When Publishers Go Bad: Taking Control as an Author

One of the reasons I was drawn to writing full-time was that it allowed me to decide when I would work, what types of work I would do, and what markets I would pursue. When I was a lawyer, though, partners routinely dumped clients they didn't want to deal with and cases of questionable value on me and my fellow associates. We could never say "no." And it sucked.

As a freelancer, though, I decide which clients I work for (assuming they hire me). No one can force me to take an assignment I don't want. That's part of freelancing I appreciate; I like being able to control who I agree to work for. I've posted before about what you can control, and what you can't as a self-employed writer, but the fact is that some things are completely outside your control.

Like getting paid on time. In 16+ years of full-time freelancing, I've had several dozen clients pay me late--and in a few instances, not at all, despite me following up, using pay-or-die letters. That frustrates me, but in almost every case, I've managed to sell the piece somewhere else. I figure I have to make the best of a bad situation.

Which brings us to today's post. I have a publisher that has refused to pay me my long-overdue royalties for many months. I've repeatedly requested that the publisher honor our contract and given it  multiple opportunities to do so. In short, I've waited. And you know what? The publisher has continued to breach the contract. I still don't have my money, and I'm done with waiting.

So, what did I do? The only thing I can do--namely, rescind the contract, demand all royalties due to me along with a complete accounting--and demand that the publisher immediately stop selling my book as the breach has rendered our contract null and void.

I'll probably have to hire a lawyer to get the money that's owed to me (stay tuned) but in the meantime, I'm taking control of what I can. I just released the book on Kindle. Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money, Second Edition, is a well-reviewed book that is a comprehensive guide who both new freelancers and and those who have some experience but want to take their careers to the next level. It includes more than 20 sample queries, hundreds of online resources, and advice from more than 50 established freelancers. And for a limited time, it will be priced at just $4.99, a discount of 50 percent! Pick it up, if you haven't done so already.

And readers, a question. Have you ever been screwed by a publisher? How did you handle it?

Turn your Kids into Money-Makers, Take 2

When I teach magazine writing, at least half of my students are stay-at-home parents (usually moms) who are looking for work that they can do from home. Freelancing--regardless of whether you write books, articles, blogs, newsletters, web copy, ads, you name it--it a great choice for parents. You've got to get creative about blending parenting and freelancing (and having a baby-sitter certainly helps), but plenty of moms and dads make it work.

You can write about anything and everything, but a lot of parents start out covering child care topics. Why not? After all, you're spending much of your time surrounded by little idea factories--a/k/a your kids. (I've posted before about writing for parenting markets (and it's one of the writing specialties I devote a chapter to in Ready, Aim, Specialize).

So I was intrigued by Kerrie McLoughlin's ebook, Get Published in Parenting and Family Magazines. Kerrie is a homeschooling writer mom of 5 and wife of 1 living in Kansas City. She has written for over 70 regional parenting magazines (RPMs) since 2009. She's got great advice for parents who want to launch their own freelance careers:

You've written for a slew of regional parenting mags. How did you get started, and then how did you branch out to others?

I started with a magazine I found at the library, Mother and Child Reunion. I wrote a piece about how moms can make money with their kids in tow, and the editor wanted it to be a regular piece. I wrote a few more (for online only) before I realized I hadn’t even asked about getting paid, but that I probably wasn’t going to get any money for doing it. I quit that and remembered how a mom friend told me she went grocery shopping nearly every day. I couldn’t imagine dragging my own three kids to the store all the time and quickly wrote my first (and honestly, mediocre!) piece for my local parenting magazine, Kansas City Parent. I was shocked when it was accepted. Around the same time, an essay I wrote for La Leche League’s New Beginnings magazine was also accepted.

I was hooked but had no clue where to go with my writing, especially since I didn’t have Internet access at home. At the library one day I stumbled upon the Parenting Publications of America website I started getting sample copies of RPMs from all over the country and snail mailing editors, but that yielded zilch. It was only after I collected all the email addresses and writer’s guidelines and editorial calendars I could get my hands on that I started blind-submitting pieces all over the place. It’s taken close to three years, but I’m on track to have close to 90 publishing credits by the end of 2011 and am slowly sending queries to nationals.

Do you write original stories for regional parenting mags and sell reprints, or a mix of both?

