though, you’re doing something wrong (unless you’re in a niche like magazine writing where they’re more the norm). Maybe the client has communication issues about what they really want up front, you’re not asking them exactly what they want up front with the right questions about their target audience and such, or they’re just control freaks who will always think they could have done a better job, so your work will never be good enough. That last group can be scary, but they’re few and far between. Great clients and great gigs involve having all of the information up front so you know exactly what’s needed and you can turn it around with minimal edits needed. Anything else cuts into your potentially billable time elsewhere.
4. Your client respects you. — If the extent of your client’s communication is “write this and get it back to me,” you might not have the worst gig in the world, but it could be better. When your clients respect you enough for being a specialist in your niche or industry that they ask for your honest opinion, that means a lot. That’s not to say they should take advantage by asking for unpaid consulting all the time, but if they want your opinion once in a while go ahead and give it to them. You’ll remind them why they hired you in the first place, and when you see them truly value and consider your thoughts you’ll feel a level of appreciation not all freelance writers get to experience. Enjoy it when you have it.
5. Your client keeps coming back. — The only thing better than having a great freelance writing job is having a great long-term freelance writing job. If the client keeps ordering more work, or if they set up a long-term contract up front (and they satisfy the other elements like decent pay and no obsessive or excessive edit requests), you’ve got a great gig on your hands.

What other factors tell you that you have a great freelance writing job lined up?

General Freelance Writing Jobs

• Medical Writer for Conference Coverage – Boston – $100 per story
• Web AppStorm Blogger / Writer / Editor – $400 per week
• Write Search Results Pages for Mahalo – $10-12 per hour
• Business Reporter for Weekly Community Newspaper – San Diego
• Bilingual Web Copywriter – Ashville, NC
• Freelance PR Writer
• Technical Writer Needed – SF Bay Area
• Freelance Copywriter – Portland, OR
• Real Estate Industry Writers and Editors – FL
• Freelance Turkish Copywriters
• Legislative Freelance Writer
• Freelance Writer for Web Design Company
• On-site Fashion Copywriter – Miami / Dade
• Freelance News Writer (for TV)
• Article Writer and Submitter
• FT Product Description Writer – Brooklyn – $9 – 10 per hour
• Creative Copywriter – SF Bay Area
• Media Bistro Seeks Recipe Writing Instructor – NYC
• Music, Film, Arts, and Food Writers – Austin – $25 per week
• Press Release Writer – Palm Springs
• Get Paid to Review Software Online
• Internet Marketing Sales Letter Writer
• Business Plan Writer – $35 per hour – DC
• Looking for Clues Seeks Writers – $10 – 20 per article
• Speech Outline Needed – $20+
• Web Content Writer Needed
• Beauty / Spa Industry Copywriter – NYC
• Financial Writer / Analyst for Weekly Column
• CPA / Business Plan Writer – NYC
• Write for eHow.com
• SEO Copywriter – $12 per hour – CA
• Business Plan Writer – Long Beach, CA
• Web Content Writing for Vacation Site

Blogging Jobs

• Freelance Blogger for PlanetGreen.com
• Design Blog Writers – $50 – 75 per article
• L.A. Metro Seeks Transportation Blogger – LA
• Freelance Writers for BN’s SparkLife Blog
• Expert Blogger for Architecture and Design Blog
• FreelanceSwitch Seeks Contributors
• Online Brand Evangelist and Blogger – SF Bay Area
• Copywriter / Blogger – El Segundo, CA
• UK Legal Blogger (Law degree needed) – Bakersfield
• Blogger / Freelance Writer for Mobile Tech Company – SF Bay Area 
• Blogger Needed for Fashion Product Articles
• Blog / Ezine Creative Writer for Ongoing Work – LA
• Immigration Blog Content Needed
• Health Technology Writer for CNET Blog Network
• Care2, Inc Seeks “Passionate” Bloggers
• Blogger for Short Tech News Stories

Editing & Proofreading Jobs

• Managing Editor for Online Magazine for Professional Women – Atlanta
• Freelance Newsletter Editor
• Freelance Nightlife Editor – NYC
• Gilt Groupe Mens Seeks Editorial Director - NYC
• Freelance Web Editor for Spa Magazine – San Francisco
• Electronic Copyeditors
• Editor Needed for E-book on Freelancing

Content Networks

• LoveToKnow Seeks Cake Decorating Writer – $20+ per article
• Demand Studios Seeks Online Copy Editors – $20-25 per hour
• Demand Studios Seeks Outdoors and Sports Writers
• Demand Studios Seeks Health & Fitness Writers – Avg. $20 per 400 word article
• Demand Studios Seeks Freelance Golf Writers
• About.com Seeks a Bowling Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks a Coffee / Tea Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks a Country Music Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks Dallas Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks a Entrepreneurs Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks Financial Software Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks a Freebies Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks a Greek Food Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks Las Vegas Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks a Mobile Office Technology Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks Online Business / Hosting Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks Personal Organizing Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks a Soap Operas Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks a Special Education Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks a Stamps Guide – $675 per month min to start
• About.com Seeks a Theater Guide – $675 per month min to start

