Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer: How to Win Top Writing Assignments [Paperback]

Jenna Glatzer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2004

Step-by-step instructions on how writers can earn top dollar writing for magazines are provided in this book. Secrets are revealed about what the high-paying magazines really want, how to build relationships with editors, how to ascertain which sections of a magazine are open to freelancers, what kinds of stories are in demand, what to do if a deadbeat publisher doesn’t pay up, how to market reprints, and how to become an expert in one’s chosen writing field. Basic terms like query, clips, and source sheet are defined for beginning writers, and tips on everything from coming up with an idea to pitching a syndicated column are also included. Writers learn about the little-known sources top freelancers use to find new stories and experts. In addition, they learn how to get their first paying assignments even if they have no prior clips, how to negotiate for better pay, how to find high-paying magazines that aren’t swamped with queries, and how to worm their way into editors’ inboxes even if their e-mail addresses aren’t publicized.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Beginning with plenty of realistic words of caution, veteran freelancer Glazer (Outwitting Writer’s Block and Other Problems of the Pen; Words You Thought You Knew) provides a practical guide for aspiring writers who want to earn a living doing what they love. Glatzer takes readers through the must-do basics—from sending clean, spell-checked cover letters to avoiding harassing busy editors—then delves into the processes of generating ideas, pitching, landing assignments and negotiating contracts. Once a writer has the assignment, she also has to know how to do research, conduct good interviews with experts and provide solid back-up ("if a fact-checker complains loudly enough that Writer X’s article was full of holes, or that the source material was badly organized or unreliable, an editor might not hire Writer X again"). In this honest and thorough volume, Glatzer gives the inside scoop on all of these things, and many other facets of the business that novices (and, quite frankly, many experienced writers) might not realize they need to consider.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"An in-your-hand education in professional writing." —Christian Communicator

"Really shows what publications are looking for in a writer."  —Dawn Papandrea, managing editor, The Collegebound Network

"A 'behind closed doors' look at freelancing...advice that will keep you ahead of the competition."  —The Writer

"Covers everything novice and experienced writers need to know to succeed at freelancing."  —Sheri McConnell, founder and president of the National Association of Women Writers

"A must-read for freelancers and wanna-be-freelancers."  —Julia Rosien, senior editor, ePregnancy magazine

"A must-read for any freelancer wanting to break into the business and stay there."  —Colleen Oakley, editor, Women's Health & Fitness 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Nomad Press (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 097220265X
• ISBN-13: 978-0972202657
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 0.5 x 7.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #367,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am the author of 19 books, and a contributing editor at Writer's Digest.

My recent books include Unthinkable with Scott Rigsby, Bullyproof Your Child for Life with Joel Haber, Ph.D., Celine Dion: For Keeps, The Street-Smart Writer, Make a Real Living as a Freelance Writer, Conquering Panic and Anxiety Disorders, and Outwitting Writer's Block and Other Problems of the Pen, all available on Amazon.com! Just search for my name (Jenna Glatzer). Buying my books will instantly make you more attractive and make the lines shorter for you at the DMV.

I live in New York with my awesome daughter. I have oddly wedge-shaped feet, and an excessive number of mugs. Maybe one day I'll get bigger cabinets.

See my author site at www.jennaglatzer.com for more about me.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Makes a good read April 18, 2004

By Debbie

Format:Paperback

This was an easy-to-read book written with a "you can do it" attitude - good for writers who are new to the field or are trying to break into bigger markets.

The book is a good mix of the author's experience (what worked and what she learned from mistakes she made), and quotes from editors and other established writers.

Very helpful were the websites with additional helpful information, like a fax site where you can receive your faxes by e-mail at no cost (i.e. no need for a fax machine), websites for writers, websites for finding sources, etc.

Also helpful were sections on negotiating contracts, how to pitch a story, how to study the market for your work (and the importance in doing so), how fact checking works, and how to find story ideas (and spin them off into even more ideas).

If you're the type who does well with assignments, the book has assignments you can do like one on coming up with ideas.

The book is less how to write, than the mechanics behind getting assignments and following through on them. It takes the mystique out of the process. I ended up earmarking a bunch of pages to go back to, and have already used some of the information (mainly websites) to further my own writing.

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sustain a Lucrative Career while Wearing Pajamas June 7, 2004

By Maryanne Raphael

Format:Paperback

Book Review by Maryanne Raphael, Writers World

Sustain a Lucrative Career while Wearing Pajamas
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MAKE A REAL LIVING AS A FREELANCE WRITER explains how to be successful "in today's publishing climate where the Internet rules and stamps are nearly obsolete and the articles that earned front-page headlines last decade wouldn't even get short blurbs today." The book shows how to earn top dollars writing for magazines, how to write a marketable story, how to know what sections of a magazine welcome freelancers, how to market reprints, and how to become an expert in your chosen field.
Author Jenna Glatzer is the editor-in-chief of Absolute Write and author of Outwitting Writer's Block. She is a full time writer from NYC who has published 9 books and hundreds of articles. Her style makes reading fun with her quick wit, vast experience, knowledge of her subject and her use of meaningful quotes, relevant anecdotes and helpful resources.
She says, "You'll have to learn where to find writing markets and how to study them, write irresistible query letters, make editors fall in love with you, get regular assignments, negotiate, make deadbeats pay up and more." She helps discover your strengths and how to use them.,, shows you how to set goals, see writing as a business and get started.
"You must find something worth telling to a mass audience," she says, "and convince the `powers that be' that you're the right person to tell it."
She even tells how to make the most of rejection slips, how to network, write a column, interview, write for the Internet, have a Web Site, and make your article timely. She shows how to become your editor's favorite by being "reliable, accurate, nice, respectful of the editor's time and by proposing plenty of new ideas with regularity."
Author Glatzer helps readers learn from her mistakes as well as her achievements. After stating that big magazines do not want stories that have appeared elsewhere, she tells how she goofed once . "You shouldn't be a dummy like me and actually emphasize this as a selling point in your query."
The book tells everything you need to know about taxes once you start earning money from your writing. By the time you finish this book, according to the author, "You'll have the insider knowledge you need to figure out what sells to whom and how to build up and sustain a lucrative career while wearing pajamas." I'd recommend the book to anyone who wants to try freelance writing.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Valuable Information in a Conversational Tone August 4, 2005

By Sally DeLellis

Format:Paperback

You could easily finish this book in one sitting; Glatzer's tone is amicable and the information is very accessible. My favorite aspect is that there are many quotes from editors of the most popular magazines (Woman's Day, etc.), as well as lots of other tips specific to magazines that are in my chosen women's genre.

Glatzer uses a great method of coming up with story ideas; you take a very general concept - she used cats as her example, and then she suggests categories pertaining to cats (or whatever your general concept may be) that are a bit more specific. Fill out her chart completely and you'll arrive at 10+ different article topics. I've alread made a spreadsheet mimicing her chart and plan to use this once a week to brainstorm article ideas.

For the aspiring freelance magazine writer, this book is extremely useful!