article writing

Freelance Writing – Turning “No” into “Yes”

March 25, 2011 by david 2 Comments

No. Every new writer is afraid of hearing it. Seasoned writers are used to it, but still wouldn’t invite it over for dinner. The good news is there is life and success after being rejected. Sometimes that success comes from the same publication that just rejected you. Why?

Every “no” is not rock solid. In fact, many have a little wiggle room if you look and listen closely.

Absolutely Not

“Not in this lifetime.” “Hell no.” “Your writing makes me weep for the educational system.” These are firm, but why dwell? Let’s move on…

Not right for us.

Ah, this is a good one. This says the piece or query:

In its current state doesn’t fit the the publication or site’s theme, audience or editorial direction BUT
It likely would fit another publication OR
With some changes it could be just what they need.

Turning “Not a Fit” into the Right Size

Send a follow-up communication to ask how you could change the piece to fit their needs. The follow-up should offer well-researched suggestions. This means going back to analyze the publication or site again. Look for the following:

Ledes – How do their published articles draw readers into the piece?
Perspective and tone – Did you match their tone if not, can you adjust your query to reflect their style?
Numbers and experts – What kinds of sources does the publication typically use? Will concrete statistics build up your pitch?
Editorial calendar – If you didn’t do it before, check their media kit and see what the publication has planned. Can you adjust your pitch to fit a different issue?

Not Accepting at This Time

Wiggle room! Investigate. Find out if they not accepting a particular type of piece or new work in general? A nice, quick follow-up can make the difference between your pitch never getting published there or simply published later.

Life After Death er, No

Research the publication’s competition and explore different markets. Mashable may not want your article but IT News might be interested.

Web – Everyone wants to see their pieces in print, but some articles may find a better home (and longer shelf life) online.
Trade – What industries would be interested in the information your piece provides? Trade magazines are an often overlooked source of revenue.
Local – Look around you. Try sending your pitch to local/regional sites and magazines. It may help to adjust your query to demonstrate it’s local angle before you hit ‘send.’
National – Writers are always advised to start local. Build up clips before going to national sites and publications. It is good advice, but really, there is nothing stopping you from taking that local piece and sending it to a broader market.

No is never the end. It may be a jumping off point for negotiations or an opportunity to move to another market. Look past the closed door to the open window right next to it.

Have you ever turned a ‘no’ into a ‘yes?’ Tell us!

When a Freelance Writing Job Doesn’t Pay

March 8, 2011 by david 11 Comments

There is perhaps no other topic in the freelance writing world that generates more controversy than the concept of writers writing for free. Bring it up and lines in invisible sand are drawn, commenting spikes and in the case of Harlan Ellison, a few F-bombs are dropped.

It’s understandable. Shady publishers and editors prey on vunerable writers who want to see their names in print. Writers are constantly burned by “write for free now and earn later” promises in which “later” never comes.

However, in the angry buzz of the debate something gets lost. Choice and education. There will always be writers who consider using their talent without traditional compensation. Instead of helping writers make informed decisions, we as a community often take the abstinence-only approach – IT’S WRONG, NEVER DO IT.

Is it really free?

The first step to weighing a work-for-free option is to look at whether the project has any compensation opportunities. Writers work in exchange for items and services all the time. A little web content work in exchange for a new website. A little PR work in exchange for lessons from a yoga studio.

Just be sure that you follow three simple rules when bartering services:

Set clear boundaries. Define the services you will provide and the services or products you expect in return. This prevents misunderstandings and keeps either party from taking advantage of the “freebie” situation.
Determine cost. It should be expected that your standard rates are used for services you provide.
Put it in writing. This is not only helpful for tax and business record purposes, it makes the transaction official and binding.

Is it for the greater good?

Wielding a hammer may not be some people’s idea of how they want to volunteer, but wielding a keyboard may feel just right. Providing writing services to help a charity or organization is a good thing. Sweating over a keyboard or a hot stove both take time and effort and each can be a great help to someone in need.

Are you prepared for the lack of payoff?

Writing for exposure. *Sigh* That’s a tricky one. Certain publications swear by it, but when their blog only reaches 12 people and four of those are family members, the “exposure” doesn’t help a writer one bit. Then you have the Huffington Post model: huge reach and definite opportunities for exposure. However, when the publication makes a deal for a large sum of money, whether it’s for advertising or through the sale of the blog, there will be writers who feel slighted when left out of the monetary windfall.

