write for money
September 15, 2005 12:06 PM Subscribe
I want write for travel mag, newspaper, anything... I just wanna write! Does anybody know of any online listings for "writer needed" positions?
Why not just start blogging? Editors be damned.
posted by zerolives at 12:15 PM on September 15, 2005
posted by zerolives at 12:15 PM on September 15, 2005
Start a blog about whatever google keywords are the most valueable. There used to be a site that listed these, but I can't find it now.
posted by delmoi at 12:31 PM on September 15, 2005
posted by delmoi at 12:31 PM on September 15, 2005
If you have experience and are looking for a full-time job, Monster.com can also help. Many companies need on-staff writers for manuals, business letters, web content, etc.
posted by occhiblu at 12:32 PM on September 15, 2005
posted by occhiblu at 12:32 PM on September 15, 2005
bamassippi posted "I want write..."
Um, not to be overly snarky, but you should probably learn to proofread first. Have you tried actually writing something on your own site, instead of just consolidating links? If you have an audience, then use that as a platform for a while.
posted by fionab at 12:34 PM on September 15, 2005
Um, not to be overly snarky, but you should probably learn to proofread first. Have you tried actually writing something on your own site, instead of just consolidating links? If you have an audience, then use that as a platform for a while.
posted by fionab at 12:34 PM on September 15, 2005
odinsdream writes "They want write fionab. not edit !.."
Oh, your write. My bad.
posted by fionab at 12:50 PM on September 15, 2005
Oh, your write. My bad.
posted by fionab at 12:50 PM on September 15, 2005
JournalismJobs.com
You might also try freelancing. I found that trade pubs are a pretty easy nut to crack.
What about the pubs put out by nonprofits? I've worked on several quarterly newsletters about policy and research. Does that line of work interest you? If so, check out places like Association Forum, NPO.net and Idealist.org for leads.
posted by Sully6 at 12:53 PM on September 15, 2005 [1 favorite]
You might also try freelancing. I found that trade pubs are a pretty easy nut to crack.
What about the pubs put out by nonprofits? I've worked on several quarterly newsletters about policy and research. Does that line of work interest you? If so, check out places like Association Forum, NPO.net and Idealist.org for leads.
posted by Sully6 at 12:53 PM on September 15, 2005 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: HA, I guess I should have seen that...
posted by bamassippi at 1:02 PM on September 15, 2005
posted by bamassippi at 1:02 PM on September 15, 2005
One way to get started: does your community have a small weekly newspaper? It wouldn't pay much, or maybe not at all, but it'd be a good way to break into print, doing some writing for them.
posted by JanetLand at 1:13 PM on September 15, 2005
posted by JanetLand at 1:13 PM on September 15, 2005
1. Write something great about something people care about right now.
2. Post it on the web, probably in a blog.
3. Link from your great piece to a number of blogs written by people who might care about the subject. This could be something as simple as a list of "Links to other sources of information about X."
4. Go to 1.
And if no one notices your writing as you write it, you can at least use it when you're shopping for a writing job.
The important part, of course, is step 1. Few can write something great, but anyone can do the rest. Sit down right now and start writing something great.
posted by pracowity at 3:06 PM on September 15, 2005
2. Post it on the web, probably in a blog.
3. Link from your great piece to a number of blogs written by people who might care about the subject. This could be something as simple as a list of "Links to other sources of information about X."
4. Go to 1.
And if no one notices your writing as you write it, you can at least use it when you're shopping for a writing job.
The important part, of course, is step 1. Few can write something great, but anyone can do the rest. Sit down right now and start writing something great.
posted by pracowity at 3:06 PM on September 15, 2005
That's some betterer English, odinsdream.
posted by huskerdont at 3:07 PM on September 15, 2005
posted by huskerdont at 3:07 PM on September 15, 2005
I picked this up yesterday - on a thorough skim, it seems to cover its area fairly comprehensively.
posted by rjt at 3:52 PM on September 15, 2005
posted by rjt at 3:52 PM on September 15, 2005
I don't know your full story, but I'd recommend trying your hand at freelancing and try to get some clips before committing to a full-time gig, especially if the journalism thing is new to you. Entry-level newspaper/mag jobs are absurdly low-paying (unless you try trades) so don't go quitting your current job just yet.
