“I accepted this assignment at a low rate thinking I could whip it out in an hour or so. Is it okay if I just quote from other articles instead of interviewing sources?”

No. No. No, no, no!

No matter how much you’re being paid, if you accept an assignment, your editor — rightly — expects your very best.

Your job is to only accept gigs where you know it will be worth your time to do your best work. So if taking on a low-paying assignment means you’re tempted to cut corners, then you shouldn’t do articles at that rate.

And lest you think there’s nothing in it for you, keep in mind that the editor at an el-cheapo publication may one day be the editor of your dream magazine.

Case in point: Years ago I wrote articles for a printing industry trade magazine that offered pretty low rates. I put my all into the articles, but eventually moved on as I increased my minimum rate.

A few years later, the editor I had worked with approached me via e-mail: He was now the owner of a publishing company that printed books for journalists. He had enjoyed working with me at the trade magazine and was wondering if I had any ideas for a book.

It just so happened that Diana and I had been shopping around The Renegade Writer. I sent the editor our proposal and the rest is history.

Biggest thing that ever happened in my career — and it was because I did my best work for a magazine even though it wasn’t top-of-the-line.

When you turn in an assignment, your reputation as a writer is at stake. Will you rush through the article to make a few quick bucks — or do a kick-ass job that you and your editor will be proud of?

Stick figure by Louise LeRoy. Thanks, Louise!

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Is freelancing more secure than traditional employment? That was the question asked by a 2012 survey from the MBO Partners State of Independence.

The result: 39% of respondents said independent work is more secure than traditional employment. This is up from 33% from 2011 and 15% before the recession.

The primary reason for believing independent work is more secure is that freelancers aren’t under the control of a single employer or boss and are therefore less likely to lose all their income as they would if their company closed down and they lost their job.

Being in control of your own destiny instead of at the mercy of corporate decision making certainly seems a reason to feel more secure in this volatile economic climate, but are there things you can do to make your freelance life even more stable?

As freelance writers, we all have moments of insecurity. Will we get enough clients? How many articles can we sell this month? How much income will be generated this year? Will we have enough to cover all our bill payments? All these questions can cause any freelance writer to start shaking in their boots…

…except those who have taken a few simple steps to make their freelance career more secure:

1. Have a Few Regular Clients.

Having one or two regular clients that provide you with work on a weekly or monthly basis ensures a guaranteed income. Find a topic you enjoy or know a lot about and can generate ideas for on a regular basis. Are you a dog owner? Perhaps you can write regular articles for a monthly dog magazine or pitch a pet column to a local newspaper. I used my interest in home decor to land consecutive assignments with a local newspaper’s homes section.

The trick to making regular clients your key to security is by matching your large fixed expenses (rent or mortgage payment, car payment and utilities) to the income from these great clients. Any other work you do will go towards your variable expenses (food, clothing, transportation, lifestyle) – things you can cut back on if you have a slow month. It’s hard to do and may not work out for everyone, but it’s an ideal that you can strive for.

2. Keep a Query and Idea Backlog.

Eventually, every freelancer will look at his/her schedule and realize they’re staring at a blank page. It’s time to start querying, but your brain is stuck. You can’t think of a single idea.

I like to keep a spreadsheet of ideas that I can fall back up on when times are slow. I often find it easy to think of seasonal ideas during the holiday but by the time I think of them, it’s too late to click “send,” since most magazines work months ahead, so the ideas sit in my spreadsheet awaiting the right moment.

Another way to generate a query backlog is to review media kits and editorial calendars. You may come up with five or six ideas for a single issue, but decide on one or two to send, leaving the rest for another time, or another publication.

Having a query or idea backlog also means when one idea is rejected, you’re ready to fire off the next one.

3. Have an Emergency Fund.

At the end of last year, one of my most generous editors was let go during a re-shuffling and a magazine I’d written for several times and had several article ideas lined up for closed down.

While neither one of these situations made me particularly happy, they didn’t leave me frantic about how I was going to pay my rent. The reason? I had an emergency fund to rely on when times got tough.

By setting aside some cash during high-revenue months, I was able to generate an emergency fund containing a couple months of expenses. This allowed me the luxury of time to seek out new clients to fill the void without panicking about paying my bills on time.

4. Diversify Clients.

The other reason I didn’t panic when I lost two clients last year was that I had a diversified enough revenue stream that I could step up my queries to those other publications.

This is one of the factors highlighted in the MBO survey. Because freelancers often have multiple clients and revenue streams, we’re less likely to lose all of our income as we would if we worked for only one company that suddenly closed up shop.

Take advantage of this wonderful independence and spread your employment risk across multiple publications. If one magazine folds, you have a couple others to fall back on.

