SPJ Top Tips for Freelancing

by J.S. Parker

A few months ago I attended the writing workshop: "Broadening the Net: Freelancing Far From Home." Panelists all support themselves by freelancing. Below is a list of tips I collected at the workshop for you to peruse, print out, and post for inspiration.

Top Tips for Freelancing
Presented November 10, 2004, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
by Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) at the University of Washington
Panelists: Colleen Roach, PhD, Amanda Castleman, Cynthia Flash, and Elaine Porterfield.

Pay: Don’t Sell Yourself Short
We’re setting market rates together - CF
Charge as much as you can - CF
Amend contracts - CR
Sell stories three times to non-overlapping markets - CR/AC
Try trade publications; they often pay better - CF

Building Clips: Start Somewhere, Get Somewhere
If you’re a good writer, you’re a good writer - CR
String for news services, i.e. Knight-Ridder, Reuters - AC, CR
Write for nonprofits or internal newsletters - CF
Submit stories to local newspaper essay contests or op-ed pages
Cut dates off older timeless stories if you don’t have current clips - EP
Go for big name bylines even if they don’t pay well. New York Times and People opened doors for CR, EP, and CF

Running Your Business from Home: Be Disciplined!
Networking, networking, networking!! - All
Save 35-50% of pay for taxes - CF & EP
Keep records for tax deductions
Work set hours - CF
See a career counselor - EP
Be a self-promoter - All
Send out set number of pitches daily - AC
Gain 4-5 years experience before freelancing full time

Pitches: Research and Be Passionate!
Nothing can be more important than a pitch - EP
Find local angle to sell stories internationally (salmon for Scotland) - AC/CR
Know pitch guidelines (see Writer’s Market or publication's Website)
Do 50% of research before pitching to prepare to answer editors’ questions - CF
Use scheduled times with editors to pitch more stories - EP
Pitch to section editor of publication (more likely to get feedback) - EP

Professionalism
Playing the snob angle can really work for you - AC
(She sent out query letters on nice stationary and Condé Nast responded)
Turn in clean copy and meet deadlines; you’ll be better than 95% of others - CF
Build your own Website - AC
Be an expert and a generalist - CR

Surviving: Carry On
Really put your heart into it; it’ll get you more work because you’ll do well - EP
Be persistent, everybody gets rejected, so we get back up and try again - CF
Expand your skill set by doing writing coaching, editing - CR
Think of stories wherever you are - EP

Resources
Mediabistro.com
National Writers Union
Writefromhome.com
Writing-world.com
Worldwidefreelance.com
The Writer’s Market
Publist.com

If you want more information, the writers on the panel are involved with the list serve for Writergrrls. If they can do this, so can you.

Writer’s note: This story was submitted in December but didn’t run in the Zine. These tips are timeless, however.

J.S. Parker, PRizmCommunications.com, has written for publications including The Seattle Times, Fever magazine, Oregon Coast magazine, and Outdoors NW magazine. She’s covered subjects including paganism and beer but she specializes in health reporting and enjoys anything related to the outdoors or art.