If you yearn to live on a writer’s salary yet, my friend, you have to believe you will be making money as a full-time writer within a year! It’s a cliche because it’s true: your beliefs become reality.

Before the tips, a quip:

“Never spend your money before you have it.” ~ Thomas Jefferson.

And of course that’s a priceless money tip for writers: don’t buy stuff with anything other than cold hard cash. Not cold hard credit cards, and not a cold hard financial loan from Ma and Pa. If you need to tweak your financial life, read Frugillionaire: 500 Fabulous Ways to Live Richly and Save a Fortune.

And, here are five money tips for writers…

Living on a Writer’s Salary – 5 Money Tips for Writers

Living on a freelance writer’s salary is about choosing a life you’re passionate about (writing, getting published, writing more!) instead of buying stuff you don’t really need (seriously, who needs a new pair of $100 jeans, an iPhone, or a 42″ flat screen TV? Advertising tells us we can’t live without that stuff….but the ads are wrong).

These tips aren’t just about living on a modest writer’s salary (say, $35,000 a year) — they’re about living your dreams and not reaching the end of your life wishing you’d given writing a try.

1. Activate two money saving tips a month. There are smart ways to save money everywhere – the internet, budget books, your rich old aunt, on placemats at funky restaurants. Don’t try to implement every money tip you find! Instead, pick two a month. Focus on making those two money tips a habit. In a month or so, find two more money saving tips to work on. This way, you’re not overwhelmed with a million ways to save money – and you’re steadily progressing towards your goal of supporting yourself as a writer. Delicious!

2.  Find meaning in experiences, not stuff. Research shows that material possessions don’t make you as happy as experiences do. Experiences can be revisited and enjoyed long after the allure of a new gadget wears off. In fact, spending money on stuff may one of the least satisfactory ways to be happy because it requires a constant outflow of money. If you’re an emotional spender (you shop to avoid stress or sadness), find ways to add meaning to your life without spending money. This tip won’t just help you live on a writer’s salary; it’ll help you get emotionally healthy!  

3. Turn price tags into words written or articles sold to magazines. This is a great money tip for writers from the founder of Mint.com: “So you don’t really need another pair of jeans, but you eyed one that costs just $40,” says Aaron Patzer. “Inexpensive, right?  That depends on how you think of it, Patzer said. Say you earn $7 an hour at your part-time job. You’d need to work almost 6 hours to pay for those jeans. If you work 10 hours a week, that’s 60% of your work time. Think of it this way, and that pair of jeans doesn’t look that cheap, after all.” Make it a habit to look at the things you want in terms of how many words you need to write or how many magazine articles you need to sell.

4. Combine these money tips for writers your own personality traits. Pay attention to your likes and dislikes, characteristics, and lifestyle. What’s your money personality – what are your money beliefs? Are you a saver or a spender? Do you associate with people who have good financial habits, or do you go on spending sprees every Saturday? To live on a writer’s salary, you need to “ride the horse in the direction its going” – which means not trying to change who you are. Instead, find ways to fit these money tips into your own lifestyle and personality.

5. Set up a glass savings jar on your desk at work. If you’re a writer with a day job, you might appreciate this tip from a BHM Financial Group blog about money: “Write, ‘Teach Me How to Save Money’ on a glass saving jar on your desk, and have your friends and co-workers write down all the ways they see you throw away money,” writes Cassandra in Better Attitude, Bigger Income. “Stuff their money-saving suggestions into your jar. Set one up for your spouse and kids, too.” This is fantastic, because learning how other people save money and live frugally can help you live on a freelance writer’s salary.

To hike your writer’s salary up a notch, read 5 Ideas for Earning Money Writing – Tips From Experienced Writers.

And, if you have anything to add to these money tips for writers, you know what to do and where to do it!

“I’m an avid seeker of online writing opportunities,” says Johnston, “and I noticed there wasn’t a good directory for that area. So, I decided to create one.”