I’ve found the best way to ensure I diversify my clients is to make it a habit to research one new publication each month. I’ll pick up a copy of a magazine I’ve never written for and sometimes never heard of, research the type of articles they publish, put on my brainstorming hat and fire off a couple of queries.

You never know – one of those publications could turn into your next steady client!

How have you made your freelance career more secure? Leave a comment and let us know!

Lisa Evans is a Canadian freelance writer. Visit her at http://lisa-m-evans.weebly.com.

Stick figure by Dawn Witzke. Thanks, Dawn! Writers, send me your stick figures at lindaformichelli@gmail.com!

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I’ve been writing query letters since I was 19, when I sent out pitches to the likes of Penguin Press, assuming they would immediately buy my novel and scribble out a check for an enormous advance. I’m sure you know how that turned out. A tiny rejection slip of paper appeared in my mailbox a few months later.

More than a dozen years later, I’m still writing query letters, only now I get more “yes’s” than “no’s” and my work appears in guidebooks, websites, iPhone apps, and national and regional magazines.

Sure, I’ve mastered how to write an effective query letter, but more importantly, I’ve learned how to position myself for lifelong success.

The ability to craft a compelling query letter means you’ve figured out how to sell something: Yourself. It’s not just about selling your idea or credentials to an editor — a query letter announces you are capable and deserving of an assignment. And if you can write an effective query letter, you can tap a pool of success across your career and life as a whole.

Is it magic? Well, suddenly writing a cover letter for a new job just doesn’t seem so hard. Drafting persuasive emails to rally donations for your favorite organization now feels seamless. Going freelance and convincing potential clients to hire you feels like a fun challenge instead of a dreadful experience akin to coaxing a cat into water. Emailing an unbelievable story about what happened to you over the weekend to a friend yields compliments of what a great storyteller you are.

Something else happens when you master query writing: You gain a certain sense of confidence and self. You develop a keen sense of when your query is spot on with the writing style and reach of the publication you’re targeting. You stop typing with a feeling of closure instead of frustration, knowing you’ve done all you can do to write the best query possible. And you know if your idea is rejected, it has more to do with the timing or other factors than your query or writing as a whole.

Writing a good query also means earning better rejections. I still get rejected frequently, only now a rejection is an information packed gem. Consider the difference between getting a quality query rejected, but with useful feedback, and getting a form letter rejection that starts “Dear Writer.”

Editors who notice your writing skill, quality ideas and ingenuity in a query are more likely to offer real feedback. You find out why they didn’t like the piece, why they’re passing on it and if they have any advice. A rejection can also swing a door open to touch base with the editor again.

I’ve always wondered why more writers don’t launch query letter writing groups and workshops instead of just focusing on the story. Testing your article idea with a query saves an extraordinary amount of time and headaches.

And in most cases, you don’t need to write the article before pitching an editor anyway. More often than not, it’s better if you don’t. The editor can tweak your idea and make suggestions accordingly.

But don’t confuse a good query letter unlocking all kinds of career doors as an easy task. Writing a good query usually proves more difficult than writing the piece itself. You need a careful balance of objectivity about your idea, persuasive but subtle selling skills, and insight to the publication to get the formula down just right. It takes even longer to skillfully put it all together without losing your unique voice.

I’ve got good news and bad news, and they’re both the same thing. The only way to write a sparkling, actionable query is by diligent practice — and anyone can do it. Start regarding query letter writing as a craft in and of itself. It’s just as important, if not more so, to hone your query craft as it is to develop your essay or travel or citizen journalism writing skills.

A query letter instructor once told me anyone can train to write a good query, just like almost anyone can train for a marathon. Aspiring marathoners don’t wake up one day and run 26.2 miles. And while good query letter writing is about practice and dedication, it’s also partly intuitive, which can also be learned.

The more you write, rewrite and rewrite your query yet again, the more you get a sense of its tone, if it’s flowing and where the holes are. You start to see where it’s dragging or snapping the reader to attention. And as you send out your dog-eared queries to editors, you get a feeling of what’s working and what’s not based on their feedback and response.

So how do you master query letter writing? No one writer or query is the same, but the techniques and skillset involved are similar. Here’s the method I usually follow, though I’m known to break my own rules to nail down a query just right.

1. Write a Captivating Hook

You need to give an editor a reason in the very first sentence to keep reading. Think about it this way. If you wanted to make a great impression on a future boss, would you show up to an interview in sweats and nothing interesting to say? So why would you treat your query opening as anything less than a crucial step in making a first impression?

When Trisha Ledbetter’s football sailed through the air and slipped out of the opposing team’s quarterback, I knew she was more than just an athlete. She was a force to be reckoned with.

2. Build up to the Idea

Don’t jump from the lede to, “I’d like to write an article about Trisha Ledbetter, college football star.” The editor needs a little context to your idea to want to read the entire article.

