Payment vs. Art
Kudos to Lynette Reese for saying what every thinking writer should be, well, thinking. Payment and art aren’t mutually exclusive. Just ask Picasso or, for that matter, any successful actor or musician.
Linda
Beyond the Guidelines: Calendars, Calls, and More Material for Writing Success By Erika Dreifus
The wisdom that rests behind checking a publication’s guidelines is self-evident. One is more likely to encounter success by following a publication’s stated rules and meeting its declared requirements than not. Sending a completed manuscript by e-mail attachment when the guidelines clearly state that only postal queries are welcome is an excellent strategy – if your goal is to dramatically reduce your chances of freelance success.
Secure Interview Before Query or Vice-Versa?
I have several ideas for interviews and the magazines they would be great for. However, I don’t know the potential interviewees personally, so should I ask for an interview before I have an actual assignment, and take the chance that I won’t get the job? Or should I query the magazines first, and take a chance that I won’t get the interview?
Persistence and Networking! By Ramona Richards
Five years ago, I faced a heart-wrenching dilemma. My daughter Rachel, who is severely disabled, was going downhill in a hurry. I was working as an in-house editor, and our days were long, grueling, and stress-filled. I’m a single mom, and although I have a nurse who works with Rachel at night, my deadlines and my concerns about my daughter were pushing me to a breaking point.
Ali Saves A Toddler’s Life
On Monday, a toddler, tall for his age, was walking down the road toward the bay here (we’re on Navarre Beach in Florida). A van drove right past him, steering around him, but didn’t bother to stop. He kept walking and was obviously alone. Ali hollered to me and then went to the toddler, who was almost to the water by then. He walked right past several people on the beach and nobody noticed. He was almost to the water…and still, nobody noticed.
More Writers Reporting Success Collecting From Deadbeats
A few weeks ago, I posted an article that contains a sample, no-nonsense letter for writers to send to deadbeat editors. I’m happy to say that, for those who have reported using the letter, almost 100% have subsequently reported being paid (and paid quickly!) as a direct result of using that letter.
Letters To The Editor For April 6th
This Week:
- Writer Used our Sample Letter and Got Paid!
- Loved the WritersWeekly Course!
Writing For Payment Or For Art’s Sake By Lynette Rees
Whenever the ‘P’ word — PAYMENT — gets a mention, writers are frequently up in arms. There appear to be two camps of thought: those that think we should all write for free, ‘because it is our art’, and those who want to get paid what they are worth as a writer. Of course, you yourself, might fall somewhere in between where you prefer to get paid, but will write for free for good causes or if it is to promote yourself.
Why Can’t I Join Your Forum?
I’ve tried to register for the WritersWeekly forum many times but I never receive a response. What’s going on?
The Week from Heaven By C. Hope Clark
Last week was a bummer – mistakes in my newsletter, a complaining subscriber, and a missed opportunity with a public relations person who might have helped my career. Rejections seemed to have built up behind a dam and flowed into my email all at once. I found it hard to practice my own preaching about positive attitude and always moving forward. One day I literally left the house and went for a walk to reorganize my thoughts and ponder personal goals.