After trying the beat reporting thing for a bit I realized daily reporting was so not my bag (weird hours, story uncertainty, tight deadlines...but some folks are really into that).
If you're an unproven writer w/ no clips, I'd try freelancing for local publications or try a department piece for a magazine. Find the publication you want to write for, figure out who handles the section you want to write for, send them a query letter with one or two story ideas offering to write on spec (for no $$ -- unless they decide to print it). Repeat.
posted by awegz at 4:46 PM on September 15, 2005
After trying the beat reporting thing for a bit I realized daily reporting was so not my bag (weird hours, story uncertainty, tight deadlines...but some folks are really into that).
If you're an unproven writer w/ no clips, I'd try freelancing for local publications or try a department piece for a magazine. Find the publication you want to write for, figure out who handles the section you want to write for, send them a query letter with one or two story ideas offering to write on spec (for no $$ -- unless they decide to print it). Repeat.
posted by awegz at 4:46 PM on September 15, 2005
When I wrote "repeat," I meant send different query letters with different ideas to other publications -- not send the same query letter to the same editor over and over again, cuz that would be stalker-ish.
posted by awegz at 4:49 PM on September 15, 2005
posted by awegz at 4:49 PM on September 15, 2005
I'm not a writer so figure that into how you appraise my suggestions. Writing for free and hoping that someone discovers you sounds like buying lottery tickets. First, if you want to be discovered your should actively submit your work to people who can buy it. Second, if you want to grow as a writer you should have feedback. I'm a big fan of food blogs but I *pay* to read Calvin Trillin in the New Yorker for a reason. Writing a blog is great but it's different.
Writer's Market is an absolute necessity for anyone hoping to become a freelance writer. You'll find thousands of people to review, and hopefully buy, your writing on virtually any subject and in virtually any type of market. Plus, you'll get concrete guidance on what they're looking for.
posted by stuart_s at 7:50 PM on September 15, 2005
Writer's Market is an absolute necessity for anyone hoping to become a freelance writer. You'll find thousands of people to review, and hopefully buy, your writing on virtually any subject and in virtually any type of market. Plus, you'll get concrete guidance on what they're looking for.
posted by stuart_s at 7:50 PM on September 15, 2005
Blogging is probably a good way to at least have a portfolio of your writing samples so that any interested parties can see your work. Then it is a matter of checking out the Writer's Market as stuart_s suggests. Really you are going to have to prove yourself to make it, so start small and keep writing. And obviously write about things that interest you. It becomes very obvious to editors if you don't have the passion for the subject.
posted by JJ86 at 6:31 AM on September 16, 2005
posted by JJ86 at 6:31 AM on September 16, 2005
Check out absolutewrite.com and writersweekly.com. There are myriad websites with stuff about writing and/or writing jobs. Good luck.
posted by cass at 7:02 AM on September 16, 2005
posted by cass at 7:02 AM on September 16, 2005
I second the alternative newsweekly route. Bring samples and have an idea of what you want to write about (news, theater, books, food, etc).
Have a backup plan. Seriously. It'll be a while before you make enough money to fill up your car with gas, let alone live on.
posted by Atom12 at 7:06 AM on September 16, 2005
Have a backup plan. Seriously. It'll be a while before you make enough money to fill up your car with gas, let alone live on.
posted by Atom12 at 7:06 AM on September 16, 2005
I'm currently looking for editors (specifically an editor-in-chief/moderator) for the Trailside Wiki.
Outdoor and travel adventure wiki. Email me if you're interested.
posted by travis vocino at 7:33 AM on September 16, 2005
Outdoor and travel adventure wiki. Email me if you're interested.
posted by travis vocino at 7:33 AM on September 16, 2005
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posted by ducksauce at 12:14 PM on September 15, 2005 [1 favorite]