Bid for Writing Gigs

• Sports Memorabilia Blogger
• Ghostwriter Needed for Book on Entrepreneurship – Budget between $5000-10,000
• Writers for Daily Horoscopes and Psychic Advice – $10-15 per hour 
• Editor / Writer for New Audio Training Company – Budget of more than $1000
• Writer to Cover History of Poker – Budget of more than $1000
• eCommerce Copywriter for SimonPearce.com – Budget of more than $1000
• Business Research Writers – $10-15 per hour
• Financial Services Writer – Budget between $1000 – 5000
• Writer with Civil Engineering Background- Budget between $500 – 1000
• Diet and Fitness E-book Writer – Budget between $500 – 1000
• Mobile Phone Related Articles
• Article Writer for Online Dating Network
• Mortgage Industry SEO Writer
• Real Estate Article Writer
• Electric Guitar Making E-book
• Mortgage E-book Writer / Editor
• Ghostblogger – Investing & Entrepreneurship
• Sports Betting Blogger
• Blogger for Hair Extensions / Hair Tools Company
• Public Speaking Blogger
• Write a Grant for Child Obesity
• IT Business Plan Writer
• Writer Needed for 20 E-classes
• Articles / Press Releases
• Writer Needed for Ongoing Press Release Writing

Are these freelance writing gigs not what you’re looking for? Search for more freelance writing jobs or blogging jobs, or find more regular freelance writing jobs posted by Anne Wayman.

Note: If a location is listed next to a job posted above, it means the company is looking for local or on-site candidates.

Key:

Blogging Job
Web Writing Job
Print Writing Job
Business / Medical / Technical Writing Job
Free Membership Required to Apply
Paid Membership Required to Apply
Bidding Site
High Paying Gig

I’ve found from experience that, often, the best gigs you can find on the Web are unadvertised ones that you’ll land through networking – but when you do want to see what’s “out there,” I hope these sites help.

Recommended Sites for Freelance Writing Jobs

Here are some of my personal favorites when it comes to looking for writing and blogging jobs:

• Indeed.com (aff) -This is the top site in my book, because it allows you to search multiple job sites at once – it can be a big time-saver when you’re looking for any type of job.
• CraigsList – Yes, I know they get ragged on for the crappy ads often posted. That said, they also tend to have far more publicly advertised gems than most other sites, at least as far as freelance writing jobs go (and I’ve found some of the higher paying blogging jobs also get advertised here).
• About Freelance Writing – Anne usually has some of the most comprehensive freelance writing job listings out there. Check them out.
• All Freelance Writing – Well, obviously I recommend this site. I try to post writing jobs and / or blogging jobs Monday – Friday.
• Journalism Jobs – While this site has far more full-time writing jobs than freelance writing gigs, it’s still one of my favorites. While I don’t respond to a lot of public ads personally, when I do they’re often from this site (and I’ve landed some very nice gigs through them).
• MediaBistro – This is another one I love for the gems you can find with a bit of digging. You’ll need to register (for free) to see the full job details though.
• ProBlogger – Darren’s job board is one of the best places out there to find freelance blogging jobs.

Other Sites for Freelance Writing Jobs

Here are other sites where you can find freelance writing jobs and freelance blogging jobs, or writer’s markets always open to freelance submissions.

While I don’t take issue with most of them, please don’t consider their inclusion in this list to be an actual recommendation from me.

A few of the sites here even made my list of the WORST sites for finding freelancing writing jobs – I simply felt it wouldn’t be fair to exclude them because I don’t care for them personally. How you use them is entirely up to you. They won’t all be everyone’s cup of tea.

They’re listed alphabetically, so please don’t take their position in this list to mean one site is “better” than another.

• Absolute Write – Paying Markets
• Beyond.com
• BloggerJobs.biz
• BlogHer
• BlogWork.com
• Career Builder
• Creative Weblogging
• DigitalPoint
• Elance
• FlipDog
• FreelanceSwitch
• FreelanceWriting.com – Morning Coffee
• GetAFreelancer.com
• GetTheJob
• Gumtree
• Guru
• HotJobs
• iFreelance
• Jobster
• Kijiji
• Media Job Market
• Monster
• Odesk
• Online-Writing-Jobs.com
• Performancing Forums
• PoeWar
• RentACoder
• SimplyHired
• SitePoint
• SoloGig
• SunOasis
• Twitter
• V7N
• Webmaster-Talk
• WickedFire
• Worldwide Freelance Writer
• The Write Market
• Writer’s Digest – Hot Markets
• Writers-Guidelines.com (disclaimer – I own this one)
• WritersMarket.com
• WritersWeekly.com
• WritingBids.com
• WritingCareer.com
• Writing For Dollars

As always, best of luck in the job hunt!

