How to Break into Freelance Writing

Guide Note: If you've dreamt of being a freelance writer, you're in luck: there's plenty of opportunity out there. Unless you're closely related to a publishing magnate, however, it will take some time to get in the door. This page shows how to break into freelance writing in four practical steps. For the financial side of the matter, see How to Make Money Freelance Writing.

Table of Contents:

Introduction

  • (Creative Commons photo by Matt Callow)
    (Creative Commons photo by Matt Callow)
  • Have you ever heard someone say "I'm a freelance writer," and been struck by pangs of envy? You were probably imagining a life of freedom and leisure: while you toil at some 9-to-5, the freelance writers of the world are reaping creative fulfillment in their pajamas. Well, freelancing is not easy, nor is it easy to break into. If you approach it in a methodical way, though, you'll find yourself getting paid to write before another year passes.

Specialize

  • Don't jump in expecting to write everything from science news to theatre reviews right off the bat. Editors will be more interested in your work if you can demonstrate an expertise in one or two specific fields.
  1. Make a list of your most passionate interests.
    • What are the first things you Google when you sit down at the computer. Music? Sports? Animals? Celebrity gossip? Electronic gadgets? Write down everything that comes to mind.
  2. Narrow it down to two topics.
    • Among the interests you've listed, find two that coincide with your actual knowledge.
    • Use this as a litmus test: Could you hold a conversation with an expert on the subject?

Find an Outlet

  • You can't expect to be paid for your scribbling without a few good clips to show editors. Pitiful as it may sound, the best way to get into freelancing is to write for little or no pay—but only for a limited period of time. Use the following resources to find ten publications that best suit your chosen specialties.
    • For each publication, note the name of the appropriate editor for your submission (i.e. arts editor, etc.), email address and phone number.

Local newspapers

  • Both OnlineNewspapers.com and RefDesk.com have links to thousands of local newspapers around the nation. Many of these papers will accept articles from unproven writers.
    1. Select your region and click on individual publications.
    2. Contact info is usually found under "contact us" or "FAQ."

Online Publications

  • Due to their sheer abundance and the diversity of their subject matter, online magazines and newsletters are an excellent way to break into writing.
    • Ezines are online newsletters geared toward a particular readership niche, from woodcarvers to Barbra Streisand fanatics.
    • If you don't hear back from an editor, follow up over email before reaching for the phone. (Creative Commons photo by Bjørn Bulthuis)
      If you don't hear back from an editor, follow up over email before reaching for the phone. (Creative Commons photo by Bjørn Bulthuis)
      1. Go to Ezine-dir.com, a free directory of thousands of ezines.
      2. Browse by category for the zines that fit your interests.
      3. Go to the homepages of 10 zines and look for a "contact us" link.
    • Online Magazines cover a broader range of interest, but usually fit under general headings like politics or music.
      1. Yahoo! Directory lists online magazines by subject heading.
      2. Select the general subjects that fit your specialties.
      3. Skip past the immediately recognizable links at the top (like Rolling Stone Online, for instance) to smaller publications more likely to welcome untested writers.
      • Contact info for online publications is usually found under "Contact us" or "About us.

Magazines

  • Even if your byline has never appeared in any publication, you may have a shot at some of the minor "back of the book" articles in magazines.
    1. Go to a local bookstore or newsstand.
    2. Peruse the magazine rack for publications that may suit your interest.
    3. Look through them for sections with short items—such as news blurbs or capsule reviews—and note the titles of these sections.
    4. Contact information will be found near the table of contents.

MediaBistro.com features a How to Pitch section that lists publications and provides specific information for proposing articles to each.

Brainstorm for Stories

  • For each of the ten publications you've listed, fish around your brain (and the internet) for a good story idea, using the following criteria:
  1. Does it fit the publication's focus?
  2. Will it appeal to the publication's readership?
  3. Is it timely?
    • Remember, it may be two months before your article appears in print, and probably at least a week before it goes up on the internet; will it still be relevent when it "hits the stands"?
  4. Is it unique?
    • Even if the subject matter is obvious, you can distinguish your pitch with a unique angle.
  5. Can you write it?
    • Your first assignment will go more smoothly if you choose a subject inside your realm of expertise.

