How to write

I dreamed of seeing my name on the spines of thick hardbacks.  I imagined browsing the aisles of Barnes and Noble and finding my books neatly arranged on the shelves.  For me, this is what it meant to be a writer - to be published and publicly recognized.  Over the years, my definition of a writer has changed.   I am a writer, because I write.  Simple.  I am a professional writer because I am paid for my writing and I am a published writer because my work is available for public consumption.  There is no thick hardback with my name on the spine but that doesn’t detract from what I do.  Because I gave up my attachment to the results and focused on the process.  

There are opportunities for writers to earn a living.   Freelance writing allows writers the opportunity to work in a wide variety of fields and mediums, including: magazines, e-zines, websites, advertising materials, technical documents and more.

If you are writing for magazines, you will begin with the concept in mind.  Query the editor to pitch your idea and if interested they will provide some guidelines on what they want.  You can also write the article and send the finished product to the editor as an unsolicited manuscript, but this approach has drawbacks.  A busy editor might relegate your article to the slush pile and never take the time to read it.  You’ve invested hours into a finished product that might never sell, whereas a query letter will solidify your prospects.

When you send a query to a magazine:

1.  Know the publication and their target audience.  I wouldn’t send “Crafty Christmas Gift Ideas” to Sports Illustrated.  Read a few issues and pay attention to the tone of voice (casual, hip, formal, conversation…etc) and model your query accordingly.  A query letter to Nickelodeon should be written differently than a query letter to Cosmo.  No form letters will do.

2.  Do not address your query: Dear Editor or To Whom it may concern.  Send your query to a specific editor, listed in the front of the publication.  If it’s unclear which editor to submit your query, send an email to an associate or assistant editor and ask.  Or you can send a SASE to publication guidelines.

3. Once you’ve identified the magazine’s target audience and appropriate editor, you are ready to write your query letter.  Be professional, to the point and highlight your unique point of view on the topic.  What makes you uniquely qualified to deliver the information? 

How to Parent Teens - I am the parent of two teenage daughters…

How to Overcome Depression - I have suffered from chronic depression most of my life…

How to Change Careers Midlife - I changed careers at the age of 40…

4.  Send the query using the preferred delivery method indicated in publication guidelines, email or mail. If submitting via email, use email etiquette such as: AVOID ALL CAPS and abbreviations (LOL).  If mail, include a self addressed stamped envelop for the response.  Do not query by phone. 

There are also freelance writing jobs for specific fields.  Many of these are advertised online and may be for magazines, e-zines or articles for websites.  The variety of jobs available is endless from reviews to grants and every job has its own submission guidelines.  

Just remember that being a writer is more than having a book on the shelves of your local book store. There are millions of writers working today, doing what they love and making a living.