Freelance Writing

d.o.o.g

I'd like to get into freelance writing - perhaps for magazines, newspapers or whatever; maybe even writing short stories or something similar.

Does anyone have any experience in this area, or any tips on where to start looking?

bridiej

I suppose it depends if you want to get paid straight away.

I've always fancied journalism and have contacted a paper to offer a bi-monthly column, which they've accepted. I'm hoping they will be so impressed I might get the offer of paid work, but if not and it turns out I write a load of tosh then it's nothing ventured really.

Might be worth approaching your favourite magazine / paper to offer to write them an article and see how they take it?

Good luck

esalan

d.o.o.g -- Try visiting https://www.writelink.co.uk for ideas and inspiration.

tiff

To sign up as a writer on that link you have to pay £15 annual fee, to sign up as a reader is free.

esalan

I think that d.o.o.g will find a lot of ideas for free on that site without paying £15 pa! I subscribe free and there's more than enough information for me. I would never have enough time to read the extra info at £15.

competitionscafe

Hi, you could also try this site:
http://www.writingworld.org/

You will probably need to build up a portfolio so that you have some samples of your work to show. I also require freelance writers from time to time to write articles for web site content (mostly travel related). Pm me if that is of any interest?

Mark

MSE_Martin

As this is something I know a wee bit about I thought I'd put a brief answer.

Truth is its a very competitive market. However while I'm a qualified journalist (NCTJ approved postgrad in broadcast journalism) it isn't necessary. In many ways what defines a journalist is difficult. The NUJ has some very good guides for freelancers.

Anyway back to the point. The traditional route is a qualification but that's difficult and timely. However without that you can still get started. Don't say "I want to write", decide what you want to write about, target the relevant publications, call them up and ask who it is who commissions articels. A good five ideas for each publication, may stand a chance - a willingness to receive extremely poor pay or none at all is useful.

I remember when i was doing my postgrad. I called Broadcast magazine and said "how about i do you a column on the life of a broadcast student". The editor said, yeah send it in, i replied "only if you're commissioning it, im not writing for free", eventually after much tooing and froing he agreed to publish a one off - which then turned into four or five columns over the course of my studies and helped my CV once I qualified.

So be persistant, be determined, be focused, be ballsy and behave (the last isn't relevant, but it sounded good )

martin

Smudge32

Found a fairly useful site on this yesterday - https://www.janmurray.co.uk.