Freelance Writing
By spcbrass
@spcbrass (1190)
United States
8 responses
@Chapman15 (1492)
• United States
14 Dec 06
I've done a bit of freelancing for local papers... It's a tough and competitive market, you just have to stay on top of the editors, and keep letting them know your ready and willing to do any type of writing they need... I've covered events, interviewed artists, movie reviews, all to hopefully help my true goal... Sportswriting! Another thing that helps is having plenty of pitches for them to ponder, throw a few out and see if the editor bites on one of them! The best advice I can give you is persistance... I lucked out in that I did an internship for a weekly paper while I was in school, so they knew me and how I wrote so once in awhile they throw me a bone... I also found that if you get a few things published at one place you can show that to others and it snowballs from there! Good luck!
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
14 Dec 06
My advice to both of you would be to volunteer in the field you want to work in. It's a great way to overcome the old "can't get a job without experience, but can't get experience without a job" that we all run into.
A volunteer gig can give you skills and experience you can pitch to potential employers, and also give you plenty of contacts in the field. Good luck!
2 people like this
@spcbrass (1190)
• United States
14 Dec 06
For me I am literally just trying to jump right into it. I have connections everywhere except in the field of writing. I know people that do just about everything else. My ain point I guess for breaking into writing is to work my way up in the media some day. What I would really love is to be some kind of radio personality. I think I have what it takes to do it, I just lack the exact training of how to run things at a radio station.
1 person likes this
@spcbrass (1190)
• United States
14 Dec 06
Volunteer work is great, but in the short term it doesn't put money into my pocket. Right now I rather enjoy putting in the hours that I want rather then being stuck working someone else's hours. The problem with volunteer work is that you don't know how long you are going to have to give your services away before someone will actually pay for them. In my case I am trying to move to a different country where I won't be able to work legally for at least 12 months. I will still be able to work legally in the US, so I am trying for gigs where I can be away and still do my work.
1 person likes this
@wandale (95)
• United States
14 Dec 06
I write for Associated Content (clout 8) and freelance clients who I find through craigslist and rentacoder.com. I've been at the online freelancing game full time for about fourteen months, pull in about $15-20 hour, and have as much work as I can handle! It isn't a ton of money, but my pay has increased a lot since when I first started out. My advice is to nurture relationships with any clients that you land. Repeat business is the best. If you can really impress a client, they'll come back to you, and pretty soon you'll have jobs coming to you so often that you'll barely need to look for work. Good luck!
2 people like this
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
15 Dec 06
Yes, that's what it means. You couldn't use it on a blog you have, for example, if you choose 'exclusive.' The first couple of pieces I submitted to AC were ones I'd used first on Xomba, they were nonexclusive. The rest I've done specifically for AC.
Of course you can adapt a piece for different places. Some exclusives I've done for AC I changed and cut way down for Xomba, since you only have to have 25 words there.
2 people like this
@Chapman15 (1492)
• United States
15 Dec 06
Just a question about AC, because I signed up, but never submitted anything to them... On the option that says give up your rights to the publication, does that mean you can't use it at all anywhere else for the internet or print?
1 person likes this
@spcbrass (1190)
• United States
14 Dec 06
Practice writing as much as you can now. Especially if you want to write in a forum such as that because most people want thing to be short sweet and to the point when it comes to fantasy football. Give you analysis and opinions but be as direct as possible.
1 person likes this
@misskatonic (3723)
• United States
14 Dec 06
I'm a freelance writer! I've started up over at Associated Content, I made 15$ for my first article there. I've done some work for small local newspapers as well. I just kept submitting things and keeping at it. Get yourself someone to edit your material, maybe two people. That's how I've been doing it and it's working for me.
Good luck!
@spcbrass (1190)
• United States
14 Dec 06
I can't seem to get over $6 at this point but I only just decided to become a writer a few weeks ago. I come here to practice as much as I can before trying to put a piece together. Also I read a lot in hopes that it ay spark and idea in my head.
1 person likes this
@cooldude8889 (2609)
• Singapore
22 Dec 06
i don't really write.Actually i have though of writing for people cause i sort of like writing but it is quite competitive for freelance writers like getafreelancer.com It's like it's almost impossible to get a project and even if you do get one it's only 1 or 2 projects a month.Not cool..very little money..
@spcbrass (1190)
• United States
3 Jan 07
If you do it because you love writing then the money shouldn't completely matter. I hope you are using more then 1 source for your income as well. You may get 1 or 2 projects with them per month, but if you look at other areas you can also get a few projects a month from them as well. You will have multiple incomes and be able to get by. Check into these other areas and give them a try as well. Best of luck.
@aquariancore (608)
• United States
4 Jan 07
I am a freelancer who like many here writes for AC content to sharpen my skills. You want to get better, write everyday. I have just published an e book Keep the Magic and Survive their Depression and a regular book coming out in hopefully February published thru LifeTips.com in bookstores.
1 person likes this
@Idlewild (6090)
• United States
14 Dec 06
Just remembered.... some friends of mine are members of efa.org, the Editorial Freelancers' Association. They have job boards, publications, etc. Don't know if there'd be any issues with you being in Canada or not, but it's worth checking out. They have listings for writers, copyeditors, etc. I think membership is less than $50 a year.
1 person likes this