There is, of course, the possibility that exposure may never come. Before you get into an “exposure” deal,

Use metrics to define success. How many blog hits, how many subsequent work requests, book sales, etc.
Recognize and get comfortable with not being able to eat, spend or pay bills with exposure. Exposure has to translate into dollars through other avenues to be successful.
Have a time limit and exit strategy. Give the exposure enough time to produce results, but have an end date in place if it doesn’t show signs of panning out.

Can you afford to do it?

Whether working in exchange for goods and services, as a volunteer or for “exposure,” carefully weigh the costs of the commitment. There are time costs, including time away from other business-growing opportunities, i.e. querying, working on gigs for other clients, etc. There are also actual costs: electricity, Internet, the standard writing rate… This is one of those tough choices that a writer has to make from a business perspective, especially if the project will be ongoing.

Most of the time I’m against writing for free. It distracts writers from doing things that can both further their careers and enable them to pay bills. Writing for experience can be accomplished while making money – don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. There are, however, situations in which free can work out for writers though they are not as common as “job” listings would have you believe. It’s a personal, business decision that should be made with research and with realistic expectations.

Have you written for “free?” Why or why not? What other things should writers consider when weighing a non-traditional pay option?

How Not To Suck at Freelance Writing

February 24, 2011 by david 22 Comments

Being a freelance writer isn’t an easy gig. Many people wake up on January 1st and after staring at themselves through a hazy fog of cheap champagne and celebratory glitter decide that this would be the year they took the big step and pursue their passion for the written word.

Three months and several rejection letters later they sit alone in their basement home office muttering about being an under appreciated, true artist. Instead of writing for a living, they spend the majority of the day failing at freelancing. Fortunately, after spending a fair amount of time sucking at this job and talking with other writers who have also, at some point sucked, I have found five truisms that should keep you from flunking out of freelance writing:

Freelancing is a J-O-B.

The bunny slippers, the special hours, the inordinate amount of time spent checking email or taking photos of food may make this gig look like a cool excuse for tax write-offs. I assure you, whether you are wearing a bathrobe or a business suit, if you don’t commit to working you won’t eat. Internet currency/street cred/real estate cannot be printed off and used as cash to pay the gas bill. I’ve tried it already.

Real world client interactions rock.

It’s shocking I know, and if you need to take a few moments to compose yourself I understand. There are times where you’ll have to *deep breath* unplug from the Matrix and get out there to find clients. Networking events,

business events and conferences, etc. are places to find these clients. If you have a niche, go to events for that niche, then you can hit them up on Twitter, FB, LinkedIn, etc.

If you never leave the house, you will miss out on a lot of opportunities.

Embrace technology.

If you want to pick a low-budget, start-up business, freelance writing is the way to go. To start, all you really need is a computer, an internet connection and a printer. However, if you stop there, the freelance writing money wagon will not stop at your door.

Okay, I’m not sure about there being a wagon, it could be an internet rumor like Facebook shutting down. The truth is, if you are unable to communicate with an editor, don’t have a website with links to your work or refuse to get on that Tweety thing or Faceplant you are going to miss opportunities.

You don’t need a fancy website, but you do need a little slice of internet real estate where you can host your clips. The advantage is two fold: many editors don’t open files from people they don’t know which means your query with clips attached may be deleted or shunted to the spam file. Also, you cannot rely on a website to keep your clips live. Saving them as a PDF and uploading them to your website will keep you from losing clips to limited bandwith or upgrading tragedies.

While you’re setting up your site, grab yourself an email account, an IM (instant message) profile and a social media account. If you have to pick one I would start with Twitter. Facebook tends to be more personal, while Twitter allows you to follow people in the industry without being personally connected.

Avoid begging.

You don’t need a paying client immediately to pay the rent, you have an opening in your schedule. It’s the difference between “Please go out with me, I haven’t had a date in a year” and “I scored two tickets to the game on Saturday, would you like to go with me?” Desperation is a turn-off in both the public and private sector. So don’t announce to Twitter that you need a job. Approach clients/editors privately – dm, email, phone call and let them know you are available.

Do Your Research.

Not a week goes by that I don’t get an email that says “I love/like/tolerate/skim your work on Freelance Writing Jobs, how do I become a freelance writer?” I always wonder why they left a site chock full of info, from a variety of industry professionals, to send me an email.