If I write something on assignment, I generally wait until that piece has printed and then sell it everywhere else as a reprint. Most of my work is articles and essays I come up with on my own and then I just submit them to around 300 RPMs each time. It’s a crapshoot … some pieces do well and some don’t. I sell those as “reprints” because it’s likely that several RPMs will be using it in the same month, so I don’t feel right calling something an “original” that might be printed 10 places in October, for instance.

If you sell reprints, do you "tweak" the stories for the new markets? How so?

No tweaking because it takes too long. If an RPM wants a piece and needs it localized or tweaked, I’m happy to do so, but I can’t try to read minds and put in hours of work that might lead to nothing. Believe it or not, my initial crapshoot method works pretty well (especially on seasonal pieces)!

What types of topics tend to be your biggest sellers?

Seasonal pieces (Halloween, Christmas, Easter, Father’s Day, etc.)! The bonus is that they can be resold year after year to different markets. So now I try to come up with SEASONAL things I wish I had known when I was starting out as a mom. “Trendy” stuff sells well, too, like homeschooling and putting a “green” twist on topics.

I've blogged before about "turning your kids into money-makers." Do you get a lot of ideas from your own kids?

Like crazy! Birthdays, fundraisers, lemonade stands, pets, saving money, making money are all topics I could not have written about with authority 10 years ago. And the ideas don’t just come from my kids, but from my husband and from family members (grandparent pieces, how to deal with relatives during the holidays, being a travel widow).

As a mom and a freelancer, how do you manage your time and stay productive, writing-wise?

It’s a constant struggle! I do research and send quote requests when my kids are sleeping. I write outlines and the meat of articles during the day when the kids are having their “quiet time.” Sometimes I can get away for a couple of hours to go to a coffeehouse with my laptop and pound out some pieces and queries then. To attempt to stay productive, I keep an Excel spreadsheet where I try to do something writing-related every day, like send a query to a national magazine, find a new regional market, send my reprint list (monthly) or send a completed article to an RPM. Sometimes I get behind and have to catch up a week’s worth of stuff all in one day, but at least I see some progress.

What made you decide to write your e-book? What does it include?

I realized I had dug up a lot of great markets that were not on the PPA site and was using the information with success, so I added writing advice and a bonus section to help other newbies. I wish I had a resource like Get Published in Parenting and Family Magazines when I was starting out, especially since it’s updated every year and sent out free to previous buyers! There are so many writers who write solely for their local publication and have no idea they can be reselling their pieces again and again for money that really adds up, as well as valuable publishing credits that bring you more work.

***Thanks so much to Kerrie for sharing her advice; if you're a parent who wants to freelance, I suggest you check out her book!

And the winner is...

Thanks to all of the entries for my latest giveaway. The winner, chosen by my six-year-old, is Melissa Breau, who wins a signed copy of Ready, Aim, Specialize and a query critique. Melissa, please get in touch with me at kelly at becomebodywise dot com and I'll get your mailing address.

Coming up next...more advice on smart freelancing techniques, comparing articles versus books, and a report on a year's worth of POD sales.

300 Followers! A Giveaway to Celebrate

To celebrate 300 followers (and thank you, each of you!), I'm doing another giveaway. To enter, please post a comment and tell me a freelance subject you'd like to see me cover on the blog--or give me a specific question you'd like my opinion on. Then my six-year-old will pull several names at random (depending on how many entries we get) and I'll announce the winners next Monday.

The prize(s)? A copy of my book on more efficient freelancing, Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money (Kindle version)--and the opportunity for a one-page query critique by me, which will be posted anonymously on this blog. Ready, Aim is a great resource for new freelancers and includes 20 successful queries and a how-to chapter that walks you through the process of pitching, selling, and writing an article from concept to clip.

***And speaking of efficient freelancing, stay tuned for next week, when I'll feature a Q and A from Gretchen Roberts, author of the new ebook, Full-time Income in Part-time Hours. Gretchen's running a fun contest for writing parents; check it out!

Six Reasons to Specialize: Guest Blog Post on Ebyline

I built a freelance career from scratch, but it took me about 18 months to really gain momentum. One reason I finally got my freelance feet under me was that I started specializing in health, fitness, nutrition, and bridal (I'd recently gotten married and had a slew of story ideas) subjects.

