Success Story

Networking Party Tricks or “Hello. I’m A Writer” – Daniel R. Robichaud

Published on September 19, 2012

"So, what do you do?" is a popular icebreaker question at any social gathering. The answer "I'm a writer" opens the floodgate to follow-ups such as "What do you write?" and "Where might I have seen your work?" Having a few specific answers "on tap" is vital to appearing professional. These questions are not only getting-to-know-you party tricks, they are networking opportunities to discover alternative writing career avenues. …

How I Turned One Assignment into Two – Lisa Evans

Published on September 12, 2012

As a freelance writer, I'm always racking my brains for new story ideas. Once a week, I block an entire day off to research new ideas and write queries. With pen in hand and a pot of coffee brewing, I tap out story idea after story idea, then delve into online research, finally coming up with a query letter sometime between lunch and dinner. The process can be time consuming and daunting as sometimes my brain muscles have to really stretch far to pull out a fresh idea. Recently, however, I discovered a brainstorming strategy that had me turn one assignment into two, cutting down on my research time and allowing me to earn more money by doing less. It happened like this... …

Age? Forget About It – Barbara Weddle

Published on September 5, 2012

I was 55 when I was first published by a magazine. MIDWEST LIVING had asked readers to write about their most unforgettable winter experience for an upcoming issue. At the time, I was trying to get started as a freelance writer. As I had had an unforgettable winter experience (during the Ohio blizzard of '79, I'd saved a young boy's life), I hastily put together an essay on what had happened, and sent it in. To my delight, they published it and paid me $50. Encouraged by this small triumph, I sent another small essay I'd written about my dog to FIRST FOR WOMEN. They published it and paid me $300. Then, a long dry spell. All my submissions were steadily rejected. I began to question my ability as a writer. The first two accepts had been a fluke, I told myself; I was 55 for crying out loud, a bona fide senior citizen. I told myself I should be content just sitting out my remaining years in my rocking chair. But those first two sells had lit a fire inside me so I continued sharpening my writing skills along with my pencils... …

GET OUT OF THE RUT AND WRITE – Monica A. Andermann

Published on August 22, 2012

We've all heard that old axiom before: the only way to write is to sit down at the computer and type away. Yet that discipline had me feeling all tapped out. Ideas no longer flowed from my brain, to my hands, to the paper. What little I did manage to write seemed dull and lifeless. No wonder. I was dull and lifeless. Clearly, it was time for me to get away from the computer. …

Selling Books Abroad – Eric D. Goodman

Published on August 15, 2012

Selling Books Abroad – Eric D. Goodman

We were planning a vacation to (and travel story on) Spain anyway. Adding a book event to the visit was a great way of mixing business with pleasure - and it proved to be an effective way to sell books and create some buzz with a new readership. …

My Debut as an Encyclopaedia Writer – Nadia Ali

Published on August 8, 2012

I generally write in two niches where I am comfortable, one is pets and the other is travel. I hardly ever write outside of my comfort zone, until I saw a call for writers to contribute to an encyclopaedia. …

How I Became a Go-to Gambling Writer By George Hunt

Published on August 1, 2012

All freelance writers strive to find interesting gigs that pay well, and also offer a sustained income over time. There are many avenues to this goal. My success story happened with the grace of God and a person serving as a writers' headhunter of sorts (a representative) working for some publishers in Liverpool, England. My story is all about being a decent writer and having extensive personal knowledge of casino and poker gaming. It was this knowledge base that landed me the representative and several years of steady, well-paying jobs. …

How to Make Freelancing Pay When You’re Having a Bad Day! By Donna Kordela

Published on July 25, 2012

Freelance jobs can come in starts and stops. Having a bad day? It's an experience any freelance writer can relate to. You can turn a bad day into a good day by getting to your computer every day and trying to become the freelance writer you want to become. Here's a presentation of five days that actually saved my writing life because I kept on trying to write in various medias. I didn't want the 9 to 5 ball and chain so I linked to new markets to keep me going. It's free advice! …

