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Don't Just Be a Writer
By Renee Roberson
As I recently scanned the spreadsheet I use to keep track of my
monthly writing assignments, I made an interesting observation
regarding the different types of work that have come my way in
the past year. While we all want to see our byline attached to
feature-length articles in magazines and newspapers, there are
many other areas of opportunities with local publications that
are often operating on a small staff. Here are just a few
places where a quick e-mail or phone call to an editor could
land you with an unexpected project or better yet, a monthly
contract.
Calendars. One of the publications I write for regularly has
trouble keeping a calendar editor on staff — most likely because
it is an entry-level position requiring a lot of data entry. The
editor recently contacted me to see if I would be interested in
compiling the monthly calendar items and checking the e-mail
inbox designed specifically for that position. Because the job
allows me to work remotely and provides a monthly check that I
know I’ll receive the same time each month, I’m happy to work
the regular gig even though it’s not as creative as some of the
assignments I usually take on. Take a look at some of your
favorite local publications and you’ll find that most of them
include a calendar of some sort. It’s worth contacting the editor
to let them know you’d be happy to help them with that portion of
the magazine if they ever get short-handed.
Research and Compiling News Items. Another magazine that runs a
local column spotlighting working mothers in the community once
offered me $50 to research and come up with at least six
suggestions for women to feature. In less than an hour I had
zeroed in on potential candidates and sent e-mails gauging their
interest. It was the easiest $50 I ever made. Another newspaper I
worked for contacted me once asking if I wanted to take over
compiling the education notes from various schools in the area.
The job would allow me to access the newspaper’s education e-mail
inbox and pull together the news items into a weekly column and
was a home-based gig. The position would have paid around $500 a
month, but unfortunately I had just taken a regular editing job
at a competing publication and had to turn the job down.
Fact-checking. These types of publications also often publish a
variety of annual publications (such as travel or education guides),
which are typically chock full of short articles, stock photography
and resource listings. This is where you come in. There is usually
one person in charge of updating all the resource listings and
other repeating information in the publication, and freelancers
are perfect for this. Keep an eye on the various guides your
clients publish and express interest at least six months ahead of
time. It can provide steady work and larger paychecks than merely
writing feature articles.
While these types of jobs aren’t glamorous by any stretch of the
imagination and won’t pay as much as an article in a national
consumer magazine, they can provide monthly contracts or
assignments that can help keep your writing cash flow in the
right direction with prompt payment terms. And by showing your
clients that you’re not afraid to take on the occasional grunt
work and do it well, they’ll most likely show their appreciation
by throwing a few extra writing assignments your way.
BIO
Renee Roberson is an award-winning freelance writer who isn’t
afraid to roll up her sleeves for her regular clients. Visit
her Web site at www.FinishedPages.com
.
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