Freelance writing is a career for
the strong of heart, faithful of pen, and skillful of word. If this
opening statement has not deterred the reader/potential next Great
American Writer, let her read on for a quick overview of the process
of becoming a freelance writer. In particular, the focus here is
on magazine writing.
When you feel you are ready to expose
your naked words to the eyes of a stranger, the first step is to
not. Read your article over again: spell-checking, grammar-checking,
anointing with oil. Then, set it aside and query the publication
you hope will publish your work. In the not-so-olden days, this
was done with paper and pen, but the advent of email has meant that
thousands upon thousands of supplicant-writers may rain down upon
a single editor like ink drops from heaven. Because of the competition,
therefore, you will want to write a pretty darn tootin' good
query letter.
What is a query letter, you
query? In so many words (actually, three), it is this: a sales pitch.
Using your best (honest) car salesman-type words, build up your
article (or idea) in such a way that the editor will, one &
not delete it straight away, and two & consider it for immediate
or future use. A query letter should state such things as the theme
of your article, major points, your experience in relation to the
subject, and the article's relevancy to the publication you
are pitching it to and the readership. Just as "too many cooks
spoil the soup," however, too many words in a query letter
put the editor to sleep, so keep it concise.
Another option is writing on assignment.
In this case, you are hired as a writer and given assignments based
on the publication's current needs. This may mean creating
a story on fossil hunting in Colorado (been there), interviewing
New Hampshire author, Ernest Hebert (done that), or profiling snowboard
terrain parks (waiting for the t-shirt). When offering your services
in this way, you sell yourself rather than your article or idea.
The editor will usually request a resume and/or clips (samples)
of your writing to see what you can do.
While on the above-mentioned subject
of waiting, patience is a necessary virtue of particular use to
the beginning freelance writer, as the definition of both paid on
acceptance and paid on publication, in editor-ese generally means
being paid eventually, unless you are working with a larger publication
that does not have to fidget with its budget.
One might conclude, philosophically,
that the writer's true reward is simply seeing his/her words
in print; that the casting abroad of one's literary seed-gems
for the enlightenment and pleasure of the reading public is payment
enough. Inject expletive here. No doubt, the sight of your literary
work of art gleaming on the pages of your first glossy is almost
enough to let you die happy. The key word here & pay attention
& is almost. Almost, but not quite. The gleam never wears off,
but the gleam alone doesn't put food on your table, or ink
cartridges in your printer. Neither does the pay for a beginning
freelance writer. Not quite, and not even almost. The journey from
poorly-paid writer/slave to well-paid journalist/Harper's Bazaar
literary peer is a long and arduous one full of writer's cramp,
writer's block, and Writers Anonymous meetings (also known
as critique groups, writer's conferences, author seminars,
etc.).
After you have queried your editor
(or sent writing samples) and received a positive response, the
next step is to write the article (or send it in if it's finished).
Either job will have required a degree of research, and keep in
mind the editor's word-count requirement. If he/she wants a
short article, don't produce an epistle. Also, keep to the
deadline, and be prepared for the possibility of the editor's
grimy fingers desecrating your virginal work, perhaps even changing
the title you stayed up all night thinking of. If you can accept
and keep to the above items, while all around you are throwing down
their pens (or laptops) and blaming it on their editors, you'll
be a man, my son/daughter.- Theresa A Ludwick
