The most important thing to remember as a freelance writer or copyeditor is to follow directions. It’s as straightforward as that. Yes, you should have developed a talent for writing, and you should really be adept at researching content effectively to find those golden nuggets of information to utilize, but beyond all that…follow directions.

Simply put, you’re getting paid to write exactly what someone else wants. Even with a modicum of creative control, you’re still obligated to adhere to...