Refine to a "Pitch"

  • Hone each of your story ideas into a "pitch," or proposal. The pitch will be the focus of the query letter you send to each editor. If you've never been published, an editor will gauge your writing skill by the pitch itself, so make sure it represents your talent. The following are key points.
  • Be engaging: Write the pitch as if it's the opening of the article, not just a description of it.
  • Be specific: Do enough research to note the story's details, including sources you plan to use for quotes.
  • Be succinct: Boil each pitch down to three or four sentences.
  • Be appropriate: match the subject matter and tone of the pitch to the those of the publication.
    • You wouldn't send the same pitch to a punk rock magazine as you would a retirement community newsletter.

Write a Query

  • Now you'll expand each of your pitches into brief query letter to send via email (or regular mail if specified). The following points are key to making a professional first impression.
  1. Write a clear subject head: Include the word "query" as well as the topic of your pitch.
  2. Dispense with formalities: Ceremonious language such as, "To Whom it May Concern," is considered a quaint vestige of snail mail.
    • Email is informal by nature, so feel comfortable addressing an editor by his or her first name, but also be respectful and professional.
  3. Start with the pitch: The first paragraph should concern the story's subject matter, rather than your own background or qualifications.
  4. Forget the shmoozing: Rather than regale an editor with compliments about the publication, show him/her what you can do for the publication—with your clever story ideas and lively writing.
  5. Only note your qualifications: Rather than include a resumé full of irrelevant experience, briefly note your background and explain what qualifies you to write the article you're pitching.

Example

  • From pencil to print: If you can write, you can be published. (Creative Commons photo by Riley)
    From pencil to print: If you can write, you can be published. (Creative Commons photo by Riley)
  • Consider the following query samples as models of what to do vs. what not to do.
  • Rejected:
          • Subject: Brilliant writer
          • To whom it may concern,
          • I am an excellent writer who has contributed extensively to the comments sections of many blogs and worked in electronics sales (resumé attached). I'd be thrilled and honored to write for the Cucamonga Post, which has been my favorite publication since childhood. Please consider assigning me a story on the new movie theater scheduled to open downtown.
  • Accepted:
          • Subject: Vagabond Theatre (timely query)
          • Hello Dave,
          • Readers of the Cucamonga Post know the Vagabond Theatre well: boarded up since 1993 and tattooed with graffiti, it has become a symbol of downtown's decay. Meet Ray McKelvy, the man who plans to revive the Vagabond and reinvigorate downtown itself in the process. But is McKelvy, a twice-disbarred former lawyer from Hawaii, the man to do it? Penny Gentry of the North Cucamonga Homeowner's Association doesn't think so—and thanks to her door-to-door protest campaign, a growing number of residents don't either.
          • While I don't have any published clips to show you, I am serious about writing for the Post. If an article on the re-opening of the Vagabond doesn't interest you, please let me know what else might need coverage. I'm glad to provide my resumé at your request. I am a 2002 Graduate of Cucamonga College.

Follow Up

  • In freelancing, persistence pays off. Editors are notoriously overworked, so don't assume you've been rejected if you don't see a response.
  1. Wait two weeks before following up.
  2. Send a follow-up email, with the subject head "following up on query," simply inquiring whether or not the editor has gotten a chance to read your pitch.
  3. If you don't hear back a week after your follow-up, make a call.
  4. Don't despair if the editor shows no interest: send the same pitch elsewhere, or just come up with a new one. Sooner or later, something will hit!

Save Your Clips

  • There's nothing sadder than watching the proof of your hard work disappear forever. Keep all your published work safe, both physically and digitally.
  • Online articles
    • Print them out as soon as they appear so that you'll have a hard copy.
    • Save the page on on your harddrive.
  • Print articles
    • For magazines and newspapers, keep more than one copy in a safe place where no one will scavenge them for scrapbook fodder.
    • Make a digital scan of each article.
  • Save all scans and webpages together in a folder marked "clips."

Conclusion

  • Once you have a few good clips under your belt, you're well on your way. The next step is to make a name for yourself in widely read (and better paying) publications. Getting a foot in the door, however, doesn't guarantee you a decent living. For tips on boosting and maintaining an income, read How to Make Money Freelance Writing.

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