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.
spotless home service Lake Forest ..A recent debate started me thinking about how some marketing... Read More
How does a writing agency market itself effectively in a... Read More
It is a well known fact that writing, distributing and... Read More
You may be wondering what persuasive writing has to do... Read More
Now that you know the secrets to writing great articles,... Read More
Rule number one - You must write ezine articles and... Read More
"But I've only been on the Internet 3 months! How... Read More
Getting people to join your company can be hard work.... Read More
Have you been writing and submitting your free reprint articles... Read More
Your author bio is a vital part of your article... Read More
You've written this wonderful (no question about it) piece of... Read More
There are many different ways to improve link popularity for... Read More
Marketing on the internet can be a costly procedure, especially... Read More
Everyone focuses their web marketing efforts on search engines, and... Read More
Writing and distributing articles on the internet is one of... Read More
Search Engines are constantly on the "look out" for freshly... Read More
Most writers I talk with who experience "writer's block" do... Read More
Rejection is part of a writer's life. You must cope... Read More
Sometimes when I am communicating with other webmasters and I... Read More
Congratulations! You've written your first article (or possibly your 10th... Read More
You have probably heard that writing articles is one of... Read More
1. Write to one person.When you're writing your article picture... Read More
Do you have problems finding ideas for articles and speeches?I... Read More
Writing effectively on the internet is the most effective way... Read More
One great benefit of article marketing is the generation of... Read More
weekly home cleaning Mundelein ..Yesterday I met a 13-year old boy with a devilish... Read More
Heard about article marketing but not sure why you'd need... Read More
1. Participate in chat rooms related to your targeted audience.... Read More
Understanding the rules of correct formatting for online articles will... Read More
Now that you know the secrets to writing great articles,... Read More
Okay, I admit it: I'm a keen people-watcher. (Most writers... Read More
If you write web content, it may be a mystery... Read More
Making your articles available for reprints by other ezine publishers... Read More
The key to selling reprints to parenting publications is the... Read More
Back when I was in college, I belonged to one... Read More
Marketing on the internet can be a costly procedure, especially... Read More
Adsense is a program designed by Google to help publishers... Read More
Looking to build your freelance writing career but don't know... Read More
Here's a really simple way... to promote your online business... Read More
For me, to decide to start a home business was... Read More
This may come as a surprise... to you, but writing... Read More
If you're sick of being #987 for your best Google... Read More
A great way for self employed professionals to enhance their... Read More
It's amazing how quickly free articles can generatetraffic - my... Read More
"When you provide good information from which readers can learn... Read More
Publicity?you're business can survive without it, but it certainly won't... Read More
I've been blogging occasionally over the last two months about... Read More
Last month, I began promoting Jason Potash's "Article Announcer." I... Read More
If you are using articles to promote your business then... Read More
Online readers love information, but be sure your information is... Read More
Article Writing |