Comments on: Worthy Tip: Upping Your Game

By: Lindsay

Lindsay — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 02:53:43 +0000

I've been writing for content mills (not steadily) for about three months. Talk about degrading. Then, about a week ago I discovered writers guidelines. There is hope!!!

I wrote my first query today, but I haven't sent it out yet. I'm a little afraid. To be honest, it's because I'm only a sophomore in college. I go to a good school, but I fear that my age and lack of a degree will scare editors and real clients away.

By: Ashley

Ashley — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 03:30:49 +0000

I'm just catching up on your blog… on vacay this week and have almost completely disconnected. It's heavenly!

This is a great idea. I'd been doing it the other way around – targeting a publication, then looking up the guidelines. I'm definitely going to try this — but not until after vacation ends 🙂

By: Irreverent Freelancer

Irreverent Freelancer — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 20:24:12 +0000

After 10 years of this freelancing thing, I've just now gotten to the point where I can accept a lull as a nice break as opposed to the beginning of the end!

Yep, slow and steady wins the freelance writer race.

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:22:31 +0000

Jenn, super idea! I hadn't thought to search that way. It would make it SO much easier to find the rate I want, not the rate they're paying.

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 19:21:52 +0000

I'm glad you're reformed, Angie. Don't be disgusted. I could rattle off a list of things I'm not proud of doing, too. You're with us now. All is well. :)

Excellent tip! Thank you!

By: Angie

Angie — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:18:56 +0000

Shamefully enough, I used to write for a content mill. To make matters worse, a journalist from the AP was given my name and wrote an article – entitled, "Writing for Peanuts and Loving It" – and I, like an idiot, proceeded to give him quotes about how excited I was that people were paying me to write. I'm so disgusted with that now…

In any case – I've searched "writers guidelines" before, and another effective one is simply, "write for us" and then the niche you're interested in writing for.

By: Jenn Mattern

Jenn Mattern — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 14:49:20 +0000

"Writers guidelines" is one of my favorite search terms when looking for new markets to add to our writer's market directory (and we only list ones with online guidelines, so it helps with that too). Another option that works surprisingly well is to search for rate-related terms — "$1.00 per word," "10 cents per word," etc. The trick with that is to search for a few different variations (numerals vs spelling it out, per word vs per page, etc.). It takes a bit longer, but for someone targeting a specific rate range it can work wonders. 🙂

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:39:27 +0000

Admitting it is the first step, Kim. :)

Great point on selling your work as a book. Also, ideas can be recycled. So many ways to approach the same topic!

By: Kim Hillman

Kim Hillman — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 02:46:27 +0000

To my shame, I admit it. I used to be one of those content mill writers. That was a tough way to make a buck (when they paid that much!).

Then, one day I wised up and realized that if I took those articles I was writing and put them between two covers, I could sell them over and over again rather than writing something once, and then having to find another writing assignment.

I'm happy to say it worked. I don't write for the content mills anymore.

If you're creative, there's always a way out or another avenue you can take. You don't have to write for peanuts. It's degrading.

By: Lori

Lori — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 20:09:18 +0000

Hugh, I love when you get going. 🙂 Great point on consistency. I just keep thinking of that song about the ant – "Oops there goes another rubber tree plant…."