By Shane Dayton
Freelance Writing One of the major questions that comes up immediately when you begin freelance writing, or even before you make that jump, is what strategy should you take in what type of writing you do? Should you go for a versatile, "jack-of-all-trades" mentality where you're willing to adjust and learn new styles, or should you become a niche expert, someone who takes the time to build an absolute "expert" status so your name becomes synonymous with a certain type of writing?
This is a difficult question, and it's one where there's not necessarily a right or wrong answer. There are also many individual factors that can affect your decision on this. How good are you at multi-tasking? Do you already have a specialty? Are you capable of all writing styles (example: great copywriting is highly profitable, but only a select few excel at this style of writing)? All these should be taken into consideration.
The good news is that both directions can be correct. I did very well as a "jack of all trades" before landing a full time writing job (courtesy of some freelance gigs that led to this job), and others have done far better than me going that route. Meanwhile, other writers absolutely thrive off being known for one topic or one type of writing.
While I pride myself on being a jack of all trades type of writer, early on I did have an advantage because I was also an amateur poker player. The poker craze hit full force around 2003-2004, and so my position as a professional writer and poker player definitely gave me an edge in landing a lot of poker writing jobs, and having an "expert" status did allow me to generally charge more per article than with other assignments.
Another consideration can be your background. Did you do business writing while you were in the corporate world? This could give you a natural lead in to the type of freelance writing that could be profitable. Press releases earn a good amount of money per release, and as the Internet continues to grow, there is always demand for more content on about everything you can imagine.
In the end, you're the only one who can make a decision about going the expert route, the jack of all trades route, or somewhere in the middle. Both can lead to very profitable, and more importantly, very fulfilling, writing careers. Figure out which direction suits you the best, and go for it!
About the author: If you liked this article and would like more free tips, advice, and resources to help skip the early lumps and really get your freelance writing career going please visit my website at http://www.squidoo.com/howtobeafreelancewriter
8.4.09
Aim for the Sky: Write for In-flight Publications
By Gary McLaren Are you looking to set yourself a challenging goal for your writing career this year? Why not aim for the sky? Set yourself the goal of being published in an in-flight magazine, one of the publications provided by airlines in the seat pockets in front of passengers.
Many freelance writers dream of being published in an in-flight magazine. Imagine your story being read by travelers as they fly all over the globe. Many of those magazines will eventually find new homes - from coffee tables to taxis to dentists' waiting rooms - after passengers carry them away at the end of their flights.
Why Write for In-flight Magazines?
There are several reasons why being published in an in-flight magazine is a worthy goal for your freelance writing career. Firstly, there's the exposure. Secondly, you will have an excellent publishing credit to add to your writing portfolio. Winning other high-paying assignments will become just that little bit easier. Thirdly, you'll be paid well. Most in-flight publications pay very well, with many paying in the vicinity of one dollar per word.
Diverse Passengers, Diverse Topics
Don't limit your article ideas to traditional travel writing. Although many airline passengers are on vacation others travel for business or other reasons. Since passengers come from all walks of life in-flight magazines publish articles on quite a wide variety of topics. Their content includes articles on travel and adventure,
food and entertainment, business, nature and the environment, and many more topics.
Always remember when pitching ideas to an in-flight publication that destinations are critical. Every article must have a connection to the destinations and routes of the airline.
Did I Mention Competition?
There must be a catch, right? Well, getting your work published in an in-flight magazine is not going to be a walk in the park. You will not be the only freelance writer pitching your ideas to these editors. To say it will be highly competitive is probably an understatement.
Editors of in-flight publications demand a high quality of work,and they prefer to work with freelancers who have proven experience and professionalism.
It's Not For Beginners
What should you do if you have just starting out in freelance writing? Start elsewhere. Try targeting some local publications. After you have a few pieces published begin working your way up to regional magazines. As you build up your portfolio of published credits you will eventually be ready to target in-flight magazines and other leading publications.
Some Examples of In-flight Publications
The following are just a few examples of in-flight publications that you could write for:
Alaska Airlines Magazine
The in-flight magazine for Alaska Airlines, reaching more than a million travelers every month in Alaska, California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Western Canada and Mexico. 80% freelance.
Columns include Journal (arts and culture), Business, On Location, Profiles, Sports, Technology and Travel. Rates begin at $50 to $100 for shorts through to $300 for columns and $500 for features.
