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The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success
Written by two freelancers who broke the rules to win the game, this handbook contains a wealth of information for writers who are frustrated by the seemingly limited ways to operate in the freelance market. It explains that freelancers can negotiate for more money and better terms without risking their careers, shows that editors are not the writer-gobbling monsters many freelancers fear, and explains how to establish and foster work relationships. In this updated second edition there are more ideas, more rules to break, and more resources to get started, including a suite of appendixes covering topics such as contract procedures, getting paid, services for freelancers, generating ideas, and doing research. As inspiration, the book includes examples of real writers who have gone against "expert" advice and flourished. Being shy doesn't pay, and following the rules puts a writer in a long line of other sheep; with this text as a guide, writers can step out of the herd and build a successful business in a crowded market.
206 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2003
46 people are currently reading
435 people want to read
About the author
Linda Formichelli
31 books25 followersLinda Formichelli is a freelance writer in Los Angeles. She spent 25 years writing for top publications and brands, from Good Housekeeping and Inc. magazines to Best Buy and Intel. She's also the author or coauthor of a dozen books, including the classic The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
October 9, 2008
A freelance writing friend of mine recommended this book to me. I was glad she did because at first I thought I could really use the material in here, but the more I read it, I discovered the advice wasn't all that revolutionary or necessary for the kind of writing I want to spend my life doing.
If your goal is to write for money - as in, write ANYTHING for money - then this book is good for you. There's excellent tips on wheelin' and dealin' with editors and snagging multiple assignments in the many magazine markets that exist. But if you're out there to try to become a more literary writer and create meaningful pieces that are artistic, informative, and publishable - or even if you just want to write pieces that are FUN and challenging and unordinary - then I'm not sure this book helps much. You're better off buying a craft book or reading the Best American Nonfiction anthologies for ideas and inspiration.
I got the feeling that the authors of "The Renegade Writer" are only concerned (and assume their readers are only concerned) with fluff pieces - how to's, self-help, and chewed up, spit-out, reworked copy that anyone can do if they have a telephone, a computer, and half a brain. That may be the hopeful thing you can gather from reading this book - that is, people who think they cannot write for a living can learn that they can and it doesn't require much effort other than time. They can also learn how to get editors' attention, which may be the most difficult thing for freelance writers starting out.
Whereas there are some good tips in here for breaking down doors at an editor's office, I didn't really find anything that "renegade" about it. Maybe people who have already read a dozen other how-to-freelance books would enjoy this because it talks a lot about breaking rules and myths I've never heard of or have considered following. (But then again, I may not be the target market for this book because I've worked in newspapers before.) The rules may also not make sense or will sound a little outdated for younger writers, too, who may not even know what a "Writer's Market" is.
The ideas for writing are bland, but there are some good tips for reworking articles you didn't write into something you can publish for a different market (again, not the kind of writing that puts you up for a Pulitzer).
Also, the cheeky girl talk from the authors gets really annoying after a while, and it makes them sound dumber than I think they are, but perhaps that's an effort to attract the market this is best for - those looking to break it big into Cosmo a la The Devil Wears Prada dream.
I'll keep this on my book shelf for rainy day querying questions, but otherwise it's going to gather some dust.
If your goal is to write for money - as in, write ANYTHING for money - then this book is good for you. There's excellent tips on wheelin' and dealin' with editors and snagging multiple assignments in the many magazine markets that exist. But if you're out there to try to become a more literary writer and create meaningful pieces that are artistic, informative, and publishable - or even if you just want to write pieces that are FUN and challenging and unordinary - then I'm not sure this book helps much. You're better off buying a craft book or reading the Best American Nonfiction anthologies for ideas and inspiration.
I got the feeling that the authors of "The Renegade Writer" are only concerned (and assume their readers are only concerned) with fluff pieces - how to's, self-help, and chewed up, spit-out, reworked copy that anyone can do if they have a telephone, a computer, and half a brain. That may be the hopeful thing you can gather from reading this book - that is, people who think they cannot write for a living can learn that they can and it doesn't require much effort other than time. They can also learn how to get editors' attention, which may be the most difficult thing for freelance writers starting out.
