The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer’s Resource

49 opinions for Open Comments Starts… Now!

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:01 pm

  Hi… let’s see.. the topic is… darn, does anyone have a topic or shall we just free-for-all?

• Mary
  May 29, 2008 at 7:02 pm

  Is anyone having a hard time selling freelance articles? It seems that there are so many writers in the field now.

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:04 pm

  Hi Mary, I’m sure you’re not alone… what kind of articles are you working on selling?

• Kate
  May 29, 2008 at 7:08 pm

  Hi,

  I agree, I’ve got a couple of long standing U.K. gigs, but I’ve been trying to diversify into online writing - I have looked at some bid sites, and they seem to be dominated by Asian writers, who are far cheaper than I could work for.

  Kate

• Mary
  May 29, 2008 at 7:10 pm

  Many different topics. Vehicles, cleaning, organizing. I get your e-mails with writing jobs. I did look into them regularly but I find their is are to many writers responding. A lot of the job seekers never even respond back. Also there is a lot of very cheap writing going on. Will write 500 word article for .5 cents. I do not usually bother with this much as I have had to many articles written and never paid. I’m sure we all have.

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:13 pm

  good judgment not responding to the ones that are truly low pay unless you need a couple of current credits.

  Are you also sending queries to trade magazines?

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:14 pm

  Kate, what kind of online writing do you want to do… blogs, seo, other content? And in what areas?

• Mary
  May 29, 2008 at 7:19 pm

  Yes, I have taken a few coures and upgraded my skill on queries. In the beginning my queries were boring. I can say that now because I realize that I wouldn’t publish what I was tring to sell. I have focused more on selling to few specific type of magazines which are harder to sell to I suppose.

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:20 pm

  boring queries won’t sell, as you found out… sounds like you’re selling some now?

• Mary
  May 29, 2008 at 7:21 pm

  Kate:

  Where do you look for work. Internet writing can be very quick and easy, but I agree with the low pay. Also some sites don’t even care if the article is real. The facts can be fictional.

• Mary
  May 29, 2008 at 7:22 pm

  Anne:

  How do you sell your e-books?

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:24 pm

  I sell them through clickbank.com on my websites… is that what you mean?

• Kate
  May 29, 2008 at 7:24 pm

  At the moment my offline work is centred round writing training materials for self study and face to face delivery. (This project is scheduled until September).
  I also write articles for a couple of magazines whose editors know my work, and I help out a freelancer friend when he is overloaded.
  However, before I got my big project, I had 6 months of living hand to mouth, taking what I could get.
  So, I’d like to get established as a web writer so if I don’t get another big project straight away I won’t starve, as it were!
  I have written for SEO, on a range of subjects, from health to travel.
  But at the moment the market seems to be dominated by cheap writers.

• Monika
  May 29, 2008 at 7:25 pm

  Hi Anne,

  I am currently a steady freelance writer (food primarily) for a local alt-weekly, I would like to expand into writing humorous articles about motherhood, relationships and race. With a year of published pieces under my belt, any suggestions on breaking into the magazine market?

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:27 pm

  Kate and Mary, yes, it’s a real art to get the income to flow in some sort of logical way… I find I must build up savings specifically for lean times… savings that helps me level things out… took me quite awhile to figure this out and then even longer to build up significant savings, but it sure helps me sleep at night

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:29 pm

  Monika, first, congrats on the steady income… if there’s any trick, it’s in the queries… although for humor you may have deliver whole pieces on spec until you get a reputation. Motherhood, relationships and race are all great topics, individually and mushed together in some instances.

  Some writers I know make it a point to send out a specific number of queries each week to get an d keep the flow going

• Mary
  May 29, 2008 at 7:29 pm

  In reply to Kate. How do you keep getting work and working on your current work. I spend way to much time tring to find work. Kate you have some steady magazines editors working with you which I’m sure helps. Web writing has gotten harder. Do you have your own blog site? Also have you set up a site with google? Anne do you recommend this. I have a web blog. It is a lot of work and it is more work to get people on it.

• Kate
  May 29, 2008 at 7:30 pm

  Basically I look for work wherever I can - if a magazine has a website, I’ll pitch to it. If a job comes up on any of a range of job boards, and I like the look of it, I’ll pitch.
  I’ll never get a job on GAF or boards like that because I can’t pitch cheaply enough.
  I try to spend around 5 or 6 hours per week reviewing the web and pitching (not just for web jobs, but for print ones too.)
  I do get some work, but I should imagine most writers are doing the same, and there’s an awful lot of writers out there.

