Why It's Good to Be Steven...And What's YOUR Burning Question?

Because he won my latest giveaway! A complimentary copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Writers is on its way to him as we speak.

Thanks to all who participated, and bought copies of Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, second edition, and Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets. They're selling steadily and I appreciate the support for my new business.

So, what question would you like to ask about freelancing? If you have a burning question you'd like me to answer--whether it's about money or contacting sources or time management or marketing techniques or anything else related to making money as a freelance writer, post it here. I'll be answering readers' questions in the coming weeks, so here's your chance!

I Need More Stevens...and Only Six More Days for the Giveaway!

Last week I received an email from a reader named Steven, which read in part:  

"Are you going to have any of your other writing books on your site?  I recently bought Dollars and Deadlines, Six Figure Freelancing, and Ready, Aim, Specialize before I knew about you selling your books on your site. I will probably buy Writer for Hire and Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks on next unless you are bringing them out on your site any time soon. What I have read of the 3 books I mentioned previously, I have found very helpful. [my emphasis] They were actually a birthday present--my wife asked me wanted and she ordered them for me. I enjoy reading your artcles also because you make things easy to understand. Thank you."

I got back in touch with Steven to let him know I did have a few copies of Writer for Hire and Goodbye Byline in my office. (We authors tend to have extras!) I promptly thanked him, and sold them to him, signing them per his request. And I told him to get in touch with future freelance questions. 

Steven now has all FIVE of my books on freelancing. And I realized, I need more Stevens. 

No, you don't have to buy all five books (though personally I think Six-Figure Freelancing is the best book I've ever written on successful freelancing), but if you follow this blog, or turn to it when you're looking for proven, practical freelance advice, I hope you'll consider getting an entire book's worth of advice. You don't have to be Steven, but you can be a more successful freelancer if you follow the advice in my books.  

If you want the print edition of Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets, or Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition, don't wait. (Prefer an electronic edition. Here's the Dollars Kindle edition and Six-Figure Freelancing Kindle edition; if you don't have a Kindle, you'll find Smashwords editions of Dollars and Six-Figure here. 

Buy either (or both!) book by Monday, May 20 directly from my new company, Improvise Press, and you'll have a chance to win a FREE copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul Inspiration for Writers. It's chockfull of 101 motivational stories by both budding and bestselling writers that will help keep you in the game.

And remember to use the discount code, IMPROVISEPRESS (all caps/no breaks) for 20% off of your order, which makes it cheaper than buying from Amazon. The discount is only available for a limited time when you buy directly from ImprovisePress.

Do You Know Your FOB, LOI, and TK? Publishing Terms Freelancers Should Know

Like any business, freelancing has its own lingo--and that can be confusing for new writers. Here are 13 terms freelancers should know: 


All-rights contract: Contract where the publication purchases all rights to a piece, preventing you from reprinting it or making any additional money from it in the future. All-rights  contracts are becoming the industry standard, but you can sometimes negotiate changes to them. (I have a whole chapter on contracts in Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets.) See work-for-hire.

Backup: The material you submit with a piece so that it can be fact-checked. This includes names and contact information for sources, links to online material, and copies of journal articles you cite or mention in a piece. See fact-checking. 

Clips: Short for clippings and refers to when writers actually cut their pieces out of newspapers or magazines. Refers to published samples of work, whether in print or online. 

Fact-checking: See backup. 

FOB: "Front of book," or the section of the publication that includes shorter, often news-driven items. A great place for new writers to break in.

Indemnification. Usually refers to a contract provision that requires writers to insure the publisher that the piece won't lead to legal claims. (Know what a fair one looks like? Check out the contracts chapter in Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets.) 

Lead/lede: The opening to an article or query letter. The most important section of your query--if you can't catch the editor's attention, he or she will stop reading. (Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition contains more than a dozen queries along with LOIs and other templates.) 

LOI: Letter of introduction. Another way to pitch a market; this focuses more on your background and experience than on pitching a particular idea the way you do with a query. 

On acceptance: a payment term that means you'll be paid when the story is accepted. See on publication.


On assignment: When an editor asks you to write a piece (e.g., an article or a blog post) on a specific topic for a specific amount of money by a specific deadline for a specific publication. Often the assignment is made in writing, but it can be verbal as well. (In this case, you'll want to follow up with an email confirming the details of your assignment.) 

On publication: a payment term that means you'll be paid when the piece is published. Freelancers prefer to be paid on acceptance, because you can't control when a piece will appear in print or online--or even if it's published yet.

On speculation: When an editor is willing to look at a piece you submit, but doesn't offer you a formal assignment. (See "on assignment.") Editors often ask inexperienced writers to write "on spec" as they're unproven, and this can be a great way to get your foot in the door if you're short on clips or experience. 

Query/query letter: A query or query letter is used to pitch an idea to a market. You can also "query" as a verb, as in "I queried her three weeks ago and just got a response." 

TK: a publishing term that means "to come." If an editor asks you to TK something, it means you need to double-check it or add missing information. I use TK when I'm writing a draft to remind myself that I need to fix or clean up a particular section or word. 

Work-for-hire: While legally different than an all-rights contract (technically only an employee can sign a work-for-hire agreement), it's a term for a contract that purchases all rights to a piece from the writer. 

**Got a publishing term or question for me? Email me at kelly at become body wise dot com or post a comment here and I'll be happy to answer! 

**Don't forget about my giveaway! Have you been meaning to buy the print edition of Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets, or Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition, but been putting it off? Make today the day.

Buy either (or both!) book directly from my new company, Improvise Press, and you'll have a chance to win a FREE copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul Inspiration for Writers. It's chockfull of 101 motivational stories by both budding and bestselling writers that will help keep you in the game.

And remember to use the discount code, IMPROVISEPRESS (all caps/no breaks) for 20% off of your order, which makes it cheaper than buying from Amazon. The discount is only available for a limited time when you buy directly from ImprovisePress.

Inspiration Giveaway--and "On Spec" Versus "On Assignment"

Most of my freelance work is done on assignment, working for clients who have already hired me to craft an article, write a blog post, or ghostwrite a book. (That's different from writing "on speculation," or "on spec," where you write something without a formal assignment and then hope to sell it.)

Yet I do make time for what I call "projects of the heart." I write essays occasionally and hope that I'll be able to sell them, and when I do place one, I'm thrilled. I don't always know that I'll be able to sell an essay, but writing them lets me express myself and write in my own voice, not that of a client or market. It's a bonus when I sell one and see it published.

Years ago, I wrote a essay on writer's block that I sold to The Writer; it was reprinted in the ASJA Monthly. I forgot about the piece until last year, when I saw that Chicken Soup for the Soul Inspiration for Writers was soliciting submissions. I sent it in, and forgot about it again--until I learned that it had been selected for publication. The book just came out. Now I've got another check and another credit--plus a few complimentary copies I can pass on to readers.

So I'm doing another giveaway! Have you been meaning to buy the print edition of Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets, or Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition, but been putting it off? Make today the day.

Buy either (or both!) book for the next few days directly from my new company, Improvise Press, and you'll have a chance to win a FREE copy of Chicken Soup for the Soul Inspiration for Writers. It's chockfull of 101 motivational stories by both budding and bestselling writers that will help keep you in the game.

And remember to use the discount code, IMPROVISEPRESS (all caps/no breaks) for 20% off of your order, which makes it cheaper than buying from Amazon. The discount is only available for a limited time when you buy directly from ImprovisePress.

**My mention of "on spec" versus "on assignment" made me realize I'm due for a post on some publishing terms every writer should know. Stay tuned!

Talking Freelance Money: Per-Hour Versus Per-Word

Hi, readers! Today's post is a flashback of sorts--an updated version of one of my first, and also one of my most popular. It encompasses one of my freelancing philosophies--that it's more important to pay attention to what you're making per-word than per-hour. 

Per-word rates are the norm in the freelance world. You may be paid $2/word for a national print magazine, $0.25/word for an online publication, or, say, $200 for a blog post of about 600 words. The per-word figure, multiplied by word count, tells you how much you’ll make for writing a particular article. story. But it may not tell you whether it’s really worth it to take it on. To know the answer to that, you must also consider how much time the piece will take to pitch, research, and write--and possibly rewrite. Divide your assignment fee by the number of hours you put into an assignment, and you'll have its hourly rate. 

Knowing how much time an article (or any other project, for that matter) will take gives you a concrete idea of the return on your time. Because those $1/word and up assignments can be mighty misleading. Sure, it’s a bigger check than writing for a market that pays a lower per-word rate. But does a higher per-word rate mean you're making more money if you were to write for a market that pays less? 

For example, let’s say I do a 1,000-word story for a national magazine that pays $1.50/word. Fair enough—I’m getting paid $1,500 for my work. But what happens if between researching and writing the query, writing an outline (per my editor), researching the article, finding sources, doing interviews, transcribing interviews, writing the piece, turning in the piece, revising the piece (per my editor’s request), finding new sources (per my editor), interviewing those sources, turning in the final revision, submitting my backup material, answering additional questions from the editor (say, nine months later…it happens), I’ve put 25 hours into my story? That means I’ve made $60/hour on that story.

Not bad, but here’s the thing—compare that to a 1,000-word piece on the same topic for a smaller magazine that pays only $0.35/word. Yet I know the editor and my query is just a short paragraph. The story requires some background research and several interviews, and takes me a total of five hours to write. (No revisions requested! Yay!) That a total of $350, for five hours’ worth of work—or $70/hour.

At first glance, the $1,500 piece appears to be a more lucrative assignment—and it is a bigger check. But my experience has been that national markets (and I’ve written for more than 60 of them during the last 16 years) expect a lot more work from you to earn that higher rate. In many cases, I’ve found that regional magazines, trade publications, custom magazines, and websites pay more per-hour than their national counterparts. And that makes them worthwhile markets, at least for me. 

Another example? I sell reprints to a variety of markets. No, the rates aren't high--and may be as low as $40/story, but last week I got a request for an article of mine. It took me less than 15 minutes to locate the story on my hard drive and email it to her along with an invoice--an hourly rate of $160. That number puts a new perspective on selling reprints, huh? 

To know your hourly rate, you have to know how much time each assignment takes, and thats's why I recommend using a time sheet, especially if you're a new writer. As you gain experience, you'll find you can more easily estimate how long a piece will take and have a better feel for what its hourly rate--its true value--will be. 

**Looking for more advice on writing for money? Check out my latest two books, Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets, and Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition. 

You'll save money by buying them direct through www.improvisepress.com, my newly-launched publishing company. Use the discount code, IMPROVISEPRESS (all caps, no breaks) for 20 percent off of your order--and let me know if you'd like a signed copy for yourself or a friend! 

Dream of Writing about Travel? Here's How to Get Started

Plenty of freelancers want to write about travel. But this competitive field takes more than frequent flyer miles. Today's post, I interview Kristine Hansen, an accomplished freelancer who specializes in travel writing: 

Q: Tell me a little bit about your writing background.

A: I've been freelance-writing in some capacity since 1999 although I turned to travel writing much later (in 2005). Since combining my love for the open road with a passion for prose I've been hooked: my stories have published in TIME, many inflight magazines, Backpacker, Wine Enthusiast, National Geographic Traveler and two bridal magazines. Last year I started

blogging several times each week for Fodors.com. My focus tends to be wine and culinary travel. I've been to 19 countries so far, places I never, ever thought I'd go, including Easter Island and Bordeaux, and put my body to the test with activities such as a surfing lesson in Southern California and dog sledding in the dead of winter in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. I've even been to "wine boot camp" in Napa. (I'm still aging the Cabernet Sauvignon I made...)

It all traces back to a crazy little road trip I took from Milwaukee to Memphis with a girlfriend in 1997. Bored with my job editing at a railroading magazine, once we were out on the open highway, I mused about how awesome it would be if I became a travel writer and wrote stories about all the places I went. Little did I know that I was planting a seed for my eventual career, only it took me a few years to build up the confidence to pitch editors these tales.

Q: How did you get started writing about travel?

A: While editing a regional home/garden magazine I learned a few of my freelance writers were also travel writers. One was writing for Budget Travel. She took me under her wing and showed me the ropes -- proof that even editors can use a little help -- and when I left that job I launched back into freelance writing full-time (this was my second go at it). Now that I had a focus, it was very successful and I haven't looked back since. As professional writers it's easy to go after what you think will be profitable but if you don't enjoy it, what is the point?

Q: What kids of opportunities are there for travel writers today?

A: Many -- in fact, much more than there used to be with the traditional print-magazine model. I always encourage my students to start today with a blog -- or team up with other writers on a group blog -- in order to build a platform, as a vehicle to entice editors and prove you know what makes a destination worth traveling to, a hotel worth splurging on, or the best places to eat in a certain city. Even if you start by writing only about your region, that's okay. Ask the same questions you might if you were planning a trip to Paris or Savannah: if you only have 36 hours, where must you go? Beyond this, there are opportunities to blog for profit at

either travel websites or magazines' web sites. Think about what you have to offer as a travel writer. What is your passion -- is it museums? restaurants? family travel? romantic vacations?

Q: How can writers new to travel get started? 

A: Think trends and what's news-y. That's what people want to read about. Pretend that the most savviest, well-traveled person is reading your article. Basically, if it's not new or trendy, it's less likely to be a story. That said, it can be a new twist on a classic, such as the best

cafes in Paris (again, been there, done that) that have a farm-to-table menu (tapping into the locavore trend); or best wineries in Napa Valley that are kid-friendly (wait: people bring kids to the wine country?).

Q: How can writers break into this competitive field?

A: Just as you would with any other article, you want to pitch an editor with a proposal, being sure to answer the following questions: why is this a story now (and not last year)? how are you uniquely qualified to tell the story? how is this a refreshing angle? Send a brief email, don't be afraid to follow up (editors get a TON of email) and don't be discouraged if your

pitch doesn't set sail. If you get a response from an editor, even if it's a rejection, be ready to repitch within a week while your name is still on his or her radar. I often start thinking of a second idea even while the first one is under consideration.

Q: What will writers learn through your online class? 

A: I'm a believer in learning from our peers. So while I'm the "teacher" in this class, I'm also facilitating a discussion group. I encourage my students to ask questions of each other and offer moral support. Weekly writing assignments, group discussions based upon a published travel article and Q-and-As I've done with successful travel writers all help students think about what kind of travel writer they'd like to be. Do you want to write articles? essays? a guidebook?  I also share a database of 68 (and counting!) paying markets so that nobody has an excuse for not taking the next step: pitching!

To sign up for the next class, Flight Plan to Your Travel-Writing Career, visit this link: http://www.kristineahansen.com/classes. Registration deadline is May 1 and the class is limited to just 10 people.

**Thanks so much to Kristine for today's blog post! And as I keep telling you, please check out my latest two books, Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets, and Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition. You'll save money by buying them direct through www.improvisepress.com, my newly-launched publishing company. Use the discount code, IMPROVISEPRESS (all caps, no breaks) for 20 percent off of your order. 

Forget Coffee, Try TEA: How to Ask for More Money--and Get it!

Hate to negotiate? Scared to ask for more money? You're not alone. I was a lawyer in my former life and it still took me more than 13 months of fulltime freelancing before I summoned up the courage to ask to ask for more money. Now, more than 16 years later, I do it as a matter of course.

But if you're new to freelancing, or if you're wondering how to go about negotiating better rates, here's a simple and effective way to do it. Think TEA:

1. Thank. When you're offered an assignment, express your appreciation. Let her know you're excited about or looking forward to working with her. (i.e., "Thanks so much for thinking of me..." or "I'm glad you want to assign this piece..")

2. Explain. Now give a reason (or more than one) why you're asking for more money. The way you make your case will depend on the assignment, but I've used the following reasons to ask for more:

• A tight (or extremely tight) deadline. (i.e., "I'm happy to take this on, but the deadline means I'm going to have to work nights to meet it...")
• An all-rights contract that the editor won't budge on. (i.e., "I realize you can't change the contract, but this prevents me from ever reselling the story in the future and as a freelancer, I rely on reprints to fund my 401k...")
• A story that requires a lot of legwork. (i.e., "Hey, we both know how hard it can be to find 'real people' sources for this kind of story....")
• An assignment that requires a certain level of expertise or experience. (i.e., "You know that I've been doing health writing for more than a decade, and I'm happy to do all the background research this story will require..." or "I've written more than a dozen book proposals that have sold, so you know I can write a proposal that will capture an editor's attention..."
• A market that I've written for before. (i.e., "You already know I'm going to do a great job for you...")

3. Ask. It's that simple. After you've expressed enthusiasm for and appreciation of the assignment and stated your case, ask the editor if she can "do better". (You don't have to say, "Pay me more, dude!" even if that's what you're thinking.) The way you phrase it will vary, so use language you're comfortable with. Here are some sample scripts, using the above scenarios:

• Tight deadline script: "Thanks so much for thinking of me for this story. I'm happy to take this on, but the deadline means I'm going to have to work some nights to meet it. Considering that, can you boost your rate a bit?"
• All-rights contract script: "I realize you can't change the contract, but this prevents me from ever reselling the story in the future and as a freelancer, I rely on reprints to fund my 401k--I don't have a pension plan. Keeping that in mind, could you do better money-wise?"
• Legwork-heavy story: "Hey, we both know how hard it can be to find 'real people' sources for this kind of story...it can take days just to find the right person! Can you do better than $1/word for that kind of legwork?"
• Complex or complicated assignment script: "You know that I've been doing health writing for more than a decade, and I'm happy to do all the background research this story will require, but this is a story not everyone could write. Can you do better money-wise to reflect my experience?"
• Regular market script: "You know me and my work, and you know I'm going to do a great job for you and turn the story in before deadline. Could we talk about me getting a raise?"

Thank. Explain. Ask. It's that simple. Forget your regular cup of coffee. Try TEA instead, before you say yes...and let me know what happens!

**Hello, readers! I'm happy to report that I've been averaging more than 5,000 hits/month here for the last six months or so. That's awesome! I get lots of emails from people thanking me for my help, and I appreciate that. Now, let me ask for a favor in return--that you consider buying my latest two books, Dollars and Deadlines: Make Money Writing Articles for Print and Online Markets, and Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money, Second Edition. 

You'll save money by buying them direct through www.improvisepress.com, my newly-launched publishing company. Use the discount code, IMPROVISEPRESS (all caps, no breaks) for 20 percent off of your order. 

Can't afford to buy the books right now? Then request them from your local library! And thank you for your support of Improvise Press, and this blog.