Allena's Freelance Writing Blog

Here is this week's query letter. Let's help each other hone our query skills by leaving your thoughts and suggestions in the comments. (I've already got the discussion started, don't leave me hangin'!)

I read somewhere that the Atlantic Monthly (also known as the freelance writer's Holy Grail) pays $3,000 per article. I was recently browsing and came upon an article in their July/August issue called Inconspicuous Consumption. It occurred to me that this article was simply an interesting, newsy spin on the results of some recent university research.

I then picked up another of my favorites, Psychology Today, and realized that about 50% of the articles in it were the same thing: take a new finding, add anecdotes and quotes, make the research readable to the layperson, and you've got a story!

Don't mistake this to mean that this is the way to get into these markets, however, it shows that it's really a simple idea that some of the big markets are paying for. Read a year of Cosmopolitan and see what I mean!

Need some more places to find those pitch letter ideas? Check out these ways to capture and generate magazine article ideas.

Ok, if you've never seen the commercial where the happy, ecstatic people are running around with the newly-released phone book, then you're definitely not getting this joke. That's ok. But, I am pretty excited about the recent release of the 2009 Writers Digest. I've been waiting...and waiting...seems it hit my local bookstore over the holidays.

Trying to break into print? Need some help with those pitches? This is the perfect place!

Therefore, I'm proposing a Query Letter Critique right here on the front page of the About.com Freelance Writing Blog. The rules are simple:

1. Twice per week I will post a user-submitted query letter, with some of the details made anonymous or randomized.
2. Users may leave feedback on the query letter through the blog comments. Of course, all norms of ettiquette will be enforced, and only constructive feedback will make it through my handy-dandy blog comment filter (aka my Blackberry).
3. Those wishing to participate may submit query letters to freelancewrite DOT guide AT about DOT com. You may attempt to randomize your pitch info as much as possible, or to make anonymous certain details of your idea/target/etc. I reserve the right to edit in these ways, too.
4. Since I understand that it's hard to judge specifics of a pitch letter with some of this information missing, we may have to focus our comments on areas such as length, word choice, tone and etc. Let's just give it a try and see how it goes!

And, just for fun, I'll post the first query to be critiqued below!

Care to leave some feedback? Click on the Comment feature below!

Is it ever, ever okay to bow out of a project? Have you ever done it, and why? Do you feel guilty about it?

I'm asking because I've recently reconsidered a project that I should not have taken on... and I absolutely hate that I've done it!

Based on my non-scientific research (that is, soul searching and bugging my friends), here are some reasons that writers have taken on projects that they should not have:

• It was the famine cycle of that whole feast or famine thing.
• They were hit up while on vacation/had family visiting/ or other such mind numbing activities.
• They had a previous relationship with the client, and wanted to honor that.
• The project fit very well in every way but one (for example, the medium, interest area and pay were great, but the outlet was bunk).

Here are a couple of the red flag issues that have made writers (ahem, myself, associates) consider pulling out of a project:

• Simple personality clash. (I'm not sure this one is legit, but heck, I'm just listing them.)
• The never-materializing down payment.
• Projects that eat up half of their budgeted time allowance without ever really getting off the ground (aka The Great Big Black Hole project).
• Needy clients. Uninformed clients. In-over-their-head clients.
• Previously unrealized conflict of interest.
• Basic clash in values or business practices.

Are any of these ok? I don't know about "ok" or "acceptable" but I do know a thing or two about necessity. Your thoughts?

Good evening folks! I have three MUST SEE websites for you tonight, all of which could lead you to greater dollars and more bylines in just a few days.

• The Berry-Brewer bloggers have pulled together a comprehensive list of 67 Freelance Writing Niches that you may want to comb through.
• Hindsight is 20/20, right? Katherine Huether explains some of the things she would have done differently in her foray into freelancing, so do think about heading over there and benefiting from her expertise.
• Sorry guys, this one is for ladies only. I have landed so many gigs from Women on Writing's Premium Green subscription service that I simply cannot keep it to myself any longer...although I kind of want to... At only $48 per year, you receive a large PDF booklet listing markets, freelance gigs, and advice articles every month. But the best part of PG is the smallish community of women writers that you join through Google groups. Since it's a paid service, the group is a manageable size and very cohesive. It's so valuable to have this group available. I know that there are free market listings out there, and free writer's communities, but I would not wholeheartedly recommend PG if it didn't have that little something extra.