That’s a perfect example of seeing a need and filling the gap. Johnston’s eBook combines a directory of online writing markets with samples of successful query letters and “loads of tips on contacting editors, sleuthing out new markets, and more.” She explains the benefits of writing for websites, how to write follow up letters to editors, and shares other places to find online markets (bonus tips!). To learn more, go to The Urban Guide to Online Writing Markets. And, here are a few ideas for finding online writing opportunities…

How to Find Online Writing Markets and Write for the Web

1. Figure out what type of online market you want to write for. The internet is your oyster! You can write for e-zines or content sites such as Suite101 or about.com. You could dive into the world of bidding sites, such as Guru.com or Elance.com – or you could write for the websites of national magazines like Reader’s Digest or Health. One of my favorite online sites to write for is MSN Health (they don’t have a print magazine, just online content). Each of these online writing markets has pros and cons, which Johnston describes in The Urban Guide to Online Writing Markets.

2. Think strategically about how to earn money writing. Here’s one of my favorite freelance writing tips, from a widely published feature writer: “Analyze your revenue performance periodically to see what’s working, what’s not, and where the opportunities are,” says Emmy-award winner Iyna Bort Caruso. “Then adjust your business plan accordingly. Market aggressively. Send out queries and Letters of Introduction, get your URL on as many relevant website directories as possible, network with other writers and be generous with leads and advice, and experiment with joining organizations to see where the returns are.” It doesn’t matter whether you want to earn a living as a novelist, blogger, or freelance web writer…you need to be strategic about your career.

3. Learn the difference between writing for print and writing for online readers. Some web editors ask for articles that are search engine optimized, while others just require well-researched, well-written articles. Several web editors have asked me to write my article in a slideshow format (each tip in the article has its own slide or window), and others have asked me to link to other articles in their website. A great way to learn the difference between print and online writing is to explore popular content sites, such as Yahoo, MSN Health, and WebMD. Watch for linking strategies, slideshow presentations, and search engine optimization.

4. Write a professional query letter. Some freelance writers don’t have as much respect for online writing as they do print writing…but I think writing for money is writing for money! I earn a living as a full-time freelance writer and blogger, and I tend to prefer online writing over print. If you’re a writer who wants to earn money, you need to treat web writing as seriously as you do print writing. Write professional query letters, follow up with the editor in a few weeks, be clear about your writing assignment and pay rates, and meet all your deadlines.

5. Be open to writing for different online markets. Until I read Johnston’s eBook, I didn’t realize how many web writing markets there are! An online writer could stay busy for years with her list of possibilities – some of which accept reprinted articles, which is a big plus. Topics include finance, entertainment, grandparenting, dating, web development, freelance writing, and more. Johnston also lists the online markets by pay rates, so if you wanna make money writing right now, you know where to pitch.

What’s your favorite online magazine or website to write for – and what doesn’t work for you? Please comment below…

Susan Johnston is a Boston-based freelance writer and blogger who has covered business and lifestyle topics for The Boston Globe, The Christian Science Monitor, DailyCandy.com, Yahoo! HotJobs, and many other publications. Visit The Urban Muse or follow her on Twitter.

Here’s what she said:

“I recently left Corporate America to return to school full-time to get my Masters degree and follow my dreams of becoming a full-time freelance writer,” says Morgan. “Things are moving along slowly. I do not have a clue what I am doing. I am a little nervous about not having a degree, posting my CV on my website, etc. Oh – I haven’t finished my degree and it’s driving me insane to the point I don’t want to write….sigh.”

Feeling paralyzed because of insecurity, fear, self-doubt, and anxiety is normal for even the most successful writers! But letting those insecurities and anxieties stop you from forging ahead will keep you where you are: wondering what it’s like to start a magazine writing career instead of actually finding out for yourself. If you wrestle with fear and self-doubt, read one of my favorite books on succeeding: Ralph Keyes’ The Courage to Write: How Writers Transcend Fear.

And, here are four important questions and answers about earning a living as a writer….

Starting a Magazine Writing Career – How to Make Money as a Freelancer 

Is a degree necessary for a freelance writer?

