Sir Walter Scott created the word freelance. It referred to mercenary soldiers who sold their fighting ability to the highest bidder. The soldiers were originally called "free companions." Since they usually traveled with their own weapons -- including lances -- Scott dubbed them "free lancers."
Today, freelance writers sell their creative skills to the highest bidder. Until you sell your work, you're not a freelance writer. You're just a writer.
There are three areas of negotiation in the sales relationship between a freelancer and an editor. They are:
* price
* deadline
* quality
The way the relationship works is that the editor gets to pick the specifications for two of the three and the freelancer gets to control the third. (Or, at least, have a strong hand in controlling it.)
For example, if an editor assigns a deadline of tomorrow and wants great editorial content, you should have significant control over the price you charge.
If an editor wants to pay peanuts and wants the job tomorrow, you should have significant control over the quality of the piece (e.g., number of sources, length).
If an editor wants to pay a low price and also wants high editorial quality, you should have significant discretion over the deadline. (You may be able to make this type of job work for you if you can use it to fill your free time between other paying jobs.)
The question always arises, "What about the editor who wants to dictate all three parts of the equation?"
The answer is that you don't want to work for such editors because there is little likelihood of a good long-term relationship. If an editor requires high editorial quality on a tight schedule and doesn't want to pay much for it, walk away.
Obviously, each element of the category isn't an all-or-nothing proposition but the formula provides a starting point to negotiate terms. You can always counter with, "That deadline is pretty tight. I'll have to charge a higher rate for this job" or "At that price, I'd be willing to interview two sources but not four."
Remember, editorial quality is really "editorial value," and value can only be measured in terms of cost. It's like asking, "Is $15 too much to spend for a meal?" The answer depends on what kind of meal you get. It's too much if you're eating at Taco Bell but a great value if you're dining at the Ritz.
Your goal as a freelance writer isn't to provide the highest quality editorial content, it's to provide the best value.
The highest-circulation freelance writing e-zine in the world. Includes markets and jobs, as well as warnings about publications that have stiffed writers.
A free site that hosts thousands of writing resources and writing links in an online database. More than 40 genres, funds for writers, job listings, education, news, submission calls and a research library.
The Editorial Freelancers Assn. is a national, nonprofit, professional organization of self-employed workers in the publishing and communications industries.
A discussion list for publishing industry freelancers. Topics of discussion include publisher comparisons, job searches, types of work; rates and (non)payments; insurance and taxes; home offices, equipment and useful software.
The Elance Online services marketplace is the world’s leading Web-based project marketplace, which offers businesses of any size a quick, easy way to outsource projects -- including writing.
Knowing editors who hire freelancers and experts to interview gives you a leg up. If you know an editor, you're more likely to hear about jobs. If you have connections with expert sources, you are an asset that editors' want. One great place to find expert sources is ProfNet -- a collaborative of news and information officers that gives reporters free, convenient access to expert sources.
"There are about 25 million Americans who develop grotesque facial ticks when they hear the words '9 to 5.' . . . We call them freelancers."
-- N. Killihanm, The Washington Post, May 23, 1989
I love working for myself. It is so empowering. Except when I call in sick. I always know when I'm lying.
The novelist Sinclair Lewis was an acerbic man who didn't mince words.
Once, he was giving a lecture at Columbia University on the subject of writing.
"How many here are really serious about being writers?" he asked the audience. Almost everyone in the audience raised their hand.
"Then why aren't you all home writing?" grumped Lewis, and ended the lecture.
In his first job as a journalism, Mark Twain was instructed by his
editor never to report anything he couldn't personally verify as the truth.
Following this advice to the letter, Twain submitted the following
item about a local society matron:
"A woman giving the name of Mrs. James Jones, who is reported to be one of the society leaders of this city, is said to give what
purported to be a party yesterday to a number of alleged ladies. The hostess claims to be the wife of a reputed attorney."
"I don't write five words but that I change seven."
- Dorothy Parker,
American writer and humorist
Deadline
Price
Quality
The editor picks two. You control the third.
Find a niche
One of the most effective ways to make money as a freelance writer is to specialize. By specializing, you will be able to complete pieces in less time and do less research because you are already familiar with the topic or market. Less time writing means more completed projects and more money in your pocket.
Specializing in a topic, such as dieting, allows you to recraft the same content in different ways for different publications. You could write an article on dieting during the holidays, celebrity diets, low-carb diets, etc. As you become an expert on different types of diets, each subsequent article will be easier to write.
The second way to specialize is by market. Trade magazines are a good example. When I was the editor of Early Childhood News magazine (a trade book for child care workers) I used many freelancers who knew the industry. Because they knew industry terminology and background, they were equipped to write on most topics within the market. While the topics weren't the same, I assigned articles to these frelancers because I was confident they could produce.
Reselling your work
Many publications do not require exclusive rights. Their budgets may be so small that they can't afford to commission all of their own articles. They may be willing to purchase reprint rights or have you modify a previous piece you wrote. I've had good luck with this in the regional parenting publication market. Read "Selling to regional parenting publications"
Using an e-mail program that allows me to send large quantities of personalized e-mail messages, I'm able to pitch the same piece to 150 editors at a time. The result is that I often sell the same piece 4-5 times at $30-$40 per placement, for a total of $120-$200. And, I still own the rights to the piece.
Promote yourself on the Web
Regardless of whether you're just starting out or you are an experienced writer, you compete with other writers. You compete for the attention of editors. You compete for paying jobs. Using the Internet to promote your work will help your work get noticed, so that you'll have the edge. Creating a Web site will help you create a "brand" and lower your cost since you can provide clips and other information electronically. Read "Eight ways to promote your writing online."
The list of freelance markets and resourcecs on the right provides hundreds -- if not thousands -- of writing opportunities. So, grab your lance...and sell you talent to the highest bidder.
Tim Bete is the director of the Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. You can read more of his work at www.TimBete.com.
