In Writer’s Market 2009, there’s a great “Query Letter Clinic” (an article) that describes how to write a query letter for a magazine. I’ve summarized the main points below, and included a sample of a good nonfiction magazine query.
But first, fellow scribes:
“Write while the heat is in you. The writer who postpones the recording of [...]

In this guest post, author and psychologist Dr. Paulette Kouffman Sherman, Ph.D., describes how to stay in the zone and succeed as a writer. 
First, a quip from Arthur Hailey on how to be a successful writer:
“I set myself 600 words a day as a minimum output, regardless of the weather, my state of mind or [...]

You need more than talent and good ideas to be a writer. To persevere after constant rejections and keep pitching into the editorial abyss, you need personality traits that go beyond talent and creativity. I’ve rounded up a few qualities of successful writers - and they apply to freelancers, hobbyists, bloggers, or published authors.
First, I gotta throw in a quip from Anne [...]

While there’s no “winning formula” to writing excellent query letters, it is good to see how published freelance writers pitch their ideas. So, here’s a query letter I sent to MSN Health, which they accepted a couple days later.
“The most effective query letters get into the specifics from the very first line,” write the experts [...]

One of my friends - who is also a writer - asked what sacrifices I’ve made as a full-time freelance writer. My immediate reaction was, “Sacrifices? What sacrifices? I love writing - I’ve made no sacrifices! Are you insane??!!”
But I was wrong. There are sacrifices to a freelance writing career.
For instance, check out this poem [...]

If I could attend a writing conference (or a conference for entrepreneurs) every month, I’d be one happy woman! Here’s what I learned in my three days at the Surrey International Writer’s Conference in October, 2008.
First, a quip from best-selling author Mary Jo Putney: “Writers are introverted and insecure.”
I’m a little insulted by that. I [...]

During my massage the other day, I realized that my massage therapist could only earn money while she was actually working. But the best way to get rich is to earn money on something(s) while you do other things. For a writer, this means people paying for your old articles and buying your past books while [...]

Some say that writing a hook or a lead that keeps readers reading is the most important part of an article, essay, or story. So, I’ve rounded up some of the best ways to write strong leads from a variety of editors, writers, and creative gurus - and included several examples of their tips in action.
First, some [...]

Coming up with a brilliant idea only 10% of the battle; getting your book or article published is the rest. Check out these writing tips on getting published - there’s encouragement, practical advice, and hope for both fledgling and professional scribes! 
First, here’s some magazine writing advice from a former executive editor of Working Mother: 
“What we [...]

Here, I’ve rounded up the best freelance writing tips from a wide variety of authors, freelancers, novelists, journalism professors and writing coaches. The tips cover everything from “using the right numbers” to “finding your cojones.”
For instance, here’s one on queries from a seasoned freelance writer and book author:
“C. Hope Clark has a great rule of thumb to [...]