Now I'm aware there's at least a couple of active writers on this forum but any other input is of course welcome.

I'm the possessor of a degree in English Literature & Journalism. The journalism side was rather poor and appeared to teach us little of what to expect from the profession, much less how to get a foot on the ladder.

As a result, I've decided to go rogue (as all my literary idols have been want to do). I've written a few pieces here and there (perhaps most notably in Stephen's ICFQ magazine!) but I want to get really serious about it and try and earn some form of living from the craft.

One thing I'm not sure of:

Say, for example, I write a piece of the controversy behind Scientology and how certain governments are keen to ban them from their countries, would I approach a publication first before completion and tell them what I have/plan to do. Or would I complete the article then shop it around?

It's more than likely a basic question but I'm unsure as to how to approach that aspect of it.

Secondly, and this question may be down to personal style/taste, would it be worth just chugging out piece after piece on a wide range of topics or settling on one area and concentrating on that?

It's now at the point for me where I am considering going part-time in work. This would be a difficult move financially, but would free up my time in order to pursue something that I actually...you know...enjoy!

Oh, and as a form of reassurance (perhaps more for myself) I am getting some decent copy done lately. Got a few gig reviews for city-wide magazines and should be interviewing the one and only John Cooper Clarke in January.

It never does any harm to know a few people 'on the inside' who can read your stuff and put in a good word for you with their editors.

If you've got any stuff published already, it wouldn't hurt to send copies of that, along with a cover letter, to magazines that would be suitable for your work.

Not sure how helpful that is, I'm afraid. I got started by doing a fanzine in my teens and that led to paid work, although it's been a good few years since I did any real journalism.

Oh yeah - if you're freelancing, remember to keep working after the first cheque comes in! I learnt that the hard way - when the first cheque arrived, I took a fortnight off and did fuck all... not recommended!

In my opinion, it's better to approach the editor with an outline and the first couple of paragraphs written and a willingness to go in the direction the editor wants although it's obvious from your outline the direction you intend to take.
You mention Scientology. That group is well know for its lawsuits and your prospective editor may want to tread carefully and avoid certain aspects of the religion to avoid a suit and to avoid wasting attorney money getting opinions from the magazines legal consultant when it could be avoided at the outset.
It's also a good thing to have a portfolio of published work you've done for the editors to look over and evaluate.
If you have something you believe in, then by all means complete it and shop it around. Seeing people in person, when that is possible, works better because your person can be scrutinized along with your work.
It also may be wise to write some things in fields that aren't crowded with writers and aren't available for free on the internet.
Best of luck

Best advice I ever got...

Told to me, when I was aged 19 or so, in answer to the nonsensical introduction; "This is Richard, he'd like to be a writer, like you."
"If you want to do it it, do it... but there's no money in it."

:applaud:

Exactly.

It's not much of a living, but it's better than dying.

Don't be so cynical Zoot. Death can be a great career move.

I try to be cynical, but it's so hard to keep up...Lilly Tomlin

Perhaps you should write better? Just a thought.

Isn't getting an agent an important thing if you want any kind of success? :unsure:

Admittedly I've only read a bit of Chomsky, but I thought he was held in high esteem...

Aynone?

The name Freelance is a bit rubbish really isn't it. Its a barrier to overcome straight away.

So you charge do you? "I thought it was free."

Anoyene?

Is he/she the latest disney character?

I think specialise, and if you can do it on a really niche topic (i.e not 'films', but 'cannibal films') all the better.

I'm not talking from experience by the way, but from regret.

Like i mentionned before, i did write porn for a while, got that gig because of a girlfriend who was somehow in the business (not in front of the camera :blink: ).

