What's the trick to breaking into print? While there may not be a hard and fast answer, nonfiction is a great place to concentrate your initial efforts. Magazines, newsletters, alternative weeklies, local newspapers, literary journals, Sunday magazines and websites all need quality writing. Many are willing to pay for it. That's where you come in.
Our short tip sheet offers advice on the freelance scene, and presents possible markets for you to start getting your voice heard submitting clips and queries. Our list of markets is short. Our best advice is if you read a publication that catches your fancy and matches your voice, figure out whom to contact and see if they're looking for writers.
WHAT IS FREELANCING? Freelancing means hiring yourself out on a per project basis. It's like consulting, but without a fancy name or company backing you up. You will most likely work directly with editors and usually on one project at a time per editor. You can have a number of projects going with different magazines simultaneously.
WHAT ABOUT THE MONEY? While the eventual goal of freelancing is to get paid, initial efforts might not pay a dime. Publication with a by-line may be your only payment, but, hey, when you're starting out, those clips are priceless. Some publications may pay in copies, others by word, others still, a flat rate per piece.
WHERE TO START. First determine what type of writing you want to do. Find a publication that interests you and then read an issue or two. Got that? READ THE MARKET YOU'RE SUBMITTING TO. Editors can tell when you haven't read their magazine. There are many market books that break down and index nonfiction markets. These can be a good first step to narrow down a possible magazine to approach, particularly for smaller niche magazines. There is a magazine for every interest in America.
Once you've got your market nailed down, find out who the contact person is, in many cases it's an editor for a specific department. Look for submission guidelines on their website or ask for them from your contact. Depending on the market you may have to submit a query, others may just want your manuscript or review or interview—whatever—on spec. If they like it, they'll buy it, if not, they'll let you know "no thanks." Or maybe they like the writing but not that piece and may ask you to submit another or perhaps, assign you a topic to write.
TIPS
Read the market you want to submit to. Try and understand the voice and perspective they're looking for.
Leave no stone uncovered. All publications need good writing. Why shouldn't it be yours?
Interested in a particular publication? Check their website for submission information and guidelines.
Ask around to fellow writers who might already be freelancing. Perhaps they can give you a referral to editors they know are looking for freelance writers.
Be professional. If you cannot meet deadlines, copyedit your own work or present clear prose, then freelancing is not for you.
Be creative and flexible. Perhaps your first idea is turned down by an editor. Have three or four others at the ready. Editors need new ideas. If you can supply them, you'll get work.
A FEW WEB SITES TO BEGIN YOUR SEARCH
Newcity Chicago Magazine
Editor: Brian J.Hieggelke
brian@newcity.com
Guidelines: www.newcitychicago.com/chicago/freelance.html
Chicago Reader
Editor: Alison True
General Phone: (312) 828-0350
General Email:mail@chicagoreader.com
Guidelines: www.chicagoreader.com/readerinc/freelance.html
Bookslut.com
jessa@bookslut.com
E-mail Jessa for more information about writing for Bookslut.com or to submit proposals for writing in other capacity
Elks Magazine
Editor: Anna L. Idol
Guidelines: www.elks.org/elksmag/writersguidelines.pdf
Writer's Digest
Editor: Kristin Godsey
Contact submissions editor
OTHER RESOURCES
BOOK REVIEWS: Columbia College Chicago students can contact the Publishing Lab for more information on writing and publishing book reviews, or e-mail publishme@colum.edu We supply the books, and you get to keep them.
CRAIGSLIST Chicago: https://chicago.craigslist.org/wri/