Specializing made me work more efficiently and create a memorable identity as a writer--so much so that my first book, Ready, Aim, Specialize, was written to help freelancers develop their own lucrative writing niches. So it's not surprising I just posted about Six Reasons to Specialize on Ebyline's blog for freelancers.

Coming soon: advice for every would-be entrepreneur; writers to avoid--and why; and another royalty statement, decoded.

Blast from the Past, Take 3--An Early Article that Sold (and Why)

This has been an interesting, cringe-inducing couple of days as I've scoured my hard drive for some of the queries, articles, and essays I wrote early in my freelance career. I'm amazed that I got anywhere in my freelance career. Even some of the queries that sold aren't all that great...but looking back, I can see why they did sell.

Here's the thing--I'm a much stronger writer now, fourteen years later. I've also learned what to do (and not do) when writing for editors. So let's take a look at a piece I wrote for Bride's at the beginning of my career--my comments are in green.

COMBINING POSSESSIONS:
FROM TWO HOMES TO ONE [Hmm, I'm still capping titles. Remember, that reads like I'm YELLING. Not good. And title could be a little catchier.]


By

Kelly James-Enger

When Deanne and Steve got married, they found they had very different ideas about how they’d decorate their new home. Deanne wanted to hang the Hummel plates she’d been collecting for years; Steve planned to display his cherished autographed baseballs on the mantel. Neither was thrilled about the other’s plans. [This anecdote actually isn't bad. But I should have included their last name, ages, and city and state--typical stuff for a national magazine. A direct quote from one of them would have made it much stronger as well. In fact, my editor came back and asked me for one.]

“Creating your new home is symbolic because it represents the balance between your needs and your husband’s needs,” says Susan Page, author of How One of You Can Bring the Two of You Together (Broadway Books, 1997). But what happens when you and your husband already have your own furniture and your own ideas about how your new home should look? Whose stuff do you pitch and whose do you keep? To blend your households with a minimum of conflict, follow these tips… [Not a bad quote but I'd like to see more from Page here. Plus I should have italicized her book title. This what editors call a "nut graf," or nut paragraph, which sums up the article's purpose. And no, I had no idea what a nut graf was the first time an editor used the term with me.]

Communicate with your husband. What kind of look do you have in mind for your home? What does your husband want? Sit down with your husband and draw up “must-keep”, “maybe”, and “donate” lists for your belongings. Consider ways to combine your favorite pieces in your new home. If your place is small, it may be worth the cost to rent storage space for items that you simply can’t part with. [Not bad, actually, but writing for a bridal magazine I should have said "fiance or husband" instead of husband.]

Plan to compromise. Dr. Willard Harley, psychologist and author of Give and Take: The Secret to Marital Compatibility suggests that couples bargain over the way they’ll furnish and decorate their home. “Don’t select anything unless you both enthusiastically agree about your choice,” he says. “That way you won’t make sacrifices that you’ll regret later.” Page suggests that couples look at compromising over these decisions as “making a trade-off, not a sacrifice. With a trade-off, you give up something you value for something else—your spouse’s happiness—that you value more.” [Nice quotes here--and notice I've brought in another expert for his opinion.]

Make joint decisions. Don’t make purchases or other decorating decisions (like getting rid of that horrible plaid recliner) without talking it over with him first. When Michelle found the perfect four-poster bed while shopping one afternoon, she called her husband, who told her to go ahead and buy it. After Brad saw the new bed and the pink and cream comforter set Michelle had bought, he complained that their bedroom was “too feminine-looking”! To avoid these conflicts, make your decisions and purchases as a team. If your husband claims not to care, remind him that you’ll both live with these decisions for years. [Again, I should have included last names, ages, and city and state. And I could have had a longer quote from Michelle. However, I'd interviewed her and her quotes we're that compelling, which is why I wrote it like this.]

Choose wisely. Some decisions may be easy—keeping the bigger microwave, for instance, or donating the saggy futon you’ve had for years to Goodwill. But what if you have still need furniture? If money’s tight, spend your dollars carefully. Cindy and Matt agreed not to spend more than $200 on their apartment without consulting each other, and she says that made their decisions easier. It’s also better to spend more on quality furniture that will last for years than to buy cheaply made pieces just because they’re inexpensive. [Same comment re: last names, ages, and city/states. And notice that even in a short article, I've got three different couples' experience and two experts. Editors love quotes and "real people" sources.]

