A blog for aspiring freelancers

Anyone interested in travel writing or freelance writing may want to take a look at the blog I've created to publicize my workshops. 

Writing press releases

Over the years I've written quite a few press releases for clients or my own projects. The most successful, I guess, was one describing a contest which a local newspaper picked up and printed, in its entirety without a word changed, as an article under a staff reporter's byline!

Some useful tips about creating press releases can be found here. I'll add one thing: The release is more likely to be used if it contains quotes from a CEO or senior spokesperson explaining why the event is newsworthy.

How to write faster

I especially like this article suggesting ways writers can become more productive. The first tip urges writers not to waste time researching topics in greater depth than is necessary. I'm often guilty of this, but one of the reasons why I love my job is that I'm always learning - and sometimes what I find out helps with another project at a later date, even if it's of no immediate use.

Bill Vossler on work lists

Like many other people, I often make a "to do" list. Bill Vossler, whose excellent advice I commented on earlier this year, has a rigid but highly effective approach to such lists:

       Start with number one on your list. Get started, get it done, and cross it off or remove it from your list. Then you're ready to go after number two. Remember, no deviating, and no skipping around.

He explains five key points in this short article.

Deciding how much to charge II

A few days ago, I began explaining how I decide how much money to ask for when approached by a publication. Of course, the same principals apply when choosing whether to accept an offer from a outfit which says its payment rates are "fixed."

There's another factor which isn't coldy commercial: Personal interest. If the subject is dear to your heart, you may be willing to write about for very little money. That's fine if the piece is for a campaigning website or magazine - just don't let for-profit publications take advantage of your passion. For me, personal interest seldom means asking for less money. Rather, having no interest whatsoever in the topic is why I sometimes turn down work. 
 
More food for thought on this issue can be found here.

Deciding how much to charge I

Having established that you shouldn't/needn't ever work for free, the next business issue you'll likely have to tackle is this: When writing for a publication where the payment rate is negotiable, how much should you ask for?

Whenever I'm contacted by someone who wants me to do some writing for them, I never commit or refuse until I've ascertained the following:

The deadline. If the editor wants the finished piece within a few days, I demand top dollar. Of course, if you think you can build a long-term relationship with the publication, you may be willing to accept less. Most editors are grateful when writers pull them out of a hole  

How much work is involved. Word count isn't very important. Doing the research usually takes more time than actual writing, so a decent 1,000-word article isn't much more work than a thorough 700-word item. Quote a price for the entire article, not per word, just in case the editor decides later to go for something shorter. (That's happened to me). 

Resale potential. If you're being offered less-than-fabulous money to write a piece that requires considerable research, but you're pretty sure you can repackage the information and sell it elsewhere later, I'd advise taking the job. The first time I wrote about sustainable architecture in Taiwan, I had to do a great deal of work - but that effort paid off in the long run as I've since written several articles about green buildings (like this one). However, if you can't see any way to leverage the work into additional income, politely say no.

Part Two of this post will follow in a few days.

Editing work: A crutch for writers, or a distraction?

A crutch, for sure.

Sometimes writers ask me whether I think taking on editing work is a good idea. The answer - unless you're making a lot of money from your own writing - is a resounding "Yes."

Researching and writing an article is almost always more satisfying than polishing another person's work. Producing a book is better still. Nevertheless, there are good reasons – over and above any desire to pay bills and put food on the table – why you should accept editing assignments.

Each year for the last eight, I've devoted a good part of the late autumn and winter to a well-paid but awfully dull editing job. Doing lots of editing has taught me some useful skills. I've learned how to say the same thing in a dozen different ways. I've gotten much better at spotting phrases which, while not bad English, could be made more elegant. I can pare any text without losing substance. As I've said before, any kind of language work will make you a better writer.

Also, editing sometimes leads to article ideas. Even if, in terms of subject matter, there's almost no overlap between the editing cases you get and what you like to write about, you're sure to have a number of “I didn't know that” moments. When you start to think like a writer, ideas will come thick and fast.

Should I write for free?

You needn't.

Over the 700-plus pieces I've had published, fewer than five were done with no expectation of payment. That said, some writers have found giving their work away helps them in the early stages of their career.

One of the hottest and most divisive debates in the world of freelance writing is whether or not new writers, in the course of trying to establish themselves, should write articles for publications which don't pay. Some think it's the best way there is to gain experience and “clips” (published examples of their work which they can show editors when pitching story ideas). A parallel argument rages among photographers.

Many writers are adamantly opposed to writing for free, saying that in all other jobs, people get paid from day one. That's true if you're in a salaried position; no one expects the waiter serving lunch to work for nothing for the first few months. However, I think the freelancer's life is more akin to that of an entrepreneur setting up and running a small business.

A good many writers argue that, by writing for free, freelancers trying to make a name for themselves depress payment rates throughout the industry. I'm not convinced of this. Respected, money-spinning publications (such as airlines' inflight magazines, and the
government-backed monthly I often write for) still pay decent money. Having worked on the other side of the fence, as an editor responsible for both content and advertising revenue, I have a good understanding of magazine economics. I don't think many publications could afford to boost payment rates significantly.

In my experience, it isn't necessary to write for free. If an unpublished writer approaches the editor of a paying publication with a good idea (and shows he or she has a proper understanding of what's needed to turn that idea into a fine article – which is something I'll go into this in future posts) then there's a good chance the editor will give him or her the go-ahead. Because the writer is untried, the editor may well warn that the submission is “on spec,” meaning he'll only use it if it's up to scratch. Also, he'll likely ask the writer to submit it early, in case it needs extensive revision.

The Smoking Pen

Why 'The Smoking Pen'?

It's a nickname given to me by an old friend, and recognition that I'm a productive member of my profession.

I make a living as a writer and editor. I've had three books published since 2001; I've sold more than 700 articles to magazines, newspapers and websites over the past 15 years; and I've edited thousands of booklets, articles and documents for clients which include government agencies. In the past two years, I've helped two previously-published writers improve their work and attain greater success.

So you want to be a writer?

I'm launching this blog because aspiring writers sometimes ask for my help. Through the blog I'm going to share some of what I learned along the way, but not everything. Whether you're a new writer trying to make your first sale, or already have a track record, I can offer tailor-made online tutoring as well as editing services. I can share my research methods, and teach you how to generate ideas and pitch them to editors.

To find out more, contact me at stevencolincrook (one word, no periods, no underscores) (at) gmail (dot) com.