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Writing Etc. – August 1, 2006

ISSN: 1545-5580

Tips, Techniques, and Resources to Transform You From An Average Freelancer to A Highly Paid Professional.

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Notes from Minnesota

NewsFlash ~or~ Markets! Get Your Markets Here! by Rusty Fischer

Paying Markets

You Speak Out: Q&A

~~~~~Highly Recommended~~~~~~~~~~

While many freelance writers struggle to earn a decent wage, Bob Bly has proven again and again, year after year, that it’s not only possible to earn far more, it’s possible to to transform words into a $100,000 per year freelancing business.

And he shares all his secrets within these pages. Secrets like:

• The hidden market most freelancers overlook that can boost your income to unbelievable levels
• The “quiet” magazine market that’s easy to break into and often pays very well
• How to ask for (and get) the fees you deserve
• How to use Bob’s “positioning” techniques to set you apart from your competition
• How to write a “bullet proof” book proposal
• 22 rules for successful self promotion
• Insider secrets to effectively use the Internet to reach your income goals
• How to do more... in less time

Bly goes on to list resources... books, websites, organizations and magazines... that are designed to help you succeed as a freelance writer.

Bob Bly’s Guide to Freelance Writing Success is an indispensable resource for the serious freelancer. Bly’s track record is impeccable. And now he’s spilling his secrets.

Buy your copy today: http://filbertpublishing.com/bob.htm

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Greetings from Minnesota!

I’ve been writing like my hair’s on fire this past week.

We’re releasing my newest book “101 No Cost (and Low Cost) Techniques to Turbo Charge Your Freelance Income” within the next week or so.

Pretty exciting considering I haven’t released anything since 2002.

2002!

Where did the time go?

It’s funny how the days slip beneath your feet if you don’t pay attention. One minute you’re releasing your latest novel, the next four years have slid by without your noticing.

But this latest book is certainly worth the wait.

Four years in the making, I pulled out all the stops and documented not only 101, but actually 113 techniques that will barely cost you a dime, that you can plug in right away to poop up your freelance income.

Pretty fun. Exciting, too.

So you’ll have to watch for this one. It’s going to be a great resource for every serious freelancer.

Till then, to your success,

Beth

~~~~~~~~~~~Advertisement~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shhhhhh… Keep his under your hat. Word is “MUM” for two more weeks. Then the lid’s going to blow…

Four years in the making. Information like none other. And you can jump in and get a two week edge on every other freelancer.

Get all the juicy details here: http://filbertpublishing.com/special.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Feature Article ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NEWS FLASH, OR:

MARKETS, GET YOUR MARKETS HERE!

The Author of Grass Roots Book Marketing Reveals How to Find Hidden Markets in Your Local Paper

By Rusty Fischer

Looking for up-to-the-minute market listings but tired of plugging in and logging on? Why not look on your front doorstep? The newspaper can be a valuable asset in your quest for freelance writing markets:

CLASS (IFIED) ACT!

Owning a computer is no reason to neglect that inexpensive yet invaluable tool that lands with a thud on your front stoop each Sunday morning. Many potential jobs are for businesses who need quick, crafty, and quality freelance writers to help fill their Web sites, brochures, or other copy—with the quickness.

Start with the ‘professional’ jobs. Look for publishing companies, magazines, or newspapers who need columnists or copywriters. Sure, you may have to write for a construction trade magazine or a pharmaceutical brochure, but getting your foot in the door is getting your foot in the door.

If there’s nothing in the professional section, try the part-time work or miscellaneous employment sections. Freelance writing is often considered part-time, and can occasionally be called miscellaneous. Either way, don’t let another Sunday go by without checking out the Classifieds for part-time, or even full-time, writing opportunities.

Even if you don’t get the job, keep the contact information handy and check in periodically, whether there’s an ad in the paper or not. Where I live, there are several corporate offices for several large educational publishers. You can bet I stay in touch with the right people from time to time, if only to pick up a brochure or workbook assignment here or there. After all, you never know when today’s little assignment can turn into next year’s four-year assignment!

ARTS SECTION SIFTING

Another great place to find potential writing markets is in the weekly Arts section. Here you’ll find author readings, writer’s conferences, writer’s groups, local authors who’ve just been published, and contests galore. So what? Where’s the money in that? Well, I can tell you from experience that word of mouth is an editor’s, and thus a freelancer’s, best friend.

