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

[simon the viking]

I'm a keen amateur writer - couple of ebooks (1 fiction and 1 non fiction) quite a few articles on @Andrew_Culture 's veloballs site... a back page article that was open to general submissions in Cycling Active and letter of the month/week in loads of different magazines science, cycling, homes, photography (most recently cycling weekly..... last week.... I needed a new helmet and targeted the prize....)

But.... I have emailed editors at newspapers and magazines with pitches or outlines for articles and nothing..... not even a 'thanks but no'

It seems they don't cant be ars*d replying (or I need to know the magic pitch formula)

Any tips for getting taken seriously.... I have bought artist and writers year book loads of times but now days the information seems out of date not long after its printed and its easier to information off the internet

I know a there was a freelance writer on here but he hasn't been active since last summer so thought it rude to bother them

 

[EltonFrog]

I know a there was a freelance writer on here but he hasn't been active since last summer so thought it rude to bother them

You can probably talk to him through his site www.my-bicycle-and-I.com

 

[simon the viking]

You can probably talk to him through his site www.my-bicycle-and-I.com

I take that is hoopdriver then? thank you for the link might drop him a line.

 

[EltonFrog]

I take that is hoopdriver then? thank you for the link might drop him a line.

Yes, that's him, nice guy.

 

[Pale Rider]

I'm a keen amateur writer - couple of ebooks (1 fiction and 1 non fiction) quite a few articles on @Andrew_Culture 's veloballs site... a back page article that was open to general submissions in Cycling Active and letter of the month/week in loads of different magazines science, cycling, homes, photography (most recently cycling weekly..... last week.... I needed a new helmet and targeted the prize....)

But.... I have emailed editors at newspapers and magazines with pitches or outlines for articles and nothing..... not even a 'thanks but no'

It seems they don't cant be ars*d replying (or I need to know the magic pitch formula)

Any tips for getting taken seriously.... I have bought artist and writers year book loads of times but now days the information seems out of date not long after its printed and its easier to information off the internet

I know a there was a freelance writer on here but he hasn't been active since last summer so thought it rude to bother them

Your OP is littered with typos and punctuation errors.

While that may not matter to some on here, you are trying to impress editors who want clean, publishable copy, not something that requires work.

Leaving that aside, the notion of the penniless scribe is truer today than it has ever been.

Commissioning/freelance budgets are under downward pressure as advertisers move away from traditional media and spend their money elsewhere.

I suspect the majority of the editors you are contacting already have plenty of skilled freelances to call on, not least former staff members made redundant due to cuts.

If there are trusted, experienced, professional writers scrabbling for work, your chances as a keen amateur are not good.

 

[S-Express]

I'm a keen amateur writer - couple of ebooks (1 fiction and 1 non fiction) quite a few articles on @Andrew_Culture 's veloballs site... a back page article that was open to general submissions in Cycling Active and letter of the month/week in loads of different magazines science, cycling, homes, photography (most recently cycling weekly..... last week.... I needed a new helmet and targeted the prize....)

But.... I have emailed editors at newspapers and magazines with pitches or outlines for articles and nothing..... not even a 'thanks but no'

It seems they don't cant be ars*d replying (or I need to know the magic pitch formula)

Any tips for getting taken seriously.... I have bought artist and writers year book loads of times but now days the information seems out of date not long after its printed and its easier to information off the internet

I know a there was a freelance writer on here but he hasn't been active since last summer so thought it rude to bother them

Always room for a good freelance who can provide good, entertaining (or pertinent) copy to brief, wordlength and deadline. I have spent many years writing copy for others (usually under a byline) and speaking from general experience, editors usually commission from sources they already know, or have worked with before. It's not a closed shop though, so keep pitching. If the pitch is good and relevant, then you ought to get a response. Not sure if you are following up your pitches by phone or not, but that might be something worth considering if not. Talk to the editors or section heads, find out what their editorial schedule looks like over the coming months, find out which features have been commisioned and which haven't, and try to identify with them if there are any opportunities for you to pitch in.

 

[simon the viking]

Your OP is littered with typos and punctuation errors.

While that may not matter to some on here, you are trying to impress editors who want clean, publishable copy, not something that requires work.

Leaving that aside, the notion of the penniless scribe is truer today than it has ever been.

Commissioning/freelance budgets are under downward pressure as advertisers move away from traditional media and spend their money elsewhere.

I suspect the majority of the editors you are contacting already have plenty of skilled freelances to call on, not least former staff members made redundant due to cuts.

If there are trusted, experienced, professional writers scrabbling for work, your chances as a keen amateur are not good.

Ouch the first line hurt but was true.... however my letters to magazines take several hours and can go through several drafts before I hit send, they are often edited for length by the mag but not grammar or punctuation.. and my veloballs articles are proof read thoroughly before posting...

With regard to the other points, I kind of guessed but even a quick reply of sorry, surely they can't have that many enquires....

I'm not looking to replace the day job just earn a bit of extra cash and get a bit of kudos

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Wear a cravat and smoking jacket.
Make disparaging remarks about your "agent" at every opportunity.
Drink gin.

 

[Drago]

Talk like Dennis Potter.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Talk like Dennis Potter.

Or Alan Bennett. Many of the most pretentious posts on this site are markedly improved when read aloud in the style of Alan Bennett.

 

[User32269]

Don't repeat the mistakes I made when embarking upon my, tragically brief, literary career.
Submissions in crayon are unlikely to be taken seriously.

 

[Milkfloat]

Or Alan Bennett. Many of the most pretentious posts on this site are markedly improved when read aloud in the style of Alan Bennett.

That works, it really works!

 

[simon the viking]

Always room for a good freelance who can provide good, entertaining (or pertinent) copy to brief, wordlength and deadline. I have spent many years writing copy for others (usually under a byline) and speaking from general experience, editors usually commission from sources they already know, or have worked with before. It's not a closed shop though, so keep pitching. If the pitch is good and relevant, then you ought to get a response. Not sure if you are following up your pitches by phone or not, but that might be something worth considering if not. Talk to the editors or section heads, find out what their editorial schedule looks like over the coming months, find out which features have been commisioned and which haven't, and try to identify with them if there are any opportunities for you to pitch in.

So would you ring the editors/heads a few days after the initial email? even though They've never heard of me

 

[S-Express]

So would you ring the editors/heads a few days after the initial email? even though They've never heard of me

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.

 

[KnackeredBike]

You only need to see the number of people willing to write an essay-length review on Amazon to get a £20 product for free to know that writing is a competitive field now everyone has a computer and the internet. Most people who make it big are either exceptionally talented, slept with the editor or have invested months or years into building their own blog or website.

Sorry if that's not what you want to hear. My wife works in publishing and people now pay the publishing company and give copy for free to get in some of their magazines.