Adventures In Freelancing

While surfing the net, I came across a link that led me to WritersWeekly. a very informative site with much to offer writers. There's a forum and articles on all aspects of writing. There are also warnings about markets to be wary of and lists of paying markets. I was extremely impressed with their search feature, in which you can enter specific terms to find markets in your niche.

I honestly don't remember how I was led to this site, but whatever the case may be, I found that by entering the search phrase, "welcomes new writers" I was able to generate a particularly extensive list of markets from their database that accept material from new writers. What a useful find for us newbies! This takes away some of the anxiety of approaching markets, I think.

How about you? Would you be more willing to query a market that openly says they are welcoming to new writers? Does it matter to you? I do intend to pitch all kinds of markets, even the national women's magazines, as I know what's most important is having a good, solid, well-researched idea and being able to articulate it. But it's nice to be aware of this method for getting my feet wet.

I took an online class last year on finding your writing niche, and I really learned a lot. The course was taught by Lorna Doone Brewer and Tamara Berry of BerryBrewer Freelancing Agency. Lorna and Tamara are amazing. They're freelance writers who use their strengths and their professional backgrounds to target their writing projects. Something I learned from these ladies is that you need to be innovative as a freelancer in order to consistently find work that fits you.

I wanted to point you to an article they wrote at their Freelance Parent blog at Sparkplugging. In the post, Lorna lists 67 freelance niche writing markets that you probably weren't aware of. If Lorna can think of this many viable markets, I'm sure we all can sit down and use this list as a springboard to do a little brainstorming and come up with our own list of markets that might be perfect for us.

My favorites from her list include:

• Press Kits - I've been thinking of putting together my own press kit and have started researching the subject. My favorite part about helping students with their resumes when I was a college adviser was coming up with all the ways to highlight their talents and skills. This is the fun part about writing press kits.
• Slogans - What a novel idea. I actually love thinking up creative slogans, headers, and taglines. I wrote the tagline for the online magazine, Blissfully Domestic and think I would have fun with this kind of project.
• Speeches - I took a Master's level course on speech writing and loved it! I didn't realize before taking the class just what went into writing a speech and how in demand this niche could be.
• Abstracts - This type of work appeals to me because I enjoy reading so much. I like the idea of taking a piece down to its main points in a succinct manner.

Take some time to look over the list. Which ideas appeal to you? Now consider your professional and academic background as well as your strengths, hobbies, interests, and experience. In what ways could you use your unique skills to profit from writing?

Here's my list:

• Higher Educational Publications - I've begun this process already by targeting various journals, websites, and magazines for high school and college students. I've accumulated writer's guidelines and know I can take that route to sell my writing. I'm also tossing around the idea of starting my own college blog. I've narrowed down a target population and feel there is a real need for this kind of a service. I'll let you know as my idea comes to fruition.
• Blogging for local businesses - I've already got a project in the works with the local radio station, and I'm considering approaching other businesses that might be interested in setting up a blog. What local contacts do you have? Think about joining your city's chamber of commerce. It's a great way to network for any freelancer.

This is a starting point for me. I've talked about the importance of focus, and I know I don't want to get in over my head with ideas I'll never be able to actively pursue. Did Freelance Parent's list of niche writing markets spark any ideas for you? What would you add to the list? I want to hear all about it!

If you've read books on freelance writing or taken classes, you've probably heard the phrase, "Write what you know." a million times. It makes sense. It's a good way to start. Writing what you know and what you're comfortable with is a great way to get your bearings when beginning your freelancing career.

I've read a lot about finding your niche as well. I've even taken a class on the subject from the awesome Lorna and Tamara over at Sparkplugging's Freelance Parent. I learned a lot in that class; though I still haven't nailed down my niche. I just have too many interests!

What I am learning, however, is that it does pay to take what you know and sell yourself with it. Since starting my college blog, And You Will Graduate, I've begun researching different areas of student life and higher education. I'm so happy to get back to the field I love, and I'm also discovering many publications out there for students and those working in the field that I wasn't aware of. And I've reached out to the editors of some of these publications with good results. I've gotten myself some leads on fabulous writing opportunities!

I would have missed out on these completely if I hadn't gotten back to my student affairs roots with this new blog. I don't know why I neglected to pursue these avenues. I guess I figured that part of my identity was behind me. It doesn't have to be. For me or for you. Do you have an area of expertise from a former career, through specialized training, or a hobby you're passionate about? Capitalize on that knowledge and look for publications or even corporations in that industry to pitch your services to.

Getting hired in any job requires setting yourself apart from the crowd, and the freelance world is no exception. Sit down and brainstorm your strengths. Search Google for publications or outlets that fit your interests. Then get in touch with the editorial staff or PR folks at the places you've targeted. You never know where it may lead!

Do you have any suggestions to add or experiences to share? Please let us know. I truly want to learn from each other!