Make it “our place”. When one of you moves into the other’s house, the newcomer may not feel “at home” right away. It’s up to the original owner to make room for the new spouse. Newlyweds Kathleen and Erik live in the townhouse Erik bought several years ago, but Kathleen says this isn’t the ideal situation. “Erik already had this place the way he liked it,” she explains. “I had to tell him it was important for it to look like my home, too.” Even though she likes their house, she admits to looking forward “to buying a home together when we can both pick it out.” [Guess what? This is actually me and my husband, which I explained to my editor. However, I should have asked her if I could have included a first-person anecdote disguised as a third-person one before I wrote the piece. And my quotes could have been much stronger...I could have gone in much more detail about the sculpted wolf head on the mantle and the wild animal paintings that hung throughout my husband's home!]

Making decisions together is the key to blending two homes into one. Work as a team, and you’ll find that your new home reflects both of your interests and tastes. Now, about that recliner… [Not bad, actually, but I could have written a stronger close.]

Readers, I hope you're finding this series instructive. Let me know! And if you're a new freelancer who's looking for more practical advice, I recommend Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money. It includes a chapter that walks you through the process of coming up with an idea, pitching it, and writing it for an editor as well as 20 real queries that worked.

The Secret to Getting your First Magazine Assignment

I'll be traveling to Oklahoma City tomorrow for OWFI's annual writer's conference. (Please come up and say hi if you're there!) My first pre-conference session is on "Breaking In: The Basics of Writing for Magazines," which is one of my most popular writing-related programs.

If you're a regular reader of my blog, you know that I advise new freelancers to break in by pitching a story they're uniquely qualified to write. You demonstrate this in your ISG, or "I'm-so-great" paragraph of your query where you highlight your relevant knowledge of/experience with the subject.

And that is a wonderful start. Just don't make the rookie mistake of thinking that your experience is enough to write the piece. I see inexperienced writers do that all the time, and that's a major reason their queries don't sell. This isn't an essay you're writing--it's an article. That means that 95 percent of the time, you're going to do research and conduct interviews to write your piece.

Your personal experience is a great starting point, but it's only the starting point. Let your editor know you "get" it with a killer query that not only highlights your ISG but the types of sources you plan to interview/use to write the piece. Trust me--this strategy lets you avoid a common rookie mistake and boosts your chances of getting your first assignment.

***

Readers, what do you think? If you're new to the biz and in pursuit of your first clip, you'll find 20 queries that sold (including those from newbie freelancers!) in Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money (Kindle edition).

Query Critique Week: Shyness Query

Welcome to Query Critique Week, and thanks to all my readers who submitted queries. While I won't be able to include them all, I appreciate you submitting your ideas.

Our first query is a pitch to Parenting (though it could work for just about any parenting magazine). My comments are in blue. Overall, I think it's a good idea but the query is too long, could use more specifics, and needs some judicious editing. Here it is:

Dear Ms. Fernandez,

I have been one of those moms. I have sat perched by the door of the ballet studio and waved reassuringly to my daughter during her ballet lesson. I have stayed at birthday parties to help my child feel more comfortable socializing and I’ve hosted numerous play dates at my house. [I like the lead but I'd add a little more to the last sentence; e.g., "and I've hosted numerous play dates at my house to make it easier for my children to make friends."]

Finding a babysitter that my kids were comfortable with was a struggle of legendary proportions. I know I’m not alone. There are legions of us out there – the moms of shy kids who are no longer adorable toddlers. [I'd probably cut this paragraph; or work the idea of millions of shy schoolaged kids into the query in one of the next two paragraphs.]

Our society pushes kids at a young age to get out and get thrown into new situations – from Santa at the mall to preschool for everyone. [I don't like the phrase "preschool for everyone" but I like the concept of pushing kids, even those who are "slow to warm up." I'd develop a little further.] But as they get older, the challenges increase. Grade school kids can’t climb into mom’s lap for a hug. Parents need to actively teach their older children coping techniques, more than avoidance tactics, to help smooth the way for them to make friends and adjust to new and uncomfortable situations. [I'd change to "Grade-school-aged kids" can't just climb into mom's lap for a hug--not that they'd be willing to, anyway" or something a little punchier. I like the concept in the last paragraph but would add some specifics--like what kind of uncomfortable situations?]

