The idea of being a freelance writer conjures up images of a glamorous lifestyle and long days off. But it's really not like that. Being a freelance writer is hard work - darn hard work. It's also demoralizing and extremely tiring. Anyone thinking of breaking into freelance writing needs to think long and hard about how and why.

It's possible to get a distorted image of what it's like to make a living without having a full-time job. People like John Chow, the famous pro-blogger who makes a considerable amount of money from his blog, tout a "dot-com lifestyle" as if the only way it's possible to lead a fulfilling, happy life is to copy him.

If you want to make a living writing, be it on the Internet, with a blog or for magazines, then you need to put in the time and the effort, probably even more so than if you were working a full-time job for a publication.

What's most important is that in the transition period being thinking about being a freelance writer and actually becoming one, you need to have enough revenue to support yourself. If you are a freelance writer just starting out, you aren't going to be making enough to support yourself for a few months.

If you are certain that you can support yourself then you need to plough ahead with finding sources of work. These could come from blog networks or clients you've found on forums. There are lots websites dedicated to helping people find freelance writing jobs, but you need to get in there early, because every day there are more and more writers looking for work and taking the jobs you want.

But it's never easy. Until you have established a decent network of contacts, you are going to have to put up with rejection on a daily basis. Everyone goes through this - even writers pitching stories to national magazines and newspapers.

It is disheartening to have a great idea shot down by an editor. It's even worse to have written a story, sent it in and had it rejected. Similarly, when you are applying for freelance writing jobs, there will be countless times when you simply won't get a reply. If you do get a reply then consider yourself lucky. You might not get the job, but a reply is better than nothing.

To find work, you have to sell yourself as a product and you have to do it all the time, day in, day out, without fail. It's up to you to convince the client that you are able to do a better job than the thousands of other writers out there. You can do this by sending a well-written application, offering links to samples of your work and attaching a resume if you think it would help.

The key is to not give up. There are no shortcuts and no easy ways to make it to the top, but with perseverance you can make a living out of freelance writing.

Matt Crook is a freelance writer based in Southeast Asia. http://www.whatismatt.com/hire-a-freelance-writer/