I’ve thought for some time about ways to make a few dollars
beyond a novel coming out every few years.
The internet is awash with blogs, magazines, newspapers; to mention a
few of the growing number of ways writers are displaying their work. Each time I Google, “freelance writing” a
plethora of subjects litter the computer screen, with little information about
how to actually submit an item for consideration to an internet business,
without first paying for the information.
Where are the editors that read articles and published them
based on their merits? Whatever happened
to personal contact? While the way we
communicate has changed with social networking and e-magazines, to e-books and
watching the news on the internet, it is still important to maintain open
communication regarding subjects of interest.
Do you ever notice in restaurants patrons are spending more
time on their I-phone than talking with their dinner companion? At the checkout lanes in stores, customers
are so busy texting or talking on their cell phones they can hardly get the
items in their cart onto the check-out counter, ignoring the cashier and
fumbling to find their credit card or cash to complete the transaction. I find information searches to be a similar
experience of ignoring the question and clogging the screen with pop-ups and
unrelated item lists that skirt the subject with no clear answers. Just as the above examples are a lack of good
manners and frustration to many, the clogged screen is a similar experience.
This is another marketing problem to overcome for writers
trying to move into a new genre of communication. The articles must be well written, edited and
on a subject that interests the reading public.
It is recommended that beginners start with small articles (500-750)
words. And, most magazines, newspapers,
etc. are reluctant to accept an article from a beginner, so: where to
start. I suggest narrowing the search to
a specific subject and matching it to the magazine, blog, newsletter, or other
venue that accepts freelance submissions.
I have Googled e-magazines as well as traditional magazines
to find subjects of interest; however, it is often difficult to pin-point
because of the time lapse between submission and publication. Until one is familiar with the correct sites
to research, the world of freelance writing for profit remains a mystery to be
unraveled. I say, don’t give up—the answers
are there waiting to be found, used and shared.
