Tip #1: TRY
1. TRY or, cast your net widely.
What do I mean? Follow up with every lead for writing opportunities. If you’re serious about freelancing, you need to build a portfolio of clips. The best way to do this is by writing many things, in many different styles. Never written for a newspaper before? Chances are, your local weekly is looking for stringers. They’ll give you small assignments, but you’ll be building clips. Want to write for a magazine? Examine its style and pitch something that would fit. The point is: keep trying, trying, trying. Consider it research, not rejection, when something doesn’t work out.
Since I’ve become an editor, I’ve mentioned to three different budding-writer friends that I had an opportunity for them. Each one was interested at first, took my work contact info and then never followed through. I’d understand if they were pursuing other assignments instead, but each one just didn’t care enough to try. Opportunities don’t usually fall in your lap; go out and find them!
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5 Responses to “Tip #1: TRY”
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[...] be sure to follow GradGirl’s advice on persistence: keep emailing these people over and over until they get back to you. You [...]
Lovely tips! Writing happens to be my passion although I’m pursuing other things.
I enjoyed reading your post.
Thanks for the kick in the pants.
An editor friend of mine gave me the same line you gave your friends. I did follow up and got a great assignment. I’m doing my second assignment from her right now.
However, I should be using these clips to look for other work, and I haven’t done it. I even was thinking of using some of the research I did for the first piece to write a related piece for another publication.
I have a lot going on, but I do feel sort of guilty that I’m not using this as a launching pad to get other clients.
Oh well. The first piece was published at the beginning of Sept. The second one will come out some time in Nov. So I guess I’m not letting the grass grow under my feet or anything.
[...] be sure to follow GradGirl’s advice on persistence: keep emailing these people over and over until they get back to you. You [...]
[...] major specifics, I told them a lot of the things I’ve written here: TRY, make an online portfolio, double-check your work!! and so [...]