Get a Freelance Life: Mediabistro. Com's Insider Guide to Freelance Writing Book

Write Your Own Check

Considering a career in freelance writing? Already a freelancer but seeking practical, solid advice on the basics of the business? Get a Freelance Life is the complete guide to all aspects of a freelance writing career, straight from the creators of mediabistro.com—the nation’s most connected, authoritative source for media professionals.

Learn how to:

• Write compelling pitch letters

• Network with the best in the magazine and newspaper industry

• Understand the freelance market and detect its changes

• Self-edit and rewrite your work

• Manage tight deadlines

• Negotiate contracts

• Survive the financial ups and downs of the freelance life

With plenty of insider advice and tips from the most successful freelance writers and editors in the country, Get a Freelance Life is a must-have resource for turning your freelance gigs into a full-fledged writing career.

Library Journal

Many people dream of making a living doing something they love, and many of those dreamers are aspiring writers. Former magazine editor and successful freelancer Ragland and her colleagues from mediabistro.com, an online community where media professionals meet and share resources, offer a guide for individuals planning a freelance writing career. Beginning with a checklist to help readers decide if freelancing is a good fit for them, the book covers all aspects of the career. Tips are provided on matching writing interests with the market, specific examples illustrate the styles and focus of popular publications, and a selective list of editorial calendars demonstrates the importance of timing. Instructions on pitching an article are accompanied by samples of successful pitch letters. The last section of the book covers practical business matters like healthcare and retirement. This work is well written and contains many useful ideas and examples. It also, however, happens to fall into a popular publishing category. Public libraries fielding a demand for these books may wish to consider adding one more to their career section, but it is not an essential purchase.-Judy Solberg, Seattle Univ. Lib. Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.