| If you have writing skills and want to use your | | | | query letter. |
| skills to earn some income for yourself and | | | | Many publications will not accept unsolicited |
| families, we offer a few tips here. You can get | | | | manuscripts. even those that would rather read a |
| some good opportunities from your local area and | | | | well-written, creative letter outlining a proposed |
| from Internet. | | | | article than wade through a 2,000 word piece to |
| Your novel sits unfinished, waiting for a burst of | | | | find it acceptable. Your query letter can be open |
| inspiration to send it out to be typewriter and | | | | the door that might have been slammed in the |
| right to the top of the best seller lists, right? You | | | | face of your unreviewed work-especially if it is an |
| are not alone. Thousands of would-be writers are | | | | example of proficient writing and piques the |
| waiting as well. But a few successes under your | | | | editor's interest in your subject and the angle |
| belt will make the possibility of seeing your picture | | | | you're planning to use. |
| on the dust jacket in the bookstore window | | | | While many magazines will not accept manuscripts |
| seem less remote. Freelance writing can replace | | | | currently being considered by another publication, |
| self-doubt with self-confidence and put money in | | | | you may wish to send query letters to several at |
| your pocket at the same time. | | | | the same time. If you are fortunate enough to |
| Just as all doctors are not neurosurgeons, all | | | | have more than one acceptance, you can always |
| writers are not novelists. A look into the field | | | | write two articles with different slants from the |
| yields categories you might never have imagined. | | | | same research. |
| Magazine articles, greeting cards, business writing, | | | | The time it takes for your manuscript to be |
| newspaper reporting-these are areas in which | | | | considered seems interminable. One way to avoid |
| freelance can add do make money. Writing | | | | hovering over the mailbox with hope, dread and |
| provides an opportunity to earn with very little | | | | anxiety fighting for dominance is to keep the |
| expenditure. A typewriter with accompanying | | | | mailbox working for you. Don't send off one |
| supplies, a flair for writing and the discipline to | | | | article and wait for the verdict. Send query |
| stick with a schedule and meet deadlines can start | | | | letters, greeting card ideas, filler items and articles |
| you on your way. | | | | out constantly, never waiting to hear from one |
| STRINGING | | | | before sending the next. If you receive a |
| Many local and regional newspapers, unable to | | | | rejection, move along to the next prospective |
| maintain enough full-time staff to adequately | | | | publisher for that item, dash off a new cover |
| cover ever meeting or event of importance to | | | | letter and shoot it out again. You can't sell what's |
| the populace, will assign certain stories to | | | | sitting in a reject pile--only what's making the |
| stringers, or freelance reporters. Assignments | | | | rounds on the market. |
| may vary as widely as covering a church circle | | | | Publishers guidelines will give you specific |
| meeting for the weekly religion page to reporting | | | | instructions for manuscript preparation. Regardless |
| on a town council meeting in a neighboring village. | | | | of the differences from one company to the |
| The editorial staff will tell you what they want, | | | | next, remember that neatness counts. Use typing |
| when they want it and what you can expect to | | | | correction paper or fluid to repair typographical |
| be paid. Stringers are paid by the word, by the | | | | errors. Strike-overs and hand done corrections |
| line or by the column inch, and while rate varies | | | | appear messy and unprofessional. Each page of |
| from one newspaper to another, it is a set fee | | | | your manuscript should have the title of the |
| which cannot be negotiated. | | | | article and your name, as well as consecutive |
| Building a good relationship with your editor | | | | page numbers for all but the first page. |
| through good writing, dependability and strict | | | | INDEPENDENT PROJECTS |
| adherence to deadlines may enable you to | | | | Newspaper stringing, greeting cards and magazine |
| successfully put forth your own ideas for feature | | | | articles are established fields for freelance writers. |
| stories and articles. You may be able to negotiate | | | | Your public library will have books and magazine |
| a higher rate of pay for these pieces. Don't | | | | listing companies seeking freelancers for |
