Welcome from full-time freelance author and speaker Janice Thompson. It’s been quite a ride, walking you through the world of magazine article writing. We’ve looked at the life of the freelancer, studied the components of articles, looked at the various types of articles editors are looking for, studied the submission process, examined the financial, talked about relationships with editors and discussed the possibility of turning your articles into chapters for books. So, what’s left?
I thought it might be fun to reach into my bag of tricks for this final lesson. I want to leave you with “Ten Tricks of the Trade” for article writers. Tuck these away and pull them out as needed. I hope they bring you great success in your adventure as a freelancer.
TRICK #1: Never waste your research.
Research is so time-consuming. We need quotes and statistics for our articles and we’re always searching the web (or library) for more, more, more. From this point on, make a commitment to organize your research. Bookmark the pages that you use most often on the web. Categorize quotes in a file. Don’t let research consume your time. Leave plenty of time to actually write. And speaking of writing, why not set yourself up for a reprint or even subsequent articles when you research? Let’s say you’re planning to interview a school principal for a magazine or newspaper. Go ahead and plan on writing subsequent articles about respect for authority, teens and those who mentor them, a personal experience piece on the day you were called into the principal’s office, and so on. You get the idea. Let your research propel you into future articles and stories.
TRICK #2: Angles and Slants
Article writers are savvy people. They’re quick on their feet and always ready to come up with a story. And they’ve always got an angle! When a savvy freelancer reads the paper and sees that a big-named celebrity is coming to town, he quickly slants his article to work with that event. He’s smart enough to merge local events—say, a twenty-mile walk to support cancer victims—with his pending article ideas, too. And he’s quick to angle a story to include unsung heroes, people on the rise and other life changers, both local and national. What about you? Are you always looking for an angle? And do you know how to slant. . .or re-slant. . .an article when an editor doesn’t like it. Maybe you’ve written a personal experience piece about being a burn survivor, but it doesn’t catch the editor’s eye. What about re-slanting it, to make it a piece about a local firefighter who’s fighting a similar battle? Then slant it to fit a particular magazine looking for that sort of article. If that doesn’t work, slant it again. This time try writing the piece for children of firefighters. What is their life like? Yes, we’ve come a long way baby from that original idea, but a freelancer doesn’t mind that one bit. It’s all about hitting the nail on the head. And while we’re talking about slanting, let’s include the reader. Sure, you want to slant for your editor, but make sure the article works for your reader, too. Don’t tell her something she already knows. She’s read millions of articles on the subject you’re presenting, likely. So strive to give her new information. Read through your article again and again to make sure the material is fresh, relevant and informative.
TRICK #3: Savvy financial planner
A freelancer knows the business. She’s in it up to her eyeballs. She’s familiar with kill fees, knows the payment schedule of the house she’s writing for, understands first, reprint and all rights, has studied up on things like residual income, pay-per-article agreements, consultant fees, pay in trade, and per post payments. She understands that there are a host of ways to earn money through her writing and she chooses the way that’s best for her, combining one project with another for the best possible outcome.
TRICK #4: Write What You DON’T Know
I know, I know! This flies in the face of what you’ve been taught. All your life you’ve been told, “Write what you know!” And you have. You’ve leaned on your expertise to craft articles. But if you want to catch the fish when it’s swimming nearby, you might have to agree to write what you DON’T know. If you’re on the in with your editor and she needs a quick article on quilting, but you know nothing about the subject…don’t fret. Use the list of contacts you’ve been growing to locate someone who does know a little something about the world of quilting. Visit a local quilt show. Check out quilting books from the local library. Study the lives of quilters on the web. Watch a movie about quilting. Contact associations or organizations that specialize in quilting. You get the idea. In a short period of time, even if you never lace a needle with thread, you can become the resident expert on quilting. So, jump out of the box, freelancer. Be willing to take on some assignments that force you to learn new material. It will be good for you, and will grow you as a writer. And who knows. . .you might just take up quilting!
TRICK #5: Continually increase your skills
A savvy freelancer doesn’t lean on her current level of skill. She’s constantly working to be better than she is now. How? By attending conferences, joining local and online writing groups, acquiring critique partners, taking online courses, and so on. Sure, she’s been published time and time again. But she doesn’t rely on her past credits to bring in future jobs. She continues to learn the craft, learn the business and stay on top of current trends. She also learns how to better use quotes and statistics, trying a variety of angles and studying them for tones that fit the piece she’s writing. In short, she’s on a continual learning curve.