Absolutely not. You don’t need a degree in Journalism or English to be a successful freelance writer – though formal education helps if you’re looking for an editorial job with a magazine publication or book publisher. To earn a living as a freelance writer, you need fresh, creative ideas for articles. You also need the ability to hear ”no thank you this article doesn’t work for our magazine” nine times for every “yes we want to assign this article!” Beginning freelancers need to take rejection in stride, and realize that this is a long-term career that takes time to build.And you need lots of enthusiasm and energy – which journalism school doesn’t necessarily teach.

If you’re starting your magazine writing career, you might find How to Tell if Freelance Writing is Right for You helpful.

I would like to pitch an article idea to a magazine. Their submission guidelines do not mention payment – what is the proper or standard way to go about finding this out?

Each situation is different, but my rule of thumb is not to mention payment until the editor assigns the article. When that happens – and there’s still no mention of per word or per hour rate – then I ask what the payment is. You could email an editor and ask about their rates of pay before you send a query letter…but my preference is to get ‘em hooked, then talk turkey.

If the magazine doesn’t pay enough money (or doesn’t pay at all — ugh), then pitch your idea elsewhere.

Is it typical for a freelance writer to negotiate their rates with magazines etc.?

Yes, freelancers can definitely negotiate rates! The more experienced the writer, the more luck (and confidence) they’ll have getting better rates.  I’ve turned down assignments that only pay 20 cents a word, and have negotiated 35 cents up to 50 cents a word. Negotiation is a professional, healthy way to make sure writers are getting paid what they’re worth.

How do writers determine what they should charge for their work?  

Figuring out what you should charge for your work depends on many factors: your experience, the amount of research involved in the article, travel or other expenses associated with writing the article, the standard payment rates and budget of the magazine, your relationship with the editor, your past experience with that publication, etc. I often figure out what to charge on a case-by-case basis (though more and more, I’m simply charging $50 an hour or at least $1 per word and letting assignments go if clients can’t pay that much).

Making money as a freelance writer is a concern when you’re starting your career – but I think that focusing on money may backfire. Instead, I encourage writers to learn how to write a strong query letter and build their career strategically. All those books about freelance writing – The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success is particularly good – have valuable information that will help you earn a living as a writer. You just need to absorb what other writers have learned…then follow your gut as you research the magazine writing market, create fresh exciting feature article ideas, pitch query letters, and negotiate payment rates.

Experienced freelancers, do you have any tips for writers who are starting their magazine careers? Please share below – your wisdom is invaluable and appreciated!

Before the tips, a quip:

“An old racetrack joke reminds you that your program contains all the winners’ names,” wrote Mignon McLaughlin, in The Neurotic’s Notebook. “I stare at my typewriter keys with the same thought.”

There you have it, fellow scribes: the secret to a successful writing career is literally right under your nose! It’s in your computer or typewriter keys, just waiting to be released. If you need help with that release, read The Everything Guide To Magazine Writing by Kim Kovin. And, here are my tips for writing for trade magazines…

Writing for Trade Magazines – 7 Tips for Freelance Writers

A trade magazine focuses on a specific industry, niche, or career. Western Grocer, Motor Age Magazine, and Canadian Gardening Magazine are examples of trade magazines.

1. Make sure your query letter reassures the editor that she can trust you to write in a way that suits the audience. This is important for all types of writing – but it’s especially important with trade magazines because their readership is highly specialized. For help with query letters, read Pitching Your Freelance Article to Magazines.

2. Keep the advertisers in mind. Advertisements keep magazines in print; the editors of trade magazines aren’t likely to print an article that challenges the basic tenets of any specific advertiser. For instance, an editor of a grocers’ magazine wouldn’t print an article that disrespects or challenges a major food chain…it’s the magazine’s bread and butter!

3. Write about what readers are interested in, or worried about. This tip for writing for trade magazines is similar to consumer magazines, but the readers of trade magazines aren’t thinking about their personal experiences or lives. They want to learn about their industry or specialty – they’re more interested in the technical side of their niche. If you’re stuck on the type of article to write, read Types of Feature Articles.

4. Consider writing advertorials. Does the word “advertorial” make you cringe? It did me. But, one of the trade magazine editors listed several benefits of writing advertorials: the topic is assigned, no research is required (the editor gives you the advertisers or sources to interview), they can lead to more writing assignments, they increase writing experience and exposure, and they pay money. Note that the advertisers pay for advertorials, so they have the final say regarding content.

