Freelancewritingtips.com

Authors' advice: Should you pitch to an agent or publisher?

I'VE seen lots of discussion of this, with contradictory opinions expressed. I've also attended writers' groups and events where the same question arises. It's hard sometimes to know who to believe. 

So when I asked for challenges to address here, it was no surprise that this  was one of the first raised, from blogger and former production director CoffeeCurls. 

Is it a better idea to pitch your book idea to an agent or a publisher?

My experience

My view has always been that for fiction you should pitch an agent, while with non-fiction you may want to talk directly to a publisher. Guidance I latched on to was if you are an unknown writer, there may not be enough money to be made in non-fiction by an agent working on your behalf -- the publisher could offer a tiny advance and/or royalties. This is definitely the case with small presses responsible for many non-fiction titles.

Can you support a family as a freelance writer?

Thanks to Huw for this question.

Here's my answer.

Yes you can. I'm basing that on my experience as someone who has built up writing work over several years and the experience of other parents who work as freelance writers. But, guess what, it's not easy. (Already I feel like I'm stating the obvious - sorry.) Rates have hit a downward spiral for one thing and publications or sections that used to welcome freelance contributions are no longer so accommodating. More seem to be springing up, asking you to write for free. Many freelance journalists and writers, whether they are parents or not, will tell you how much of a struggle they are finding things.

My own situation is that at times I have been the sole earner due to my husband being made redundant and at present he can't work. We have twins aged 13.

Welcome back: Book, blog and events news

Hello there, thanks for dropping by. I'm now back here in the run-up to my new book, Freelance Writing, coming out in April.

I'm also due to speak at the Chipping Norton literary festival in April and at the Cybher conference on May 12. 

Upcoming posts requested so far are:

• Can you make a living (enough to support a family) from freelance writing?
• Focus on pitching a literary agent or publisher
• How to invoice and keep track of income/expenditure

Place on Kick start your freelance writing career workshop in Authors for Japan auction

I'M offering a place on an upcoming workshop for new and aspiring freelance writers in the Authors for Japan auction.

It's being held in Birmingham city centre and is on Saturday, July 2. I hope this information is useful for anyone considering bidding. 


This workshop is for you if:

* You are considering launching a freelance journalism career

Freelance journalism mentoring included in Authors for Japan auction

THIS is a cross-post from Authors for Japan. The sessions mentioned below also include exercises set between phone calls and tailored feedback. These are included in an auction and the hope is that people will bid and raise money to help relief efforts in Japan.

Please see the Authors for Japan website for more information, plus some amazing offers from high profile authors.

ITEM: One place on four-week telephone mentoring sessions for aspiring freelance journalists (usual price £250 plus VAT) plus signed copies of The Greatest Guide to Freelance Writing, publication late 2011; Love to Write: A School Run guide to helping your child in literacy (provisional title), publication due 2011.

Ten writing howlers to spoil (this) editor's first impression

I'VE edited various publications over the years.

These include an English-language newspaper in Russia, charity and business magazines, women's sections, culture guides and now, the parenting website Ready for Ten.

My work has also seen me enjoy stints as a news editor on regional newspapers and my former employer, the Wolverhampton Express & Star, kept me on as a part-time sub after I had my children, before I left to go freelance.

In my personal life, I am quite happy-go-lucky but I know that on a professional level, when new writers have approached me with their ideas or copy, for some reason they may have felt intimidated.

Taking the fear out of freelance journalism by Susan Grossman

YOU need a lot of courage to send off ideas to editors. Creative people aren’t naturally good at selling themselves, but it’s part of the job, writes Susan Grossman.

Here, Susan, a freelance writer of more than 30 years standing, now lecturing on the MA in journalism at a London university, explains how to ensure that your story idea is accepted.

Susan's now a writing mentor and career coach, running regular workshops for freelancers on Pitching to Editors.

Q: Why would an editor want a feature from me?

SG: Because, as a freelance you are a vital cog in the wheel. Without freelancers, newspapers and magazines would struggle to survive.

A beginner's guide to travel writing opportunities

 
OPPORTUNITIES for features from unproven contributors in renowned publications' travel sections are few and far between. Many mainstream media organisations will share travel gigs in-house, favour celebrity contributions or not pay.

There are plenty of highly experienced travel journalists who may already have written for leading publications who regularly find their suggestions for features rejected or ignored. Now more than ever.

Busy editors are inundated with pitches from established and wannabe travel hacks. So if you're  determined to make it as a travel journalist, be prepared for a bumpy ride littered with rejections.