In the past 30 years, experts estimate that shyness has increased in children. A study done by Lynne Henderson, Ph.D. and Philip Zimbardo, Ph.D. of The Shyness Institute at Stanford University reveals that while in 1982, 38% of fifth graders said they were shy; today those rates are as high as 61%. And people don’t necessarily outgrow shyness. Nearly 40% of adults suffer from chronic shyness, that is, shyness poses a problem in their lives. Shy students are often afraid to ask a question in class or play games on the playground. Shy adults tend to have a more difficult time finding a job or going on dates. It’s important to help kids learn good coping skills early on. [Good research here, but I'd change the first sentence to something like, "Despite all those texts and Myspace postings, experts estimate that shyness has increased in children over the past 30 years." The rest of the paragraph shows strong research, though I'd like it to flow a little better; it's reading a little pedantic to me.]

I’d like to write an article titled, For the Love of Shy Kids: Being Shy isn’t a Disability but You Can Help Them Feel More Comfortable. This article will give parents concrete techniques for appreciating a shy child’s point of view and helping the shy child navigate new situations. I’ll explain how to recognize and embrace the positive aspects of shyness and how, by allowing your child to be who they are naturally, parents are removing the anxiety trigger that brings on shyness. Some concrete tips for how to help shy children adjust include those same reward charts that worked so well in preschool. And by helping children develop a natural interest in an activity, they gain confidence and meet people with whom they feel comfortable. I’ll also talk about the importance of getting to know other kids their age and how parents who get involved and learn their classmates and their classmates’ parents can be a big boon to their child. [I'd cut "I'd like to write an article" and get right into the pitch--e.g., "My article, "TK" will give parents concrete techniques..." The working title/sub is too long--make it shorter and punchier. And while the rest of this paragraph has good info, I'd tighten it a bit and make it more specific if possible. Are there studies, for example, that show that outgoing kids do better in school than shy kids, etc? Back it up with research when you can. And tell the editor where you think the story belongs and how many words you estimate for the piece.]

I plan to interview Dr. Carducci, director of the Shyness Research Institute and professor of psychology at Indiana University Southeast. He has been studying shyness for the past 30 years and has written numerous books on the topic, including Shyness and The Shyness Breakthrough: A No-Stress Plan to Help Your Shy Child Warm Up, Open Up, and Join the Fun. I will also interview Dr. Stephanie Mihalas, the founder of The Center for Well-Being: Psychological Services for Children, Youth, and Families in Los Angeles, and an adjunct professor at Pepperdine University. In addition, I will offer real life insights from parents of shy children as to what works and what doesn’t. [This is good, but again I'd tighten a little bit. Shows that you've done your research though; nice.]

A potential sidebar could be “When to worry about shyness,” which would look at when shyness becomes debilitating and problematic. According to Dr. Lynne Henderson, director of The Shyness Institute at Stanford University, shy individuals are frequently physically self-conscious and report having negative thoughts about themselves and others in social situations – seeing themselves as inhibited, awkward, physically unattractive, unfriendly and incompetent. I will offer up some suggestions, such as relaxation techniques, role playing and exposure therapy, along with resources for parents to help their children cope with everyday life. [It's always good to suggest a sidebar but I'm thinking that a lot of this would probably be included in the main story. And I feel like you're going into too much detail here for a sidebar, which tends to be fairly brief.]

I am a frequent contributor to Chicago Parent and my writing has been published in more than 45 regional parenting publications, including Atlanta Parent, San Diego Family, Montreal Parent and Portland Family. In addition, I write and edit weekly stories for an edition of the Chicago Sun-Times. I have attached some recent clips. [This is fine, but remind the editor of your experience as the parent of one or more shy children and how that will allow you to bring a unique perspective to the piece.]

I look forward to hearing your thoughts or questions.

Sincerely,

***Readers, what do you think? Do you agree with my comments/edit suggestions? For a whole chapter's worth of first queries from new freelancers that sold, and why, check out my book for newbie magazine freelancers, Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money (Kindle edition).

Stay tuned for more queries...

Five Fast, Easy Ways to Find Experts

I'm often asked about finding sources for articles and books (and it's smart to suggest experts in your query letter). So for today's post, let's take a look at how you identify and find potential sources for your work.

