Anyone can be a writer, anywhere! Freelance writing was one of the  premiere home-based businesses of all time. From the vintage  typewriter to the high-tech home computers of today, freelance writing  has remained a reliable source of income for wordsmiths worldwide.  Their clients include magazines, newsletters, newspapers, book  publishers, greeting card firms, gaming companies, and corporate  clientele. This report will show you: 

 How to be a freelance writer 
 How to find markets for your work 
 How to approach editors and publishers 

But, Can You Write? Freelancing requires a good grasp of language  skills. Has anyone every complimented you on a letter you wrote? Do  you enjoy reading? Do you notice details about your surroundings that  other don't? Is your favorite store a bookstore? Do you subscribe to  or purchase several magazines each year? Are you professional,  organized, and determined to succeed as a freelance writer? These are  many of the traits found in financially independent freelancer  writers. 

Where to Begin 

A common term in the freelancing profession  is, "Write what you know." Your professional knowledge, life  experiences, hobbies, or interests are an excellent place to start.  The best idea generator is to study market listings (see end of  article). 

You Have An Idea! Now What? 

Order Writer's Guidelines. Writer's guidelines are issued by  publishers as an easy, quick way to let writers know exactly what they  want from incoming manuscripts. To receive writer's guidelines from a  magazine or publisher: ·Send a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE)  with a short note requesting their writer's guidelines. ·Send an  e-mail request to the editor ·Or check their website to see if their  writer's guidelines are posted online. 
 
 
 

Read An Issue of the Magazine! 

Most editors complain that they receive several queries that do not  follow the magazine's purpose or format, or do not target the  magazine's audience. Some publications will send a sample issue on  request. Others charge a nominal fee. I always visit the newsstand at  my local bookstore. I sit in their coffee shop and review the magazine  without buying it. (If I bought every magazine I approached, I'd be in  poor financial shape.) You can also get a good idea of a magazine's  editorial content by reading the articles posted at their website. 

TheQuery Letter 

A query letter is sent to an editor or publisher to  introduce the writer's article or book idea. The best query letters  average three paragraphs. 1st Paragraph - the hook The hook is the  opening sentence or first paragraph of your query letter. Editors are  very busy and stressed, and are always working on a deadline. If you  don't astound the editor at the beginning of your query, you will  receive a rejection letter. Hint: Use this paragraph as the first  paragraph in your article after the editor assigns it to you. Second  Paragraph - the proposal Propose your article. Briefly summarize the  article in one paragraph. Hint: Use this paragraph to build your  article outline later. Third Paragraph - your bio Tell the editor  about yourself, including what qualifies you to write the article you  are proposing. If you have any previous publishing credits, briefly  note them here.  Also, indicate any experts you will interview,  whether or not you can provide photos, and how quickly you can begin  work on the manuscript. 

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SAMPLE QUERY LETTER 

[letterhead with picture] Angling with Angie 

January 1, 2009

Mr. Herbert Taylor 
Editor 
Galveston County Daily News 
P.O. Box 628 
Galveston, Texas 77553 

Dear Mr. Taylor, 

I reek of fish.  Dried, dead shrimp are wedged under my car seats.  Sunscreen is my makeup of choice.  Much to my neighbors' disgust, my  20' Lamar sits proudly on my front lawn.  Trophy fish photos adorn my  home.  My walls resemble those of a profitable bait camp and fish is  served nightly here...fried, blackened, and (my personal favorite)  barbequed. Unfortunately, the freezer has been bare this fall due to  the absence of the Fall Flounder Run. 

 I am proposing an article to the Galveston Daily News entitled  Flounder Run Failure. This article will focus on the rapid decline of  flounder in our bay system, and the contributing factors including  chemical plants and residential waste. The death of our waterways will  impact our generation if we do not act now. It is already affecting my  dinner. 

 I am a regular contributor to AnglerSport magazine and have had my  work published in numerous fishing and sailing magazines across North  America. My knowledge of our bay system stems from my years of angling  these waters. The president of  Gulf States Marine Fisheries  Commission has already agreed to an interview for this article. 

Have a wonderful day! 

[signature] 

Angling Angie 

                [contact info centered on bottom of letterhead] 
                                          Angela Adair 
                                   1006 S. Country Club 
                                   Shoreacres, TX  77571 
                                  aaadair@electrotex.com 
            Phone (281) 470-8397            Fax (281) 470-8397 
                         http://www.writersmarkets.com/ 
============================================= 

Rejection 

You WILL be rejected. Everyone says, "A rejection is not a rejection  of you, it is a rejection of your idea." I don't care what they say.  Rejection hurts, no matter what the reason. The only good part of  being rejected is when an editor sends you a personal note. You can  use their comments to improve your query before targeting other  publications with your idea. Also, if an editor liked your query  enough to send a personal note, you have a good chance of getting your  foot in the door at their office at a later time. Query them again.  Many writers joke that their offices are wallpapered with rejection  letters. When you receive rejections, remember this and know that  you're becoming one of us! 