5. Read the advertisements carefully. This is a good tip for writing for consumer magazines, too – but again, it’s especially important for trade magazines. Those ads offer clues about the readers, which leads to ideas for articles. One of the magazine editors on this panel suggested that reading the ads is just as important as reading the articles.

6. Do adequate research before pitching. Remember: the readers of trade magazines are enthusiasts about the topic: they may know more than you about it. Their industry is their specialty – perhaps even their passion. When you pitch an article, be specific, technical, and detailed about your story idea. And, if you’re curious about pitching different editors at the same time, read Tips for Submitting Multiple Query Letters to Magazines.

7. Send an introduction letter to the editor. This is particularly important if you’re interested in writing advertorials. Offer your resume, writing samples, a list of magazines or e-zines you’ve written for. If you want to write for trade magazines, you need to show you can talk to people in the industry and that you can handle the topic. If you’d like an example of an introduction letter, I’d be happy to write about it — just let me know!

What have I missed? If you have any tips or questions for writing for trade magazines, I welcome your comments below…

But, before the spreadsheet tips, a quip…

“Almost anyone can become an author; the business is to collect money and fame from this state of being.” – A.A. Milne.

If you’re dedicated and lucky enough to be collecting money from your freelance writing, then you need to find an organized way to keep track of your invoices and payments. Running a successful freelance writing business isn’t just about creativity, writing well, and breaking into new magazines – it’s about knowing how a small business operates. For more info, click on The Big Book of Small Business by Tom Gegax and Phil Bolsta, and read on for my spreadsheet for invoices and payments…

A Freelance Writer’s Spreadsheet for Invoices and Payments

This is a very basic, simple spreadsheet for tracking my writing assignments, due dates, word counts, and payments. It works like a charm!

First Column: Magazine & Article. My latest (just assigned yesterday) is “Best Health - Foods That Fight PMS.”

Second Column: Date Assigned. Insert the date the editor emailed you the contract or article details — the actual assignment, not the “hmmm…we think we like it but need more information” email.

Third Column: Amount Due. My favorite amount to insert for writing an article is $2,000. O happy day!

Fourth Column: Article Length. This is a new addition to my spreadsheet for invoices and payments. I like seeing at a glance which editor pays what, for how many words.

Fifth Column: Invoice Date. This is often the same day as when I submit my article. That is, I usually attach my invoice and article to the same email.

Sixth Column: Date & Amount Received. The payment amount is usually the same as “Amount Due” – but sometimes kill fees mess things up! I keep track of how long it takes a magazine to pay me, for future reference.

Seventh Column: Invoice Number. Every invoice submitted must have an invoice number – both for your records and for the magazine’s accounting department. Read A Freelance Writer’s Invoice, Plus Invoicing Tips for info on creating invoices without buying expensive software! My invoice numbers start with the year and end with the order an assignment was received (eg, my latest Best Health invoice number is 2009-xx).

Eighth Column: Notes. For instance, Reader’s Digest assigns “annex numbers” to the articles, which must be included on the writer’s invoice. I put my annex number in my Notes column, as well as any special I need to remember.

One thing I don’t include is “Article Due Date” simply because it hasn’t been necessary (though it might be good for future reference). I put my article due dates in my daytimer so they’re in front of me all the time, and I give myself “warning notes.” For example, one notation in my daytimer for this Friday is “Best Health – Foods/Mood - due one week.”

This spreadsheet for invoices and payments keeps me organized and successful as a freelance writer – and it keeps me on top of who hasn’t paid me! Believe me, it’s much easier to ask where a check is when you have your invoice date, invoice number, word count, and amount due at your fingertips.

What have I missed? If you have any tips or questions on this spreadsheet for tracking invoices and payments for writers, please comment below…

To keep your article pitches and queries organized, read Tracking Your Article Pitches and Submissions. 

And, to learn how to build an effective writing career, read 5 Tips for a Successful Freelance Writing Career.