Who is this Trisha person? Why is she important? Why would readers care about her? What’s unique about her beyond being a football player? Did she win awards? Was she the first on her team?

3. Make Sure Your Story Is Actually An Idea

I previously served as an Associate Editor at a travel website, and I can’t tell you how many submissions I received that were just destinations. “I’m going to Puerto Rico and want to write a piece about it.” Well, okay, but that’s a destination, not a story.

Try something like, “With female football players now recruited into college sports, where can they turn after graduation to fulfill their athletic dreams of turning pro?”

4. Tell the Editor What You Want

Start a new paragraph and tell the editor exactly what you want. Don’t make her guess you want to write a feature. And remember it’s not always clear from the masthead if the editor you’re contacting works on features or not. She could end up reading your query about your feature idea and pass it onto an appropriate editor.

If the editor doesn’t think it will work the way you have in mind, she will tell you and make suggestions if interested. You won’t miss out on an opportunity because you got specific, you’re simply clarifying your vision and helping along the process.

Get specific. “I’d love to write a feature on Trish Ledbetter and the rise of female football players tackling the competition as early as elementary school.”

If the editor wants it to be a scant FOB (front of book) piece instead of a feature, she’ll tell you. If she hates the idea but thinks you’d be right for a similar sports-themed piece, she will tell you. If she just ran something like it, but wants you to pitch again, she will tell you.

Trust the editor to do her job, but you have to do yours as a writer.

5. Give Your Credentials

I know. For new and aspiring writers, this one will make you break into a sweat. If you have clips, include them. But if you don’t, avoid apologizing for it or begging for an assignment. It’s a huge turn-off and editors will hit delete. Instead, give insight into why you should write the piece.

“Breaking barriers as the first high school female football coach in my state, I’m uniquely qualified to give insight on Trisha’s challenges and triumphs.”

6. Say Thanks

Editors are busy. Everyone wants to hear a simple “thanks.” “Thanks so much for your time, I can be reached at (your info here) at your convenience.”

So if the list above looks straightforward enough, that’s because it is. But the real sparks fly when you bring fluidity and storytelling to your query. And you can easily achieve such compelling writing by…practicing.

Practice every day until writing a query letter feels like winning a well-deserved gold. Make your query letter as interesting, compelling and exciting to read as any article or story you’ll ever write.

Susan Finch is a freelance writer specializing in travel, lifestyle, and multimedia projects. Sign-up for a chance to win a free query letter critique with Susan at WordGlam.com.

Stick figure by Dawn Witzke. Thanks, Dawn! Renegades…submit your stick figures to lindaformichelli@gmail.com!

It’s hard to get an assignment from a magazine when you have no previously published articles to show the editor.

And it’s hard to get any article clips if you can’t get an assignment.

Often, when I meet writers like this, they’ll tell me they’ve got an idea on how to break out of this cycle. They’ll proudly announce:

“I’m going to just create a few articles and put them on my website to be my samples.”

Then they put up their samples, reference them in query letters…and nothing happens. No assignments materialize.

The fake sample articles didn’t do the trick.

Which is why I don’t advocate that writers create their own samples, sitting alone by their computers, with no input from anybody.

To understand the reason, let’s look at the difference between your self-created sample and an article that gets published in a magazine.

How articles get published

A real article has an editor.

You pitch your idea and it gets accepted.

Then you research, interview, write and submit your draft.

Then the editor often suggests changes to it. Maybe asks you to call a source back and ask them one more question.

Finally, the publication deems it worthy of including in their magazine and publishes it.

When you put a clip like that in your portfolio, it proves something.

You were able to work with an editor and please them with your writing. This reassures other editors that you will be able to come through on assignments for them, too.

Two problems with your made-up samples

When you write your own article, no one approved your idea, edited your story, or made the decision that it was ready to appear in print.

So it doesn’t prove anything much about your abilities to work as a professional article writer. It does not impress anyone that you could deliver a great article for their publication.

The other reason to not dream up your own samples in a vacuum is a that having an editor will help make your piece better.

I know, a lot of writers hate editors, but truly, it’s rare that I don’t find my piece improved by the editor’s input.

Often, that help starts with refining the idea into a sharper story angle, writing a great headline, and improving the chances that when you write it, people will want to read it.

When you write your own sample, you miss all that — and often, the result is a less-compelling article.

Two ways to get a legit sample

There are two better ways to get samples that will do a much better job convincing prospects to hire you:

1) Mine your past. Many writers tell me they have “no” clips, only to later add that they wrote for the company newsletter for years, or their college alumni magazine years back.

I don’t know why writers think work they did at a day job can’t count as a writing sample…but it does! I use samples from my staff-writer days all the time.

Get those pieces made into a PDF, scan it up on your site, and presto! You’ve got proof you’ve written something for a customer, even if that customer was your full-time boss.

