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
25.3.09
An Introduction to Freelance Copywriting
By Ray Edwards Copywriters are pursuing freelance copywriting more and more these days because of the great opportunities it offers. If you're interested in freelancing, then here are some basic pointers to
help you get an idea of what is involved.
1. Know when and how to say "no." Freelance copywriters have to know when to say "no." Sometimes your schedule is overloaded and you can't take on any new projects. Other times your clients have terrible ideas on how to market their product, so you have to correct them, gently of course. Remember that you're the
professional and they are not, that is why they are hiring you, so don't be afraid to voice your ideas.
Sometimes though, clients won't budge and either you have to compromise without surrendering or get out of the project. Managing persistent clients will help ease your work experience, but sometimes you just have to get out of a situation. Otherwise your job will be very unpleasant. Some clients just aren't worth the
time or trouble.
2. Be polite, persistent, and positive. Always be polite with your client and listen to their desires intently. You need to be persistent on two accounts: Looking for work, and sticking by your ideas. This will help your success greatly.
3. Make sure that you are constantly increasing your skill and expertise. Learning is a never-ending process and the most successful copywriters out there see themselves as lifelong students. As a freelance copywriter, you must constantly learn new ways to write better copy. This will keep you sharp and competitive. There is a lot of material out there, so go ahead and dive headlong into improving the quality of your product.
4. Take time to relax. Getting away from a stressful work environment is one of the main reasons copywriters switch to freelancing. So make sure not to make your new work environment equally as stressful! Set aside time to relax, write it into your schedule and stick to it. Not only will this help you lead a happier life, but consistent relaxation will also help you write better. So in the end, you'll be more productive, happier and
writing better copy if you take time to rest.
5. Learn to keep a positive attitude. In order to be successful, you have to love your job, even in the hard times. If you let the stress of your work consume you, then you will come to hate your job and miss out on all the great opportunities that freelancing has to offer. So learn to keep a positive attitude now.
6. Actively nurture your personal life. Your life should be well rounded. You need to take care of your personal health and spend time with your friends and family. Even though you're working to become more successful, what will it profit you to gain the whole world but spend your life alone? Your work is an important part of your life, but not the most important.
7. Practice good work ethics. It is really important to be a person of honesty and integrity. Only make promises you know you can keep and don't cheat your clients. Let them know if you're falling behind and won't be able to make good on your end of the agreement. And never compromise on your morals in order to secure financial
gain.
8. Learn to manage your business well. Freelance copywriters are their own bosses and run their own businesses. Make sure to read up on how to run a small business and manage your accounts well. Keep up on the most recent ethical standards, laws, and tax reforms. Make sure you're also up to date on all the current pricing models and searching for new ways to organize your business
more effectively.
9. Do not take rejections personally. Your personal worth and intrinsic value is not determined by what you do or how much money you make. Therefore try to keep a professional composure when clients reject you and do not take it personally. There are plenty of reasons that a client can reject your bid that has nothing to do with your ability to write good copy.
10. Do not miss deadlines. Missing deadlines will severely hurt your chances at success, so you must make every effort to manage your time well and get your projects completed on schedule. Hopefully this article helped you better understand the word of freelance copywriting. There is plenty of information out there if
you're interested in learning more about freelance copywriting.
About the author: For an inside look at the techniques of a top direct response copywriter, visit the site of Copywriter Ray Edwards http://rayedwards.com .There you'll find a daily podcast, video
tutorials and free copywriting advice.
help you get an idea of what is involved.
1. Know when and how to say "no." Freelance copywriters have to know when to say "no." Sometimes your schedule is overloaded and you can't take on any new projects. Other times your clients have terrible ideas on how to market their product, so you have to correct them, gently of course. Remember that you're the
professional and they are not, that is why they are hiring you, so don't be afraid to voice your ideas.
Sometimes though, clients won't budge and either you have to compromise without surrendering or get out of the project. Managing persistent clients will help ease your work experience, but sometimes you just have to get out of a situation. Otherwise your job will be very unpleasant. Some clients just aren't worth the
time or trouble.
2. Be polite, persistent, and positive. Always be polite with your client and listen to their desires intently. You need to be persistent on two accounts: Looking for work, and sticking by your ideas. This will help your success greatly.
3. Make sure that you are constantly increasing your skill and expertise. Learning is a never-ending process and the most successful copywriters out there see themselves as lifelong students. As a freelance copywriter, you must constantly learn new ways to write better copy. This will keep you sharp and competitive. There is a lot of material out there, so go ahead and dive headlong into improving the quality of your product.
4. Take time to relax. Getting away from a stressful work environment is one of the main reasons copywriters switch to freelancing. So make sure not to make your new work environment equally as stressful! Set aside time to relax, write it into your schedule and stick to it. Not only will this help you lead a happier life, but consistent relaxation will also help you write better. So in the end, you'll be more productive, happier and
writing better copy if you take time to rest.
5. Learn to keep a positive attitude. In order to be successful, you have to love your job, even in the hard times. If you let the stress of your work consume you, then you will come to hate your job and miss out on all the great opportunities that freelancing has to offer. So learn to keep a positive attitude now.
6. Actively nurture your personal life. Your life should be well rounded. You need to take care of your personal health and spend time with your friends and family. Even though you're working to become more successful, what will it profit you to gain the whole world but spend your life alone? Your work is an important part of your life, but not the most important.
7. Practice good work ethics. It is really important to be a person of honesty and integrity. Only make promises you know you can keep and don't cheat your clients. Let them know if you're falling behind and won't be able to make good on your end of the agreement. And never compromise on your morals in order to secure financial
gain.
8. Learn to manage your business well. Freelance copywriters are their own bosses and run their own businesses. Make sure to read up on how to run a small business and manage your accounts well. Keep up on the most recent ethical standards, laws, and tax reforms. Make sure you're also up to date on all the current pricing models and searching for new ways to organize your business
more effectively.
9. Do not take rejections personally. Your personal worth and intrinsic value is not determined by what you do or how much money you make. Therefore try to keep a professional composure when clients reject you and do not take it personally. There are plenty of reasons that a client can reject your bid that has nothing to do with your ability to write good copy.
10. Do not miss deadlines. Missing deadlines will severely hurt your chances at success, so you must make every effort to manage your time well and get your projects completed on schedule. Hopefully this article helped you better understand the word of freelance copywriting. There is plenty of information out there if
you're interested in learning more about freelance copywriting.
About the author: For an inside look at the techniques of a top direct response copywriter, visit the site of Copywriter Ray Edwards http://rayedwards.com .There you'll find a daily podcast, video
tutorials and free copywriting advice.
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