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As I tried to explain last week, pitches must be smart and cater to the needs of the editor and their publication first and foremost. Again, in my researching markets, I came across a guidelines page with great advice. Climate Change News posts detailed and informative guidelines at https://www.climatechangenews.com/write-for-us. In your pitch, explain: What is new? Whether your […]

I’ve had more than twenty surgeries from my eyes to feet, and my health has become accepted as one part of my writing journey. Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) is a manageable group of connective-tissue conditions — shared by others like actress Jameela Jamil. It hasn’t slowed the writing journey down. Actually, it’s helped! Here’s how surgeries […]

A lot of freelancers make the mistake of thinking that the publication they are pitching wants to know more about the writer than the topic being pitched. Please, understand that most publications are most interested in a quality subject that strongly pertains to their readers. Who you are matters little unless you are an expert […]

Rates are perhaps one of the most important considerations in freelance writing, yet authors seldom dare to adjust them or discuss them thoroughly. A writers’ rates are their income, and usually their food budget and rent. Here’s how to secure a better future . Rates and what’s fair Households have inflation and ‘bad months’, and […]

Right now I am reading The Idea: The Seven Elements of a Viable Story for Screen, Stage or Fiction, by Erik Bork. I don’t read many how-to writing books, but this one was a gift, and I decided to give it a go before deciding against it. I love it. It’s basic, understandable, with loads of […]

Sometimes, we just need to laugh at ourselves, but if you’re the kind of writer who enjoys writing humor, you can turn something funny into your next humor article or story. Doing so could mean your next sale! Anyone can write humor, but it takes a bit of practice to “get it right.” Humor is […]

There are as many reasons for block as there are writers attempting to overcome it. These are the primary obstacles: -Fear of judgment / self-doubt -Need for perfection -Exhaustion -Illness -Lack of ideas -Distractions -Temperature -Lack of inspiration -Lack of family support -Depression As a professional, I’ve experienced all of these but one: I’m blessed […]

‘Never write anything for free’ is an important mantra, and one I know Hope believes in very strongly. But in my experience there are times when writing for free can be worth it – so long as you are clear about your end goal. Take the world of short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays. There […]

When someone new thinks about becoming a freelance writer, they often start with writing about themselves. However, nothing paints a novice more than writing about themselves. Unless….they specialize in a niche area and can be considered an expert. When someone new wants to write a book-length project, they often start with a memoir. The problem […]

People talk about hating resolutions yet they are jumping all over the question, “What word describes 2024 for you?” It’s the same thing. And what have you accomplished in dropping one word? And look at the energy you wasted pondering which word to choose. Are you doing to wake up every morning, remember your word, […]

Have you got your eye on a publication, one that would be a great achievement if you could just break into it? You’ve submitted and submitted, but you’ve been rejected as many times. So many times, in fact, that you decided to put it on the back burner or even walk away altogether. because you […]

A byline doesn’t have to stay single forever.  Cowriting happens when writers put their thoughts together for articles or stories. Here’s more about the hows and whys of cowriting with another person, and how to make it work on paper. Why Cowriting is Useful  Cowriting means that writing responsibilities are split, and it can take […]