Before her tips, a quip:

“I’d been trying to sell out for years, but nobody was buying,” wrote Susan Shapiro in Only as Good as Your Word, after her writing group accused her of writing a book they deemed too commercial.

Going “commercial” is one way to increase your writing income – and there’s nothing wrong with it - but there are other ways to support yourself as a writer! For more insight into a writer’s life, click on Only as Good as Your Word: Writing Lessons From My Favorite Literary Gurus by Shapiro. And, read on for Johnston’s tips for increasing your writing income… 

5 Ways to Increase Your Writing Income

Print publications are rapidly shrinking (or disappearing altogether), but there are still plenty of ways to earn a living as a writer if you’re flexible and creative. Sure, it’d be great to retire rich after writing the Great American Novel; however, you also have to think about what type of writing is marketable. Someday I hope to great inspiring narrative non-fiction, but right now I’m happy to be paying the bills with teaching, ghostwriting, and other projects.

Here are some creative ways you can use your writing skills to increase your writing income. Hopefully you’ll find one or two that you can incorporate into your own business plan.

1. Teach a class. Not everyone who is a good writer is also a good teacher. But if you’re comfortable speaking in front of people and you have a desire to help others achieve their goals, then it’s worth a shot. I teach freelance writing and blogging at Boston Center for Adult Education. It’s not going to make me rich or famous, but it’s another way to build my platform and connect with the local writing community.

2. Moonlight as a copyeditor, proofreader, or fact-checker. Even if you don’t earn money in these areas, they are important skills to know. With newsrooms slashing their staffs, some of them will have a need for freelance proofreaders or fact-checkers. Even though I haven’t tapped into these skills and applied for separate gigs in these areas, I took a proofreading course last summer, and I read an ebook on fact-checking to get an overview of the fact-checking process. Again, a good skill to have and one that can only boost your research and writing ability

3. Sell photos or multimedia. Offering extras like photos, podcasts, and videos can increase your writing income and make you more desirable as a writer, especially for online markets. Since I have a decent digital camera, I’ve been able to take my own photos on severl occasions. Michelle Rafter has a great post about including interactive material with queries.

4. Tap into seasonal opportunities. I read about a writer who earns money by creating personalized letters from Santa. Another writer has carved out a niche writing customized wedding poems, which is especially timely during wedding season. Maybe in the fall one could create a side business helping high school seniors edit their college application essays. With college admissions getting more and more competitive, there are bound to be people who would pay good money for that!

5. Work in your niche. Whatever topic you cover, there’s probably a part-time job that can get you out of the house, give you the inside scoop on the industry, and increase your writing income. For instance, I know a wine writer who now works part time as a clerk at a wine shop. Another freelancer picks up shifts at the library, which allows her to see new books and magazines as they come in.Be careful about non-disclosure clauses, but often it’s not an issue if you’re simply folding shirts or stacking books.

Have you tried any of these ways to increase your writing income? Are there any other ideas I’ve missed?

Susan Johnston is a Boston-based freelance writer and blogger who has covered business and lifestyle topics for The Boston Globe, The Christian Science Monitor, DailyCandy.com, Yahoo! HotJobs, and many other publications. Want to know more? check out The Urban Muse or follow her on Twitter.

But first, a quip from a published author:

“Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling alligators.” – Olin Miller. 

Miller also said: “If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it.”

Fellow scribes, don’t put off creating a solid invoice tracking system for your freelance writing business! For more info on running a writing business, click How to Set Up a Freelance Writing Business: An Insider Guide to Setting Up and Running Your Own Copywriting Business. And, read on for nine invoicing tips plus an example of a freelance writer’s invoice… 

9 Tips for Invoicing for Freelance Writers

Below is an example of an actual invoice I sent to Reader’s Digest. If you have any questions about these tips for sending invoices for articles, please ask below!

1. Include your contact information. Put your name, address, phone number, email address, and even your website at the top of the invoice.

2. Create an invoice number tracking system. I use the year the article was submitted (2010, for example) and a simple numerical system. So my first invoice of 2010 would be 2010-01, the second is 2010-02, etc. This is important for tracking late payments, and for keeping the bookkeeping aspects of your freelance writing business organized.

