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.
expert residential cleaners Park Ridge ..Writing articles is by far the most effective online promotion... Read More
Writing articles for magazines, the Internet or the local community... Read More
Yesterday I met a 13-year old boy with a devilish... Read More
You've got to start somewhere, but once you've created your... Read More
Have you ever seen articles that are not only related... Read More
It doesn't really matter who you are; you definitely know... Read More
Ok, today we are going to talk about one of... Read More
Ever read one of those web articles written by an... Read More
When I was first advised to start writing articles, this... Read More
Every webmaster knows that to gain ranking positions in search... Read More
Most business owners are overwhelmed with the day to day... Read More
Writing and distributing articles on the internet is one of... Read More
One of the best things you can do for your... Read More
As a follow up to my previous article on the... Read More
Not every web designer has the time ? or skills... Read More
There is some wisdom in saying that when you are... Read More
Everyone knows an expert is just a drip under pressure.... Read More
Writing articles is one of the most powerful, if not... Read More
Congratulations! You've written your first article (or possibly your 10th... Read More
As an article author, sometimes you can only pull so... Read More
Are you a reluctant marketer for your book? Do you... Read More
Many writers do not understand that the online writing business... Read More
If you're sick of being #987 for your best Google... Read More
Not doing what, you ask.Writing and submitting articles.Writing articles is... Read More
A Consultant could be an expert about absolutely anything.Calling yourself... Read More
green cleaning service Park Ridge ..There are many schools of thought on how to build... Read More
Writing can be fraught at the best of times but... Read More
As you write the outline for your next article, there... Read More
Marketing on the internet can be a costly procedure, especially... Read More
The traditional print media newsletter is still useful even in... Read More
Advertisements are one of the biggest indicators of a magazine's... Read More
Many people which in online business world find difficulties in... Read More
Feeling uninspired? Like you're stuck in a rut with your... Read More
If you write web content, it may be a mystery... Read More
Here's a depressing fact if you sell anything on the... Read More
Writing articles, and promoting them for publication, is one of... Read More
One of my subscribers writes 'I can't hold my tongue... Read More
Writing articles that are available for reprint is an excellent... Read More
If you are going to be writing articles to promote... Read More
Writing articles is possibly the best way to generated free... Read More
Do you know why the "Chicken Soup for the Soul"... Read More
The Whole reason you write those articles is so you... Read More
Whether you own your own affiliate website, or subscription website,... Read More
Knowing exactly what an editor wants.Unfortunately, many new writers struggle... Read More
I recently became aware that promoting your web site in... Read More
Understanding the rules of correct formatting for online articles will... Read More
Recently I interviewed Kevin Bidwell of All-In-One-Business.com on some of... Read More
Writing a great deal of articles myself, I see a... Read More
SEO writing is very different from content writing, article writing,... Read More
In order to answer the question I've just asked in... Read More
Article Writing |