Freelance Writing: Everything You Need to Know
© Roxianne Moore
Jenna Glatzer has assembled a workbook that every aspiring freelancer should read. She tells you how to get started, how to keep on track, and how to go full-time. She doesn't sugarcoat things, either, but gives a good picture of what freelancing is like today. Rather than focusing on articles, she takes the same approach as Sandra Louden: variety is the only way to succeed.
"You name it, I've written it. Columns, reviews, features, profiles, interviews, essays, brochures, ad copy -- whatever they'll pay me for. I'm your basic freelancing Jill-of-all-trades."
More than Any Human ... is a workbook, designed to be printed out so you can work through the exercises and fill in the worksheets.
The first questions Glatzer asks is the Big One: "Am I good at organizing and communicating my thoughts through coherent short writing?" If your answer to this is ‘no,' then Glatzer suggests you stop reading immediately. The hard truth is, while the rest can be learned, she says, this is one ability that's an absolute necessity. I'm not sure I agree with her assertion. I firmly believe that most people can learn the basic craft of writing, but without drive Craft will never become Art.
Glatzer takes you from the very first step of determining whether you're suited to the freelance life, and walks you through the process in small, easy steps.
- Coming up with the Big Idea
- Finding the right market
- Looking like a business
- Making simultaneous submissions the right way
- Dealing with rejection
- Negotiating sales and contracts
- Editing your work
- Recycling your ideas
- Branching out into other markets
If you want to succeed as a freelance writer, Glatzer contends that you must look like a successful business, rather than a desperate artist. What does this entail? "Well, if you're thinking about Cash, then everything associated with your name must be nothing less than 100% Clean, Clear, Crisp, Commercially viable, and Company-minded."
Regarding query letters, Glatzer has a handy checklist of items to include, and a format you can copy. She also tell you what NOT to do. Common pitfalls: overselling, being tentative, not targeting.
One of her best pieces of advice is to re-slant and re-sell. "Re-slanting an article is easy, since you've already done the bulk of the research. Scrounge up a few new quotes, and use the information you left out of the first article." If you're worried about rights, she also has advice there. And, in today's market, you can't afford not to re-sell:
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