Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer - Moira Allen

By Tracy -



Released January 2011

www.writing-world.com

I've been a freelance writer for four years. Much of the information put forth in Moira Allen's guide is going to help a newbie. She covers the basics and delves into more advanced topics. However, the main focus of the book seemed to be on magazine writing and even manuscripts. She really didn't delve much into writing web content. That's where I make my money.

What you get out of Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer is really based on what you plan to write. I've dabbled in magazine writing, but honestly, waiting for the pay to arrive doesn't fit my needs. My husband pays the majority of the bills, my income is simply there to cover groceries, gas and unexpected expenses. Not everyone is in that situation, so your needs are likely to be different.

I prefer a steady paycheck that comes in once a week as promised. That's why I stick to SEO work. There are downsides there too. Work loads can be sporadic. In addition, if you're creating the content for a specific website and they ask for 25 articles on virtually the same topic, it can get tedious. You have to learn to be creative.

Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer is divided into sections:
  • Getting Started
  • Starting Your Article
  • Finding the Right Markets
  • Queries and Submissions
  • Rights and Contracts
  • The Online Writer (Focuses on building a website and blogging)
  • Expanding Your Writing Business
  • Commercial Freelancing (This briefly covers writing web content)
  • Taking the Plunge
Many of the questions writers struggle with are answered. The author covers issues like contracts and taxes. She details how to come up with an idea that magazines will buy. Guest authors appear throughout the book offering additional insight. Peter Bowerman is a name most freelance writers immediately recognize. He shares a few tips. She also does a great job with queries and provides many links to other helpful websites. For that reason, I highly recommend this book.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

By Tracy -
Image
 Release Date - October 6, 2020 If there's one thing I needed right now, it was something light and fun. Between news stories, family health matters, the ongoing pandemic, and the topics I research for work, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. In a Holidaze was a heavy dose of exactly what I needed. Rush to get your hands on this engaging holiday romance. College friends gather with their families every year for the holidays. Maelyn Jones, her parents, and her younger brother are back for another gathering, but this year is different. They learn that the Hollis family is going to sell their vacation home. Mae's already having a tough time with a job that's not what she expected. She's never told Andrew Hollis how she really feels about him. After learning this could be their last Christmas together, her family is in a car crash. She wakes up on the plane days earlier with Christmas week ahead of her. Something is going on. December 21st keeps happening over and over
Read more

Happy Haul-idays from Chronicle Books

By Tracy -
With the holidays approaching faster than many of us would like, it's time for Chronicle Books "Happy Haul-idays" contest. For those who didn't hear of this amazing festivity last year, Chronicle awards one lucky reader and one lucky book review blogger with the chance to win $500 in books. This year, they're adding a third winner - the blogger chooses a favorite charity to receive $500 in free books. Most children and adults love books, so if you're anything like me, the thought of $500 in free books is enough to make me giddy! However, I learned about 10 years ago that not every child receives encouragement to read. My neighbor's son was 10 years old and had bounced from school to school without learning how to read more than toddler books. His reading and spelling skills were atrocious. By spending a lot of time in our house surrounded by books, he discovered Gary Paulsen's books and developed a passion for reading. The Children's Literacy Fou
Read more

Farewell Floppy by Benjamin Chaud

By Tracy -
Release Date - March 2015 Benjamin Chaud Chronicle Kids Farewell Floppy is a reissue. The original release was in 2010, under the French title Adieu Chassette . This poignant tale tells the story of a boy and his rabbit. Fans of The Velveteen Rabbit may find a lot to love in Floppy's story. Figuring it unfair to keep his rabbit, the boy wanders deep in the woods where he plans to leave Floppy behind. Floppy can start a new, happy life with other rabbits and wildlife. Only, when Floppy actually leaves, the boy has changed his mind. It may be too late to get his best friend back. Not only has Benjamin Chaud written a poignant tale about pets being more than pets, he's also illustrated it beautifully. Colorful images paint the story, so even for children who cannot yet read, they'll still be able to look at the pictures and get an idea of what is happening on each page. 
Read more