Make A REAL LIVING as a Freelance Writer: How To Win Top Writing Assignments

by Jenna Glatzer

Step-by-step instructions on how writers can earn top dollar writing for magazines are provided in this book. Secrets are revealed about what the high-paying magazines really want, how to build relationships with editors, how to ascertain which sections of a magazine are open to freelancers, what kinds of stories are in demand, what to do if a deadbeat publisher doesn’t pay up, how to market reprints, and how to become an expert in one’s chosen writing field. Basic terms like query, clips, and source sheet are defined for beginning writers, and tips on everything from coming up with an idea to pitching a syndicated column are also included. Writers learn about the little-known sources top freelancers use to find new stories and experts. In addition, they learn how to get their first paying assignments even if they have no prior clips, how to negotiate for better pay, how to find high-paying magazines that aren’t swamped with queries, and how to worm their way into editors’ inboxes even if their e-mail addresses aren’t publicized.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Business

176 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Jenna Glatzer is an award-winning full-time writer who's written 28 books and hundreds of articles.

Her main writing interests are biographies and memoirs, and she often writes about health and parenting. She also loves writing for children, as well as writing humor essays and personal essays.

She's Celine Dion's authorized biographer and the author of The Marilyn Monroe Treasures, authorized by Monroe's estate.

Visit her website at www.jennaglatzer.com.

Reviews

[Anastasija · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title can be valuable even today (after 21 years of first publishing). It can serve as foundational guidance on freelance writing, besides the outdated elements, like the specific market recommendations and the technological references. However, the core principles remain relevant. So, for more recent information, you might want to supplement it with newer resources and industry updates.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you can wade through the dated material (yes she actually wrote IF you have an Internet connection, spoke about her cassette recorder and dedicated fax line) there is a lot of good information that is still relevant.

I liked her section about generating ideas and different angles to the topic. I also thought her information about markets and how to study these markets is helpful. Some of the information about assignments is useful but she mentioned talking on the phone with editors. I've been freelance writing for three years for lots of publications and never once have I discussed an assignment on the phone with an editor.

Overall I liked the book and I even thought the dated information was interesting (shows how the freelance writer's job has changed).

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book came out in 2004, and I'm sure it was cutting-edge then ... but a lot of the websites listed in her book no longer exist or have changed greatly in the last 10 years, not to mention freelancing via the Web. The book felt very dated and could stand to use a huge update.

The author also uses a fair bit of foul language and questionable writing examples. Maybe they work for the magazines she reads and writes for, but I didn't find them professional. (I'm also looking at a very different target market.)

The writing/creative assignments to get the brain thinking were good and probably the most helpful aspect of the book; the rest I could leave.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read -- a lot of common sense information about how to get started with queries, forging relationships with editors and how to maximize your exposure to a wide variety of publications. Interesting read for anyone interested in what it would take to establish a freelance writing career.

[Chryselle · Rating 3 out of 5]

re-reading this for the 3rd or 4th time.

[Rena Sherwood · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is now sadly out of date. Much of the information presented is worthless for the modern freelance writer.