So, yes connections help.

agree with connections being hugely important

wrote for mills and boon for a year. guy i was sharing a flat with in toronto was a long distance truck driver who used the stopovers (in the middle east!) for writing. the two of us used to write together, compare notes. a fun job although not well paid

highlight was a weekend in a new york hotel with other mills and boon writers atttening a get together/seminar. pure hunter s

Freelanced for a few years in the early 90s FB, agree fully with EC's assessment of the financial prospects but go for it I say.
Picking a subject, go for something you care about and your interest should shine through in whatever you produce. Current affairs/religion stuff, beware the legal side. Approaching publications, by all means do it but don't give 'em your best ideas or they may no longer be yours. It does help to have a style guide or familiarise yourself with what might be expected as standard in any publication.
Best of luck!
:D

I once had a book about writing SF, comprising of essays by various SF writers. Most were about how to construct a future society, etc, but the one by Andrew J Offut was about the practical side - the money. His main bit of advice was Keep the receipts! - which he put at the end of nearly every paragraph - so, paper, ink, maybe even part of the cost of the thing you're writing on, research materials - basically any cost you incur while writing - Keep the receipts. Unfortunately, you can't claim for tax relief on coffee and cigarettes (from the way he wrote about this, he seemed to have tried).

The best advice I've been given about freelancing is:

Never take rejection personally.

[QUOTE]

or take it really seriosuly an build a career out of it!

best advie i ever got: re read and ask yourself 'whats the news?'

(and i dont mean just news reporting i mean 'new' in the general sense

if the answer is i dont know or there isnt any then your piece isnt worth prinitng

Do not feel bitter if the same editor who kept telling you he loved your work suddenly anounces that your articles have been discontinued. :angry:

But, (here in Canada anyhow) you can deduct restaurant meals as business lunches...

And it helps having no ego, if you mind having a brain dead editor rewriting your work, then maybe it's not for you. But then i quit my last gig at a shitty humor magazine because i didn't want to go for the lowest common denominator and make easy Twilight jokes...

All articles of my rejected were.
I can't work still why out. :unsure:

Even you wouldn't have written that.
Read Chomsky.
Thank you.

I have. Colourless ideas sleep furiously green.

My long-running column in the Brighton magazine Latest Homes, "Out & About With Zoot Horn Polo In A Few Of The Pubs In Town And The Surrounding Areas And Having A Bit Of A Chat With Some Of The Locals", has been axed for not being 'vibrant' enough. :angry:

They told me it was because you couldn't write for toffee. :unsure:

Don't talk to me about Brighton Homes. They rebuffed my suggestion to serialise Gary Wilmot's life story. Not enough interest among their demographic, they said. :angry:

One of my pieces was rejected because i was told thirteen year olds don't know who Stalin and Pink Floyd are.

THat's a bit unfair. You have to assume at least some previous knowledge. And knowledge of Stalin and Pink Floyd is a reasonable assumption, for anyone.

There is also the thing that the reader doesn't need to understand every allusion. Stalin could be just a name with maybe sinister overtones (like Evelyn Waugh was for me, when I first read his son's work in Private Eye), and it is fairly obvious that Pink Floyd is a group of some kind, or something happened a few decades ago, just from their name. You don't need to know any more.

(Mind you, my brother used to accuse me of being too obscure.)

Don't get bitter that's the important thing.... :angry: :angry: :angry:

Well, the magazine i was working for was always aiming for the lowest common denominator, so that i managed to go around the celebrities jokes/movie/tv parodies for two years is something i am proud of (and putting references to artsy french movies)...

But bitterness fuels my work! :devil:

Just to bump this thread up, I've made a few contacts and am getting a couple of things published here and there. Here is the latest:

http://www.liverpoolconfidential.com/index...pJwy6IHqjNwB6IA

nice one fb!

i'm having a go myself - how did you go about making contacts?

I find persistence is the key. For example, the editor of the website the above review is from received about four phone calls a day from me suggesting ideas until she both took the hint and then okayed my plans.

Already she's giving me tickets for gigs/exhibitions/etc on the premise of me reviewing them.

Personally I can wangle anything I want after a conversation with someone, so it helps to be a good talker to.

Oh, and a penchant for rolling over and taking shit. I'm sure the more experienced writer types on the forum will be able to back up these points!

that sounds like good advice. i will take it, so i will!

Take no shit. Never roll over. They are all cunts. You are right. Stand your ground. Trust your judgment and never be afraid to resign on a pathetic point of principle.

These values have helped me to sink to the lowly financial position I occupy today. :beer:

Has anyone on here had any luck writing articles on the internet?

I had a look around once and there are loads of websites with names such as freelancewriting.com and demandstudios.com that pay not alot for articles. Some of them you have to auction your services off for i assume the lowest price. Looks like you have to be able to bullshit over a wide range of topics but it is doable.