Freelance Writing

[annice22]

Is there anyone here or know anyone that has made a comfortable living free lance writing?

I was thinking about going into this area because I love to write. I have published one article. So lately I have been sending out query letter to see I can get other writing work.

If you have any advice I would like to hear it.

Thanks

[texas*princess]

My older sister did a lot of freelance writing, but she did it as a side-gig while she was doing her marketing thing. Lucky for her she got a lot published and now has the writing job she's wanted for awhile

[chideltjen]

Read the book "The Go-Girl's Guide to Surviving your twenties..." (There is more to the title but it's extremely long.)

The author was a freelancer and wannabe journalist. Though I'm not going into writing, there were a lot of other helpful tips in there too.

Someone on here actually recommended it and I'm glad they did.

[blueangel]

It is EXTREMELY difficult to make a living as a freelance writer. I would recommend you get a full time job (perhaps as a news writer?) and do your freelance writing on the side.

Don't forget... if you don't have a "staff" position-- you're going to pay through the nose for medical insurance. However, if you land a staff position on a newspaper, magazine, or TV station... you'll probably have a 401k and other goodies too! Just be sure to find out up front if freelance writing is a conflict of interest at your new job.

Good luck!

[Optimist Prime]

You need a literary agent.

[blueangel]

A literary agent is really only necessary if she wants to write books. If she's hoping to write freelance magazine articles, all she needs is a copy of Writer's Market.

[Optimist Prime]

Originally posted by blueangel
A literary agent is really only necessary if she wants to write books. If she's hoping to write freelance magazine articles, all she needs is a copy of Writer's Market.

true, true, I misread the first post, I think I thought that that was her goal, and wanted to freelance in the mean time to support herself because she is being sexually harrarsed by a customer who comes into the restaurant. She feels uncomfortable by his advances, but doesn't want to scare away good, steady tips. I've been dealing with subtext all day, sorry.

[ragtimerose]

Having an agent if she wants to write books isn't necessary. The romance markets, such as Harlequin/Silhouette, will accept non-agented submissions.

Or, she could do like I did and go the self-publishing route. It's a lot of work, but very rewarding and satisfying.

[Rudey]

For people that do freelance writing, how do you write for a reputable journal with a big name?

I'm probably just being scatter-brained with what I want to accomplis in my immediate future, but it would be really cool if I wrote something on finance and had it published...

-Rudey

[honeychile]

Each of my writing professors said basically the same thing: The definition of a free-lance writer is someone with another full-time job.

Most major magazines or journals require a literary agent.

[ADqtPiMel]

I've done a little bit of freelance writing (I'm still an undergrad) but I can't imagine being able to make a living off of it.

[cashmoney]

Originally posted by annice22
Is there anyone here or know anyone that has made a comfortable living free lance writing?

I was thinking about going into this area because I love to write. I have published one article. So lately I have been sending out query letter to see I can get other writing work.

If you have any advice I would like to hear it.

Thanks

I'm writing a book as we speak. In my spare time of course, but it's going to knock the socks off people and make me a millionaire if I already wont be by the time it's finished. Its basically about young men, what we do, why we do it and how we interpret women and the things they do. It talks about why we react in certain ways and helps women understand men in a way no woman could ever explain it to them. Its going to cater to women, of course and hopefully it'll make my ass a million or two.

[blueangel]

Sorry to burst your millionaire dreams, but it's already been written.... many times! Here's a small sampling:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...books&n=507846

[cashmoney]

But you're forgetting one pertenant fact.....I'm Mister Fucking Cashmoney and they're just Joe Blow from SoCal.

[blueangel]

And you've got a potty mouth too!