Buy PWAC's Guide to Roughing It in the Market: A Survival Toolkit for the Savvy Writer,a book that was commissioned by PWAC. It contains great hints for writing effective query letters.
Summer in the business world is almost universally known as a down time, but that does not mean no work is being assigned or done. In fact, autumn is often a busy season for publications and many assign fall stories in the summer. Your own personal calendar will be determined by the type of writing you do and the type of clients you favour. The important thing is to make sure a down time in your markets does not translate into a down time for your work. A slow assignment season is the perfect time to brainstorm new ideas for the coming months, write a bunch of new queries, look into repurposing and reselling past work, write a book, etc.
Magazines normally work at least two to three months ahead of their publication dates, and issues get fatter in the fall to support the Christmas shopping season. So summer can actually be a good time to pitch stories and get assignments for stories due in the fall. If you wait until fall to start pitching, you could get squeezed out by the space crunch, since most magazines get slimmer in January and February. Keep those queries coming for a steady flow of work - and cash - year-round.
16.Which comes first, pitching an idea for an interview to a magazine or seeing if the subject will give you the interview?
the answer is... the egg, of course. Either way works, and both have their advantages. Pitching, and being assigned the interview first, gives you the authority of the magazine name when contacting the interviewee or publicist. There can be more authority in introducing yourself as so-and-so from a high-profile magazine than so-and-so, a freelance writer.
On the other hand, with the interview already lined up, the pitch may be that much easier.
17.I've got an assignment to write 1,000 words. What if I run over that limit?
word counts are assigned for very solid business reasons. Ignore them at your peril. Going significantly over or under a word count makes that much more work for an editor. Remember that freelancing is a relationship business. Word count discipline affects writer/editor relationships.
On the other hand, there is no harm in asking about word count flexibility ahead of time. And some editors actually appreciate getting, say, 1,100 words so that they have something to cut and condense.
18.I've been asked to sign a contract that demands future and extended rights for my article. What should I do?
Copyright is a writer's equity. Give it away or sell it cheaply at your peril. There is no such thing as a non-negotiable contract, so negotiate. For a great resource on this issue, check the PWAC Copyright Kit.
19.Does everyone get paid by the word?
Many markets prefer to pay a bulk rate per assignment. PWAC's "What to Pay a Writer" resource, includes pay rates per word, per assignment and per hour depending on what each market prefers.
20.What's the difference between a magazine's staff writers and freelancers?
Staff writers are employees of the magazine. As such, they often have little input into what they are assigned. They also do not own the copyright to the work they produce for the magazine. On the other hand, they have excellent access to their editor in order to pitch stories of interest and they get a predictable and regular pay cheque, often with accompanying benefits.
21.How much do freelancers usually get paid?
PWAC's "What to Pay A Writer" resource is an excellent guide for freelancing rates.
22.Should I write an article "on spec" for a magazine to look at?
Writing on spec is essentially working for free and is not recommended for freelancers. On the other hand, many new freelancers find this a good way to begin developing a relationship with an editor - showcasing the work up front. There is a better solution. If you are driven to write the article first, by all means write it. Then use the details, and perhaps even a segment of the finished article, to write a fantastic query letter and try to get your own story assigned to you. In this way, you have showcased your writing talent while maintaining a professional business relationship.
23.Do most PWAC members write for newspapers and magazines?
If this were 1976, the answer would be "yes." Today, the answer is "more or less." Because the ability to make a living writing freelance for newspapers and magazines alone has become something akin to a magician's trick, most freelance writers in Canada today have diversified their client list to include corporate and government contracts.
Many writers supplement their income by editing, teaching, or by giving seminars based on their expertise in various fields. Some hold down part-time jobs. However, most PWAC members earn the majority of their income - and many make a very good living - from freelance writing.
