Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer

"An essential read for freelance writers." — The Writer magazine Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer, Third Edition , offers a step-by-step guide to launching a successful freelance career. For beginners and experts, full time or part time, Moira Allen explains everything freelancer writers need to know, including how to set up a home office, develop and pitch marketable ideas, approach editors and other clients, and prepare and submit material. In addition, readers will learn the business side of freelancing, such as how to deal with rights and contracts as well as how to manage income, expenses, and taxes. Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer also discusses the ways in which freelancer writers can expand and enhance their writing career. Allen gives essential advice on the use of photos and reprints and discusses how to take advantage of other writing opportunities, such as columns, business and technical writing, and even nonfiction books. Fully updated, this new edition includes: A fresh look at the top writing tools to get started in today's Internet environment The best social media venues for writers and how to use them Tips on how to expand a copywriting portfolio and clientele with social media writing services Why a website is still the most important online marketing tool—and how to maximize its effectiveness How a writer's blog can help your freelancing career Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer offers freelancers the tools and information they need to understand this business from the inside out and to become successful freelance writers. Introduction So you want to be a freelance writer The tools of a freelancer Making time to write Setting effective writing goals From idea to outline Exploring the markets How to write a successful query Creating your first draft Personal experience articles Conducting research on the web Conducting interviews The submission process Understanding rights and copyright Negotiating contracts Setting fees and getting paid Writing and selling a column Writing for newspapers / Sue Fagalde Lick Selling reprints Adding photos to the package Writing for businesses / Dawn Copeman Social media marketing for businesses / Dawn Copeman Commercial freelancing: where's the money? Writing and selling a nonfiction book Establishing your online presence Social media for writers / Gary McLaren Handling income and expenses Keeping records Five habits of the effective freelancer Full-time freelancing: taking the plunge.