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Freelance Writing

Posted by kristin1724 • 5/15/07 • Subscribe to this Discussion [RSS] • Report This Topic

As we are all a bunch of writers in this blogging world, I wanted to find out if any of you have branched into freelance writing. I am trying to find some resources on how to get started. Anyone done it? Any tips on submitting queries? Publications that accept "unsolicited" submissions? What spec really amounts to? Any input would be greatly appreciated.

THANKS!

User Comments

5/15/07

TR123

Hi if you google submit articles there are loads of sites that accept article submissions. These are articles that will be picked up by people and used on their websites. They are unpaid articles but may be worth taking a look at to get your name out there.

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1. 5/15/07
  
  kristin1724
  
  Thanks. That certainly got a lot of results. Have you ever submitted anything?
5/15/07

incinq

My mum is a published author. If you're looking primarily at magazine markets, there are a couple excellent guides out there: 1) The Best of the Magazine Markets for Writers 2007; 2) Novel & Short Story Writer's Market 2007. They're both updated annually, and include helpful articles on format, queries, cover letters, simultaneous submissions, etc.

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5/15/07

iwantthatdress

I just did a course about freelance copywriting (ads, brochures, websites etc) and it was the best thing I ever did. It's SO easy to find clients, and copywriting is the secret profession -- most people don't even know what it means, and there are so many businesses out there (badly) writing their own marketing material. You can make great money on it ! If you happen to live in Melbourne, Australia (unlikely) I can recommend the course I did to you if you're interested, otherwise Google courses in your area and see what comes up!

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5/15/07

kaybday

Kristin, I lost this post the first time, so trying again.

On submissions, many periodicals, Net sites and magazines will accept email queries--look for the 'about us' or 'FAQ' link on their sites--you have to fish around for this, but it's usually there if they accept submissions.

Study the site or publication carefully--look at the ads in particular, because that tells you a lot about the reader.

If I were starting out now, I'd aim at publications that take over the transom pieces already written--personal essays, travel shorts, and what's called FOB or front-of-the-book content. Freelancing is a relationship business, in my opinion, and I don't see pitches as useful until you have some clips. That's just my opinion; others may disagree.

Here are some resources that may help you:

You can get a free newsletter from Writers Weekly listing markets, articles on crafting, and bewareswritersweeky.com

The Writer Magazine offers a free forum and free content (in addition to premium content for subscribers); I write for them, but I read the mag long before I wrote for themwritermag.com

The American Society of Journalists and Authors has a free public section and admits non-members to their annual conferenceasja.org

My Creative Writer US blog has some infosome very useful links under writing and publishingbut theres in-depth info about working as a writer at the original CW UScreativewriter.us

Finally, for-pay sites like Media Bistro have really helped me, but that might be something you'd want to consider once you earn some bucks and can justify the expense.

Set a goal for yourself, and try hard to refrain from providing free contentworking on establishing traffic at your blog or Net site, in my opinion, is more useful because you can build a platform for yourself that way.

Good luckemail me if I can help. Ive freelanced for a long time and wouldnt have it any other way despite the headaches and annoyances.

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5/15/07

kaybday

Sorry that post is so long, folks.--Kay

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1. 5/15/07
  
  TonyB
  
  I came accross Kay's blog post about what a fabulous time it is to be a writer. Here is the link:
  
  creativewriterus.blogspot.com/2007/05/thinking-of-freelancing-tips-for-trad...
5/15/07

TR123

Hi Kristin

Yes, I once submitted an article about freelance graphic design to to try and get some extra hits to my site. If nothing else it gets you more links as everyone using your article will have your link on their site. At the bottom of the article you can put a bit about yourself - ie. freelance writer available for work etc etc and your URL.

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5/15/07

ThriftShopRomantic

Great information, Kay-- no apologies necessary. :-)

And Kay's absolutely right about knowing the tone of the publication, what it tends to take, not take, when you submit. Editors can tell when you've written something without understanding their tone and niche. It may sound like a lot of trouble, but tt's worth the time, because it ups your chances of acceptance so much.

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5/15/07

scottalk

oDesk and Guru are pretty good spots to search for freelance jobs. Like the rest of the open source sites, they tend to be better for businesses looking for workers b/c you can usually find people to do the work for cheaper than usual but, it won't hurt to try if you run out of places to search for freelance jobs.

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5/15/07

mindCatching

http://www.helium.com/

I saw the banner ad on the bottom of this page. It's all about writing.

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5/15/07

taylorblue

I am a freelance writer and I work at home. I have got most of my jobs from GetAFreelancer.com and Writerlance.com. YOu bid on a job and then get it. I work on a parenting site writing articles every month and I was only on GAF for a month. Give that a try. I have tried Helium and Triond but haven't made as much as the other way.