When I write back I always direct them back to FWJ and include a few of my favorite “Get started links.” I do this not to be an ass, but to give them the opportunity to use their own research skills to find the information that is important to them. Every writer has different goals, pathways and priorities when it comes to this profession. Putting in the time to research the industry boosts a writer’s confidence and affords them an opportunity to personalize their writing journey.

Being a freelance writer isn’t easy, but it is a worthwhile, bankable profession as long as writers keep an eye out for possible pitfalls on the way to writing succes s. Starting out well and maintaining good habits along the way will hopefully keep you from enduring a suckfest. I’ve been there and it’s not fun. You don’t need to be a starving artist to have a successful writing story. Plus, a rumbling tummy interferes with your inner monologue as you write.

Got any tips on how to stay sucker free? Share them below!

How to Influence Editors and Make Friends

February 17, 2011 by david 3 Comments

There are some writers that are heads and shoulders above others. They always snag the important gigs and never seem to have a dry spell. What is it about them that makes them so popular? Abundant talent? Insider connections?

Eh.

Talent will take you far and connections will help you get your foot in the door, but there are three things that, when all else is equal, separate the cream from the watery stuff no one wants.

Communication.

Star writers are excellent communicators. They keep their editors informed on article development, including any changes or source issues. They are accessible. Emails are returned quickly and phone calls are returned by the next business day. Skype or an IM are just a click away. An editor never has to worry about what’s happening when they work with these rock stars.

These same writers know how to keep in front of editors and clients without being pushy. They follow what publications are doing, drop a line of hello, forward an article someone might be interested in – and not in the same day. They are unforgetable without effort.

Delivery.

Better than any pizza delivery service, rock star writers are always early. Not on time – early. They understand that editors/clients are always facing a huge time crunch. Getting it in early shows that they are on their game and they can be trusted with the big gigs because they manage both their time and the publication’s interests well.

Independence.

There’s a difference between communication and hand-holding. Rockin’ writers use their problem solving skills and don’t wait for an editor to lead them. They are proactive. If there is a problem with a angle, they keep the editor informed and will give them several options or alternatives.

They are also masters of clean copy. An editor knows with their go-to folks they will get timely work, clean copy and one less migraine.

Talent is incredibly important, contacts can be made fairly easily, but professionalism will keep you in the green long after the wishy-washy Hemmingways and sloppy Stephens are dropped for missed deadlines. Editors and clients want someone dependable and who consistently exceeds their expectations.

How do you knock a client/editor’s socks off?

Time Management Tip #2: Be Realistic

February 10, 2011 by david 6 Comments

It’s time to put down the cape. It’s also time be honest. Is that ‘to do’ list really doable?

There are still only 24 hours in a day and the majority of our problems with time management involve unrealistic expectations. When you have a daily 20 or 30+ list of items that must be accomplished, you are setting yourself up for failure. The same goes for a list of three time consuming items.

There are three quick ways to tell if your list of action items is too long:

1. Carry over. If you are still finishing Monday’s list on Friday, you’ve got a problem.

2. If you never feel finished, you might have a problem.

3. If you are always in catch-up, grumpy mode, you might have a problem.

So now that the problem has been identified, how do you fix it?

Set Goals.

What are you four main goals? You can go micro: four main goals for work, four main goals for family, etc. or you can go macro: four main life goals. Let’s look at Busy Bea’s goals:

Spend more time with family, land more feature articles, work-out more, have more free time.

Before Bea can get the “mores” she wants, she has to check off the items on her list that do not align with her goals. Reducing her email time gives her more time to put into her queries.

See? Not so bad!

Revisit your goals frequently.

When the list gets long, that’s when you have to stop and check your to-do items against your goals. I still have 20+ item days. Still. As recent as last week. That’s why Monday I had a conversation with myself, pulled out my goals list and started crossing things of my to-do’s that didn’t help me reach my goals.

Time management is tough. Each day we struggle to stay focused and to prioritize, but being realistic, setting goals and following them helps. So take off the cape – no need to be Superwriter anywhere but in your prose.

How do you manage your list?

Time Management Tip #1: Prioritize

February 7, 2011 by david 2 Comments

Writers tend to juggle several projects at once, in addition to all of the other things they do during the day – billing, networking, searching for work, living life, etc. There are times when it feels like there are never enough hours in the day to complete everything.

The bad news: there isn’t enough time. The good news: not everything has to be finished today.

One of the craziest things that people do when trying to manage their time is giving each to-do item equal priority.

