The questions I get now (because things have changed for me drastically in the 4 years since I started) are more about working from home in general and finding those jobs. I know see why people could have easily gotten frustrated with me once upon a time!

On the other hand, there's absolutely no excuse for asking for someone else's prospect list. I'm more than willing to help people who are willing to help themselves, but there's no way to look at that request without it seeming lazy. People need to realize they won't learn unless they do the work themselves!

1. Start a freelance writing business.
2. ?????
3. Profit!

@Eileen, sharing your prospect mailing list? That wins the Internets for the day, maybe the month!

Um, no. First, I'd never read this guy's work so there's no way I could recommend him. Second, if nearly ten years' worth of attempts to break in there haven't worked, there's probably a good reason. Third, you didn't even assign me anything!

I gave him the short version of how I got in: I sought out the appropriate editor (this place has dozens of editors), sent in great clips with my letter of introduction, and happened to have such good timing I got my first assignment as soon as the editor read my clips.

If that guy was really motivated, he could deduce which editors to contact. All he'd have to do is download the editorial calendar, which lists the editors' names with the sections they're scheduled to edit. I didn't tell him that part, since checked editorial calendars is such an obvious step.

Like I'm going to do the legwork for you when you didn't even discuss the idea I pitched to you? Puh-lease.

And you're right – they want to be pointed in the right direction, but I have fielded that question so much I'm beginning to think they don't want to actually DO the work as be LED to do the work. I'd be thrilled to respond to a well-worded question that shows the writer really does intend to seek this career path.

Smart Trading Plans, don't stop asking questions. Just don't ask blanket questions that have taken many writers books in order to answer. We're happy to help. It's just that some questions require huge amounts of time to answer and I for one don't have hours to do that.

If you came to me and said, "Do you have a process for contacting magazines?" I can answer that. If you come to me and ask "How do I start writing for magazines?" that's a writing course. Please ask, but think about what you're asking first. 🙂

Carson, everything they need to know rests on this blog and others. I have pointed people here and to some other sites. But it takes time to answer a general question – time I spend earning money. And frankly, if these people want to be writers, they have to learn how to ask good questions of their interview subjects. Starting now.

Wendy, that made me smile. 🙂 We all ask dumb questions, sure. But by asking you still narrowed it down to just magazine writing. The smart response to that would be "What part confuses you?" And the nerve of the person wanting to horn in on your work! No way. That's just too blatant. Worse, they may have used you as a reference and sucked or sent a signal that you were no longer interested in the gig.

Eileen, that request tops the worst ever! You're right – pointing them to resources often works better. It's already been written – no need to rewrite it all in an email!

I get a lot of emails from aspiring copywriters. These days, I just point them towards Bowerman and Bly's books. Bowerman's Well Fed Writer books are practically a blueprint for success, if you do everything he tells you to.