TRICK #6: Think Like a Fiction Writer
Fiction writers employ a variety of components to make their stories spring to life: great characterization methods, careful plotting, strong themes, individual voice, point of view. . .these are all things a savvy article writer can employ, as well. Learn to use dialogue in your piece. Don’t settle for shoddy characterization. Bring those characters to life! Incorporate strong themes with solid takeaways. Watch your tense and your point of view. Don’t head-hop or jump all over the place. Best of all, take your reader on a journey in much the same way a novelist takes his reader from one point in the story to the next. And in the end, leave your reader with a feeling of satisfaction.
TRICK #7: Don’t be a writing snob
There’s nothing worse than a writer who thinks he knows more than everyone else. Don’t be a writing snob. Even if you’ve got your Master’s Degree or PhD, don’t deliberately write over people’s heads just to impress them. Trust me, they won’t be impressed. They’ll be frustrated, and will probably toss the magazine across the room. By the same token, don’t dumb down your writing. Some writers are such snobs they think readers don’t have a clue. Assume your writer is bright and ready to learn.
TRICK #8: Relationships, relationships, relationships
In real estate, it’s all about location, location, location. In publishing, it’s all about relationships, relationships, relationships. This is a business made up of normal, happy, healthy people. Editors, copy-editors, freelancers. . .they’re all great folks. Well, most, anyway. Establish relationships with editors, experts, librarians, local celebrities, other writers, and so on. If they’re like you, they will enjoy the companionship. And don’t worry too much about taking up peoples’ time. Most folks are thrilled to be quoted in an article, and who doesn’t love free publicity? That’s what you’re giving most of the people you interview, right? So, rest easy! Enjoy the ride, and enjoy the people who are taking the ride with you!
TRICK #9: Stay on top of the market
In this ever-growing business, it’s virtually impossible to stay on top of things, but that shouldn’t keep you from trying. Do you know which publications are looking for new writers? Are you familiar with new magazines or publications that have been bought out by other corporations/organizations? You could be! Why not arrange an afternoon at Barnes & Noble or Borders to research periodical publishers? Peruse the shelves. Look through dozens and dozens of magazines on the racks. Consider the topics inside those publications. Likely you will be inundated with ideas for new articles. And don’t forget to take along your laptop or notepad so you can write down both your ideas and the information you’re acquiring.
TRICK #10: Be a pro
Sure, every published author considers himself a pro. He’s earned money with his craft, after all. I just want to remind you that a true pro acts like one, even under the toughest of situations. He doesn’t bark at editors, even when provoked, doesn’t insist on having his own way through the copy-edit process, and celebrates alongside the publisher when the article is released, promoting it on facebook, his blog, etc.
And talk about a great work ethic! A pro is an awesome fact checker. He trusts in the old journalism adage: “If your mother tells you she loves you, check it out!” He avoids plagiarism, doesn’t slander and has a clear strategy for success in mind. When it comes to interviewing others, he’s got a great plan of action, and always broaches each project with fresh enthusiasm. He knows his readers, honors those who buy his work, and strives to improve himself with each article submitted.
That’s it for my ten tricks of the trade. As we conclude this course on magazine article writing, I want you to consider one possibility we haven’t yet addressed: perhaps some of the projects you started weren’t MEANT to be finished. Part of learning to be savvy is knowing when to ditch something and pick up something else in its place. If we’re going to have a frank discussion about money-making, we need to address the “is it really worth it?” issue. Sometimes we get into a story (or article) and realize this really isn’t our best work (and/or isn’t really the best fit for us). I can’t tell you how many files I have on my computer for projects (books and articles) that were left by the wayside. SOME of these will never be completed. SOME are on hold, waiting for the perfect time to submit. Don’t think, because you have to set some projects aside, that you have failed. You have not. A successful freelancer knows when to show his cards, and when not to.
So, there you have it, writers. Ten lessons on the business of article writing. I hope you will join us in the forums to discuss any questions you might have about what you’ve learned. And beyond that, I hope you can take what you’ve learned and turn it into a lucrative career as a successful freelancer.