I’ve talked with friends who have said that everything they do is important. I get it, I like to feel important and busy too, but everything I do throughout the day does not have equal importance. It took me a long time to figure out how to prioritize, but let me spare you the years of bewilderment with three ways to put your priorities in order.

#1 Develop a System

Tornadoes, terror alerts, snow emergencies, they all have one thing in common – set standards that determine which actions to take and when they should be taken. Is that email about dinner as important as the email about accepting a new gig? Is deleting spam as important as editing a piece to make your deadline?

Whether you use color coded Post-Its, numbers or electronic alerts, develop a system that combines standard actions with level of importance. Be careful not to set too many levels. An overly complicated system is ineffective – right, U.S. color-coded terror alert system?

#2 Make a decision.

Trying to figure out where things land within your shiny new system is the toughest part. Start with the obvious items – deadlines, contracts, billing, etc. Then move on to communication items such as research and writing, followed by social networking and follow-ups. Or work backwards – whatever works for you!

#3 Stick with it.

Another thing I have struggled with is implementing a system and sticking with it. It’s one thing to tweak things along the way, but it’s unproductive to scrap the whole thing and start over every couple of weeks. Give your system a chance to work and become a habit.

There are only 24 hours in the day. At some point you have to sleep, spend time with your family and eat. The rest is filled with deadlines and to-do’s. Successful writers figure out what must be done and when to do it.

How do you manage work priorities?

Fix Your Toxic Writing Environment

February 3, 2011 by david 3 Comments

There are two sides to the writer debate – those who require certain comforts and those who can write in the middle of a toxic dump. I’d argue both types are just as likely to have hazardous work environments. Your office could be making you sick, or at the very least, decreasing your productivity. The good news is there simple way to creating a safe and healthy work environment.

1. Trouble in the Air

The information is scary: according to the August 2000 EPA Indoor Environments Division, Indoor Air Quality and Student Performance report, “Indoor air quality can reduce a person’s ability to perform specific mental tasks requiring concentration, calculation, or memory.” While this specific report discusses students in school, the same can be said for those who require mental acrobatics to earn a paycheck. The solution? [Read more…]

Freelance Writing Jobs Blog – The Best of January

January 31, 2011 by david 1 Comment

Every month, the bloggers at FWJ work hard to provide quality and helpful content. Hardworking freelance writers click through looking for great leads and info, but let’s face it, some posts may slip by in the daily hustle and bustle. Here’s some great posts you may have missed:

Writing From Home: Warnings & Tips on How to Survive When You Have No Office by Robin Parrish

Robin captures the writing from home experience perfectly. My favorite:

Get Out of the House. As important as it is to guard your at-home work time, sometimes you just have to get away from all the around-the-house distractions in order to get anything done. So grab the laptop and head out to someplace where there’s free wifi, like Barnes & Noble or Starbucks.

How to Use Your Freelance Work Personality to Your Advantage: Know Yourself Before Applying for a Gig by Jodee Redmond

Jodee gives great advice on shifting your job search to looking for work that fits you:

When you are looking for freelance writing jobs, first consider your work personality. If you are someone who enjoys the relative security of working with a client over the long term, then look for someone who can offer a steady gig (or the potential for a series of projects). If you are someone who gets bogged down working on large projects, move on and apply for something that is a better fit for your freelance work personality.

How to Get Your Contracts Signed: How to Deal with a Physical Act in an Electronic World by Jonathan Bailey

Jonathan saved me time and photoshopping time by giving these great alternatives to the whole snail-mail-signature thing:

A Better Answer

There are several companies that offer digital contract signing. They include the following:

RightSignature: Offers a free trial with up to five documents, paid accounts start at $14 per month for unlimited documents and 1 template.

FillAnyPDF: Can be used for free without an account but a free account opens up more editing options and allows storage of 5 filled forms. Paid accounts start at $19 per month and allow the storage of up to 1,000 filled forms

DocQ: Offers a free account for up to 5 signatures per month and a paid personal account starts at $7 per month and offers 25 signatures.

If I Lay Here… Using Lie and Lay Correctly by Noemi Twigg

I have several web pages bookmarked that explains the freaking lie and lay conspiracy in several different ways. *Don’t judge me* I’ve added Noemi’s to the top spot:

Let’s get the meanings of the words straight, once and for all.
Lay is a transitive verb and needs a direct object – a receiver of the action. It means to put something down.

Example: This bag of groceries is heavy. I will lay it down on the bench while I wait for the bus.