First off, you have to decide who you'll interview for the story. Perhaps your background research has uncovered potential sources in other newspaper, magazine, or medical journal articles. In other cases, you'll start from scratch. There are a number of efficient ways to find qualified experts, and the methods you use may depend on the topic and nature of the expertise you seek.

Look to the Big Book
Today, it's easy to Google for potential sources. But don't forget about an old-fashioned method that works. Check out the monster three-volume Encyclopedia of Associations, which will be found on reserve at your local library and contains more than 20,000 U.S.-based organizations that cover everything from medicine to gardening to hobbies to sports to charity groups.

Use the index to locate the appropriate subject, and read through the descriptions of the organizations listed to find one that meets your needs. (When there are several to choose from, I usually start with the largest or most well-established.) Then call the association (calling usually provides a quicker turn-around than emailing), and ask for the media affairs or public relations department. Explain that you're a freelancer working on a story on fill-in-the-blank and would like his or her help hooking you up with a member of the organization who can help you.

The organization's PR person can suggest appropriate members, and may often offer people you would not have thought of otherwise. If you prefer an expert with certain qualifications, like affiliation with a major university or significant media experience, tell the PR person. He'll be able to provide you with names and contact information of experts who will fit the bill.

The Ivory Tower
Depending on the type of story you're doing, you may consider calling on a college or university as well. Take the same approach that you would with an organization; ask for the public affairs or media relations department and ask for referrals to an appropriate faculty member to interview.

The Expert Among Us
Another easy way to find experts is to look for books on the subject—preferably recent ones. Book authors actually seek out publicity—the more often they're interviewed, the more frequently their books are mentioned. Check Amazon.com and either track down the author through a search engine or call the publisher and ask for the public relations department. Someone there will be happy to hook you up with the author for an interview. (By the way, in these days of POD publishing, where anyone can publish a book, I tend to stick with traditionally-published books.)

Online Options
There are also several online resources you can use to locate experts, including Profnet. One advantage to Profnet is that you can search its extensive database of experts by subject matter specialty or keyword. You can also submit a query that's sent to PR agencies, universities, hospitals, associations, and experts, and choose how you'd like to receive responses—i.e., via phone or email.

Another popular resource for freelancers is HARO ("Help a Reporter Out"), which lets you submit a query that's sent to more than 100,000 potential sources. Again, you can choose how you'd like to be contacted.

There you are--five easy ways to find experts for stories. If you're new to freelancing, you'll find hundreds of more resources for subject-specific experts in Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money, second edition (Kindle edition).

Celebrating 200+ Followers: A Valuable Giveaway

Hi, readers...and a special hellow to all 202 of my followers!

To celebrate hitting the 200+ mark, I'm offering a special giveaway.

First prize gets an hour's worth of time with me (a $100 value) and a free copy of one of my three writing-related books:

• Goodbye Byline, Hello Big Bucks: The Writer's Guide to Making Money Ghostwriting and Coauthoring Books (Kindle edition)
• Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money, second edition (Kindle edition)
• Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money (Kindle edition)

You can use your hour any way you want--have me review and critique query letters, ask for advice on growing your career, have me help with marketing your business, you name it.

Depending on how many entries I get, I may offer a second prize, too, which will be 30 minutes of consulting time with me.

How do you participate? Post a comment on this thread and tell me about an aspect of freelancing you'd like to know more about--or a topic you'd like me to see me talk more about on my blog--by Saturday, March 12, 2011. I'll then have my five-year-old son pull names at random, and will announce the winner(s) here.

Thanks and I look forward to working with the winner(s)!

Reslants, Revisited: The Morris Lions Car Show Lesson

Regular readers know that I'm a big believer in reslants, but as a new freelancer, I had no clue about writing about the same subject more than once.

One of my first assignments as a freelancer was a story on a charity car show sponsored by the local Lions’ Club. The annual event was one of the largest charity car shows in the Midwest, but it had never been covered in The Lion, the organization’s magazine. I pitched the story, and received the assignment. I attended the car show, conducted interviews, shot photos, and wrote a 1,500-word story for my editor. He was happy with the piece, and paid me $500 promptly.

Good enough, right? But consider this: in my fourteen-year freelance career, I have never:

• Written about the Morris Lions’ car show again;
• Written about car shows again; or
• Written for The Lion again.

