I’ve been a full-time freelancer since 1997, and in the last 13 years I’ve come up with tons of little tips and tricks for getting more assignments, writing faster, and generally making the freelancing life easier. Here are my top 13.
1. Stop a Rambler
At the end of almost every interview I ask, “Is there anything …… Click here to keep reading…
Dec 27, 2010 Advice, Interviewing, Marketing, Motivation, Observations, productivity
I offer to bust readers’ excuses for not pitching magazines — or, if they’re pitching, for approaching only low/no-pay pubs. If you have an excuse you’d like me to bust, you can send it to lindaformichelli@gmail.com.
Here’s Janet’s excuse: I really want to make it as a freelance writer, but I’m afraid of interviewing people! I …… Click here to keep reading…
Nov 29, 2010 Advice, Bust My Excuse, Interviewing, Motivation
I offer to bust readers’ excuses for not pitching magazines — or, if they’re pitching, for approaching only low/no-pay pubs. (By the way, if you have an excuse you’d like me to bust, you can send it to lindaformichelli@gmail.com.)
Jessica wrote to me about her excuse: Contacting interviewees before I’ve gotten the assignment to get quotes …… Click here to keep reading…
Jun 7, 2010 Advice, Bust My Excuse, Interviewing, Query letters, Sources
I’ve been reading Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath and Dan Heath. It’s a fascinating look at how we tend to make decisions with our emotional minds rather than with our rational minds, and how we can unite those two minds to create big changes.
One of the ideas for …… Click here to keep reading…
Mar 29, 2010 Advice, Interviewing, Marketing, Motivation, Query letters, Writing
This guest post is by Elaine Grant, a former editor at Inc. magazine, a longtime freelance writer, and the health and science reporter for New Hampshire Public Radio.
I’ve now taught my eight-week class, “Magazine Writing Basics,” several times. And I’ve noticed a pattern: my students tend to get stuck when they get to that point …… Click here to keep reading…
Sep 3, 2009 Interviewing, Observations
