Article Quickie: Freelance Writing Jargon – A – C: From AP Style to Crib Sheet Article Quickie: Freelance Writing Jargon – D – G From Deadlines to Ghostwriting Headline The attention grabber, the big bold letters at the top of the articles that stop readers in their tracks. Example: “Sixty Ways to Drive Your Man Wild” or “Top Ten Blogging Tips for Beginners” or “Why Your Kids Hate You.” Careful with the sensational ones, readers hate a content tease. HTML Hypertext markup language. Without getting all techie, it’s the tags that create <b>bold</b> lettering, italics, indentations, hyperlinks, etc. Some gigs [Read more…]
Article Quickie: Freelance Writing Jargon
D - G From Deadlines to Ghostwriting
January 5, 2011. Leave a Comment
Deadline These are those all important dates that you never miss. It’s when an article is due, when the editor wants it in and when excuses will be tough to take. Dek A quickie summary of what an article is about, it usually is placed in the table of contents or under the article headline. Editorial Calendar The theme and publishing calendar for a publication. Most print publications have calendars set far in advance, some as far as six months which is important to remember when sending queries. Writers also use an editorial calendar to schedule their work and organized [Read more…]
Freelancer? Writing Consultant? Work at Home?
Tackling titles and respect
November 9, 2010. 22 Comments
Today my fav blogger and former owner of FWJ, Deb Ng, started a discussion on Facebook about the lack of respect people have for work at home folks. I joined in and voiced my annoyance over how quickly people dismiss my job and ask what my husband does for a living to decipher the ‘real source’ of our family’s income. They figure if I’m at home playing on the internet he must have a real job somewhere, out in the wide, wide world. It blows their mind when I tell them he does the same thing I do…from home. “Oh!” [Read more…]
Niche or No?
Weighing your writing options
October 28, 2010. 7 Comments
There is one big question freelance writers must tackle regardless of their experience or career length: niche or no? Newbie writers will read article upon article and blog upon blog touting the importance of finding a niche, picking a niche, taking a niche out on a date…Veterans will find themselves bombarded with articles and posts on when it’s time to leave a niche, switch, combine, create a Frankenstein and give a manic laugh… The truth is – you have a choice. Pro Niche: 1. Building a good reputation as a writer is important. Getting steady work is important as well. [Read more…]
How to Make a Living as a Writer
This is How I Do It? What about You?
September 30, 2010. 20 Comments
10 Skills Freelance Writers Must Have if They Want to Succeed
August 3, 2010. 19 Comments
Since there are a lot of aspiring freelance writers in the Freelance Writing Jobs community, I thought it would be a good idea to go over some of the most important skills that freelance writers must have if they want to have a chance at being successful. In other words, if you want to get paid for your writing, you need to make sure you can do the things in the list below. 1. Spell If you can’t spell and you choose not to use a dictionary or effective spell-checking tool, then you won’t get far as a freelance writer. [Read more…]
Freelance Writing Business Multipliers… Are You Using Them?
July 14, 2010. 3 Comments
If you’re asking the right questions, you’re opening doors to additional opportunities.
Those five articles may have turned into ten articles, some additional web content, a better squeeze page, a white paper or special report for list building, a regular blogging gig, assistance in constructing additional content for inbound link creation and who-knows-what-else.
Those questions are business multipliers.
