Starting out as a freelance writer or journalist.

ThinkingOfLinking

I am sure this has been covered before but I cannot seem to find a thread for it.

I do not have a degree at the moment but have work experience at several magazines and a passion for writing. I know from my time at these publications that unsolicited submissions do not get attention, so I was wondering how to start out. I have written to local papers asking for permission to submit to their entertainment editor (I'd be willing to do it for no pay at first or for a freebie local paper I'd do it for free for good). What else would others recommend, or if you have been successful, how did you manage it?

Sazzyukrafc

I'm a qualified journalst (degree and NCTJ) and used to do freelancing for some extra money on the side.

My first point is that you will always be up against the professionals, who have all the qualifications and training required. I must advise that if you decide you want to be a full time journalist, you MUST do your NCTJs, otherwise you cannot be employed as a journalist.

However, with freelancing - anyone can do it!

Again, you will be up against the professionals, but I have found that experience also counts here much more. Being able to provide examples from your portfolio seems to be more suitable.

To build up your portfolio and to get some money in, I'd suggest trying out some freelance bidding websites.

I recommend:
www.elance.com
www.getafreelancer.com

I used these websites a lot when I was freelancing and found quite a bit of work on each. Elance seems to have more professionals, but better paid work. While Getafreelancer has a lot more work, but it's lower paid.

This would give you a chance to get some examples for your portfolio, which may then enable you to approach more magazines and newspapers for paid work.

If you are hoping to write for magazines, you will need to write a synopsis for each piece you approach them with. I used to usually contact the features editor or assistant features editor, who usually manage the freelancers.

on_a_money_mission

I managed to work as a journalist for over 10 years without any qualifications in journalism so it's not impossible. You do have to start at the bottom though (as do all the qualified hacks), and the pay is, and always will be, low as there are so many people prepared to work for buttons to see their name in print. There is so much competition that you need something to give you an edge: for me it was developing a wide-ranging knowledge of a particular field and speaking several languages.

I would suggest that if you have any specialist knowledge or experience you could use this to make your first inroads into contributing to publications in that field. To do this you need to build a relationship with the editor and offer to make their life easier by producng relevant and useful copy well within their deadline. You also have be literate - surprisingly rare these days. You could volunteer for work-experience to get your foot in the door.

It's worth considering whether you want to work in traditional mags/news or online. The whole way of writing is different and web-based work is seen as a specialism in its own right these days.

Anglea

You could practice getting a portfolio together by writing Letters to the Editor, tips, jokes, poems etc. I also wrote letters to the magazines and publishing houses to praise articles or stories and ended up on first name terms with a variety of well known authors as my letters were passed to them.

Online there are unbelievable opportunities to get published and make connections. e.g. join forums set up for well known writers, tv personalities etc or specialist subjects which will be frequented by writers, screenwriters etc. This could lead anywhere, the sky's the limit.

There are plenty of special websites where editors of ezine magazines and blogs will buy freelance articles. Even if you don't get lucky at first, you will see what kind of subjects are sought after.

I've seen one particularly good one on the MSF income thread, can't remember it off hand although I've bookmarked it on another computer so i could find it if you want.

It is helpful to have a niche. Mine used to be autism and Victorian crime.

Good Luck!