Freelance Writing. - Writers Forum

lifespoetry · 06-20-2007, 06:38 PM

I was wondering if anyone here has ever done, or is doing any freelance writing? I have been curious about freelance writing for a long time now, expecially lately since I am about to have a baby I have been writing more. My S.O. has suggested it to me, but I am not sure the exact "qualifications" to freelance writing. Do I need a degree? How do I present and article to a company? Anything else you all would like to share, I would love to know.
Thanks!

mammamaia · 06-20-2007, 09:49 PM

i've done a fair amount of it...

Quote:

Do I need a degree?

...definitely not!... you just have to know how to write well enough that someone wants to buy what you write...

Quote:

How do I present and article to a company?

...you query magazines that feature articles similar to what you have written, asking them if you may submit it... and submit the article to any that accept unsolicited work...

...if you are an acknowledged expert in some field and want to see if anyone wants an article on the subject, you can query with a proposal and get the go-ahead to write it... otherwise, you should have the articles ready to submit...

...in addition to being a good non-fiction writer, you have to be able to write effective query letters, to get the attention of the editor, so they'll want to bother reading your ms... you have to be really good at selling yourself, as well as your work, to make any money at this... it takes a lot of grit and perseverance, as you have to be continually writing and submitting, just to get an article in print now and then...

if you can write good ad copy, you might want to consider branching out into that, hitting your local businesses and offering various other writing services, in addition to doing their print ads, flyers, etc. ...such as writing creative dunning letters to get deadbeat clients to pay their bills... i did that for a noted trompe l'oiel artist client who couldn't get 'the donald' and joan rivers to pay up... my letters did the trick!

drop me a line, if you want any more info or help... i ran my own writing consultant business for a decade and a half, writing just about anything that took words, for up to $150/hr... and that was back in the 80s-90s!...

love and hugs, maia
maia3maia@hotmail.com

lin · 06-20-2007, 10:30 PM

Having made my so-called living free-lancing for decades, I'd say that first of all it's a very tough way to go. You have to be so much better than a magazine's normal "stable" or staffers that they pay you for it. And have the perfect ideas...again, better than people they have been working with.

Your qualifications have nothing to do with education: and actually reliability and proven performance are more important even than writing ability and access. And the only way to demonstrate that is a track record. Typical Catch 22.

Most full-time freelancers start out on a staff, then cut loose when they have enough accounts lined up to support themselves. I didn't do it that way, and it made things a lot harder.

You need clips...copies of or links to previous work. This is one of those "dues" things you just kind of have to spring for. One way is an internship somewhere. Another is to start placing things in lo/no payment publications, like local papers or ezines.

There are plenty of books and web tutorials on approach. You need to know how to write a good query letter, submit a pro-looking piece, etc. Do some research and study, then post the results on this site, or others, for critique. Then tell all those nasty little critiquers to kiss your butt and...
I mean, you will thus learn wonderfully.

Typically you are sending a one page cover letter that is a teaser for your idea and BRIEFLY states your qualifications to write the article. Which are not just experience, but also access. "I am have been a member of the Death To American Demon cell for four years and am in an excellent position to get paint an overall picture firsthand and obtain interviews from principle players in the movement."...is an attention grabber. "I just had a baby so I know what I'm talking about " is less so. I think you see what I mean.

Is there a certain area of writing or publication that you would like to approach?

SeattleCPA · 06-21-2007, 02:00 PM

My one caution about this... If you're thinking that this is a way to make money any time soon? Well, sorry, I'd say put that thought to rest.

Also, not to always answer these kinds of questions by suggesting someone get and read another book, but I always thought that the writers market books do a pretty good job of telling you how to get your foot in the door.

Note, too, that for this sort of general "how to freelance" type of information, you don't need to buy a new book. You can pick up a copy from library or a dog-eared copy from a used-books store.

affiliateslittleguy · 06-28-2007, 08:16 AM

If you can write well, do submit your article to paying article directory. There is only one which provide you with a good source of income.

pm me as I am new here, I do not want to share the url to just anybody.

affiliateslittleguy · 07-06-2007, 02:28 AM

yes, got another payment from this pay directory again..

the url leads to the system I use to automate some of my writing task.

cheers!

Targeting: $1200.00 USD this month

mammamaia · 07-07-2007, 12:03 AM

so, are you just gonna go on bragging, or will you come up with the site?... i can't see any good reason for you not to... if it and your purported income is for real, that is...