Whereas there are some good tips in here for breaking down doors at an editor's office, I didn't really find anything that "renegade" about it. Maybe people who have already read a dozen other how-to-freelance books would enjoy this because it talks a lot about breaking rules and myths I've never heard of or have considered following. (But then again, I may not be the target market for this book because I've worked in newspapers before.) The rules may also not make sense or will sound a little outdated for younger writers, too, who may not even know what a "Writer's Market" is.
The ideas for writing are bland, but there are some good tips for reworking articles you didn't write into something you can publish for a different market (again, not the kind of writing that puts you up for a Pulitzer).
Also, the cheeky girl talk from the authors gets really annoying after a while, and it makes them sound dumber than I think they are, but perhaps that's an effort to attract the market this is best for - those looking to break it big into Cosmo a la The Devil Wears Prada dream.
I'll keep this on my book shelf for rainy day querying questions, but otherwise it's going to gather some dust.
March 22, 2014
To contrast with some of the other reviews I'd like to say that I'm a beginning freelancer, in fact I'm "pre-beginner" (I'm only just starting to seriously consider it), and I think that this is a really good book for beginners. This was the first book I've read on the subject and I feel like it paints a pretty realistic view of what freelancing is like in the real world, and that I've probably saved myself reading a lot of wrong advice (of which there seems to be a lot in the world) on what it's like to work as a freelance writer.
There's no sugar coating here and if what you're needing is the type of book which will give you a pat on the back and tell you "you can do it and everything will be wonderful", then this book is probably going to scare you away from the whole idea of being a freelance writer. Myself, I like to know what I'm letting myself into so that I can properly mentally prepare myself for it. I felt that this book gave me that, and additionally let me into some good tips on how to deal with the aggravating parts of the job.
Whether or not the tips are "rule-breaking", I don't know because this is the first introduction that I've had to the "rules", but as far as I can see that's the best position to be in.
There's no sugar coating here and if what you're needing is the type of book which will give you a pat on the back and tell you "you can do it and everything will be wonderful", then this book is probably going to scare you away from the whole idea of being a freelance writer. Myself, I like to know what I'm letting myself into so that I can properly mentally prepare myself for it. I felt that this book gave me that, and additionally let me into some good tips on how to deal with the aggravating parts of the job.
Whether or not the tips are "rule-breaking", I don't know because this is the first introduction that I've had to the "rules", but as far as I can see that's the best position to be in.
March 4, 2011
This book provided many practical tips for bucking convention in a freelance career. From what to write about to how to negotiate contracts, I learned a ton.
The authors are very successful writers themselves, and their stories are quite useful. Both are moms and wives, so their lives are pretty full. They fold their hobbies and activities into their writing, bringing all facets of their life into their career. While I don't especially dream about writing for Parenting or whatever baby talk rag is popular, I appreciated their down-to-earth advice.
The backgrounds of many other authors are included as well, broadening this survey. I think the most useful portion of this book will be the index, which is a treasure trove of connections and places to find and sell work.
Hint, hint, I would love to get this book for Christmas. Pick it up and your nearest book purveyor. Read it yourself first. Then pass it my way.
The authors are very successful writers themselves, and their stories are quite useful. Both are moms and wives, so their lives are pretty full. They fold their hobbies and activities into their writing, bringing all facets of their life into their career. While I don't especially dream about writing for Parenting or whatever baby talk rag is popular, I appreciated their down-to-earth advice.
The backgrounds of many other authors are included as well, broadening this survey. I think the most useful portion of this book will be the index, which is a treasure trove of connections and places to find and sell work.
Hint, hint, I would love to get this book for Christmas. Pick it up and your nearest book purveyor. Read it yourself first. Then pass it my way.
April 9, 2018
This is perhaps the most helpful book I've ever read on the subject of freelance writing. I'd read two prior to this one, and I'd allowed myself to be fooled into thinking that there were all these unwritten rules to freelance writing which I had to follow to the letter if I wanted to become successful at it. (That's me being an INTJ as usual.) "The Renegade Writer" was the book that put me back on track. It explains that yes, there are rules, and yes, they can be bent, or completely broken. I feel like I'm much more free to be "me," now, to come to freelance writing in my own way, to do it on my terms. Those are the best types of writing books, the ones that make it seem not only possible, but feasible for YOU.