Here are some new freelance writing jobs to take a look at over the weekend:

• Freelance Newsletter Writer – California Climate Change Law – CA
• Web Copy Needed for Real Estate Website
• Freelance Writer for Short “City” Articles – Austin – $10 per article
• Business Writer / Editor Needed
• Urban Magazine Writers Needed
• Fashion / Jewelry Reporters or Writers Wanted
• Editor / Proofreader for Web Content
• Freelance Health, Nutrition, & Fitness Writer
• Copywriter for Wedding Planner Site

Are these freelance writing gigs not what you’re looking for? Search for more freelance writing jobs or blogging jobs.

Key:

Blogging Job
Web Writing Job
Print Writing Job
Business Writing Job
Free Membership Required to Apply
Paid Membership Required to Apply
Bidding Site
High Paying Gig

• Freelance Medical Writer – NYC
• Restaurant Business Plan – $100
• Men’s Shopping Blogger – $40 per post
• Fashion Blogger – $50 per post
• Help Start an Education Blog
• Article Writers Needed – $6 – 10 per article
• Music / Celebrity Gossip Blogger – $25 per post
• Web Copywriter Needed
• Cricket Writers / Bloggers
• Freelance Copywriter / Ad Editor – CA

Are these freelance writing gigs not what you’re looking for? Search for more freelance writing jobs or blogging jobs.

Key:

Blogging Job
Web Writing Job
Print Writing Job
Business Writing Job
Free Membership Required to Apply
Paid Membership Required to Apply
Bidding Site
High Paying Gig

• Online Copywriter
• Dog Bloggers
• Engineering Technology Blogger
• Freelance Writer – eGuiders.com – $75 per entry (1-2 pages)
• Freelance Newspaper Writer – CA
• Writer Needed for History Project – $100
• Automotive Writer for Newspaper and Web
• Online Journalist Needed – Chicago
• Freelance Technical Writer – LA – $15-25 (doesn’t say if that’s per project, per hour, etc.)
• Online Sales Copywriter Needed
• Freelance Writer Needed for Promotion Company – NYC
• Bio Writer – $75

Are these freelance writing gigs not what you’re looking for? Search for more freelance writing jobs or blogging jobs.

Key:

Blogging Job
Web Writing Job
Print Writing Job
Business Writing Job
Free Membership Required to Apply
Paid Membership Required to Apply
Bidding Site
High Paying Gig

• b5 Media Needs Lifestyle Bloggers
• Technological or Lifestyle Blogger
• Taos-Area Ecology Blogger
• Business Blog Writer – $7 per post
• Soccer / Football Bloggers
• Bloggers for New Teen-Focused Blog – $10 per post (20 posts per month)

Are these freelance writing gigs not what you’re looking for? Search for more freelance writing jobs or blogging jobs.

Key:

Blogging Job
Web Writing Job
Print Writing Job
Business Writing Job
Free Membership Required to Apply
Paid Membership Required to Apply
Bidding Site
High Paying Gig

• Freelance Primary Grades Reading / Language Arts Writer and Editor
• Freelance Cityguides Writers – $50 – 150 per article – Reno, Lake Tahoe, and Fort Meyers
• Freelance Grant Writer
• Mac/iPhone Bloggers
• Blogger for Gay and Lesbian Dating Site
• Freelance Copywriters – Seattle – $35 per hour DOE
• Freelance Sports Writers
• Freelance Writers for Human Interest Stories – $100-200 per article
• Mommy Blogger Wanted – $15 per post
• Staff Writers for Fashion Newspaper – DC

Are these freelance writing gigs not what you’re looking for? Search for more freelance writing jobs or blogging jobs.

Key:

Blogging Job
Web Writing Job
Print Writing Job
Business Writing Job
Free Membership Required to Apply
Paid Membership Required to Apply
Bidding Site
High Paying Gig

Anyway, here are you freelance writing jobs and blogging jobs for Tuesday:

• Corporate Blogger – Renewable Energy
• Freelance Writers for a Watch Magazine
• Content Writers – $15 – 40 per article
• Green Blogger – $5 per post (150-250 words)
• Freelance Part-time Magazine Editor – San Jose

Are these freelance writing gigs not what you’re looking for? Search for more freelance writing jobs or blogging jobs.

Key:

Blogging Job
Web Writing Job
Print Writing Job
Business Writing Job
Free Membership Required to Apply
Paid Membership Required to Apply
Bidding Site
High Paying Gig

Here are your blogging jobs for Monday, December 8th:

• Recruitment Blogger – $30 per post
• Photography Blogger
• b5 Media Needs Bloggers
• Graphic Design Blogger
• Food Blogger
• Technical Blogger Needed
• Personal Development Bloggers
• Fashion Sales Blogger – $10 per post

Are these freelance writing gigs not what you’re looking for? Search for more freelance writing jobs or blogging jobs.

Key:

Blogging Job
Web Writing Job
Print Writing Job
Business Writing Job
Free Membership Required to Apply
Paid Membership Required to Apply
Bidding Site
High Paying Gig