The simple truth is that there are tremendous opportunities for freelance writers right now. The Internet has created tremendous demand for writers on all kinds of topics, as well as the opportunities present in magazines, newspapers and so forth. It's a great time to be a writer.

But when you're just getting started, the key part is to find the resources that will help you get the jobs. They're out there, but they can be lost in the clutter.

So what are the best sites to get started.

Number one in many ways would be Craigslist. You can find writing jobs for your local area, or search other areas. It's free for you to search. However, the opportunities are not screened, which leaves the door open for scam artists. You'll also be on your own so far as contracts, payments and the like.

Elance and Guru are also great sites for finding freelance jobs. They're similar in many ways, as you bid for work. It can be challenging to get paid what you're worth, but it can also be a great way to get a portfolio going. Just remember that you do not necessarily have to be the lowest bidder to win; people will be looking at exactly what you offer and picking based on the qualifications they consider most important. That is not always going to be price alone.

The catch is that these sites take a part of what you earn. On the plus side is that you have the option to use their escrow services. It's a great way to protect both parties.

Writer's Market works online too. They do have a website in addition to their book, which has long been popular with professional writers. They're great if you want to target the magazine market as well as other smaller markets. The online version does have the advantage of being easily updated.

JournalismJobs also occasionally has freelance jobs posted. Not as much work here as on other sites, and many will be on location rather than telecommute, but still a fair listing of jobs.

You can also go it on your own and just start writing on topics that please you. Some writers do well offering their efforts as private label articles. You don't build up your name this way, but you can generally sell your articles to quite a number of people. Write several articles on a topic, keeping it short and relatively simple. Do enough of these monthly and you can get subscribers to pay every month to get more of your articles to use. It can add up.

It's a wonderful time to be freelancing. You have more ways to connect with potential markets and to get your name out there. But it also means you have to learn more caution and be more aware of what can go wrong.