Can You Write? Try Freelancing!
by Angela Harris
You may be like many moms of today -- seeking a fulfilling
career that allows you
to work at home, on your own schedule. First,
take a personal inventory. What are
you good at? What do you
like to do? If writing is on your list, then perhaps you
should
look into freelancing. Freelance writing is perfect for you if you've
ever read
a magazine article and thought, "I could write that!" Maybe
you never tried because
you thought all writers had to live in New
York; this
is one of the biggest myths about
the writing industry.
A writer can live anywhere -- a big city, a small town
-- it doesn't matter. You can sit
on the beach with a laptop and work! You
don't need fancy equipment or training -- all
you need is a computer
(which you obviously have if you are reading this), and the
desire
to succeed. If freelancing sounds like the career for you, study
the magazines
you would like to write for. Get a feel for their
style and what
kind of articles they
publish. Then get writer's guidelines.
You can pick up a copy of Writer's Market 2003
and check for
the magazine
there, or send a request for guidelines to the editor via
postal
mail or email.
You will need to develop a "never say quit" attitude.
Rejection is part of the writing
business, albeit an unpleasant
part. Some
of the most successful writers out there
waded their way through
piles of rejections before getting their work sold! A rejection
letter is not a personal attack. Just because an idea gets rejected
doesn't
mean that it
wasn't a good idea. There are many reasons why rejections
happen -- perhaps the
editor just accepted something similar, or
perhaps your idea just didn't fit their needs.
It's no big deal,
simply move on to the next publication on your list.
Joining an online freelance writing group is also a great idea.
These groups can
provide support, encouragement, information,
and more!
Check somewhere like
Yahoo Groups under 'writing' or 'freelance
writing' and you will find a plethora of free
groups and newsletters.
There's no secret to succeeding in the writing business --
all you need to do is read and
study everything you can
get your
hands on
about writing -- then write! With a
combination of determination,
a thick skin, and a little creativity, you can reach your
freelance career goals!
Angela Harris is a freelance writer, mother, and wife
based in Virginia. Get a
copy of her new e-book for freelancers,
The Electronic Writer (Jumpstart Your
Writing Career Using the
Power of Email!), containing over 200 markets in 20
different categories,
here: http://www.electronicwriter.150m.com