My Success Story By Josie Schneider

Published on July 18, 2012

Four months after posting my profile on LinkedIn, I was contacted by an internet media company. The professional-sounding message basically said, "We urgently need a freelance writer with a background in window treatments." …

The Personal Touch Still Works By Lynn I. Almer

Published on July 11, 2012

My writing career has varied from writing environmental impact statements to science-based activities for children. In 2001, I decided to explore writing children's books. I had no formal training in this area so I hopped on my bicycle and rode to my public library. My education began by reading magazines and books about the craft of writing. After attending a one-day writer's workshop that introduced children's magazines and the variety of children's books, I knew I wanted to be a picture book author. …

One Submission Can Lead to Many Opportunities By Claudia Aragon

Published on July 4, 2012

There's always been a lot of controversy regarding the right path to take when building a successful following and business as a freelance writer. Many of the writers I know won't submit to small presses because they feel they are a waste of time, and a dead end. …

The Art of Waiting By Alice J. Wisler

Published on June 27, 2012

Ever since the death of my four-year-old Daniel in 1997, I wanted to write a book about grief and loss. As I grappled with my new bereaved life, daily yearning for my child, I submitted query letters to potential publishers. While some were interested, a few wrote back that they thought it was too soon to write a book of this nature. Too soon? 'What did they know?' I thought as I crafted another letter, hoping a different slant might work to get me a contract this time... …

Gifts of Gab By Yolanda Fleming

Published on June 20, 2012

One of the reasons I am employed as a writer is because I talk to people --- in the check-out line, the doctor's office, the vet, the post office, the nail salon, to name a few --- because I want people to know who I am and what I do, just in case they're ever in need of one. How often have you been at a party to hear someone bellow, "Is there a writer in the house?" How about never? Gab, and you shall be rewarded. It doesn't pay to be shy under any circumstances. …

From Book Reviewer to Feature Writer in One Year By Kathleen M. Krueger

Published on June 13, 2012

In May of 2012, my first feature cover story in a print magazine was published. It seemed almost surreal to see that magazine cover and realize that people would be turning the pages to read what I had to say about the stunning young entertainment star on the glossy cover. It all began with replying to an ad for departmental writers for HerLife Magazine, back in the spring of 2011. …

From Stripper, to College Valedictorian, to Published Author By Sheila Hageman

Published on May 23, 2012

My success story isn't what you would call glamorous by any means. When I was a girl, I considered myself a writer and felt my personal reflections could change the world. As a teenager, I discovered acting and modeling and sometimes I believed I could be successful combining these loves into a career. Unfortunately, I got derailed when I became a stripper and nude model. I stopped believing I was valuable... …

Go Ahead – Call Yourself a Writer By Heidi Smith Luedtke, PhD

Published on May 9, 2012

When former colleagues, friends or family members asked what I was doing since I left my "real job," I struggled to say "I'm a writer" or a journalist or even a freelancer. It felt premature to call myself a writer when I had yet to sell a single word. And even after I'd published several articles in regional magazines, the title of writer felt fraudulent - it's not like I'd penned a bestseller. …

Personal Injections: My Freelance Success Story By Daniel R. Robichaud

Published on April 25, 2012

When I was a young writer, I was impatient. Even the idea of immediate success took too long. Why should I have to wait? I had the passion. Words poured from me. What I did not have was the one thing time alone could give me: life experience. I wanted to be the next Great American Novelist, but I only had other people's lives, ideas and words. …

Personal Injections: My Freelance Success Story By Daniel R. Robichaud

Published on April 11, 2012

When I was a young writer, I was impatient. Even the idea of immediate success took too long. Why should I have to wait? I had the passion. Words poured from me. What I did not have was the one thing time alone could give me: life experience. I wanted to be the next Great American Novelist, but I only had other people's lives, ideas and words. …