Query Letter Writing for Book Authors
July 8, 2010. 3 Comments
So, as I’ve mentioned, I still feel like I’m a newbie writer. I’m also a newbie published author – my Historic Walking Guide to Edinburgh was picked up after I responded to a publisher looking for writers. But what if you are an author looking to get your book published? That, my dear readers, is not a fun place to be in – I know several friends who are in that position (Hi!), and it is a competitive place to be. I happened upon this fantastic book author query letter over at a site dedicated to Science Fiction and Fantasy [Read more…]
Query Letter Writing: Your Portfolio
June 24, 2010. 3 Comments
So, it’s that time again: time to talk about tweaks to your query letter writing strategy! Today I’d like to talk about your portfolio. You know, the examples of work that prove you actually can write, and write about the subject you’re pitching. You do have a portfolio, right? Words Say a Thousand…oh, Nevermind I was trying to come up with a clever metaphor to describe how portfolios help a editor visualise your work in their publication. But it didn’t come out right, so let me just say this: Writers who “kind of” fit what the editor is looking for [Read more…]
Query Letter Writing: Get Organized
June 10, 2010. 9 Comments
Unfortunately, the world of query letter writing is one of numbers: the more you write, the more responses you get. Now that gets a little daunting at first, because you might not get any (or few) replies – even rejections! Hopefully, if you’re following along with our other query letter tips, you’ll be getting better and better. But I’d like to focus on another important aspect of your query letters: getting organized. What You Need to Track Well, I think this is pretty straightforward, but it might vary depending on your niche and topic. Here’s what I’m tracking: Publication Name [Read more…]
5 Things About Freelance Writing You May Not Know if You’re Just Starting Out
June 3, 2010. 13 Comments
Most freelance writers have common sense and the ability to judge good and bad opportunities. As mentioned recently, most you know what you’re getting into before you get into it and don’t need bloggers to tell you most of the things we tell you. Still there may be a few things you don’t realize just starting out, especially those without formal training. Let me share a few things to think about. 1. It’s Not OK to Post Someone Else’s Writing or Images Without Permission I don’t know how folks get the notion that just because something is online it’s public [Read more…]
When Freelance Writers Need a Wake Up Call
May 22, 2010. 5 Comments
In order to encourage the freelancer writers in this community, I like to keep the tone light and positive. Though I don’t take the “in your face” approach to blogging, I’ll agree that there are plenty of times when freelance writes need to have the truth laid out for them in order to view all sides of the picture. With that in mind, I’d like to discuss some of the things that aren’t so pleasant and hopefully inspire struggling freelancers to re-evaluate their career choices and goals. To be perfectly blunt, there are times freelance writers need a wake up [Read more…]
Query Letter Writing: What the Editors Say
April 29, 2010. 3 Comments
So in our last discussion about dissecting a successful query letter, one of our community members (who is an editor) felt my query letter was too long. While I do agree with her that brevity is important, I think the detail was important in this particular case. But the discussion board had me thinking: what exactly is the minimum you need in your query letter? Instead of just wondering, I went to the source and asked several editors that I know the following question: Less is More: What ‘questions’ are the bare minimum that a writer need to answer in [Read more…]
How to Land Your First Freelance Writing Job
March 6, 2010. 15 Comments
I’m thinking back to the early days of freelance writing. I’m remembering a time when the possibility of landing freelance writing jobs was overwhelming, yet seemed very real. I’m remembering the days when I couldn’t wait to look for work, but was afraid to look for work. I’m remembering the time when fear and lack of confidence kept me from doing more than reading the freelance writing job ads. Today, we’re going to talk to the folks who want to write in the worst way, but something is keeping them from taking that first step. Today we’re going to discuss [Read more…]
Query Letter Writing: Dissecting a Successful Query Letter
March 4, 2010. 10 Comments
So it’s one thing to talk about a successful query letter writing, but it’s another to actually use an actual query letter, so I thought today I’d walk us through one that worked really well for Writer’s Magazine. Make sure you know these 5 things to before sending a query letter first. Here’s my actual query letter (with some outdated links I had removed). Read on, then see my comments about why this was good, and how I would do it better next time. Subject: Getting Started Query: Start a Blog Hi Sarah Want to get free advertising for your [Read more…]
Free Samples and Writing on Spec: Should You?