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:34 pm

  Mary… a blog can be great, but it’s a whole lot of marketing unless you’re in a network like I am… but in a good network it can drive traffic to your other sites… yes I believe every writer must have a website that markets them… again, you need to spend some time adding content and doing some linking so google picks you up…

• John "Inkslinger" Carpenter
  May 29, 2008 at 7:34 pm

  I’d like to pick up on Anne’s mention of e-books. I am curious about how you let somebody buy and download a PDF, and then don’t expect them to send it to their friends for free. Is there a control, that will encourage others to come to the site and buy a copy?

• Monika
  May 29, 2008 at 7:34 pm

  Thanks for the congrats, this was a great opportunity for me to get clips, but it in no way pays the bills.

  What is the rule on sending out multiple queries on one article?

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:35 pm

  Kate, yes, there’s lots of competition, but if you’re good, it will show and you can start upping your prices for the better sites… there are way fewer really good writers who can do what they say than you might suspect… lots of wannabes.

• Kate
  May 29, 2008 at 7:36 pm

  Mary,

  I have recently set up a website, but to be honest, I haven’t had the time to do much more than set it up. (I have pencilled in 2 days next week to knock it into shape)
  Once I’ve got it set up properly, I’ll start marketing it. I’m not sure about a blog, though, OK you can show off your skills, and it makes a change to write a blog, but I’m not sure how many people who would hire me would read it.

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:38 pm

  I’m actually changing at least one website into a blog… using wordpress because once it’s done it’s so very easy to update… I’ll loose some page views in the transition, but my hunch is I’ll pick up more in the end with fresh content.

• John "Inkslinger" Carpenter
  May 29, 2008 at 7:38 pm

  Hey y’all - I have been kinda quiet on the forum lately. Sorry about that - preoccupied I guess.

  I’d like to pick up on what Anne said about e-books. How do you deal with the probability of someone paying for and downloading your ebook, then forwarding it to their friends? Is there any mechanism that encourages readers to buy their own copy?

  I.

• Allena
  May 29, 2008 at 7:38 pm

  HI all! Allena from About.com and GardenWall Publications. Just wanted to come to open comments to thank Anne for some great leads. I’ve got about 3 jobs in the last week.

• Mary
  May 29, 2008 at 7:39 pm

  Yes I agree with the wannabes. A lot of postings on line are to sketchy. They do not tell exactly what the employer is seeking. I will get replies asking for 50 articles. If I feel I can not accomplish the task for them time and price asked I will not take the job instead of taking the job and doing a terrible job. Many writers do this.

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:40 pm

  John, yes, there are ways to password protect pdfs… check out primopdf.com… a free version and a paid version… then you have to email the password… I don’t bother because passwords can then be emailed… I’m really a creative commons sort of writer more than a copyright maven… and I doubt if I’m being ripped off by much… and those who do wouldn’t pay me anyway.

• John "Inkslinger" Carpenter
  May 29, 2008 at 7:41 pm

  Maybe I should just get over it, then. I’m starting to sound like the music industry dweebs…

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:43 pm

  lol… hadn’t thought of comparing you to the music industry folks… you already sound not nearly so narrow minded. ;)

• John "Inkslinger" Carpenter
  May 29, 2008 at 7:43 pm

  Has Anne or anyone here tonight had success with one of the blog/store sites, where one could post an e-book, make and invite comments, and sell downloads?

• Mary
  May 29, 2008 at 7:44 pm

  There are a ton of blogs today. It is almost overwhelming. I have applied for a few posting to run a regular blog column but no luck yet.

• John "Inkslinger" Carpenter
  May 29, 2008 at 7:44 pm

  Right. That’s one of those “note to self” things - Don’t be like that. :-)

• John "Inkslinger" Carpenter
  May 29, 2008 at 7:45 pm

  Is the blog market saturated yet?