And that is the problem. To write this story, I spent about 15 hours doing background research, pitching the idea, interviewing sources, attending the show, shooting photos, writing captions, and actually writing and proofing the piece. I learned a lot about cars—more than I ever wanted to know—but I never revisited that knowledge (until my son turned four and became obsessed with all things automotive.) That means I spent a lot of time doing background research and reporting, yet wrote and was paid for only one story.

That's what I call a one-shot, and those are a waste of your time as a freelancer.

Instead, look for ways to reslant, or spin off, your story ideas. This allows you to make the most out of your research time, which is almost always the most time-consuming part of the article writing process.

With my Lions’ car show story, I could have:

• Written a piece about the show for another market, like a local or regional magazine or newspaper;
• Written about car shows for a travel publication or car enthusiast magazine;
• Written other articles for my editor at The Lion. (I’d done a great job for him on my first story—why didn’t I pitch him another idea? But I didn’t. I dropped the ball big-time)

Get the idea? Next post, I'll explore this topic more and help you start pitching and selling more reslants--and making more money in less time as a result.

***
New to freelancing and unsure about how to get started--or want to boost your query success rate? Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your Own Writing Specialty and Make More Money (Kindle edition) will help you identify topics you already have a background in to pitch compelling article ideas--and includes 20 examples of successful queries that sold.

10 Ways to Make Your Editor Lose Your Number

Sure, I've already told you five things your editor would love to hear, and five ways to make your clients love you. Let's take a look at the flip side, and talk about 10 things that make editors crazy:

1. Miss your deadline. Worse yet, miss your deadline and go AWOL. That happened to an editor of mine--not only did the writer fail to turn in her assignment, she ignored my editor's (increasingly upset) emails and phone calls! If you must blow a deadline, let the editor know in advance, and come up with a plan to get the story done as soon as you can.
2. Pester him too much. You already know I'm believe in following up on queries and LOIs, but I do give potential clients and editors a chance to respond. And I typically limit my follow-up emails to one, two if I've written for the client before. Then I move on.
3. Argue/complain/bitch. You know what? I'm just a hired gun. My editor knows her publication and her audience better than I do. That's her job. So if she doesn't think my pitch will work for her magazine, or wants me to take another crack at the piece, I'll honor her decision without pitching a fit.
4. Fail to respond. Yeah, I know that editors take weeks or months to get back to you. But it's different when she's gotten in contact with you. You need to reply ASAP--or in 24 hours, if possible. No, it's not fair. But that's freelancing.
5. Make it personal. This is similar but not quite the same as #3. Say I ask for more money, and my editor tells me she can only pay writers $1.25/word and I was asking for $1.50/word. I may not be thrilled, but I'm not going to blame her for something that's likely out of her control.
6. Call her. Editors hate phone calls. They just do. (I do break this rule but only in rare instances.)
7. Forget what he wants. Check over your assignment letter (or your notes, if you don't have one) about what the piece was to contain before you turn it in. It looks dumb when you submit a story that's missing a sidebar you agreed to do, or that you went 300 words over word count because your "3" in 1,300 looked like a "6."
8. Do sloppy work. Proofread everything before you turn it in. Double-check the spellings of people's names, that you haven't confused "your" and "you're," and that you're not missing anything. Yes, I've turned in stories with errors--small ones. But when your stories are riddled with mistakes, you create more work for your editor--and trust me, he doesn't want or need it.
9. Forget to say "thank you." She's probably got dozens, maybe hundreds of writers who would love to work with her. Make sure she knows you appreciate her. (That's one of those 5 things!)
10. Gossip about her. Years ago, I was in NYC having coffee with an editor and she told me about a freelancer who had resisted her suggested edits--and wrote a scathing email to her friend about it. Except that said freelancer accidentally sent the email to the editor. That's a mighty big oops! And a really good reason for never putting anything negative in writing. You just never know who might see it.

While they may pay your bills, editors are people, too. (Really!) Treat them with respect, avoid driving them crazy, and you'll be rewarded with more work.

***
My local speaking gigs last week went great, and spiked a bunch of sales on my book for fledgling freelancers, Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money. Thank you to all who bought it, and let me know here if you have freelancing questions that aren't addressed in it or Six-Figure Freelancing: The Writer's Guide to Making More Money.

