The first step to getting published is to find your market. Find a magazine you are familiar with and read the guidelines, read the magazine and as many issues as you can. Are they lacking a particular idea in that subject matter? Has there been an article written that didn't quite cover everything you thought it should? Write down your ideas.
After that, follow the directions on the submission guidelines.
1. Freelance writers must follow the directions. Most editors drop submissions into the trash pile for only one reason, the writer didn't follow directions. If the instructions say that you should not send email, why would you send an email submission? You could beat probably 80% of the rest of the slush pile by being focused on following instructions to a T.
2. Check previous issues for duplicates of your article ideas. No idea is really ever new and more than likely, your idea has already been used at one point. Make sure whatever idea you are submitting hasn't been published recently. It cuts out having to reject your idea, even if it's a good one.
3. Make sure your writing style matches the magazine. One of the biggest mistakes is to not actually have read the magazine before hand. This is why the majority of magazine editors request you at least read a couple issues, which they will happily send to you. It may be extra work but eventually you will get an idea of what sort of freelance writer they are looking for.
4. Grammar and spelling are important for any successful freelance writing career. Most editors claim that the majority of query letters would probably turn into sales, if only the freelance writer would have used proper spelling and grammar. If you can't write a good query letter, how do they expect you to write the full article? You must give your all in every query and submission you send in.
5. Clips are not so important, though they do help a freelance writer. Of all things, an editor wants a freelance writer to provide a good, fresh idea and a quality style to your writing in your initial query letter. If your idea is good and your query letter is well written, an editor can tell if you will qualify for the assignment quickly and will more than likely offer you an assignment.
6. Write articles for smaller publications. If you are still struggling as a freelance writer, sometimes offering free articles online or for smaller publications will help boost your portfolio. This is a little trick most any new writer can do. Don't feel bad about giving away free writing! It won't stay that way and your clips often say a lot about you to editors.
With all honesty, you don't have to be the best writer to be published! You only have to be able to follow directions and come up with an idea that isn't currently being used. Use rejection slips as a reason to submit again with a better idea. If you need additional help, try checking out websites of professional writers who offer advice on their website.
Calissa Leigh is a freelance writer available for copywriting, ghost writing articles and helping with query letters and submission. You can find helpful information on writing, copywriting and more by visiting her website at copywriting.
This article is offered free for reprint, provided the byline stays in tact and links are kept active. Please visit calissaleigh.com and look for her link directory for a return link and find more free content articles.
recurring cleaning service Mundelein ..If you're writer, I am sure sometimes you may have... Read More
Feeling uninspired? Like you're stuck in a rut with your... Read More
The goal of free publicity is to get your name... Read More
Sometimes when I am communicating with other webmasters and I... Read More
This is the "real" Money Maker in the Mail Order... Read More
Many people which in online business world find difficulties in... Read More
In order to sell your article must do three things:1.... Read More
This may come as a surprise... to you, but writing... Read More
A huge problem for many people who are working on... Read More
What's the most powerful marketing technique on the Web? Search... Read More
There's a new sort of ghost stalking the digital landscape.They... Read More
Publishers and webmasters can spend massive amounts of time just... Read More
So you've decided to market your home-based copywriting business through... Read More
By now you probably understand how important writing for trade... Read More
Overture reports over 1 million queries for article keyword related... Read More
Most writers I talk with who experience "writer's block" do... Read More
As you write the outline for your next article, there... Read More
It's no secret-link exchanges are dying a painful death. And... Read More
How to write an informative article?The following tips can help... Read More
1. Write to one person.When you're writing your article picture... Read More
Online PR in the form of website and ezine article... Read More
Most business owners are overwhelmed with the day to day... Read More
There is some wisdom in saying that when you are... Read More
Frequently when I am communicating with other webmasters and I... Read More
Marketing on the internet can be a costly procedure, especially... Read More
tidy up service Buffalo Grove ..Lets face it people use articles to send traffic to... Read More
Abandon your frustrations and get a fresh start by trying... Read More
The Most Economical Way to Advertise online is to Submit... Read More
People who have an idea for a website sometimes require... Read More
Writing articles for your site and for the use of... Read More
This free way to promote or publicize your book or... Read More
Looking to build your freelance writing career but don't know... Read More
Writing articles for magazines, the Internet or the local community... Read More
1. Choose A Topic.You need to choose either a hot... Read More
Recently I interviewed Kevin Bidwell of All-In-One-Business.com on some of... Read More
Most business owners are overwhelmed with the day to day... Read More
If you have writing skills and want to use your... Read More
Publishing content on the internet is not a hard task.... Read More
Writing and submitting articles to article banks is a well-known... Read More
Proven and Exceptional Click-Through ResultsTesting has proven again and again... Read More
Here's a depressing fact if you sell anything on the... Read More
Every webmaster knows that to gain ranking positions in search... Read More
Article writing can be such an intimate act as you're... Read More
It is no secret among internet marketers that writing articles... Read More
Frequently when I am communicating with other webmasters and I... Read More
You've written this wonderful (no question about it) piece of... Read More
If you have submitted your articles to EzineArticles.com you have... Read More
The ezine article is of major importance to the world... Read More
Evaluation of a Home-Run ArticleI've been writing articles and posting... Read More
I am sure that there would have been a moment... Read More
Article Writing |