3. Add the publisher’s or editor’s details. Reader’s Digest, for instance, assigns an annex number to all their assignments, and that number has to be on each invoice. You still need to include your own invoice number for your own records and tracking system. This invoicing tip will help you track late or lost payments.

4. Clarify certain information or details. Sometimes you’ll invoice the editor, and sometimes you’ll invoice the office manager, accountant, or publisher. Sometimes you’ll even invoice a third party, such as a bookkeeping company. I always send my invoice to the editor; rarely, he or she will send will request a change. Make sure you state the article’s title, magazine issue if known, when you emailed the article, and to whom.

5. Describe the article you wrote. Under “services”, I include the article length, description, agreed payment, and total invoice amount. This is where GST for Canadian freelance writers, PST for certain provinces, and taxes for states is included. Canadian freelancers don’t need to apply for a GST number or charge GST if they earn less than $30,000 CAD per year.

6. Include an “invoice due by” date? Many freelance writers ask for payment within a month of invoice submission. Others offer a 2% or 5% discount if the magazine publisher or editor pays on time. I don’t do this – offering a reward for something that should go without saying sticks in my craw – but I understand why some writers do this.

7. Email the invoice with your article. I attach the invoice to my email, and I always tell the editor in the body of the email that my invoice is attached. This may seem redundant, but attachments can get missed.

8. Make notes in your invoice tracking system. This is one of the most important invoicing tip for freelance writers! As soon as you send the invoice, make sure you record the invoice number, date sent, invoice amount, and any other details you think necessary. This way, you can keep track of who has paid and who is in arrears. And, when your invoice is paid, make sure to record the date you received payment. These tips help you stay organized for tax time.

9. Be specific when tracking down late payments. When you email an editor asking about a late payment, make sure you include your invoice number, amount, date the article was sent, and the date you emailed the invoice (if that’s different than when the article was sent).

For more info about tracking systems and spreadsheets for writers, read Tracking Your Article Pitches and Submissions.

An Example of Freelance Writer’s Invoice for Magazine Articles

Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen

Bowen Island, BC Canada

Phone number

Email address

Invoice 2010-01

Annex #XXX-XX (optional)

To:      Editor, Accountant, or Office Manager’s Name

            Reader’s Digest Magazine

            Address

December 31, 2010

Article:  “Top 5 Things Women Look For in Men” for rd.ca

Emailed December 31, 2010 to Editor’s Name 

Fellow scribes, what have I missed that you include on your writer’s invoice? And, do you have any invoicing tips for freelance writers – or questions? Please fire away below!

Before the tips, a quip:

“Sometimes it’s important to work for that pot of gold,” says self-help author Douglas Pagels. “But other times it’s essential to take time off and to make sure that your most important decision in the day simply consists of choosing which color to slide down on the rainbow.” 

Picture that: sliding blissfully down your favorite color - especially if you feel frustrated or discouraged. If freelance writing and pitching to magazine editors is too painful, consider making money as a web writer! It’s my favorite way to pay the bills  Read The Definitive Guide to Making Money Online With Your Writing for help…and here are six tips for reducing freelance writing stress…

How to Reduce Freelance Writing Stress – Tips for Making the Writing Life Easier

1. Remember that writing rejections and failures can be fruitful. I’m still cringing at a mistake I recently made with one of my editors – it was stupid, and it definitely hurt our working relationship. Since my goal is to help other writers, I turned my mistake into a possible article and pitched it to a few writing magazines. Then the other day, I woke up and said, “Article idea? Nay – it’s a brilliant book idea!”  To cope with freelance writing stress, remember that you can use your writing problems. Just stay open to the possibilities, and don’t let writing failures dampen your spirits.

2. Take action towards your writing goals. Writers never know what will work – whether emailing the article pitch to that editor will result in an assignment or snail mailing the novel to the publisher will get a book contract! Taking action helps you cope with the stress of freelancing and writing by giving you control. The more control you have, the less stress you’ll feel. So take action, fellow scribes – even if you think your efforts won’t go anywhere.

