How to Begin as a Freelance Journalist: Part Two

At the end of July I decided to write a article named “How to begin as a Freelance Journalist”, with the aim to provide some helpful information for writers beginning their freelance career. After receiving a comment from a fellow writer that their should be information added to the article, i decided to write a sequel which goes more into depth about ways to start out.

There are so many ways that can help you throughout your journey as being a freelance journalist. Not only will they help you get started, they may even help you earn more income. Here are some more ideas to begin…

1. Business Cards

In my original article I described the business card as a handy tool to attach to your cover letter when submitting articles. There are many good websites you can get quality business cards from. One I have used before is a New Zealand site named Vistaprint , which you can recieve 250 free business cards and pay the freight cost only(around $10 in New Zealand). The only catch is, on the back they read “Business Cards are free at www.vistaprint.co.nz”. Even though the back is disappointing, the business cards are quality and turned out very well. They can be a good starting point for journalists kicking off their career. There are many other websites around the web which can let you design your own business cards to your taste.

2. Query Letters

Query letters are a vital marketing point for your writing career. Once you get figure out a good subject, find a magazine or newspaper that may except your idea. Write or e-mail a query letter to the editor or the publication that suits you, making sure the grammar, punctuation and writing structure is up to scratch. Explain in your letter your idea, how many words your article may be and if you are submitting any photos. Briefly explain your experience the editor and if you have published anything elsewhere before. Keep the article simple and straight to the point. If the editor likes your idea and the presentation of your query letter, he/she will be sure to reply.

3. Read Magazines/Newspapers

Read as much material as possible. Studying publications will give you a feel for what different material they like to publish and what subjects they cover. When making your way through a newspaper or magazine, make notes on their writing structure and the length of their articles. Look out for what they don’t cover and pitch your idea to the publication, you never know your luck.

4. Tutorials/Courses

Writing is a journey and it is important to learn as much as you can along the way. There are many tutorials on the Internet that can help you along the way when publishing on and offline. The library even contains many books on english, grammar and writing structures which can help you immensely. There are many organisations that you can do a freelance journalism course , I did a correspondence course through a New Zealand institution named “New Zealand Institute of Business Studies” which offer studying of creative writing, travel writing, sports journalism and more. Around the world there is plenty to choose from.

5. Social Networking

Get your name out there. Promote your work on social networking sites such as Facebook, Bebo, Myspace or even Twitter. You can share your articles online by posting links on your page. Your friends can view your work online and even your family and friends. Social Networking is a good way to promote your work to others and get more viewers.

6. Talk to other writers

On the Internet and in real life, it is always important to talk to other writers and get their points of view. You can join writing networks and forums on the Internet and community groups. Experienced writers can offer you plenty of quality advice that can help you in your writing career.

7. Website

Once you get yourself on your feet, it is important to create your own website. Having a website can help you promote your work and give editors a good idea what you have published. There are many free websites out there you can use or if you are very serious, purchase a .com website. If you have good knowledge about web design this is a added bonus, as you can do this all yourself.

8. Look Out For Possible Trends

This is basically the same as reading newspapers or magazines. You can also do this on the internet. Look out for what people want to read about and what is popular. Through Google’s search engine you can visit Google trends which describe the top subject searches on their site. If you are ever looking for a subject to write about, this can help you immensely. If you are sports journalist, find out dates for important future events in your area which you maybe able to cover for a newspaper or magazine.

Freelance Journalism is a learning curve and as your career advances you become comfortable in what you are doing. Use these tips to get yourself out there to editors and publishers. The more you promote yourself, the more work you may qualify for. If you a do it carefully and correctly, you will hopefully earn a healthy income.