The Assignment and Dealing With An Editor 

If you are persistent, you will become a published writer. The editor  will contact you by mail, phone, or e-mail and will tell you to  proceed. They might discuss your idea and tell you how they'd like you  to write the article differently than your query angle. They should  also provide you with a word count and a deadline. They might send you  a contract, but this doesn't always happen. Many small publications do  business "on a handshake." One editor sent me an e-mail that said,  "Great idea! Can you get it to us by August 15th?" My response was,  "No problem. Send me a word count and I'll get right on it." That was  it. I knew she was busy and didn't have time for professional or  personal chatter. I had read their guidelines and knew what rights  they were buying and how much they were paying me. I only needed to  deliver exactly what I'd stated in my query letter. The point I'm  trying to make it this: I picked up on the editor's "business  etiquette" and her stress level. I did not bother her by calling for  petty details, and I didn't even call to ask if she'd received my  article. I sent the manuscript by express mail so I could bother the  post office with a phone call instead of her. Included in my package  was my manuscript, a disk of the article (so they wouldn't have to  retype it), my photos with accompanying negatives, and a short note  proposing another article idea. My system worked because she gave me  the go-ahead on that idea, and also asked me for a list of articles I  could write for them next year. I'm now a regular contributor, and I  have no doubt it is because I respected the editor's busy schedule and  made her job so easy. 

Writing the Article 

1. Pull out the query you sent to the magazine and read your second 
paragraph. Also review any notes you have from the editor if she has 
requested changes to your article angle. Use these to write your 
outline. 

2. Do your research, if any. 

3. Take and develop photos, if required. Note: If your photos feature 
people, you will need to obtain release forms from them prior to 
publication. See sample release form (below). 
============================================= 
SAMPLE - Photo Release Form 

I hereby give_______________________________(writer), writer's 
publisher, successors and assigns permission to copyright and/or 
publish any photograph (s) of myself with or without using my name and 
to keep changes and/or additions to such photographs, portraits in 
such manner as shall seem proper to their use. I also understand that 
editorial matter will at times accompany these photos. I certify that 
I am of full age 18 and am possessed of full legal capacity to execute 
the foregoing authorization. 

By filling out the form and signing below, I agree to the terms stated 
above. Name:_____________________________________________________ 
Birth Date:_______________________________________________________ 
Street address:____________________________________________________ 
City:____________________________________________________________ 
State:____________________________________________________________ 
Zip:_____________________________________________________________ 
======================================================== 

4. Write the article and spell check it! 

5. Let someone else read the article before you print the final draft. 
This is imperative. Even someone with no knowledge of your subject 
will be able to point out inconsistencies, grammatical errors, and 
typos. Ask your reviewer for criticism. Hint: Don't let a family 
member critique your manuscripts. Family members are afraid of hurting 
your feelings. Friends, colleagues, and fellow writers make better 
critics. 

6. Prepare your manuscript in the correct format. Most writer's 
guidelines have specific submission requirements. Follow those if they 
are provided. If they are not, the typical manuscript format includes: 
At the top: Author's name Author's Social Security Number Word Count 
Title of Article (though the magazine will probably change your title) 
Body - Manuscript should be double-spaced and have a page number on 
every page. 

7. Send the article to the editor using the methods their guidelines 
require. Include a hard copy of your manuscript, a computer disk of 
your manuscript in text-only format (if available), photos and 
negatives with appropriate signed releases from photo subjects, and a 
short note proposing another article for the magazine.  When the 
editor sends you a contributor's copy of the magazine featuring your 
article, make multiple photocopies of your published article. These 
are called "clips." Include a copy of your best clip(s) with future 
queries. This will show editors that you are a published writer, 
enhancing your credibility. 

 The information above is an excellent source to get you started 
on your freelance writing career. Are you ready? It's time to approach 
markets with your ideas! To receive weekly paying markets, subscribe to WritersMarkets.com. 
It's my e-mag, and it's free. You'll receive paying markets with editor's current needs, 
freelance writing job listings, and articles on how ot make more money writing. To subscribe, 
send any e-mail to writemarkets-subscribe@onelist.com. To receive the current issue right now, 
send any e-mail to: forwriters@fastfacts.net 

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