3. Avoid the media. Does this sound counterintuitive for freelance writers? Not necessarily. “Eliminate or minimize watching the news and reading newspapers,” says psychologist Joseph Cilona. “It’s important to remember that even respected news sources are not always giving a truly balanced and accurate portrayal of reality.” Heavy news consumption can make it harder for you to maintain a positive outlook, stay motivated, and keep your energy level up. Freelance writers need to find a healthy balance between staying current to find new article ideas, and protecting themselves from a barrage of bad news.

4. Stop fortune telling! “Fortune telling is predicting the future negatively and emotionally reacting as if it is already happening or it is imminent,” says psychologist Elizabeth R. Lombardo. “For example, people are often not worried about the here and now, but rather what they think will happen.” Just because you don’t have an assignment or book contract right now doesn’t mean you won’t have one in a month or a year - or even tomorrow! To reduce freelance writing stress, don’t borrow worries from tomorrow.

5. Try new things in your freelance writing career. If your current strategies for freelance writing – or any type of writing – aren’t working, then shake it up a little! Here’s a great example for freelancers like me, who spend a lot of time pitching editors: “It’s often not worth the time to cold-pitch,” says Lisa Albers, who is a published writer of print and online articles, books, ad copy, and poetry. “I cultivate my existing network and use it to connect.” To make your writing life easier, learn how your colleagues find work — and try their strategies.

6. Cultivate your writers’ network. Here’s how Albers connects with people: “I’m very curious about people and love to ask questions. It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised at how few people are genuinely curious about others.” She periodically asks clients about their business and activities. When she meets new people, she listens to them and tries to ask intelligent, open-ended questions about their work. Albers says, “I make sure my clients know what I’m doing when I’m busy so that when I’m not, they’re more inclined to take advantage of my availability.”

And you, fellow scribes? How do you reduce freelance writing stress? I welcome your comments below…

Before the tips, a quip:

“Almost anyone can be an author; the business is to collect money and fame from this state of being.” ~ A.A. Milne

Fellow scribes, if you want to earn a living as a freelance writer, you need to treat it like a business. For valuable writing advice, read the Writer’s Digest Handbook of Magazine Article Writing. And, here are my seven tips for working with editors (who hold the key to the freelancing kingdom!)…

Want More Article Assignments? 7 Tips for Working With Magazine Editors

1. Learn which editors prefer what pitches. One of my regular magazine editors prefers longer, more detailed pitches with most of my sources and information listed. Another editor prefers short, punchy pitches, about a half-page long, so he can share it with his fellow editors more easily. To keeping work with the magazine editors you like best, find out how they like their article query letters, and pitch accordingly.  

2. Hold off on asking your editor questions about query letters. I usually wait until I’ve written at least one article for the magazine before I ask what type of query letter the editor prefers. I never ask when I’m cold-calling or cold-emailing — instead, I just send a catchy, thoughtful one-page pitch at first. Later, after the editor has emailed or called, I ask what types of pitches he or she prefers.

3. Throw your best article pitch. It’s taken me a full year of full-time freelance writing to absorb this tip: line up your most interesting source or idea before you pitch the article. For instance, if I want to write an article about how the economy has affected feature article assignments, then I need to find a source with direct, unique, and fascinating experience. I’d try to line up a couple of freelance writers, perhaps a freelance editor or two — and definitely a magazine editor. Then, I’m ready to write the pitch that will hook my editor. 

4. Realize that you may put more work into your query letter than your article. The more experience I get as a freelance writer, the more time I spend writing pitches that are flawless in terms of execution, sources, anecdotes, experts, and ideas. As I develop relationships and work more with editors, I can simply email ideas in a sentence or two. If they like the idea, they ask me to write a more detailed pitch.

5. Ask for another article assignment when you file an article. When I submit an article and invoice, I ask editors if they have any leads or article ideas that they’d like me to expand on. I still pitch different ideas — especially for feature articles — but I like to show editors I’m open to writing most anything.

6. Be grateful for revisions. When editors ask for edits, be glad for the opportunity to become a better, more successful writer! I learned far more from revising and rewriting than I ever did from the editors who simply published my articles “as is.” One of my favorite Reader’s Digest editors would call me, and we’d edit my articles over the phone…I usually dreaded those calls but every edit made me a better writer.