Lie is an intransitive verb and does not need a direct object. It means to recline. ²

Example: My back hurts. I think I’ll lie down for a bit.

Can Anyone Make Money Blogging? by Gayla Baer-Taylor

A great response to a timeless question:

First and foremost, the critical ingredient to blogging success is having staying power. The ability to not allow defeat due to setbacks. A successful blogger must be willing to put their self out there and put in the hours upon hours of hard work that’s the proven foundation for successful blogs.

Article Clip 911: Protect your career and back-up your work by Terreece M. Clarke

Not to toot my horn, this is great info for writers:

Not saving your clips, backing up your blog posts, etc. is like throwing money away. Why work so hard, research so thoroughly only to toss your work to the wind? Three steps will save you time and tears:

What were your favorite blog posts?

Article Quickie: A Writer’s Confession

January 30, 2011 by david 11 Comments

My name is Terreece and I’m addicted to ellipses.

There. I said it. I am free from my shame.

Those three periods…they say so much and I find myself using them way to often. Every writer has a crutch. Some liken it to their ‘writing style,’ but there is a difference between a crutch and a style.

“I can quit anytime.”

One way to tell if your go-to writing technique is a style or a crutch is if a writer can be flexible and not use the item. Whether it’s a particular format or transition, if a writer has trouble adapting to what an article needs rather than what they are comfortable writing – it’s a crutch.

“I don’t think about it.”

Some writers brag they can bang out an article without thinking. That’s not a good thing. Writing without thinking is writing devoid of feeling and deliberation. Who wants to read that? Writers can bring thought back into their pieces through identifying their crutches. Read through old clips. Recognizing patterns is the best way to break a habit.

“I’m not hurting anyone.”

My ellipses aren’t hurting anyone…most people think they add to my conversational style of writing. However, if I’m honest with myself, not addressing them or any other crutch will prevent my growth as a writer. The crutch is more damaging to the writer than it is to anyone else. Why? Burn out.

Writers run out of stuff to write or I should say they run out of motivation to write anything. When writing loses its spark and becomes predictable, odds are the writer will find themselves on the way to the stinky town of Burnout.

Lastly, crutches are supposed to help someone along the way until the way can be made without the crutch. It may be painful, may cause a few hours of eyestrain staring at that blinking cursor while coming up with something else, but in the end the stretch is worth it. The growing pains are worth it!

So dish – what’s your writing crutch? How did you break your habit?

Article Quickie: Freelance Writing Jargon

January 27, 2011 by david 2 Comments

Masthead

Located within the first few pages of a publication, the masthead lists the important information you need – editor names, assistant editors, departments, contributing writers, etc. It is also helpful to find out the email configuration of the company – a not so secret tip on getting your queries to the right person without the SASE.

On Speculation

When a writer has a fantastic idea and an editor isn’t so sure, they will ask the writer to write the piece on spec or speculation. This means a writer will write the article in its entirety on the hopes that once the editor sees the piece they will buy it. There is usually no contract and writers should carefully consider their options.

Pitch

When a writer creates a pitch they are trying to sell their idea for an article or project to an editor or client. This is also known as a query.

Portfolio

A specific website or booklet that shows a writer’s body of work. Most portfolios are online so they are easily accessible to editors and clients.

Query Letter

See “Pitch”

SASE (Self-Addressed Stamped Envelopes)

Way before email when writers use to send queries to editors by mail they would spend thousands of dollars addressing envelopes to themselves and stamping them in the hopes that an editor would send their thumbs up or down or at the very least return that query letter or manuscript using the stamped envelope. That usually never happened. Most editors would write back using company stationary and postage, wasting time, money and trees! Now, most editors shoot a reply via email, however there are still some publications that will only accept queries or manuscripts via snail mail.

Side Bar

Side bars are shorter bits of information that accompany a longer article. They can range in size and they usually are there to highlight or further explain important information.

Tear Sheet

In modeling, a tear sheet is a copy of the model’s work once published. In writing, a tear sheet works the same way without the pouty stare and 10 hours of hair and makeup. After the publication is printed, editors will often send a tear sheet to the writer as a courtesy for the writer’s clip file.

Writers Guidelines

These are designed to give writers helpful tips and information about submission guidelines and what the publication accepts. While full of great advice and information, they aren’t always gospel. For example, many publication’s guidelines still tout mail in query submissions instead of electronic means.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the freelance glossary!