Freelance Review

From Loolwa Khazzoom,

You’ve done your homework like a good little freelancer, and you’ve got a boss pitch in your hot little hands. Now what? This guide to the publishing marketplace will help you decide whether to go indie or mainstream, and whether to target websites, magazines, or newspapers.

1) The Indie Market

A key advantage of going indie is that the market is open to unconventional stories. When I’ve got something edgy to say, it’s indie all the way. A bonus for beginning writers is that the smaller and more independent the periodical, the more likely you’ll be given the chance to strut your stuff. That’s why the indie market is the perfect place to build clips. Just keep in mind that payment probably will be in free magazine copies and “the joy of knowing people around the country will listen to what you have to say” (as writers guidelines quip).

2) The Mainstream Market

The mainstream market will provide a big fat platform for your scrawny little soapbox: Millions of people around the world will read what you have to say. So if your objective is to change the world, rather than preach to the choir, this is the market for you. (Just keep in mind that if you’re pushing, say, a radical feminist message, you’ll have to sneak it in through the side pocket of today’s! hottest! pants!) The mainstream market is also ideal for people who like paychecks with more than one digit. That is to say, if you long for a pad other than the cardboard box on your local street corner, think glossy.

3) The Glossy Magazine Market

These periodicals are, in a word, bank. As in, 1000-3000 words at $1-$2/word. If you’re Carrie on Sex and the City, make that $4/word. (And if you know what I’m talking about, holla “Addicts in da house!”) There are, however, a few downsides:

• thousands of established writers will be clawing your eyes out to get the attention of the same editor
• unless you’ve got a news-breaking story, you’ll have to wait between one and six months for Queen Editor to decide yay or nay on your pitch
• while the queen is taking her sweet little time, she won’t let you show your pitch to anyone else

4) The Daily Newspaper Market

If you want a quick turnaround on your pitch, the daily rag is for you. With a cross-section of topics covered (Arts, Business, Fashion, Health, News, Politics, you name it), there’s something for everyone. What’s more, each time you publish in the paper, you’ll have a greater chance of publishing the next time around — even if it’s for a different section. Which goes to say, this is a good place to develop your writing in different genres. Unfortunately, newspapers across the country are downsizing, and the first writers to go are freelancers. Which brings us to our final writing outlet…

5) The Website Market

Websites are ideal for two reasons:

• They’re a great back-door entrance to leading periodicals: The biggest & best publications often have “web exclusive” content with way more freelance opportunities.
• The print world is dying, my friends! I realized this painful truth last year, when editors who luv luv luved my writing suddenly stopped assigning me stories. On the heels of that shocker, my bread & butter swanky magazine went belly-up, like, overnight. So as you squint at your grimy little computer screen, you just might be staring at the face of your writing future.