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:46 pm

  wow, where are those… that let you invite comments… don’t know about those… do tell

• Kate
  May 29, 2008 at 7:49 pm

  I agree about the postings very often being sketchy. Sometimes I get the impression the employer doesn’t really know what they want.
  What I hate is when they ask for say 10 articles of 500 words, and then come back and say they’re perfect but then want you to redo them as 6 or 700 word articles, but don’t want to increase the amount they pay you.
  To me that’s sharp practice.

• Allena
  May 29, 2008 at 7:50 pm

  Kate, you’d said something about the competition for the jobs and the amount of writers vying for them… That’s been on my mind lately and I wrote a blog post about it, but to recap– get in early (earlier than the BIG lists like Anne and Deb are released), do a personalized cover, and keep aplying even if you’re busy!

• Anne Wayman
  May 29, 2008 at 7:51 pm

  you guys, I didn’t plan well today and have to leave… but you can talk to each other and anyone else that comes along… in fact, I’d appreciate it if you’d sort of cover for me tonight… I’ll check in the morning for unanswered questions and do my best, and I’ll plan better next week.

  meanwhile - write well and often
  A

• John "Inkslinger" Carpenter
  May 29, 2008 at 7:52 pm

  Thanks, Anne!
  :-)

• John "Inkslinger" Carpenter
  May 29, 2008 at 7:53 pm

  Mary, Allena, Kate -
  How do you see the blog thing evolving? Is multimedia like Youtube or networking the next thing?

• Kate
  May 29, 2008 at 7:56 pm

  Allena,
  That’s more or less what I’ve been trying to do. Earning a crust does seem to be harder than it used to be, though. Or maybe I’m just getting too old for this………
  All,
  Keep the ink flowing, and the mind growing, as my English Language teacher used to say.
  All the best
  Kate

• John "Inkslinger" Carpenter
  May 29, 2008 at 8:11 pm

  Everybody gone night-night now?

• John "Inkslinger" Carpenter
  May 29, 2008 at 8:14 pm

  Me, too.

  Good session. I hope Anne saves these discussions, so others can scan through and pick up some ideas.

  Good night!

  I.

• Roxanne Cottell (MAPU)
  May 29, 2008 at 8:16 pm

  I have been bombarded with low pay offers, and I cannot see myself doing anything for less than market rates - I believe that everyone who has spent as much time on their craft as I have should expect to be paid for their talent, and everyone else here should, too.

  What I think would be very cool is if we all just decided that we will not take the paltry amount for our work. We are worth far more than a lousy .10 for 500 words!!

  Anyone else got any ideas, because it is apparent that the world truly does run on the written word, and that is our job, guys, to write. Are we going to allow our craft to also be exported to those in China? It drive me NUTTY!!!

  MAPU

• Shannon
  May 29, 2008 at 10:59 pm

  I recently got in touch with the editor of a new singles site that is going to be targeting my area. It’s not like match.com, more of an online magazine. I sent him some writing samples and my resume (which is not stacked with work since I graduated college about a year ago) and he wrote me back very quickly saying he was interested in having me on board for their start-up.

  I think he’s leaving it up to me put out my price for compensation. OR at least the initial number from which negotiations could start. One problem: never done this before!! I know I can charge per word or per article and I guess I could also break it down into $__ for 500 words and under or $__ 501-1000 words ect, ect.

  Any ideas for starting points?? I’ve heard time and time again of writers selling themselves cheaply and I don’t want to make that mistake. Any advice would be appreciated!!

• Anne Wayman
  May 30, 2008 at 10:11 am

  John, the comments stay, apparently forever, but maybe I can find a way to index them… we’ll see.

  Roxanne, by all means don’t write that low… we can’t get everyone, but we can hold to a higher standard.

  Shannon, top magazines pay a dollar or two a word… you could start there… I wouldn’t take any less than twenty-five cents and I’d ask to build in an increase every 90 days or so.

• Roxanne Cottell (MAPU)
  May 30, 2008 at 10:30 pm

  Oh, Anne…you are a bastion of light in a darkened tunnel!

  As writers we all deserve more than what is being offered. It is very sad that a noble profession such as writing is not as well paid for all of us as it should be!

  Thanks Anne
  ROXANNE

• Shannon
  May 30, 2008 at 11:26 pm

  Thanks for the advice Anne! Especially the pointer about raising it every ninety days!

• Anne Wayman
  May 31, 2008 at 5:54 pm

  Roxanne… my goodness… yes.

  Shannon… you’re more than welcome

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