How to be taken seriously as a freelance writer..... any tips

[alicat]

OP, please please please get in the habit of using full stops at the end of your sentences.

 

[Haitch]

What @Pale Rider said. I know several freelance writers, in the UK and Holland and from magazines and newspapers to websites and books, and most of them wish they had become accountants or international finance managers like the kids at school who are now able to pay the mortgage and buy groceries (usually in the same week). It's very tough out there. Don't expect anyone to ring you back; the onus is on you. As @User259 said, network like made and invest in getting your face seen.

 

[Drago]

You need the right name that looks good on the cover of paperbacks. A short surname that can be in large, bold, gold embossed letters, and a longer first name that can be stretched across the top in smaller letters. Douglas Adams's gave the example of Howard Bell.

If you haven't got the name, forget it.

 

[S-Express]

If you haven't got the name, forget it.

Or adopt a nom de plume, like a good many published authors.

 

[Drago]

I was thinking more of a fake name to publish their work under.

 

[nickyboy]

I would, about 24/48hrs after. Email is a pretty sh1t way of building a rapport - phone works much better. They may have never heard of you, but they will presumably have received your email - and if they decline your pitch, you get to ask them what kind of other stuff they may be looking for.

How you pitch is also fairly critical. These people are not going to want to read huge email propositions, so make your email header pertinent and make the pitch short but relevant. If the ed wants a further synopsis, they can ask for it in response.

I work in an entirely different industry but part of what I do involves getting people to take me seriously with a view to them at least recommending me for something. I never email unless I really have no choice. I always call first, then email, confirming all the details we talked about on the phone. Cold calling is a tough experience but it can work. You really have to make sure that you talk to the decision maker otherwise you're wasting your time. My pitches always start out with what I can do for them to make their lives easier/make them more money etc. That gets their attention

But the bottom line is that it's a numbers game. I'll call 10 people and if I get one or two bites from that then I've done well. But what I'll also do is some sort of follow up with the other eight later. Maybe when I've done some project (or in your case had something published) and show them how great I am. Just another excuse to keep you in their minds

 

[Tin Pot]

To be paid for art is an exceptional thing.

Keep enjoying your art, forget getting paid. Publish yourself online, and if you get a following all the nicer.

 

[S-Express]

I work in an entirely different industry but part of what I do involves getting people to take me seriously with a view to them at least recommending me for something. I never email unless I really have no choice. I always call first, then email, confirming all the details we talked about on the phone. Cold calling is a tough experience but it can work.

Agreed, although I think there's a place for both. In terms of editorial, I would say it's fine to call first if you are calling about something specific (such as a forthcoming feature, or similar), but if you are just putting in a speculative pitch, then I would suggest email. Most journos will usually ask you to confirm your proposition by email in any case, before they give you an answer.

 

[MontyVeda]

I used to work as a copywriter and loved it. But thanks to places like Copyfy where writers work for absolute peanuts, my employers outsourced to them and sacked me. I love writing but no longer make a living out of it... in fact, I enjoy writing more now it's not my job.

 

[ufkacbln]

Be careful with the "niche"

I used to earn pocket money writing technical articles for Amstrad PCW magazines

However as their use faded, so did the income

 

[AndyRM]

Take loads of drugs and write while out of your mind. It worked for Hunter.

 

[HF2300]

Take loads of drugs and write while out of your mind. It worked for Hunter.

It worked for HST because he was a brilliant writer with a highly individual style writing at a time and in a market that was totally different. The ripped to the t*ts bit probably also had something to do with it, though.

 

[Cuchilo]

Networking online is a massive way in . Although not on a massive scale i have had a few things published and the money paid for some very nice camera equipment . Once you find a way "in" it becomes easier .

 

[swee'pea99]

I love writing but no longer make a living out of it... in fact, I enjoy writing more now it's not my job.

"No man but a blockhead ever wrote, except for money." - Samuel Johnson

 

[simon the viking]

People have mentioned networking etc......

I have a long forgotten and unloved linkedin account.... with a profile linked totally to my writing, nothing mentioned about my retail day job.... and I vaguely remembered my sister in law's brother was something in media..... (I do know him but not seen him for a while... probably before I wrote for veloballs and my ebooks) so I looked him up.... I now have a Director at a BIG newspaper as a connection... and got a message back 'Wow didn't know all this about you!' Profile is true just got a few delusions of grandeur slipped in.

Who knows what may become of it... probably nothing but.....