Las Vegas Writer’s Group
August 18, 2011
Guest Speakers: Carol Patton and Jan Hogan on “The Business of Freelance Writing”
Author Olin Miller once said, “Writing is the hardest way of earning a living, with the possible exception of wrestling alligators.” LVWG Organizer Richard Warren led off the meeting with the apt quote and then opened the floor for announcements.
Announcements
Yvette Sams announced that she is hosting a party at her house on Sept 10.
Ellen Sterling then announced that Yvette just published “Helicopter Parents Guide to Surviving Senior Year” (it’s available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.com)
Morgan St. James announced that she had two books come out this month, “Writer’s Tricks of the Trade” (see and the third book in her Silver Sister series.
John Getter announced that volume three of his Moonwalker Series was just released.
Mike Schrenk was recently interviewed by the BBC and NPR of Southern California and is seeking tips about doing radio interviews.
Program Director Lindsey Wright introduced the night’s first speaker Jan Hogan (see attached bio). Jan started off by admitting that she “stumbled into freelancing” while thinking she was going to write the next great American novel. What she quickly found out was that book publishers like a writer with credentials, which magazine writing can provide. She suggested that there are two ways to get a magazine assignment:
1)Think of an idea and shop it around.
2)Or, research specific magazines and determine what they like/need.
“You don’t have to know about a topic to write about it,” she advised. (The internet makes research easy.)
See Jan’s hand-out (attached) re: query letter writing. She closed with some advised about interviewing and getting to editors.
1)Have 70% of your article done before contacting experts.
2)Don’t ask your experts fact questions. Do your research ahead of time and ask them how they feel about the fact/issue #1, #2, etc.
3)When you think you’re done, read your article aloud.
4)Always meet deadlines.
5)Put your ego aside when receiving feedback.
6)If you’re having trouble finding and editor’s name or e-mail address, pick up the phone and call the magazine. Ask the receptionist who he/she thinks is the best person to contact.
Then Carol Patton joined Jan on stage (see her attached bio). Her opening advise about being a freelance writer? “Don’t think like a writer. Think like a small business owner.” Diversify and explore various markets. Magazine writing, although good for credential building and exposure, is not the only freelance writing gig in the marketplace. Consider offering your services for corporate press releases, PowerPoint presentations, training documentation, etc.
One question Carol has been asked by newbies trying to break into a freelance career is, ‘Should I work for free?’ She said writing for free is sometimes a good way to get some initial clips published, but remember to “think like a small business owner” and evaluate your ROI (return on investment). “Value your writing,” she advised, “or no one else will.”
When accepting (or chasing!) an assignment, Carol said you should evaluate 3 Criteria:
1)Does it build my experience?
2)Does it give me new/additional exposure?
3)Is the pay worth it?
Freelance writing can pay anywhere from ten cents to two dollars a word. Better negotiation leads to better pay. Be bold and ask for another assignment. But be careful working for new magazines. In her career as a freelancer she has seen many go out of business in less than a year and never pay. “Everybody has different red flags and green lights. Trust your gut.”
Carol advised anyone trying to make a living as a freelance writer to schedule a specific and regular block of time each week to research the market and market your services. Her and Jan then opened the floor for questions.
Q — What marketing strategies have proven to work best?
A — Carol likes to send non-denominational holiday cards to editors she wants to work with again. When she learns personal information about them (birthdays, children, promotions, etc.) she writes it down and keeps it in a file so she can drop a pleasant e-mail at the appropriate time. “Be assertive. Send query ideas too.”
Q — Why would you turn down an assignment?
A — Sometimes, if you need the work, you can’t. For Carol, she generally avoids start-ups and editors who micro-manage or who repeatedly expand a project with no additional compensation.
This month’s Quiz Master was Ellen Sterling. The theme was the dog days of August.
Next month: Andrew Kiraly on “The Unique Joy of Deleting 20,000 Words: How to Break Your Manuscript”. Writers always talk about creating. What about deleting?
Meeting Notes compiled by:
Eric J. Miller
Meeting Hand-outs attached
August 18, 2011
The Las Vegas Writers Group presents
Jan Hogan
on
Freelance Writing: How to Write a Great Query Letter
Jan Hogan was a freelance writer for 10 years while her children were young. She was published in magazines such as Adirondack Life, Dog Fancy, Law & Order, Paw Prints, AAA’s Via and Astronomy’s sister publication Night Sky. Two of her articles were re-printed in college text books. She was also a regular contributor to Casino Journal, Nevada Hospitality and Nevada Woman, which made her use a pen name as well as her own because she was used to often.
