Tài liệu Tips for New Freelance Writers doc

Tips for New Freelance Writers
Laura K Marshall
Copyright 2013 Laura K Marshall / The Starving Writer/ Wooden Tulip Press
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Being a freelance writer isn’t one of the easiest ways to make a living but it’s one of the
most rewarding. Your job is writing about things you love and are passionate about. You get to
learn new things and share them with others. How awesome is that?
These tips are not in any order of importance. I use these tips when I am submitting pitches
or works on spec. I can tell the difference when I don’t follow my own good advice. These tips
work for me.
1. Research your topic before pitching to an editor.
Researching your topic shows the editor that you’re prepared. Having your experts lined up
or already interviewed helps a great deal as well.
It also helps when you get the article assigned. You already have your draft notes and
possibly several paragraphs.

2. Write about several different topics that interest you
What are your passions? What things do you want to learn about? Figuring this out, then
pitching articles based on your interests will multiply your chances of getting more articles in
print.
Your passion for the topic will come through in your pitch. When your passion comes
through in your writing editors will notice. Which can make the difference in you getting an
assignment or not.
3. You don’t have to be an expert to write a good article on a subject. You just need to
know one
Editors like to see different prospective on a topic. That’s one of the reasons why you also
want to include an expert that isn’t you to reference in the article. This is especially important in
longer feature articles.
Knowing who your expert is before you send in your pitch is extremely helpful. You can
add that fact into your pitch to the editor. It goes back to the tip about doing your research first.
The editor will know you mean business with your research done and an expert already lined up
for the article.
See tip #16 on where to find an expert if you don’t know one.
4. Look everywhere for magazines, newspapers and websites to pitch your article
Most new writers only think of the main market guides but there are a lot of sources out
there. Use your market guides, writers association, study the magazine rack at the local book
store, and internet searches.
The internet is an amazing tool. You can find pretty much everything and anything there.
You’ll want to use many different sources for your research. Using only one will be limiting.
There is a list of resources and job leads at the end of the book.
5. Read the writers guidelines
The writer’s guidelines will tell you what the editor is looking for. Not all magazines or
newspapers publish their guidelines. In that case submit a standard pitch. One of the worst things
you can do is ignore published writers guidelines.
Magazines don’t always make it easy for you to find their guidelines. When on their website
search for writers guidelines, submissions, work for us and on their contact us page. The

publications want to make sure your willing to dig a little deeper and do some research.
6. Be flexible and work with suggestions the editor has made
Every publication has their own voice and flavor. Sometimes an editor will ask you to
change something to match the voice and flavor of the publication. They can also ask for any
number of things like expanding on a certain point, adding a side bar, or adding another expert.
Remember the editor is paying you for your article. As long as the editor isn’t asking you to
do something illegal or ethically wrong, give them what they want.
7. Send out simultaneous submissions
Editors realize freelancer’s pitch their idea’s to many editors. This encourages them to jump
on your idea quickly when it comes across their desk.
Make sure you have a tracking sheet or excel spreadsheet to track all your submissions. You
don’t want to accidently send the same pitch to an editor twice. On my spreadsheet I have the
publication, editor’s name, date I submitted and response.
8. Go for repeat business
Once you’ve successfully sold an article to an editor pitch another idea to them once you’ve
completed your assignment. This works in both your best interests. You don’t need to drum up
new business and the editor already trusts you and your work.
9. Resell your work again and again
The bread and butter of freelance writers income is the reselling of their work. Recycling
your articles in different countries or regions increases your income and saves you time.
Remember after your work has been in a newspaper or magazine, the rights revert back to
you, in most cases, and you’re free to resell it.
10. Pitch multiple story angles
You probably have a lot of excess material from researching your article. Spin the concept
into two or three other articles. You can do this all in one pitch to an editor. They may not like
your main pitch but may fall in love with one of your spin article ideas.
11. Don’t be afraid to send a hurricane of pitch e-mails and letters
Sending a ton of pitches all at once helps your chances of getting a few accepted. You have
to assume that some of the editors won’t respond, some will reject it and then one or two will
like the pitch. You don’t want to limit your possibilities of getting an assignment by only sending

