Freelancing and Journalism

Five tips from an award-winning journalist to help you hit send on that pitch. Obsessing over whether to send that query or work on it a little more? You’re not alone. Far too many writers get into the habit of obsessing over a single pitch or query letter, rather than doing the best they can […]

A six-figure freelancer on the mistakes that will cost you clients. Some may surprise you. Sometimes, you don’t get second chances. If you offend an editor, it’s unlikely she’ll send more work your way. If you don’t muster up the courage to ask for higher pay, you won’t get that chance again until a new […]

The whole point is for readers and editors to get a sense of your writing. I redesign my portfolio website every few years so that I can stay current. And each time I spend far too long selecting the best writing clips to showcase. I figure I’ve garnered enough experience to show you how to […]

What I do after I finish an assignment that get me paid faster–and sometimes more! You’ve finished an assignment. The article is written precisely to brief. You’ve edited the first draft, proofread it half a dozen times and sent it off to your editor or client. You’ve even included a note saying you really enjoyed […]

Pitching. Persistence. Paychecks. Here’s what it really took to sell 100 articles during my first year of freelancing. If you know nothing else about your first year of freelancing, know this: you have, right now, the same level of experience as every successful writer had when they started out. None. In looking back over my […]