7. Take opportunities to make personal connections with editors. If an editor makes a personal reference in an email — for instance, one of my health magazine editors recently referred to his use of the elliptical trainer — follow up on it. The more real you are to editors (and the more real they are to you), the better your relationship will be…and the more your chances increase for future assignments.

Do you have questions or comments about working with magazine editors? Please comment below…

First, a quip from the best-selling author Lawrence Block:

“I suspect television is a great source for story ideas. I’d use it more often if I could bear to watch it, but I generally can’t,” writes Block.  I’ve never actually tried it, but I bet TV is an extremely effective way for freelance writers to generate article ideas.  

Lawrence Block’s Telling Lies for Fun & Profit: A Manual for Fiction Writers is an excellent book for freelance and other nonfiction writers. It’s basically a compendium of the articles Block wrote when he was the Writer’s Digest columnist, so he’s writing from years of experience as both a magazine writer and best-selling novelist. Okay, on to tips for freelance writers to generate article ideas that sell…

How Freelance Writers Generate Article Ideas That Sell

1. Consult your crystal ball. My newest best practice is consulting the National Health Observances website from the National Health Information Center. For instance, July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month – what can I write about juvenile arthritis, and who would publish it? Remember to stay six months ahead of the game, unless you’re writing for an online publication. Then, a couple months in advance should do it.

2. Focus on “the same yet different.” Lawrence Block said editors and readers want “the same yet different.” To generate article ideas that sell, look at published magazine or e-zine articles. How can you take those popular ideas and give them a twist? My “Happy Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day” article for Reader’s Digest a couple years ago is a perfect example of “the same yet different.” (Back then, it worked. Now, that idea is just the same old-same old!)

3. Read letters from ALL readers. “Letters from readers often furnish me with ideas for future columns,” writes Block in Telling Lies. Fellow scribes, you don’t need to be a columnist to get ideas from letters to the editor! Those letters – whether they’re addressed to you or not – are an article idea breeding ground because they point out inconsistencies, ask questions, and trigger future possibilities.

4. Answer questions on blogs and forums. A fellow writer on Suite101 – bless her heart – is becoming the QUEEN of turning writers’ questions into articles! She’s amazing. She’ll answer the writer’s question on the forum, end with “Hey! This could be an article!” and voila! It’s posted the next day. This is a brilliant way to write relevant articles and blog posts.

5. Hunt for great feature article ideas. “You can’t wait for inspiration to strike,” said Jack London. “You have to go after it with a club.” I delegate one day a week as “Pitch Day” – and I recycle old queries and generate new article ideas. If I don’t have article ideas ready and waiting, I pick up my club and go hunting. I stay away from national news sites – they’re crawling with hungry freelance writers and established columnists generating the same article ideas. Instead, I go to my favorite websites, poke around their most popular articles, and find ways to develop certain points by asking who, what, why, when, where, and how. Read

6. Look at the magazine’s ads. I recently saw an ad for “Yoga Toes” in Health Magazine. To generate article ideas that this magazine’s editors might buy, I’d put my curiosity cap on: Why do we need Yoga Toes – what does it do for our feet? Who wears them? What else would Yoga Toes wearers be interested in? Who created Yoga Toes? And when you’re pitching an article idea to an editor, remember to ask if his/her magazine’s readers would want to read that particular article. (Ask yourself – not the editor).

7. Share with other writers. I have several article ideas that I probably won’t write – some that publicists and readers send me, some that I have no desire to write but are good ideas anyway - that I’d happily share with other freelance writers! In fact, I’ve Tweeted two ideas that other writers are welcome to use – and I think I’ll make that my newest best practice (I’m @quipsandtips on Twitter, by the way). Just because I’m not interested in writing about, say, internet addiction, doesn’t mean another writer wouldn’t run with the idea. To share article ideas with other writers, start by offering ideas you can’t or won’t use. They may do likewise – and you’ll soon be generating interesting new article ideas that sell! For more info, read Twitter Benefits for Freelance Writers.

If you have any tips for how freelance writers can generate article ideas, please comment below…