out a few pitches.
12. Don’t be afraid to pitch any magazine, newspaper or website
No magazine, newspaper or website is so big and prestigious that a new writer shouldn’t
pitch them. Those publications have no idea how many articles you’ve written. Just write your
pitch and submit. These publications need good articles just as much as any other one. So pitch a
way.
13. Don’t be discouraged when you receive a rejection letter
Rejection is a part of this business. You can’t let it get you down. Also not hearing from an
editor can be hard, but we’ll address that in tip # 18. Getting rejections makes the acceptance
letters that much better.
One way to turn a rejection into a positive is now you’re free to submit another pitch to that
editor. Just because they rejected one idea doesn’t mean they’ll reject all your ideas. You just
need to find what topic “speaks” to that editor.
14. Set goals for your article writing output
Be realistic when setting a goal. If you know you can write an article every other day don’t
set your goal at one a day. You’re only setting yourself up for failure and you want to set
yourself up for success.
Setting goals is important not only as a full time freelancer but for those with full time “day
jobs”. You’re now trying to work a second job essentially which can put strain on anyone. So be
realistic on what you can do while still maintaining your sanity and health. It can be done. I
worked a sixty hour a week day job while raising a family and writing. You can do it to. You just
need to be realistic in the amount of time you’ll have to write and submit.
15. Treat your freelance job as a business
Be professional in all your interactions. Get business cards with all your contact information.
Set up a blog and or website. Present yourself as a writer/ author/ reporter/ journalist. Don’t be
shy about it. This is what you do, be proud.
16. Join HARO, Help a Reporter On-line
Each day, thousands of journalists (that’s you) across the globe are on deadline for stories
they need to write, right now. This service matches journalists with experts. You submit what
type of expert you are looking for and post. An e-mail goes out daily to help facilitate bringing

these reporters and experts together.
HARO is a free service that emails you a summary of what reporters are working on and
what types of experts they want to interview. To subscribe to this free service visit
www.helpareporter.com
17. Submit your pitches by e-mail or submission manager
Most publications want you to submit your pitch by e-mail. This saves them in having to
physically process a paper submission. This helps you by saving the cost of paper, envelops and
stamps. With e-mail you usually get a faster response from an editor. If they have a question they
can simply respond to your e-mail instead of calling or writing a letter back. Editors don’t work
9-5. They usually work fairly crazy hours when it comes to reading pitches so e-mail makes it
easier on them.
Many publications have also moved to a submission manager program. These work just like
e-mail submissions but you enter all your information into fields. These managers help keep an
editor’s in box free of pitches. This is helpful as a writer because with e-mail a message can get
accidently deleted. Also with these programs multiple editors at a publication have access to the
submitted pitches.
Remember, above all, to follow the publications writer’s guidelines on pitch submission.
18. Follow up on your pitches
Once you’ve sent out your hurricane of pitches it becomes a waiting game to see who
responds. In most writers guidelines they state how long a response may take to get, or that no
response means they’re not interested. I always follow up with an e-mail to the editor I submitted
to. The e-mail is short and sweet. The title of your work, your name and when submitted. State
you are following up and ask if they need any other information from you. A lot of the time you
get a response sometimes you don’t. You don’t want to miss an opportunity because you didn’t
follow up on a submission.
19. Write articles on speculation (spec)
When you write an article on spec you are submitting a complete article to an editor. They
haven’t assigned it to you, you’ve just written it. This works well with smaller pieces (500- 1500
words) for regional magazines, but national publications also take them. They often need
material if an assigned piece doesn’t work and they need to fill a spot. Sometimes they just don’t

know what they want in a space. Having a ready-made article available helps out the editor.
What are the benefits to writing on spec? You usually get paid, your article is published and
you have a clip, the editor may ask you to submit a pitch for a longer piece or ask for more spec
work from you. Spec articles are a great way to get into magazines, newspapers and websites.
20. Give some articles away for free
If you’re trying to make a living as a freelancer this may sound crazy but it works to get paid
assignments. These free articles act as marketing material for you. You get a byline from the
publication and a clip. In turn you then can post that publication on your website as a place
you’ve published. No one has to know you didn’t get paid for it. All they know is your articles
appeared in that publication.
I hope these twenty tips have helped you get started on your road to becoming a successful
freelance writer. You may not be able to replace your “day job” income when you first start out
but if you’re persistent and use these tips you’re on your way to freelance success.
Congratulations and good luck.
Other resources
NAIWE – National Association of Independent Writers and Editors - www.naiwe.com
Professional association for writers and editors.
Association of Alternative News media - www.altweeklies.com A diverse group of
alternative news organizations.
Custom Content Council – www.customcontentcouncil.com
Websites with Job Boards or Lists
www.sunoasis.com
www.freelanceswitch.com
www.mediabistro.com has free and paid levels
www.thewritersmarket.com
www.woodenhorse.com low cost
www.journalismjobs.com
www.tradepub.com
www.simplyhired.com keywords freelance writers wanted
www.proficientwriters.com

www.freelancewritersneeded.com
www.freelancewriting.com
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About Laura K Marshall
Laura is the author of several books on writing, as well as multiple short stories and the
Amazing but True series. Originally from Southern California, Laura has lived most of her life
on the West Coast. Her love for imagination and make believe has fueled her passion for writing.
Laura currently lives in Milwaukie, OR with her husband, two boys, two cats and a dog.
Connect with Laura K Marshall, AKA The Starving Writer
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