February 9, 2010. 22 Comments
Many freelance writers aren’t a fan of writing on “spec.” That is, to create an assigned article for a potential freelance writing client or publication without the promise of acceptance. This usually happens when a publication doesn’t want to commit to a new writer without giving him or her an audition first. When you encounter a freelance writing job ad looking for a specially prepared (and possibly unpaid) sample, that’s almost the same thing as writing on spec. I call these request “special samples.” Special samples are writing requests beyond the clips that are submitted with the initial query or [Read more…]
The Non Traditional Freelance Writer’s Approach to Freelance Writing
February 1, 2010. 20 Comments
Every now and then it’s suggested I’m doing this wrong, that my approach to freelance writing isn’t traditional and that the tips shared here are incorrect. It’s even been hinted that perhaps I don’t look out for a writer’s best interests because I don’t follow the old-school rules of journalism or insist you follow the same path as all the other freelance writers. Those insinuations don’t bother me at all. I admit I don’t necessarily do things the right way – if there is a right way. I kind of like marching to my own drummer. There’s a reason the [Read more…]
How I Landed My First Freelance Writing Jobs Without Clips
January 17, 2010. 12 Comments
My first actual published piece of writing was a band interview 1993 or 1994. I wrote the piece for the music and tattoo magazine I worked for. I wasn’t originally scheduled to do the interview but the assigned reporter called in with a last minute illness and I was the only one who could get to Bryant Park for the concert and help out. The interview was well received, but the magazine wasn’t. It ceased publication right after that issue due to lack of sales. My one and only copy of this magazine has an extra place in my heart [Read more…]
Freelance Writing: The Lazy Need Not Apply
January 11, 2010. 16 Comments
I have a gripe. Almost every week another friend or relative comes out of the woodwork to ask me for help in getting started as a freelance writer. Most of them have never aspired to write, or even enjoy it, but they’re out of work or want to work at home. They see freelance writing as a way to avoid the rat race, and, even, to not have to do much work at all. To be honest, these calls and emails kind of tick me off. I wouldn’t call my plumber and say, “Hey, I fixed a toilet once. Can [Read more…]
5 Things to Do Before You Query
December 23, 2009. 8 Comments
Last week’s post “6 Tips for Finding New Freelance Writing Markets” received a comment worth mentioning. Though I was brief in my roundup, the commenter Robert Earle Howells offered some good reminders: These are all ways to troll, and they’re good. You can find great titles and get inspired. But remember, that doesn’t mean you’re ready to pitch them. One issue of a magazine, or even writer guidelines (which are often outdated), or a WM listing (ditto), can’t prepare you for a decent query. You need to look at the archives. You need to find the name and e-mail address [Read more…]
Freelance Writing: The Early Years
December 21, 2009. 8 Comments
Shared with permission: Dear Deborah, I have a confession to make. I Googled you to learn more about you and your “early years.” I can’t find much about you save for online articles and your blog. I’m interested in learning more about the beginning of your writing career, how you juggled a full time job while you were starting out and when you knew it was time to quit your day job. Thank you for your blog. You and your colleagues provide a valuable resource. Sincerely, Loretta M. I asked Loretta if I could respond to her email publicly because [Read more…]
10 Ways to Get Your Freelance Writing Foot in the Door
November 4, 2009. 7 Comments
We’re talking about freelance writing experience today. Many writers mention how hard it is to get their proverbial feet in the door without having to take entry level web opportunities. It’s true, these jobs are the simplest to get, but there are other ways to get started as a freelance writer. They may not take the easy way out, but they’re tried and true. Continue some of these ways for getting started as a freelance writer. Ten Ways to Get Your Freelance Writing Foot in the Door Work pro bono – Though I don’t recommend writing for free, I have [Read more…]
Freelance Writing Experience: Does it Matter Where Your Clips Come From?
November 4, 2009. 12 Comments
Credit where it’s due: A few days Jodee Redmond wrote: “Will Taking a Low Paying Hurt Your Career.” Jodee’s post is the inspiration for this one. Disclaimer: This post isn’t encouraging writers to accept low pay, it’s merely a discussion of whether or not your low paying past will hurt you when you apply for other gigs.This discussion isn’t about low pay or whether or not writers should accept entry level opportunities. It’s whether or not these opportunities will cause you to lose work. When I was younger it was my dream to become a newspaper columnist. I couldn’t wait [Read more…]