May 11, 2010
A practical field guide for the freelance writer. It encourages wise rule-breaking and offers some upbeat and candid advice on starting out as a freelancer and making it work. There are oodles of appendices containing additional sources of information for writers.
My only warning is that the book was written before the recent "Great Recession." So some of the sources -- and even a couple bits of advice -- are now defunct.
My only warning is that the book was written before the recent "Great Recession." So some of the sources -- and even a couple bits of advice -- are now defunct.
November 10, 2010
Recommended by a peer...a fresh take on freelance writing best practices. Good ideas, a bit sarcastic, but certainly a fresh take on things. Not a typical "how to freelance" read. Not too surprising that this is a "hot book" at the local library.
March 30, 2008
Started reading this book last week. Great tips.
February 12, 2008
This book was given to me as a gift, and it's been very eye-opening. Freelance writing has changed so much in the past 20 years, I think this a must-read seasoned freelancers as well as new ones.
February 21, 2008
Fun and practical. Not stuffy, like many writing guides.
May 25, 2010
Excellent Book - very motivating but aimed at american market; but its ideas translate to UK
December 31, 2024
I started reading this in January 2024. Many of my freelance jobs and the publications I was writing for were closing or eliminating freelancers, so I hoped this would give me some ideas to kickstart in new directions, but by May, I had a full-time job as a journalist, which is so much less stressful than freelancing! At least for me. I finished this no longer as a freelancer. Some of the information in here is really solid, and it did give me ideas for pivoting and finding more work. Some of the info is dated. I read the latest edition, published in 2017. I became a freelance writer in Oct. 2019, months before the pandemic, and so much has changed since the author's wrote this in 2017. Still, many of the ideas are relevant. And maybe I would've been more successful as a freelancer if I'd called editors? I don't know! It never occurred to me.
December 18, 2016
I read this book years ago and it's good. It had expressed many of the ideas I had been living by for years as a writer. You have to break some of the rules to make it in the writing field! Well worth reading for anyone who wants to be a freelance writer.
February 21, 2018
If you want to write for magazines then I definitely would recommend this book. It is filled with helpful tips about pitching, getting ideas and getting paid. I would have loved a chapter about writing tips but otherwise I found the information useful.
May 7, 2017
This book makes freelancing writing tons of fun!
November 5, 2024
It was interesting. Makes it sound easy. I'll bet it's not.
November 14, 2011
Excellent resource for any freelance writer. The style is entertaining -- very engaging (without being too cute) and easy to read. The chapters take you step by step from the beginning of the process (starting out as a freelancer and planning properly before leaving your full-time job) to the end (billing and collecting your fee after you've sold and finished writing an article).
The advice in this book would have been great to have when starting out, but even as someone who's been freelancing for a couple of years (and in the magazine publishing business for quite a few more), I learned a great deal. The authors give a realistic, and very specific, idea of what editors expect. Even more valuable was learning what they might be willing to overlook -- for instance, a typo in an otherwise solid pitch).
The only nit I have to pick with this book is that it needs to be updated. The most recent edition is from 2005, and it still mentions the idea of sending a pitch to an editor via email instead of snail mail as something rather unusual.
If you're completely new to freelancing, you might want to read some of the basic references mentioned in the appendix of this book first, so you'll get to know the standard advice. Though the authors tell you to ignore much of this advice, at least some of the time, they don't advise you to dispense with it completely. And it does make sense to understand the rules before trying to break them.
You can get an idea of the what's in the book from the authors' blog of the same name.
The advice in this book would have been great to have when starting out, but even as someone who's been freelancing for a couple of years (and in the magazine publishing business for quite a few more), I learned a great deal. The authors give a realistic, and very specific, idea of what editors expect. Even more valuable was learning what they might be willing to overlook -- for instance, a typo in an otherwise solid pitch).
The only nit I have to pick with this book is that it needs to be updated. The most recent edition is from 2005, and it still mentions the idea of sending a pitch to an editor via email instead of snail mail as something rather unusual.
