So you've gone ahead and hung up your shingle. You're now a freelance writer. Good for you. How does it feel? Scary, huh? But you'll do okay. You've got your first customers. All you need is to keep them happy by providing good quality at a fair price.

Here are 7 tips to help you to run a quality freelance writing business.

1. Develop a writing system that adjusts.

Speed is a key factor in being able to write. A system for writing is key to writing quickly. Much of a freelance writers business will be writing the same type of piece. So a freelancer needs to adopt a system which works for their type of writing.

2. Know the grammar rules but don't obsess over them.

Depending on the type of writing you are doing you may or may not have to satisfy an editor. So you need to know the rules of good grammar if only because you may have to write to a particular style manual. However, your reader most likely won't know good grammar. They do know writing that achieves its purpose. So be willing to break the rules in order to make a point or because it fits the style and voice better.

3. Be obsessive when it comes to spelling

Unlike grammar, your reader will know when you spell wrong. It always shows up. So your spelling must always be correct. Especially with homonyms where a spelling error is actually a different word.

4. Build up your vocabulary.

Looking up the correct word is slow. And realizing you need to look it up in the first place implies you know that a better word exists. So have the right word available when you need it.

5. Know how to use a web search

Speed is essential to anyone who does work for recompense. Sometimes all you need is to check a word's spelling quickly. And being able to do a quick bit of research is important to a freelance writer. Searching the web can be the fastest way to check a fact or figure.

6. Have a good dictionary either at hand or on your computer

Sometimes you need to check an unusual word either for meaning or spelling. Having a very good quality dictionary -- not your usual pocket dictionary -- is important for any freelance writer. Having the dictionary on the computer will help for speed's sake. But have a good dictionary is more important.

7. Have a great thesaurus at hand

Sometimes you need to find exactly that perfect word. And sometimes that word is just a little off the norm. That's where a good thesaurus shines.