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July 2003
Ten top tips for successful freelancing
This article was written by Sean McManus for the latest edition of Journalism Uncovered by Emma Caprez. Journalism Uncovered outlines journalism as a career and includes interviews with journalists working in different sections of the media at varying levels of seniority.
The ebook Journalism Careers - Your questions answered by Sean McManus includes lots more tips on generating article ideas, why editors reject them and how to make sure yours succeed.
- Contact editors directly - editors won't come and find you, you have to find them. For an immediate response, call them.
- Pitch ideas, not expertise - editors don't hire writers. They buy articles. Demonstrate your knowledge by pitching fresh, well-targeted story ideas to them.
- Differentiate yourself - make sure you know why you're the best person to write the story you're pitching.
- Be business-like - agree fees, copyright and payment terms in advance. Invoice promptly.
- Meet deadlines - an average article received on time is more useful to editors than a dazzling article that's late.
- Specialise - develop an area of expertise to write about and build your reputation there.
- Network at trade shows - find the innovators and thinkers who can tip you off about the next big thing. Meet the magazine editors too.
- Learn additional skills - study photography so you can sell pictures with your articles. Learn website design so you can sell articles ready for online publication. Learn to sub-edit and proofread so your articles are of higher quality.
- Read - read your target publications so you can understand their style and then mimic it. Read as widely as possible to inspire new story ideas.
- Unite - join a journalism union or other support organisation to tap into expert advice and support if things go wrong