If you're completely new to freelancing, you might want to read some of the basic references mentioned in the appendix of this book first, so you'll get to know the standard advice. Though the authors tell you to ignore much of this advice, at least some of the time, they don't advise you to dispense with it completely. And it does make sense to understand the rules before trying to break them.
You can get an idea of the what's in the book from the authors' blog of the same name.
September 3, 2012
It may be one of those "when the student is ready, a teacher appears" moments, but The Renegade Writer spurred me into a flurry of query letters. I have been a professional writer for a very long time, but haven't actually done article writing for more than a decade. With the help of this book, I expect this to change soon.
Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell will help you cast off those cliched "rules" that many freelancers learned in the Bad Old Days. There's a ton of practical advice, told with humor and backed by years of experience from both the authors and their renegade friends and partners.
Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell will help you cast off those cliched "rules" that many freelancers learned in the Bad Old Days. There's a ton of practical advice, told with humor and backed by years of experience from both the authors and their renegade friends and partners.
March 31, 2013
A handbook to the business of being a freelance writer, rather than how to write freelance work. Plenty of common sense, as well as some good marketing and promotional tips. The best part was that it was well written; a must for any book about writing! A good skim for me rather than a full read, but it was easy to do with the headings for each tip (or rule to break), had some insight and was engaging and a pleasure to read.
September 9, 2008
The authors are enthusiastic and encouraging, but this book reads a little like a get-rich-quick scheme. Nonetheless, I did find some helpful information when it comes to generating ideas and negotiating contracts. There's a fair share of information about writing for corporations and technical publications—the authors are far from snooty and don't limit themselves to newsstand glossies.
May 22, 2016
Well, I can't say that there was TOO much unconventional wisdom in here, but consider that that's coming from me.
However, the book was very inspiring to me, in that I need to face up to my fears and start submitting articles to magazines. I may need to do more research on what's expected, but I need to get submitting, and damn the clips.
And that means that this book was a success :)
However, the book was very inspiring to me, in that I need to face up to my fears and start submitting articles to magazines. I may need to do more research on what's expected, but I need to get submitting, and damn the clips.
And that means that this book was a success :)
July 16, 2015
This book is most helpful for freelance writers who are already knee-deep in the business and looking to up their game. While I appreciated the tips and learned a good amount, this book, while a solid reference, was not what I was looking for as a beginner trying to gain a better grasp of freelance business basics.
November 5, 2012
This book would have been more helpful if it had been updated since it was released in 2005. My guess is that much of the advice re: using email and the Internet is outdated by now. I just read Writer for Hire by Kelly James-Enger, which was more up-to-date and more practical.
March 30, 2014
phenomenal book for breaking thru the noise. Does a top notch job telling you how to actually operate and write. what rules are bs and what you should look out for. Like a personal mentor. I will be going back to this book time and again. It's even better than the Stylebook.
September 28, 2014
Aspiring writers and seasoned freelancers alike will appreciate these ladies' coffee-table approach to this guide. They debunk the "rules" writers are supposed to follow and provide examples from their own careers, as well as from other freelancers they interview.
April 20, 2016
If you want to be a magazine writer, this is an amazing book. If you're looking for ways to validate NOT being a magazine writer, this is an amazing book. I'm not going to lie- I think the advice is really solid. I just don't think it applies unless you're going to write for print magazines.
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December 29, 2015Every Writer Should Read This Book!
You can't break the rules if you don't know them. This book will turn you into a Renegade Writer in no time. It covers everything from ideas to markets to interviews. If you are trying to break into magazines, read this first!
You can't break the rules if you don't know them. This book will turn you into a Renegade Writer in no time. It covers everything from ideas to markets to interviews. If you are trying to break into magazines, read this first!
August 26, 2010
I had fun reading this guide to magazine writing. The Q&A format made the structure of the contents feel a little bit scattered but overall a great resource.
February 28, 2011
An excellent resource for freelancers. Very practical; a good tip per page!
February 20, 2015
A great resource for any freelance writer looking to secure assignments and guarantee repeat business.
May 12, 2011
A really good book for the budding freelance writer. Divides the myths from reality.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews