Coming Next Week: The Biggest Mistakes Freelancers Make

Tune in next week when we'll be talking about common freelance mistakes...and how to avoid them. Til then, have a great weekend!

Trade Publications: The Overlooked Magazine Market

When you think of writing for magazines, chances are you think of consumer magazines--the "glossies" you see on newsstands. You may be overlooking an even bigger section of the magazine publishing industry--trade magazines. (My recent survey of more than 100 fulltime freelancers found that only 13% are currently writing for trades.)

Trade magazines serve a specific niche--they're aimed at people who work in a particular trade or industry and are typically sold only on a subscription basis. While a few don't pay, most have rates ranging from about $.20 to 50/word and higher. The editors aren't inundated with queries the way consumer mags are, and they're usually looking for people who have some knowledge of their industry--and can write.

One of the best parts about writing for trades is that once you have your foot in the door, your editor is likely to come back to you again and again. A single query to Chamber Executive, the magazine for the ACCE, led to a three-year relationship (until a new editor took over). A letter of introduction to IGA Monthly again led to several dozen assignments. Another bonus? Often your editor will provide you with the sources she wants you to interview, which slashes your research time. And I've found that edits tend to be minimal, which boosts your hourly rate.

To locate trades, check your local library for Bacon’s Magazine Directory, Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media, and The Standard Periodical Directory. Bacon's lists more than 55,000 markets; the later two, more than 70,000.

When pitching a trade, I suggest you use an LOI, use industry lingo, think about the audience of the market, and show that you're up on the business the magazine is about. A well-written letter of introduction is likely to pay off if the editor needs writers, so if you know about a particular industry, why not consider branching into this overlooked market?

There's Still Time to Learn about Ghostwriting...

If you missed today's Write Now! Mastermind call on ghostwriting and coauthoring, you can still listen to it...at your convenience! Sign up with Write Now! Mastermind by Monday, August 2, and Rochelle will send you a link to the recording: http://www.writenowmastermind.com/

Get in on Ghosting: Free Write Now! Mastermind Class Wednesday, July 28

Just a reminder...if you're interested in learning more about ghostwriting, this Wednesday, July 28, I will be appearing at the Write Now! Mastermind Class to talk about ghosting--and making money doing it. If you want to know how ghostwriting works, what’s in it for you, and whether it's a good fit for your freelance career, please visit http://www.writenowmastermind.com/ and sign up for the call. And stay tuned for a big announcement of my own in a similar vein...

One Last Query...This One's Mine

Thanks for the feedback on last week's Query Critique Week...I hope you found it helpful. I have one last query to share that demonstrates some of the tips I talked about last week. This is a pitch I sent last year to one of my regular markets; my comments appear in blue:

Dear Tamara:

I’m an admitted “type A.” I think fast, do chores fast, and make decisions fast. Even when faced with a tough choice, I usually feel compelled to make up my mind as soon as I can. I feel weak and powerless if I don’t “know” the right answer, even if the question is a biggie—like whether to work after my son was born, or whether we should try to sell our house (in a down market) and move up to a bigger home. In these situations, I seek advice from my mom, whose counsel never wavers: “Give yourself time. You don’t have to make a decision today.” [I’ve written for this editor before, and I know she likes first-person leads—the magazine has a friendly “mom-to-mom” voice.]

In fact, my mom is onto something. (Hey, she has 65 years’, 4 kids, and 3 grandkids’ worth of experience.) Procrastinators have always gotten a bad rap, but putting off decisions—especially hard ones—may actually pay off. A study published last year found that making choices depletes your self-control, as the same area of the brain controls both self-regulation and making choices. That means that means that making even a minor decision may affect your ability to stick to your diet or read with your seven-year-old the way you promised. And so-called “active procrastinators” are anything but paralyzed by indecision to act. Instead, they make a deliberate decision to put things off as they thrive on working under pressure. [Here I’ve started with my personal experience but broadened it to show that my mom's advice may be on the money. (Of course!) I've also mentioned a recent study--without giving away the store, so to speak--in support of my hypothesis that procrastination can be a positive thing. This is what I call a counterintuitive pitch—a story idea based on the opposite of what you would think. That’s a great way to “reslant” an evergreen topic—editors are always looking for “fresh” ideas.]

“Not Today, Maybe Tomorrow: The Pros of Procrastination” will describe the multiple benefits of delaying decisions and/or tasks, and show readers how what they’ve thought was a personal failing has surprising benefits. I plan to interview experts such as psychologist and stress expert Alice Domar, Ph.D., author of Be Happy without Being Perfect (Crown, 2008), and will a couple of “real women” anecdotes as well. A possible sidebar will include a quiz to let readers determine their own “procrastination personality.” Although I estimate 1300 words for this piece, that’s flexible depending on your needs. [Note that I’ve told her who I "plan to" interview—if I can’t get Alice Domar, I’ll get someone of her caliber, and I’m happy to find some “real mom” sources as well. I’ve also suggested a working title, possible sidebar, and proposed word count—the piece was assigned as I pitched it. I haven't mentioned the section of the magazine I think the piece belongs in, but that's because I've written for Tamara before. She knows I read her magazine.]

Tamara, let me know if you’re interested in this topic for Chicago Parent. I’m getting back into the work swing and looking forward to working with you again soon! I’ll be in touch soon, too, with some other story ideas. [Tamara knows me, so I don’t bother running down my background and qualifications—she knows who I am. Otherwise I’d say something like “I’m a fulltime freelancer and mom whose work has appeared in 50+ national magazines including Parents, Parenting, Family Circle, Woman’s Day, Runner’s World, Self, and Health."]

All my best,
Kelly James-Enger

For other query examples, check out Six-Figure Freelancing or Ready, Aim, Specialize, both of which include lots of queries written both by me and other successful freelancers.

Query Critique #5: De-Clutter your Home

Welcome back, readers! Time for our last query of the first-ever Query Critique Week. I hope you've found the analyses helpful, and I plan to do it again in the future. My comments appear in blue:

People are hoarders. It's part of human nature. We feel better about ourselves with the more goods we have. Even more so when they have designer tags on them. It doesn't matter whether it's the latest perfume collection, a pair of jeans, some pots and pans in the kitchen or the latest edition of the LCD or Mac. We want it. Living without stuff isn't an option in today's consumer driven society. [This may be true for the majority of us, but I'd like to see more specific examples here...e.g. iPad or other timely, recognizable big "brands." This reads too generic to me...like the writer just came up with this off the top of her head.]

So what happens to all this stuff. According to some researchers too many things cluttering your home can have adverse affects on your health. You can suffer from a lack of concentration, too much procrastination and excess stress. All those utensils, things you rarely glance at let alone use, or clothes that are developing moth balls are ruining your health. [First sentence should have a question mark, not a period. And I want some specifics here. Cite some recent studies, and tell me more about what exactly these "adverse effects" (not affects) on your health are. Doing so will strengthen this query, and show the editor that the writer has already done some research (and so will be prepared to write the piece). Otherwise the writer is making some assumptions with no backup, which isn't likely to appeal to an editor.]

Your home should be your boudoir. The place where you can rest, relax and recharge your batteries. The more clutter you have the harder it becomes to unwind and recuperate. How do you feel when you walk into a messy room? Or there's a full sink of dishes in the sink? How do you feel when you come home and all the kids' toys are strewn across the living room floor? Do they really need them all? It's exhausting just thinking about it. [There are some grammatical mistakes in this paragraph, but my bigger concern is that as I'm reading it, I'm thinking, yeah, so? I'd rather see a study that links clutter and stress here than some fairly obvious observations (at least if clutter bothers you). This paragraph also is a bit wordy.]

I'd like to propose 'De-clutter Your House, Improve Your Life' for All You magazine.

In the article I will include information from professional organizational psychologists who help people with their clutter at home and in the office. I also propose speaking to individuals who have gone through the de-cluttering process to get their experiences.

The article will contain information on how you can de-clutter your own house within a few short days by focusing on one area at a time.

No need for multi-tasking here. The article will answer questions such as, Why does clutter stress us out? How can we avoid accumulating stuff? What are the benefits of having a clutter free home? Learning to live with less things? How you can help someone in need with all the clutter in your home? [I think the writer could fold all four paragraphs into one, and I'm not quite sure what the actual focus of this piece is...the query reads like the writer is figuring it out as she goes. It's a bit wordy, too. Here's one way to approach it: "De-clutter your House, Improve your Life" will describe the connection between clutter and mental health, report on recent research in this area, and explain how having fewer things can actually make you happier in the long run. The piece will also include tips for readers about how to de-clutter their own homes. I plan to interview experts such as TK and TK and can also interview people who have pared their possessions for this piece." Also, I'd like to know what word count she's suggesting and what section of the magazine she thinks it's right for.]

Would you be interested in this article for All You magazine? [Unnecessary; cut this line.]

I am a freelance writer and TEFL teacher currently based in Poland. My writing has appeared in Real Travel and YoungMoney.com among others. [I'd like to see her pump up her ISG. Does she have experience de-cluttering her own life, for example? What kind of unique connection does she have with this topic?]

Thanks for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you shortly.

Warm Regards

Readers, I hope you've enjoyed this week's worth of query critiques! Is there a writing-related topic (please limit ideas to what I cover in this blog--namely making more money as a freelancer in less time) you'd like me to cover in the future? Drop me a post and let me know...and have a great weekend!

Query Critique #4: Memoir Pitch for an Agent

Hi, readers! It's day four of Query Critique Week, and I hope you're finding it helpful. Today's query is from a writer looking for an agent for her memoir. As usual, my comments are in blue.

Dear Ms. Alspaugh,

I read about you in Writer’s Digest, and then wandered through a delightful interview with you on Novelists, Inc Blog by BlogMistress. I liked how you identified as an agent that would be approachable to your clients and that you were looking for writers “who love to write and who can’t not write. Writers who look forward to the promotion process and who have lots of great ideas about how to promote themselves and their work, writers who think about not just writing books, but articles, short stories, blogs, and more.” [I like that the writer has shown that she's done some research on the agent, but it's not necessary to quote so much from the interview. I'd prefer she include a line about books similar to hers (i.e. memoirs) that the agent has repped; this shows an additional level of research, and that the agent is more likely to be interested in this particular book. Personally, I don't like the word "wandered" in the first sentence, either, but that's just me.]

I’d enjoy working with you on my memoir, Grief Shadows: Young, Pregnant and Widowed. [Unnecessary...I'd strike this line.]

Three state troopers came to my front door at five o’clock in the morning and told me my husband was dead. He had fallen asleep driving on his way back to the National Guard base on Cape Cod.

I had just seen him four hours before. Smelled him. Kissed him. And told him we were pregnant. And now, all at once, I was a widow.

I was twenty-six years old. [Great opening, great lead. I'm intrigued.]

But how could I be a widow? Widows were old, with white hair and sensible shoes that cushioned their bunions and who waited for people to visit them in assisted living homes. Or maybe they were fifty-five and had lost a spouse to cancer. Someone with grown children. Not pregnant, like I was. Not with a toddler who’d never heard the word death. [Nice writing, and already we're getting a feel for her voice.]

Grief Shadows: Young, Pregnant and Widowed is more than a legacy of memories; it’s a way to reach out and connect to other grieving souls – to let them know they aren’t alone. Though Grief Shadows isn’t a “how-to” book, as a memoir it is a great practical guide for working through one’s grief. It shows those faced with grief what to expect, what is normal in the grief process – which is everything – and how to emerge from the darkness, stronger, wiser, and more whole. [Because I suggested we cut the line about the book being a memoir, I'd refer to it as a memoir here. I like that she's pointing out that it's more than just a memoir, but that may throw some agents. If she's pitching a book that's a blend, she should include some well-known memoirs that have taken a similar approach so the agent will have an idea of what she means. Reading through this paragraph a second time, I think the writer may be overstating her book's promise--I'm not sure it can deliver as a practical guide for working through grief. Typically what makes a great memoir is a great story and great writing...we don't expect a "how-to" takeaway. The writer may want to think about this more.]

I now live in Eugene, OR with my husband and two children. I’m a writer, an urban-homesteader, a book glutton and a dabbler in theater. In recent times I’ve been a massage therapist, a grief counselor, a home-schooler, and a potter. I’ve been published in my local city newspaper, write in two blogs, do monthly readings at a local theater group, and utilize social networking and marketing. [The writer has an interesting life, but the agent isn't likely to care. What she is likely to care about is her platform--how often does she blog? How many followers does she have? Has she been active in grief support groups? Does she speak to groups? Has she been interviewed, and when and were? How *exactly* does she utilize social media and marketing? Any agent is going to want to know how her client is going to SELL the book once it comes out because the publisher will want to know the same thing. She needs to pump up this paragraph...playing up her connections both online and IRL (in real life).]

Thank you for your time, Ms. Alspaugh. I certainly appreciate it and would be happy to send you my completed proposal. I’d enjoy any comments you have for me. [Typically with a memoir, as with fiction, you'll send the completed manuscript because the writing is what sells it. Unless this agent wants a proposal for a memoir, I'd ask if she's interested in seeing the first couple of chapters or the entire ms. And if it's the entire ms, she should mention the word count of the book. I also want to know what time span it covers--she's remarried now, so is this is the first year after her husband's death? The first five years? I feel like I don't know enough about what the book is about to decide whether I want to read it...more detail about the book would be helpful in this query.]

Respectfully yours,



Readers, what do you think? Do you agree? Disagree?