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Paying Jobs for Writers

© Roxianne Moore

Or: How to Make Money Writing While You Work on That Novel

Since the demise of an e-zine for which I've written several articles (most unpublished and as yet unpaid), I've been job-hunting.

Unlike many freelancers, I don't rely primarily on Writer's Market and query letters to place my articles. Instead, I use sources such as Write Market Report and Inklings to find editors or publications in need of frequent freelance work. I also search out new publications needing staff or contributing writers.

While this won't work for everyone, I prefer to either get assignments for an editor or know I have to come up with a topic every two weeks or every month. That way I have definite deadlines and can work my fiction-writing schedule around them. Even if you write primarily fiction or poetry, nonfiction assignments come in handy because they keep you writing and build your list of publishing credits. Most of them also pay , which can often mean the difference between finishing your pet project and giving it up in favor of eating and paying the rent.

Write Market Report is a monthly print publication listing current needs of editors and publishers. You can order a sample copy (it's huge) from their Web site.

Inklings is a monthly publication of Inkspot, with how-to articles and advice from experts added into the market mix. Their market listings are scanty compared to Write Markets Report , but they also list editors and publishers online. I've used some of their listings to find markets for particular ideas, and I've also examined the websites listed for potential new markets and ideas. They also list at least a couple fiction markets in each issue, tending toward the science fiction/ horror genre.

AJR Newslink Joblink lists paying and nonpaying jobs for writers. A recent search yielded only thirteen hits out of almost three hundred listings, and one real possibility, but it was exactly the kind of job I want.

Creative Freelance Registry allows you to list your talents and publishing credits in one or more categories. This is a fee-based service, but the first month is free and set-up fee is currently being waived. After the first month, the service is segmented into three month periods, at the rate of $20 per month/per category or $10 MORE per month/per category WITH GRAPHICS (Up to 5 per category). Many of these categories are empty, so there's plenty of room for newcomers. Based on the sparse offerings, however, I'm not sure you'll get many job offers.