| forget to ask for a by-line. Part of the thrill of | | | | everything from crossword puzzles to innovative |
| freelance writing is seeing your name in print. | | | | messages for telephone answering machines. But |
| GREETING CARDS | | | | you may wish to explore some areas on your |
| Visit your local card shop. There are hundreds of | | | | own. Whether you live in a small town or a |
| cards, many expressing the same sentiments. | | | | metropolitan area local organizations and |
| Each one is different, and somebody earned | | | | businesses can provide fodder for an impressive |
| money for each of them. The greeting card | | | | client list. |
| industry relies heavily on freelance submissions. | | | | Perhaps the local historical society would be |
| Each company has its own style; it is futile to fire | | | | interested in your offer to research and write a |
| off ideas randomly hoping to hit pay dirt. | | | | history of the area. for a fee. The high school |
| Companies will send writer guidelines to those who | | | | alumni association may be looking for a class gift |
| accompany the request with a self-addressed, | | | | to the old alma mater. A school history, |
| stamped envelope (SASE). This basic checklist will | | | | researched and written by a professional |
| tell you the subject matter of preference (some | | | | freelance writer, would be an handsome addition |
| companies may deal solely with inspirational | | | | to the school library, and purchases by class |
| messages while others want only adult humor | | | | members of yore would add a fund-raising |
| studio cards), the correct method of presentation, | | | | feature. Is you local hospital preparing to celebrate |
| length of time should wait for a response and the | | | | a founding anniversary? a prepared history of the |
| pay range for accepted ideas. You don't have to | | | | institution, from one-room dispensary/infirmary to |
| be an artist. Greeting card companies want your | | | | today's 200-bed unit would be a wonderful public |
| ideas and captions, although suggestions for | | | | relations tool for them an a terrific writing job for |
| accompanying artwork will be appreciated. | | | | you. |
| remember, what may be unsuited to one | | | | Local businesses and organizations have varied |
| company's needs could be deemed irresistible by | | | | writing needs. Grant proposals can be written for |
| another. Don't throw away any ideas in | | | | a flat fee or on a percentage basis. Customer |
| discouragement after one rejection. Submit, | | | | relations pieces such as new service or product |
| submit and resubmit should be your credo. | | | | introductions and collection letters, annual reports, |
| MAGAZINE ARTICLES | | | | in house or consumer-aimed newsletters all |
| Thousands of special interest and trade | | | | provide grist for the enterprising freelancer's mill. |
| publications are sold every year. Each is filled with | | | | Even organizations with public relations or |
| articles, many of them written by freelancers. | | | | customer relations staffs sometimes farm out |
| The trick is to find the right magazine for your | | | | work on a periodic basis. |
| article, and tailor your article for that magazine.. If | | | | Unlike established fields, where prices are |
| you're a whiz at coupon redeeming, refunding and | | | | determined in advance, independent projects such |
| rebating, consider sharing your expertise with | | | | as these require you to charge by the word, by |
| others in an article in Supermarket Shopper. No | | | | the page, by the hour or on a completed project |
| matter what your area of interest, there's a | | | | basis. No matter how you quote your fee, |
| publication waiting to let you tell it all. | | | | estimate your time as accurately as possible. |
| Like greeting card companies, magazine publishers | | | | Time spent in research, talking to and interviewing |
| will send you guidelines including style and subject | | | | people and organizing material for writing is as |
| matter as well as pay scales. Don't waste your | | | | important as time spent at the typewriter. |
| time sending an article on the joys of a New | | | | remember to charge enough to cover expenses |
| England vacation to a publication specializing in | | | | in addition to time. Typewriter ribbons, paper, |
| recreation opportunities in the Ozarks. Guidelines | | | | postage and envelopes cost money-so does the |
| firmly in mind, come up with an idea suitable for | | | | gasoline you'll use when research involves travel. |
| the particular publication and follow up with a | | | | |