Freelance Writing on the Internet
by Mridu
Khullar
So, you've decided to take up a career in freelance writing. You've
hooked up the computer, installed the printer, and learnt the nitty-gritty
of your word processor. You've maybe even been published a couple of
times. You're all set to conquer the world of publishing. But wait. Do you
know all the options available to you?
We've compiled a list of all the jobs a freelance writer can find on
the Internet to keep the cash inflow steady:
Magazines
Most of the freelance writing industry focuses on magazines, so let's
start there. You'll find magazines on every topic imaginable. From teen
issues to running, you'll find at least one magazine to fit your
interests. But while magazine publishing is huge and widespread, don't try
to get published everywhere at once. Find a few niche topics and start
your way up from there. As your expertise and interests grow, branch out
to other magazines as well. Topics most writers start out with include
health and nutrition, computers, parenting, teens, relationships,
disability, travel, etc.
Fillers in Magazines and Newspapers
Not all writers make it to the cover pages of magazines. At least not at
first. In the beginning, you might just have to make do with fillers. And
they pay as much as they're fun to do. Jokes, opinion pieces, short lists,
news items and other short pieces are termed fillers. Editors are always
on the lookout for good fillers, so you stand a good chance of breaking
through.
Greeting Cards
With e-cards, paper greeting cards seem to have taken a backseat.
Nevertheless, the sale of paper cards is still ongoing and they are still
preferred when it comes to special occasions. Despite popular myths,
greeting card markets are not as easy to break into as they seem, can take
a long time to respond and an even longer time to get your card into
print. The upside is that greeting card markets pay extremely well for
short writing. What's more, though limited, opportunities exist for e-card
writers too. So when you need to take a break from the regular work, dip
your fingers into the greeting card pool
Doormats, Magnets, Bumper Stickers, T-shirts, etc
If you've wondered how those words made it to t-shirts, stickers,
doormats and magnets, think no more. Freelance writers are often required
to write the slogans for such material and are paid quite well for it. If
you have the ability to coin a catchy or humorous one-liner, this could be
your shot to riches. You won't get a byline, and certainly no fame, but
you could be earning as much as $50 per word!
Posters
They're up in your room, you've seen them in your friend's office, and you
often find a funny one at the fast-food place down the street. Someone
must have written them. Why not you? A lot of companies sell posters and
generate handsome sales from them. In fact, writers of posters are usually
paid in royalties, that is, a percentage of each poster sold. So, instead
of being paid one-time, you'll be paid over and over again for something
you wrote years ago.
Resumes
Practically every one needs a resume (yes, even us freelance writers).
Some people write them up themselves, some prefer to take the help of
professionals. Write up a resume for a friend or two at work (even if she
doesn't need one!) as samples and respond to advertisements and calls for
resume writers. Keep in mind though that resume writing isn't your regular
every day writing. You're not supposed to decorate the page with flowery
prose or funny anecdotes. You need to be professional, crisp and
attention-grabbing. Practice with a few fake ones, and you'll soon be on
your way.
Advertising
Advertisers need writers, commonly known as copywriters. They're the flesh
and blood of the campaign. Getting into advertising can be a tricky
business, but with a few credentials and a polished resume, you'll have no
trouble at all showcasing your talent to the world. If you are indeed good
at what you do, advertisers will line up to get you to work for them. If
you prefer not to work for someone, you could set up your own copywriting
business and promote it to get clients.
Website Copy
With the Internet revolution finally having realized in its full form,
small and big companies alike are looking for writers to write content for
their websites. Not only do these companies pay well, but they also give
the writer a much-desired break. If you've written website copy, you'll
have no trouble finding more assignments of the same kind. Simply guide
the prospective client to the website and he'll know what kind of work he
can expect from you. Aim for start-up companies at first. They'll usually
hand over the whole work to you and you can make a great portfolio.
E-books
E-books are not here to replace print books. They're here to provide an
alternative resource for distribution. However, as opposed to print books,
e-books are short, contain lots of web links and usually provide answers
to a customer's immediate needs. They can be downloaded off the Internet
in seconds, and you can profit from a single e-book long after you've
written it. Don't get fooled though-- writing e-books takes just as much
time and dedication as writing print ones. It's only the mode of delivery
that's different.
E-zines
Online newsletters, or e-zines as they are frequently called, are becoming
the rage of the publishing industry. Many of these e-zines are paying
markets and run regular features and columns. Many of them have associated
website,s too. While the pay in this market is less, you'll be writing
shorter articles in much less time.
Newspapers
Generally, when we think of newspapers, we think news. But newspapers hold
a lot more information than that. With regular columns, reviews and
updates, latest findings, and point-of-view articles, newspapers are the
writer's best bet. And if you've gained entry into one section of the
newspaper, the other sections of writing open up to you automatically.
Though slow on the income, getting published in your local daily is still
a major ego-booster!
Newsletters
There are many households and small companies that publish newsletters.
And all the more are springing up each day. These newsletters are a great
way to break into freelancing and gather clips. Their requirements are not
as tough to meet as those of magazines and most editors are quite quick in
their response times. To add to that, some newsletters also pay quite
well, sometimes almost as much as small magazines.
Ghostwriting
If it's the fame you're after, you won't get it here. But you can earn a
decent amount of money ghostwriting memoirs, books or even articles for
people who don't want to or can't write themselves. Ghostwriters are quite
in demand today with more and more people trying to preserve their family
history by getting memoirs or biographies written. However, apart from the
money, there's nothing else. You don't get the credit, the fame or
sometimes, even the byline.
The prospects for writers today are immense provided you're ready to
experiment in different areas. The Internet has made it easier than ever
to find writing assignments not only in your own country, but around the
world. A simple e-mail is all it takes to apply for a job and send in the
assignment.
It's easy for a freelance writer to get stuck doing the same old thing
over and over. It's not only fun, but sometimes necessary to introduce a
little spice into your writing routine. If you've been writing articles
all your life, try doing some greeting card writing instead. If the money
is slow, and you could really use some extra money, apply for a resume
writer job. If the book manuscripts are lying unsold, try selling short
stories for a change.
With a little variation now and then, you'll not only find your income
shooting up, but also your inspiration. So next time you find yourself
waiting for word on that manuscript, send out a few short pieces instead.
It'll definitely be worth the effort.
Mridu Khullar is the editor-in-chief of
www.WritersCrossing.com,
a free online magazine for writers. She is also the author of the e-book, "Knock
Their Socks Off! A Freelance Writer's Guide to Query Letters That Sell,"
available at
http://www.writerscrossing.com/queries.html
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