And don't forget, this Wednesday, Februrary 16, I'll be in downtown Chicago speaking at CWIP's Freelance Edge program. Next week, Thursday, February 24, I'm presenting on "Six-Figure Freelancing" at the Off-Campus Writers Workshop in Winnetka. Hope to see some of my followers there!

A Month of Templates: The Essential Query

Let's launch this month of templates with a query letter. Starting out as a freelancer, I wrote some of the worst queries ever. But query-writing is a skill, and one that can be (thank goodness) improved. Fourteen years later, I've written at least 1,200 queries and edited more than 1,000 for other writers, and I know what works.

Queries don't have to be complicated; I use a simple, four-section query for nearly all of mine:

• The lead. Here I catch the editor's attention, usually with a recent study or other time peg, a startling (or at least interesting) statistic, or an anecdote.
• The "why-write it" section. Here I make the case for the piece, providing more details adn basically explaining why readers will be interested in the story.
• The "nuts-and-bolts" section. Here I explain how I'll approach the story, suggesting word count, possible sources, and format (i.e. will the piece include a sidebar? A quiz?). I also like to include a working title, and I always suggest the section of the publication to let the editor know I've actually read her magazine.
• The ISG, or "I'm-so-great" section. Here I demonstrate that I'm uniquely qualified to write the piece and highlight my relevant background and experience.

Pretty simple, right? Here's one of my recent queries that sold; my comments appear in blue.

***

Dear Pam:

Thanks so much for your response to my recent pitch; while I’m sorry you can’t use it for Oxygen at this time, I have another for you to consider: [Usually I open with a lead. But I've been in contact with her before, and want to remind her of that fact.]

It’s a common conundrum. You’ve actually stuck to a regular workout routine, but you’re still not seeing results. While “lack of time” is the number one excuse for not exercising, what’s even more frustrating is making the time to hit the gym—and seeing no change in your body. What is the deal? [Here's my lead. It's not bad, but I could have cited a recent study to back up my "number one excuse" for not exercising. However, this lead is aimed at the readers of Oxygen--they're women who are serious about their workout regimes and their physiques.]

The culprit may be multifaceted. Driven by a desire to burn calories and get ripped, women commonly overlook (or deny) the importance of refueling their muscles with glycogen by consuming carbs (and protein, too) within the “magic window” that closes 45 minutes after intense exercise. Without adequate refueling, your regular routine may leave your muscles chronically depleted, which affects your energy level, motivation, and workout quality. [My "why-write-it" section is pretty good. Note the amount of research I've done here--yet again, I could have cited a recent study to strengthen the query.]

“Dumb Fitness Mistakes Even Smart Women Make” will examine some of the most common mistakes, how they impact (or prevent) desired results, and most important, how to overcome them. I plan to interview experts such as Tom Holland, MS/CSCS sports performance coach, and author of The Truth about How to Get in Shape, and Nancy Clark, RD, author of The Sports Nutrition Guidebook, Fourth Edition, for this story. While I estimate 1200 words for this story, that’s flexible depending on your needs. [My nuts-and-bolts section is pretty good, too. Note I've told her the types of experts I plan to interview and provided a working title and word count. She can assign something different, but this gives her an idea of how I plan to approach the piece.]

Interested in this informative piece as a coverline fitness feature? As you know, I haven’t worked with you before but have written for Oxygen in the past and have been a fulltime freelancer for more than a decade; my work has also appeared in magazines including Redbook, Self, Health, Continental, Fitness, Woman's Day, and Shape. I’m also an ACE-certified personal trainer, which will help bring a unique perspective to this piece. [My ISG is strong--and note that I let her know I've written for her pub before as well as for other major fitness and health magazines. And I'm an ACE-certifed personal trainer, too. Even if I had no clips to my name, that fact and a strong query would give me a good chance of getting my foot in the door.]

Please let me know if you have any questions about this pitch, and I'll be in touch soon with another story idea as well. [Standard close--and note that I tell her I'll soon be in touch!]

All best,
Kelly

***

Readers, what do you think? Any questions about this query format? If you're new to magazine freelancing, you'll find 20 queries that sold (including those from inexperienced freelancers!) in Ready, Aim, Specialize! Create your own Writing Specialty and Make More Money.

Stay tuned for more templates!