Then an editor from the Review-Journal called her and offered her a job – a real one, with real hours and a real paycheck. That was on Christmas Eve, 1999. Talk about a Christmas present!She has been an award-winning writer for the company’s View papers ever since, covering community news.She is also the as-told-to writer of "Under the Gun in Iraq," published by Prometheus Books in 2007.In the evening, she writes fiction. Hogan was a winner in Writer’s Digest’s 2010 annual fiction contest. She also writes screen plays andone of her scripts is currently being read at DreamWorks
The Query letter/email
Makes a first impression – so make it a good one. Be sure to spell check it and read it aloud. Put yourself in the mindset of the editor at the magazine – is this a viable topic for their readership? Make sure you’ve covered all the bases before hitting “send.”
A good query letter captures the attention of the editor right off the bat:
Las Vegasis going to the dogs. Why? Because there’s no more sneaking King or Bear into your hotel room.
Major properties on the famous Strip are flinging their doors open wide for canine pets with their new program, PetStay.
Set the stage and offer research to support your topic/slant.
According toGallup, 44 percent of Americans own a dog. With more than 40 million visitors a year, Las Vegas plays hosts to a large number of travelers who are pet owners.
Why is this important now – promote it as a timely issue. Timely topics get a faster response than an evergreen story.
Never before in the party city’s history have major resorts openly accepted travelers’ pooches on their property.
Pitch the piece. Give an idea of what it’ll cover.
I’m proposing an article on this new program. And plan to cover:
What prompted this new policy? How have their grounds been adapted to be dog friendly?
Will only certain rooms be designed as dog appropriate? Under what restrictions will dog owners be held? What do other hotel patrons have to say about riding the elevator with a furry guest?
Spell out the business end of the deal.
I can provide the article within three weeks of assignment, at any word count you specify. Should you require photos, I can arrange for a free lance photographer to provide them separately.
Perhaps a good sidebar could have veterinarians advise on preparing your dog for travel.
Note: If you plan to approach other magazines with the same topic but in a different slant, that is perfectly acceptable. You do not need to advise the editor. You can, however, ask for a response by such-and-such a date and if no response, by then, you’ll offer it to another publication. If you get no response by your deadline date, offer it to another publication.
But …
If you found a number of publications that might want the story and you’re approaching them all at the same time, add a line noting that (this is a simultaneous query.) The first one to bite gets the story.
Tell why you’re qualified to write this.
My writing credits include … (name publications here)
Any awards in writing? Put them here
Give your contact info.
The best way to reach me is …
August 18, 2011
The Las Vegas Writers Group presents
Carol Patton
on
Freelance Writing: The Ten Commandments of Freelance Writing
Carol Patton started freelancing in 1987 while working full time. She became a full time freelance writer back in 1995, works from home, and has written more than 1,000 published articles, five guidebooks and a short fiction story about her dog, the cardiologist.
You may recognize Carol as a long-time Las Vegas Writers Group member and the friendly face that greets you when you come to meetings.
Ten Commandments of Freelance Writing
- Market, market, market. Spend one day or afternoon each week pitching story ideas to editors. Even though they may not assign the story, it still puts your name in front of them and may land you other assignments. Also explore other ways to keep in touch like mailing nondenominational holiday cards.
- Learn to accept rejection. Rejection is a way of life for freelance writers. You may be assigned four stories by one editor but turned down 10 times by another. That’s the nature of the beast. There’s only one thing you can count on: The more queries you send to editors, the higher your chances are of getting assignments.
- Never assume. Each editor has his/her own writing style. One editor may love your story leads, another may not. Get to know the editor’s preferences by reading back issues and write stories that match the writing style and tone of the magazine.
- Never - unless you’re dead - turn a story in late. Even if ETs kidnap you, they probably have access to email. Editors have responsibilities and timelines to follow. They routinely work with people whom they can rely on and trust.