A big misconception about travel writing is that it’s an easy way to make a living. You have to do other things to pay the mortgage.

The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World: Book, blog and training

THE Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World was published in November 2007 and can be bought in bookshops and from Amazon here.

See a selection of reviews, plus feedback from readers, here.

Listen to a podcast about The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World.

This blog was set up to help publicise the book.

Here are some of the most popular posts:

Back to basics: Ten mistakes to avoid when writing a news story

The most important thing? Learn multi-media skills

The fine art of negotiating press trips, by Andrea Wren

Should you write for free?

Coping with rejection: Editors are people too!

Freelance journalism: Start low, aim high?

How networking can boost a freelance writing career

How journalists can survive a recession, by Sara Edlington

Making the most of Twitter

Going freelance after being made redundant by a regional paper? Hard-learned lessons to help you on your way

Can you send the same pitch to different editors?

How journalists can reap the rewards of blogging, by Craig Mcginty.

Six myths about freelance writing.

Depression, my story and how journalists should speak up when they are feeling down

Six characteristics of a successful freelance journalist

Real life, real profit? Selling features to women's weekly magazines

A small selection of pitches that worked

Freelance writers describe their writing day.

Ten blindingly obvious things I have learned in my first year as an author.

Think you know "mummybloggers"? Think again!

My work as a writer continues to be varied, interesting and fun. My latest project, a site reporting on holidays, short breaks, days out and activities, is called Havealovelytime.com

I'm the director of the Midlands agency, Passionate Media, and our blog chronicling news from our company and clients is here.

We also run training sessions for freelance journalists wanting to make more money. The following is feedback gained from a London session:

Great course. Up and at 'em now! Anne Marie Flanagan

Thanks again for yesterday, feel very motivated today!  Rachael Glazier

Thanks for a very enlightening day. I feel like a Jedi Knight to your Obe Wan Kenobi. Catherine Goddard

Thank you! It was a fantastic day! Emma McNeil

Thanks Carol and Linda for today and the kick up the bum, enjoyed course. Michael Cross

Had a great time on Saturday. Course was brilliant, thank you. Really useful. Siobhan O' Neill

Thanks so much for the fab seminar - it was sooo helpful and have come away full of ideas and plans. You and Carol were both brilliant. Olivia Gordon

Thanks to you and Carol for a really great training day today - definitely the best course I've been on for a while. You two should add life coaching to your list of talents. Olivia Holcombe

Just wanted to say thanks for the fab course, Linda and Carol - very informative, inspiring and good fun too. Judy Yorke

I'd like to add my grateful thanks for the well-delivered and extremely interesting course - it was great to meet such creative, positive and friendly people and I now feel inspired and ready to take the plunge into a new and different world.  Ruth Derrick

Brilliant, thank you both for a very informative and enjoyable day.  I think much of what we learned will be of huge benefit in all areas of our working life. Amanda Lees

I thought it was the best course I've been on - full of practical advice and illustrative examples. It has really got me motivated and excited about getting out there and chasing down the commercial work. Thanks. Emma Jayne Jones

Please get in touch with me via email Linda@passionatemedia.co.uk if you would like to know more. Our next training date is Saturday, June 27, in central London.

How I use social media to survive and diversify

THE Black Country Social Media Cafe is described as a place for people interested in social media to gather, get acquainted, chat, plot, scheme, and share.

I attended the first meeting a few weeks back when guest speakers Pete Ashton and Chris Unitt outlined lessons learned on a visit to SXSW.

At the next meeting, to be held on Tuesday, May 12, at 2.30pm in the Alchemy Bar in Wolverhampton city centre, there'll be a chance for members to say a little about who they are and what they do, with a particular emphasis on how they have been able to use social media in their work.

It's unclear whether I am going to be able to make it to the next meeting, because of a work commitment. Nevertheless, I have been thinking about how our work has been transformed by social media, so am posting here about its impact on my professional life. As I think about tomorrow's JEE Camp, I also thought it would be useful to pull some of my experience together in this way.

Overall, I'd say that a growing knowledge of social media has allowed me to:

* Survive and diversify in my chosen career.

* Make and strengthen new contacts whom I never would have met previously.

* Improve ways of finding, researching and completing existing work

* Find new income streams - both directly and indirectly through blogging but also in offering my services to help others get to grips with the concept of social media and understand that it's not about technology for the sake of it 

* Better promote my work across various disciplines