Once a Writer, Always a Writer By Melanie Bowden

Published on April 4, 2012

For nine years, I was a freelance writer, writing coach, and writing teacher. My work was published in numerous magazines, and I published one non-fiction book and a magazine writing workbook. Since math teaching is my first love, I decided to return to it three years ago. I kept writing though for myself and attending my local spiritual writing group. A month ago a woman who is a member of my local state writer's club branch contacted me and asked if I would be interested in teaching a writing workshop for them... …

Soft Selling Brings Success By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant

Published on March 21, 2012

I often write business profiles and how-to pieces for various trade and consumer publications. I get to know these businesses well and, especially with small companies, I keep in mind any writing they may need to promote or operate their businesses. After we've built a level of trust, I approach the owner with a soft sell. I have good reasons for this: I'm a freelancer and I don't want to make the business owner resent me by feeling harassed... …

Success Story By Lisa Evans

Published on March 14, 2012

My first publishing success came about thanks to a normal workday in my former marketing job. I was working for a human resources company as a marketing coordinator. My position was to research possible avenues for advertising the organization's many conferences and workshops. That fateful day, I was in charge of advertising a new workshop being held in Toronto, Canada for new immigrants who wanted to pursue a career in human resources. A Google search on "immigrant publications Toronto" revealed a monthly publication called "Canadian Immigrant"... …

The Joy of Refusal By Wendy J. Meyeroff

Published on March 7, 2012

It was the early 90's an,d after freelancing for a year or two, I had gotten some top-notch assignments; e.g. Good Housekeeping, Family Circle, and Weight Watchers. Still, pay was often less than stellar. Periodically, something came up that sounded like it might have potential - but the pay stank. Despite various misgivings, at that stage of my career I rarely refused - and kept getting burned. …

I Converted My Teaching Experience Into Paid Writing By Alexandra Lutz

Published on February 29, 2012

I Converted My Teaching Experience Into Paid Writing By Alexandra Lutz

For about ten years I had juggled motherhood, a job-share teaching position, and a freelance hobby. When my husband broached the possibility of having another baby, I blanched. There wasn't enough money to quit my job, and there wasn't enough time for anything (or anyone) new in my life. I knew there had to be a way to convert my teaching experience into paid writing, but how? …

Selling Self Therapy By Pamela Crowe

Published on February 22, 2012

Personal essays should resonate with readers and offer some take-away value. I've found that writing about my experiences provides me take-away value, when it leads to self discoveries and personal growth. When I sell one of my personal growth essays, I get paid for my own self therapy... …

Breaking into Print By Julie Marie Maxwell

Published on February 8, 2012

My journey from non-published writer to regularly published journalist in a local paper began by responding to an advertisement posted by Lebanon Daily News looking for a freelance writer... …

Expert Assets By Heidi Smith Luedtke, PhD

Published on February 1, 2012

Freelancers who write for magazines know the importance of building and maintaining working relationships with editors. Besides archives of clips and reprints, our lists of editors' names, needs and preferences may be our greatest business asset. In my experience, cultivating relationships with expert sources is equally fruitful... …

I Now Like Haggling! By Nadia Ali

Published on January 25, 2012

Asking editors for a better pay rate has always been something I shy away from. Sometimes I think I do deserve more, but "haggling" isn't something that I like to do, that is until now... …

Find Your Niche By Beth Dolgner

Published on January 18, 2012

On a typical day, I write about everything from MINI Coopers to sponsorship deals, from motorcycle exhausts to champions. I have found my niche, and it is motorsports... …

The Softly-Softly Approach – Promotional Pens! By Mary Cook

Published on January 11, 2012

It was time to take my enterprise to the next level, offering myself as a writer for hire. It seemed a logical move once I'd become established as a writer of articles, poems and short stories. Ready to say "yes" or "maybe" to any proposal that involved stringing words together, I vowed I would never say "never". I was ready to take on all comers. The only trouble was the "all comers" didn't come. It was down to me to make them... …

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