Also, those clips from your long-ago marketing job — or from the newspapers you wrote for two babies ago — are not too old. There’s no such thing! I routinely send out decade-old clips if they show an expertise I need for an assignment.

I hear a lot of excuses from writers about their inability to locate old clips. Be resourceful! You’d be surprised what’s bouncing around the Internet, and how many companies have a marketing morgue where old campaigns or company newsletters might still be lurking about.

2) Do a pro bono project. If you truly don’t have any past writing work that would serve as a good writing sample, then you need to find a client to give you an assignment.

Approach a legitimate market — a charity newsletter, for instance, or a small local daily or business weekly — and tell them you’re looking to add a few clips to your portfolio in a particular topic. You don’t have to tell them you don’t have any samples yet.

What they have to agree to is that they won’t tell anyone you did this article for free. If they like it, they have to promise to give you a testimonial to help you get future clients.

For instance, when I first moved up to Seattle and felt no one knew me here, I wrote a few volunteer articles for the newspaper put out by my regional library system. That gave me local clips and helped establish me as a writer working in the Northwest. I never mentioned the pieces were unpaid, and no one ever asked me.

Put a couple-three volunteer projects under your belt, and the next thing you know, you’re ready to pitch your work anywhere.

It only takes a few articles, and then you’ll never have to be afraid to pitch your dream magazine because “I don’t have any clips” again.

How did you get your first samples? Leave a comment and tell us how you got it done.

Congratulations to Rachel Frank, who won the Renegade Writer contest for $125 worth of free proofreading or editing services from ProofreadingServices.com. Rachel, shoot me an email and I’ll send you the code to claim your prize! And for all other Renegades, ProofreadingSevices.com is offering a 30% discount with this code: RENEGADE30. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Stick figure by W. Eric Martin. Thanks, Eric!

Gain the confidence to break into magazines, write kick-ass articles, and earn more — a $30,000 J school education for much, much less — and in just 4 weeks!

A good Letter of Introduction (LOI) is a powerful way to build relationships with editors and prospects and get gigs.

The bad news is — many writers are missing out on a great opportunity by sending out weak LOIS.

Here are the top four LOI sins that can cause an editor to pass on you:

Mistake 1: Being unoriginal

I’ve been noticing lately a lot of writers posting their Letters of Introduction on the Freelance Writers Den — and they’re almost word for word the same as the one I’ve posted there and here on the blog as an example of one that worked.

I know…when you’re starting out, you need all the help you can get, and it’s comforting being able to model your work after that of a writer who’s been there. In fact, when I first started out in 1997, I modeled my copywriting sales letter after Bob Bly’s. (Though, to be fair, in his book he invited readers to use it!)

In the case of the LOIs, it’s happening so much that I fear editors are starting to see the same LOI from multiple writers. And you know what they’ll think then!

Also: The LOI I’m seeing copied is one I used several years ago with success, but in this more competitive market you’ll need a little more. That’s why, for magazines, I now recommend the query/LOI hybrid. It goes beyond “Here I am, hire me” to offering something useful to the editor.

Mistake 2: Talking about yourself (and only yourself)

The editor or copywriting prospect doesn’t care about you — she cares only about what you can do for her and how you’ll make her life easier, her business more profitable, and her teeth writer and shinier.

In many of the LOIs I see, every paragraph starts with the word “I.” But you can have the most impressive credits and the most writing awards, and a prospect will remain unimpressed unless she knows how those things will benefit her.

Can you help her save money? Endure less hassle with articles? Gain readers and customers? Put her name on the map? Figure out what you offer the prospect that no one else can.

Mistake 3: Writing your LOI like a business letter

An LOI is a writing audition, but too many writers craft theirs like they’re writing a business letter: They eschew contractions, start with “I would like to introduce myself” or “I am writing to ask about freelance writing jobs in your company,” and generally lack any kind of personality whatsoever.

Consider this: Every market I’ve written for — even trades like In-Plant Graphics, Pizza Today, and businesses like Bay State Gas and Sarnafil Roofing — has wanted their writing materials done in a reader-friendly, conversational, attention-grabbing style. Not one of them has wanted to bore their readers by sounding like a business letter.

For more info on how to inject your writing with personality, check out my post 5 Ways to Sell more Articles By Being Yourself.

Mistake 4: Not ending with a call to action

What happens when an editor or a prospect gets to the end of your LOI? Does he have a clear idea of what you can do for him and what he should do next to get some of that goodness?

Or does he finish your letter and wonder what the heck it is you wanted?

I like to end my LOIs with “May I send you some clips?” — but any question or call to action that makes it easy for the prospect to say Yes will help you start a relationship that you can build on.

How about you: What does your LOI look like, and how well does it work for you? Let us know in the Comments below!