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5/15/07

stevens8204

Those 2 sites are really good...and something I am even looking into as I get blog offers. Never hurts to branch out a bit and give it a shot.

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5/15/07

m38967

Another source for getting some notches on your freelance writing belt, is www.associatedcontent.com

If you are new to the field, and want to establish a quick online portfolio, try them.
The pay varies from $3 to $15 per aticle accepted.

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5/21/07

kristin1724

I just wanted to say a quick thank you for all of the responses. You guys are a wealth of information. Thanks for all the tips.

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5/21/07

zakman

Try writersmarket.com

It's all about where and how to sell what you write. They also have a huge worldwide database of what articles which magazines/editors are looking for.

G'luck.

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5/21/07

PrettyLady

You may want to check out my writing community www.todays-woman.net

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6/13/07

BellaVida

Hey thanks for posting this question. There are a wealth of resources in the replies that will make for some good websurfing.

My goal is to be a published writer. My portfolio is packed with short stories, children's stories in english and spanish, poetry and a half finished novel.

Since I am an unpublished writer I have been advised to submit articles and enter contests to build credentials and have something relevent for my resume.

So even though some of the above mentioned sites may not pay well or even at all at first I've been told it's definately worth the time.

Good luck to you.

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6/13/07

writingtrue

Kristin,

I'm not sure where to start. I've published a number of pieces, and I teach professional writing. But here's the quick version.

1) Write what people need. Poetry? You'll starve. Short stories? Even if you're very good, understand that your competition is Joyce Carol Oates and Tim O'Brien. Novelist? Get in line. Essayist (like me)? Your competition is Tom Robbins and David Foster Wallace. That said, LOTS of people need LOTS of things written and don't know how to do it well. If you can and will write it, you can make money.

2) Write. Too many people complain that no one appreciates what they can do, but when I ask them what they've written recently, they hesitate. Write. Anything. You can't sell what doesn't exist.

3) Submit. Get past the rejection issue--if you aren't collecting rejection letters, then you aren't really trying to write. "This doesn't suit our needs at this time." Take them at their word. Send it somewhere else. Keep a log. Continue until published.

4) Write a lot!!!!! That brilliant piece you wrote yesterday? That was yesterday. Forget about it. You're a writer. Write something else today.

5) Continually improve, but lose perfectionism. Learn to write quickly. Send out stuff you know you could improve. They have editors. You can't sell what you never send, and you can't live on selling a piece once in a blue moon.

My two cents.

Writer
writingtrue.blogspot.com

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6/13/07

MadameX

Kristin, a lot depends on what you want to write. I've made my living at various times as a copywriter, a writer/content manager for a marketing company and a newspaper stringer, and I've published a couple of books in different genres. Every one of those arenas required a different focus, a different approach, and a different kind of "pitch" to get my foot in the door. In my experience, any broad advice that you may get like "enter contests" or "don't write for free" may or may not be good advice depending upon your niche, your goals, even your geographic location.

If you can give us a little more information about what kind of writing you're looking to do and what your knowledge/interest base is, you'll undoubtedly get better advice.

(Hoping Anasmum shows up in this thread, as she's just "retired" as editor of Austin Family magazine and can speak from the point of view of the person receiving those queries)

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6/14/07

Anasmum

Oh, wow, I can probably give you a list of my all-time favorite delete key triggers. (Please don't ever send a query that starts out "Yo! Interested?") But really, the best advice I can give you is to research your market--which means reading a least a representative sample of the types of publications you are targeting-- and then come up with a short, respectful but maybe including a tiny bit of humor query letter. Once you've established contact with an editor, kill yourself to exceed what you've promised. I ended up with a group of writers whom I contacted if I was looking for an article on a particular subject, rather than just going through the submissions, simply because I knew I could count on those writers to deliver what they promised.

The other bit of advice I have for you is to let go of your ego right now. Rejection from editors is NOT personal--your piece just doesn't fit their needs at that particular moment. When I was freelancing, I honestly took each rejection personally, thinking it was some sort of message about my writing style or some other way in which I was lacking. Trust me, most editors don't have time to give it that kind of thought. If I liked a topic but needed it written a slightly different way, I usually just asked the writer to rewrite. If I wasn't interested (for whatever reason), it got deleted. It was never a personal issue.

I'm not sure if any of this helps. Let me know if I can help in any way or clarify anything.

Barb

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3/29/09

bilalbest20

Here's a blog on freelance writing, check it out, might find some help here:

freeacademicpapers.blogspot.com/

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