- Produce accurate and clean copy. While every story is edited, no editor will hire you again if your story requires major edits or rewrites. Turn in clean copy. Use spell check. Read your story out loud to catch mistakes. Make sure the names of your sources and the company they work for are accurately spelled. Include research to beef up the story’s premise. Check your grammar. Is your lead catchy?
- Respect an editor’s opinion and edits. It’s hard to see a story that you’ve worked on for weeks be torn apart. Editors may change your favorite lead, restructure your story or eliminate people’s quotes. While you can certainly make suggestions, your loyalty is to the actual story, not your ego. Always remember that editors are the boss and the ones who submit your invoice for payment. What they say, goes.
- Avoid complaining. After reviewing your story, an editor may ask for more content, another quote, or additional research. Do it. This is not the time to be lazy. More than likely, the editor found a hole or two in your story. Respond to the questions within the editor’s time frame.
- Focus on experience, exposure or opportunity. If you’re new to freelancing, ignore the payment. No one starts out at the top. Start building your portfolio by accepting assignments that give you writing experience, expose you to new markets, or present you with opportunities for different writing projects, such as marketing collateral.
- Maintain consistent hours. Freelancing is a business. No one would shop at Macy’s if the store was open different hours each day. Likewise, editors need to be able to reach you during traditional office hours.
Market, market, market. While this was already mentioned, it bears repeating. Without steady marketing, your freelance business will resemble a roller coaster. Unless you can afford to live without a paycheck for a month or two, constant marketing is the only way to routinely keep checks coming in the mail.
Words of Freelancing Wisdom
Q & A with LVWG Member and Writer
Marc David
Marc David is a veteran journalist whose writing career spans three decades, during which time he has covered the sports spectrum from heavyweight boxing champions to the Olympics. Throughout his career, or perhaps in spite of it, he has managed to run every day.
A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Marc now resides in Chandler, Arizona, where he writes for a weekly newspaper. He has published two books, The Addicted Runner and Available Male Tale, which are available through his website,
What kind(s) of freelance writing do you do and for how long have you been doing it?
It varies for me from time to time. From September through May I write a sports column for a west Texas daily newspaper. I worked for the newspaper until March 2008, and offered to compile College Notes weekly column for them which they accepted. I have done other writing projects for them as well for some small weeklies in Nevada.
What is your full-time job?
I write for a small weekly newspaper in Coolidge, AZ. On small weeklies one has to be prepared to write on everything and that is what I do -- police reports, profiles, school happenings, sports, etc. I have come full cycle since I have worked for newspapers the size of the Review-Journal. But writing is writing, so it is all good.
Briefly describe your typical writing/working schedule.
How many hours per day/week do you perform each?
Anyone who writes for a newspaper of any size will say it is hard to pinpoint specific hours. I am "scheduled" to work 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays but that is not how it goes in the newspaper business. While you are having LVWG meeting Thursday evening, I will be attending a public hearing in Coolidge where the topic will be a private prison to be built there. I will go home and work on my story. Eight days later, the high school football season starts so I will cover Coolidge High's opener that starts at 7 p.m. This is the way it goes in newspaper business. I am supposed to do a 40-44 hour work week which fairly accurately states amount of time I work. But I have never one to count minutes or hours on any job.
What tips, suggestions, or advice do you have for someone who wants to moonlight as a freelance writer?
First and foremost, identify potential clients andthen know why the work you offer is better than what someone else might. Once people can identify with your writing, you have a giant leg up on others. I had a good relationship with my employer and superiors when I wrote for the west Texas daily and they knew me to be reliable and able to work efficiently so when I pitched the idea of me writing when I left the newspaper they were receptive. It has been a relationship that has benefited them and me. There is nothing more important for a freelance writer than his/her reputation. Also, those who call on me know that I rarely turn down an opportunity to write a story regardless of the subject.
Thanks for sharing, Marc!
Words of Freelancing Wisdom
from LVWG Member and Freelance Writer
Anna Huddleston
Anna Huddleston is an award-winning writer specializing in travel and trade shows. Her work has appeared in several national publications, including Food and Wine, Cooking Light, and Exhibitor magazine as well as the Las Vegas Review Journal. She also edits a resource for trade show and event professionals. Find her on Twitter @Anna_Huddleston.
How long have you been working as a freelance writer?
I've been freelancing for about five years. It's my primary source of income.