Handbook For Freelance Writing (Paperback)

~ (Author) "Not long ago, I found myself on a university campus, facing a classroom of students majoring in education..." (more)
Key Phrases: commercial writing, radio copy, corporate libraries, Writer's Digest, Writer's Market, Eau Claire (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Wherever you see words," writes Michael Perry in his Handbook for Freelance Writing, "someone wrote them." That means that there's an awful lot of freelance writing work to go around. While many prospective freelancers disdain commercial writing, Perry is more realistic. "Hack writing," he says, "is the writer's equivalent of playing weddings." In other words, commercial writing is a great way to support your magazine writing, at least until the New Yorker comes calling. Perry has managed to cobble together a very successful freelance career from some small town in the middle of nowhere, and, he makes you believe, so can you. Here he shares much of what he has learned in the process, from ferreting out markets, writing query letters, and conducting interviews to placating sources and wooing and wowing editors. Perry doesn't offer much in the way of business advice, but hey--that's what accountants are for. --Jane Steinberg --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description

Straightforward and practical, the HANDBOOK FOR FREELANCE WRITING tells you everything you need to know to build a thriving business as a freelance writer. From sales brochures to short stories, you'll learn how to get assignments, get published, and get paid promptly. Throughout the book, you'll benefit from proven strategies and real-world advice on every aspect of a freelance writing career.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (May 11, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0844232564
• ISBN-13: 978-0844232560
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #391,433 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great guide -- IF this is what you want to do, June 14, 1998

By	P. Lozar "plozar" (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Handbook for Freelance Writing (Hardcover)

This book is terrific if you're interested in making a living as a free-lance writer and would like practical guidance about how to do it -- and it's funny too. The author focuses on the part most writers have trouble with -- finding a unique "take" on a subject -- and his advice about that is very good. I also heartily endorse his comments about how to present your work most effectively to editors. He doesn't downplay the drawbacks of working as a free-lancer, but he's also upbeat enough to make you believe it's possible if you're willing to put in the effort. I agree with his recommendation to find a good accountant to handle the financial aspects -- but, for those of us who don't live in a pop. 485 town, it would have been useful to have some hints about what to look for in an accountant! But in general this is an excellent guide to the free-lance life.
However, based on my own experience (I've been making a living as a writer for most of my adult life), I have one caveat: Perry's life as a writer may not be the best life for you. If you just want to earn a living from your writing, and aren't fussy what you write about or for whom, this is a great book for you. If you have an area of specialization (e.g., computers), you can still free-lance successfully in that area -- and it's sometimes helpful in getting work for you to be an "expert." But if you're a writer who wants more time to work on your Big Project (your serious novel, your mystery series, etc.), you're better off taking a full-time job in a totally unrelated field and writing in your spare time. Free-lance writing is time-consuming, requires total commitment, and can be psychologically and physically draining; if you have any spare time at all, you'll want to go fishing rather than work on your novel! Before you quit your day job, consider WHY you want to become a free-lance writer; you may find you're better off where you are.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magazine writing and a way to approach it., June 26, 2003

By A Customer

This book actually contains a fair amount of useful information. It is primarily aimed at individuals who are setting out to write magazine articles. So, if you have no interest in writing magazine articles, this is probably not the book for you.

In short, it essentially posits that one ought to approach magazine queries in the same manner that one would work a cross-word puzzle. i.e. Looking to multiple sources to max income on things.

The author's approach follows his interests, which are diverse with a sub-specialization, ie country music, medical, etc. The general tone is converational, and it is easy to read.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I got a lot out of this book..., December 26, 2003

By	Thomas Duff "Duffbert" (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I finished up Handbook For Freelance Writing by Michael Perry over the last couple of days. If you're looking to start writing as a freelancer (magazine articles, stories, etc.), this is a good book to read. He writes in a very practical and amusing style, and you'll get quite a few tips on how to start structuring your efforts in this field. You'll learn the different types of freelance writing, what to expect during the process of seeking out assignments, how to make yourself easily acceptable to editors, and much more. If you've been doing freelancing for awhile, you may already know most of this. If you're just starting out like I am, then you'll benefit quite a bit from this read.