Guidelines: http://www.alaskaairlinesmagazine.com/contributor/
Enroute
Air Canada's award-winning bilingual (English/French) in-flight magazine. This is an upscale travel lifestyle magazine interested in everything from wine to design, popular science to pop music. "As many travellers' first introduction to Canada, we are proudly Canadian but never parochial about Canadian content." Pay: base
rate is CDN$1 per word.
Guidelines: http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/articles/writers-guidelines/
Spirit
Southwest Airlines' in-flight magazine. A general interest magazine that appeals to the upscale consumer. Explores a diverse array of subjects, including pop culture, business, personal technology, sports, health, food and drink.
Guidelines: http://www.spiritmag.com/pdf/writersguidelines.pdf
US Airways Magazine
Looking for writers who can deliver smart, pithy copy. "We like breezy. We like humor. We like a light tone. And we like writers who can deliver short pieces as well as longer stories." Pays $1 per word and up.
Guidelines: http://www.usairwaysmag.com/pdfs/USAWwriterguide.pdf
Many freelance writers dream of being published in an in-flight magazine. Imagine your story being read by travelers as they fly all over the globe. Many of those magazines will eventually find new homes - from coffee tables to taxis to dentists' waiting rooms - after passengers carry them away at the end of their flights.
Why Write for In-flight Magazines?
There are several reasons why being published in an in-flight magazine is a worthy goal for your freelance writing career. Firstly, there's the exposure. Secondly, you will have an excellent publishing credit to add to your writing portfolio. Winning other high-paying assignments will become just that little bit easier. Thirdly, you'll be paid well. Most in-flight publications pay very well, with many paying in the vicinity of one dollar per word.
Diverse Passengers, Diverse Topics
Don't limit your article ideas to traditional travel writing. Although many airline passengers are on vacation others travel for business or other reasons. Since passengers come from all walks of life in-flight magazines publish articles on quite a wide variety of topics. Their content includes articles on travel and adventure,
food and entertainment, business, nature and the environment, and many more topics.
Always remember when pitching ideas to an in-flight publication that destinations are critical. Every article must have a connection to the destinations and routes of the airline.
Did I Mention Competition?
There must be a catch, right? Well, getting your work published in an in-flight magazine is not going to be a walk in the park. You will not be the only freelance writer pitching your ideas to these editors. To say it will be highly competitive is probably an understatement.
Editors of in-flight publications demand a high quality of work,and they prefer to work with freelancers who have proven experience and professionalism.
It's Not For Beginners
What should you do if you have just starting out in freelance writing? Start elsewhere. Try targeting some local publications. After you have a few pieces published begin working your way up to regional magazines. As you build up your portfolio of published credits you will eventually be ready to target in-flight magazines and other leading publications.
Some Examples of In-flight Publications
The following are just a few examples of in-flight publications that you could write for:
Alaska Airlines Magazine
The in-flight magazine for Alaska Airlines, reaching more than a million travelers every month in Alaska, California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Nevada, Western Canada and Mexico. 80% freelance.
Columns include Journal (arts and culture), Business, On Location, Profiles, Sports, Technology and Travel. Rates begin at $50 to $100 for shorts through to $300 for columns and $500 for features.
Guidelines: http://www.alaskaairlinesmagazine.com/contributor/
Enroute
Air Canada's award-winning bilingual (English/French) in-flight magazine. This is an upscale travel lifestyle magazine interested in everything from wine to design, popular science to pop music. "As many travellers' first introduction to Canada, we are proudly Canadian but never parochial about Canadian content." Pay: base
rate is CDN$1 per word.
Guidelines: http://enroute.aircanada.com/en/articles/writers-guidelines/
Spirit
Southwest Airlines' in-flight magazine. A general interest magazine that appeals to the upscale consumer. Explores a diverse array of subjects, including pop culture, business, personal technology, sports, health, food and drink.
Guidelines: http://www.spiritmag.com/pdf/writersguidelines.pdf
US Airways Magazine
Looking for writers who can deliver smart, pithy copy. "We like breezy. We like humor. We like a light tone. And we like writers who can deliver short pieces as well as longer stories." Pays $1 per word and up.
Guidelines: http://www.usairwaysmag.com/pdfs/USAWwriterguide.pdf
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
