Group Hug

by Stephanie Olsen

Writers are generous people - just look at the plethora of boards and email lists with post after post offering advice and support.

In the past few days, JustMarkets Daily subscribers have been taking time to present their thoughts and ideas to help another full-time freelancer in the group.

The exchange started with:

I like this newsletter. I'm a full time freelance writer and, like all the rest of us, always probing for more opportunities. I've subscribed to the newsletter for two months now and responded to at least 20 advertisements and have never gotten a tickle of interest. I must be doing something wrong. Do you know of a guidebook etc. where I can find the guidance, tips etc., needed to sell myself in a convincing way?

Of course, I had to throw in my two cents!

I'd say one response in 20 is about average, from my own experience. I've got a few "template letters," you know, one for magazine articles, one for copyediting, one for web copywriting, etc. I adjust these as needed and shoot them off.

I've got to say that I really believe in the "explosive" hook - whether you use humor (my personal favorite) or something more serious or even sincere ("I was  really excited to see your ad for *whatever* today and believe that I am the person you're seeking.")

Persist and ye shall find! :-)

Lifestyles writer, Sheryll Alexander, chimed in:

Dear Frustrated Freelancer:

Being that I am a freelance writer and my husband is an actor, we both know a lot about how frustrating it can be to submit query after query (or go to audition after audition) and receive no feedback.

My husband was once given some great advice when he worked with Richard Gere on the movie "Final Analysis." (He is the ambulance driver if you want to rent it.) The only thing Gere told him was to "stay in the game and never quit."

If you are querying (or auditioning) regularly, then you are in the game. If you give up and stop communicating with editors (or agents and casting directors), then you are no longer a player. The freelance (acting) game is not a fast-paced sport. Only those who learn the lesson of commitment to craft and dogged perseverance win the chance to live the amazing life of a freelance writer or actor...best of luck to you!

And education writer Elaine Schneider rounded it out with her letter:

I have now received two jobs from posts I found in the JustMarkets daily email. I interviewed for one other job and made it to the final round of selection, and although I did not make the writing team for this project, my information is being kept for a future project.

I believe the key to catching the editor's eye is a strong cover letter. We all have resumes, but getting the editor to read your resume is critical! You must sell yourself in the cover letter.

Here are a few tips I've learned from fellow writers:

1. Format your email like a letter, your contact information at the top, including all phone numbers at which you may be  reached.

2. Include your experience in several genres; then concentrate on the experience you have that relates to the particular job for which you are applying.

3. Paste resume and samples into the body of the email. Most editors will not open attachments and many will automatically delete your application email without even reading it if your supporting documents are attachments.

4. Make sure your samples show skills needed for the job at hand. Sending a published story to an editor who needs a curriculum author isn't going to be convincing evidence that you have the skills necessary for that job, no matter how good your story is!

5. Be positive that your cover letter is free of typos, misspelled words, and grammatical errors. Editors want writers who send quality work.

So many times the best part of being a writer is that we're members of an elite and highly-supportive group. As different individually as we all are, we're also united in one fundamental aspect absolutely integral to who we are.

One final personal recommendation is Peter Bowerman's Well-Fed Writer a multi-award-winning "how-to" for corporate freelance writing. An extremely helpful guide on breaking into that lucrative market, it's endorsed by Bev Walton-Porter, InkSpot editor, among many others (more famous than myself!) .*grin*

You can download the PDF version straight away at http://www.my-e-book.com/bookstore - and if you order it from My-E-Book, I'll add two weeks to any length subscription of JustMarkets Daily absolutely free!

About: professional freelance writer and copyeditor, Stephanie Olsen, is publisher of the bi-weekly JustMarkets newsletter too. Sign up – it's free! And visit daily to check out the Market of the Day page.