This week I was discussing writing for free with some of my friends from WOW-Women on Writing. I admit to writing for free in the beginning of my career- in the form of volunteer work and internships. I've also written for darn cheap, too.

Have you ever written for free? Perhaps in exchange for exposure, clips, or web traffic? If so, why did you do it? Do you think your "payment" was sufficient (ie were you happy with the results)?

Or, perhaps you're very passionate about writers not writing for free or cheap, like Hope Clark, who has earned a reputation of sticking up for new writers.

I know this discussion takes place every now and then in the writing world, and sometimes gets heated. I hesitated in bringing it up, but I am very torn this week on a personal level about writing for free. I am interested in hearing others' opinions on the subject, especially from those who do write for free.

Following is a guest blog post from JR Hafer of Global Copywriting Service. JR is leading the way to establish a new network of writers and other virtual contractors which will provide a basic standard and/or "seal of approval" for freelancers. I asked JR to introduce the Writers Network and be available for questions from readers. So, please leave a comment: do you think the Writers Network is necessary? Would you join this organization?

Many industries have an unscrupulous element embedded within them. Along with the growing of virtual businesses and online presence of small businesses and first time entrepreneurs comes a responsibility of integrity and ethical practices. Every industry develops standards, and there is always the need for a pledge of honesty and honorability in business practices.

Everyone has heard of the seal of approval of Good Housekeeping. The seal is the standard bearer for quality and excellence in manufacturing for the retail business. Folks often are persuaded to buy items when they notice the Good Housekeeping seal on it. They feel confident of the quality and of the ethical standards of practice of the manufacturer who developed and markets the particular item.

There is an ever increasing number of “so called” freelance copywriters being awarded projects requesting payments up front after which they never deliver the finished product. This is giving all freelance copywriters a bad name and our clients are being taken advantage of by these charlatans. This isn’t healthy for the industry.

Conversely, there are individual “buyers” who request sample articles to be written with the promise of a contract or a pending project. The project never comes to fruition and the client “stiffs” the writer because the product has been completed and delivered, but payment is never made.

Perhaps we need a seal of accountability; maybe, a seal of “Good Housekeeping” so to speak, within the writing, virtual assistants and virtual marketing world, where trust can be assumed without the perspective of risk by both clients and producers? This could propagate business and set an ethical standard for the industry.

Quality creative writers and virtual service providers need an association where they can “network” with other providers and potential clients as well. A virtual platform to shop our wares, somewhere we can draw from a well of trusted experience. There could be a mentoring program, resources to grow in the business and eventually a well of knowledge to draw from when help is needed on a project. This concept can be an evolving community of networking and mentorship for the virtual service provider and the industry.

There is no better advertising than word of mouth. The Writers Network is organization where members pledge to uphold a strict code of ethics. Thereby, when the search for ethical and honorable practitioners is undertaken one knows there is a source where a pledge is displayed and a “Seal of Ethical Practices” appears and provides the potential client confidence as he/she searches for a freelancer who displays the Writers Network logo.

The writers’ network is forming and you are being invited to participate, become a part of the founding core group, and becoming a lifetime charter member.

These concepts are predicated upon the old adage “We should always treat others as we want to be treated.” With honesty and integrity, displaying the fact that you took a pledge of ethical behavior only enhances these values.

Consider this request to become a member of the founding core group and to participate in forming this international association.

Freelance writing job lists #4 and #5 weren't rendering correctly for some browsers because I'd forgot to close a couple of tags. Thanks for letting me know, and please enjoy!

I just found out from my Writers Write RSS feed that the man who adpated (and therby made famous) the Thomas the Tank Engine brand died today. That's pretty sad. Although Thomas the Tank Engine came to the U.S. television in 1989, a recent popularity boom made him a warm friend to many Gen x & Y families like mine. I'm sure my children are not the only ones who became early reading fans due to books like these.