Take an author reading. Unless the author’s last name is King or Grisham (and we’re not talking Bonnie or Scott, either) chances are the event will be ill-attended and often quite painful for the author who is reading or signing copies. (Trust me, I know!) What a welcome sight a like-minded soul such as yourself would be, (even if you do have an ulterior motive).

Chat the author up. Who is her publisher? Her editor? What does she do locally to keep busy? Who are her contacts? You’ll find many authors who remember their pre-published days and will often move heaven and earth to help you.

Local writers’ groups are great places to meet other like-minded souls and learn about local, and not so local, writing opportunities. These groups often run contests and occasionally even publish anthologies of their writings. Often, the only way to find your way into these meetings, contests, or books is through the local newspaper’s Arts section. So read it!

THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT!

Most local newspapers have a weekly entertainment section detailing the weekend’s cultural offerings. Despite the slant toward such events as pig callings and pie eating contests, these sections are nonetheless full of chances to make valuable writing contests.

Most of these sections list local poetry readings, upcoming author appearances at local bookstores, or writer’s conferences. They also usually list the names and addresses of smaller bookstores, which are often great promoters of local talent and occasionally host writer’s groups or readings.

Additionally, entertainment sections often need local movie reviewers, art aficionados, or restaurant critics to write, often for next to nothing, since the newspaper doesn’t consider this stuff ‘real’ news and isn’t willing to pay their regular reporters or columnists to do it. Send the appropriate editor on the Entertainment section’s masthead your list of credits and some appropriate samples, or maybe even a new movie or restaurant review. You might be surprised how often this simple act turns into some type of work down the road.

READER BE THERE

You’d be surprised by how many newspaper clippings I receive as samples of a freelancer’s work. Are these folks hard-hitting reporters or world weary journalists? Hardly, although that’s always my first impression. When I delve a little deeper, however, I usually find out that the writer has responded to their local paper’s weekly reader column, which is often just a glorified ‘letter to the editor.’

Nonetheless, the writer usually gets a byline and sometimes even a picture, and while they are rarely paid for such infrequent columns, they do get a professional looking tear sheet that appears to be much more impressive than it actually is!

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Rusty Fischer is the author of Grass Roots Book Marketing, available at http://www.filbertpublishing.com/grass.html

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Paying Markets – check ‘em out!

American Style

http://americanstyle.com/Magazine/edguide.cfm

Art Calendar

http://www.artcalendar.com/pr01.htm

Artist Magazine

http://www.artistsmagazine.com/tam_gl.html

Arts and Letters

http://al.gcsu.edu/submit.htm

Marriage Partnership

http://www.christianitytoday.com/marriage/features/info.html#writers

Orato

http://www.orato.com/node/9

Chronicle of the Old West

http://www.chronicleoftheoldwest.com/writers-guidelines2.shtml

Persimmon Hill

http://www.nationalcowboymuseum.org/m_perh_guid.html

Ephemera

http://www.ephemera-inc.com/guidelines.html

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You Speak Out: Q&A

Watch for your next set of questions in next week’s special issue! We’ve got some GREAT ones coming up.

In the mean time, got questions? Send ‘em here:  http://www.filbertpublishing.com/tinc?key=TTjJjZfx&formname=question

We answer each and every freelance question in the order they come in. You get your answer in an upcoming issue of Writing Etc.

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We Recommend:

Writing For Dollars! The FREE ezine for writers featuring tips, tricks and ideas for selling what you write. Receive the FREE ebook, 83 WAYS TO MAKE MONEY WRITING when you subscribe. Email to subscribe@writingfordollars.com -*- http://www.WritingForDollars.com

WRITERS FIND MARKETS EASILY - Worldwide Freelance has a NEW fully-searchable Markets Database. Discover writing markets from North America, Europe, Australia and other places. It's free, so come and try it out here: http://www.worldwidefreelance.com

Are your book sales in a slump? http://BethAnnErickson.com

E-Mag And Web Site Owners! Did you know that Filbert Publishing has an entire cache of articles you can use FREE. Just click the “Freebie” link to your left.

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Writing Etc.

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