I’ve written query letters and sent them to many magazines and other types of publications—some accepted, some not. In my past editorial positions for several regional magazines I had to read queries written by other writers and decide whether to accept them. In both roles, I’ve had a chance to see what works and what doesn’t. If you want to…
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“Evergreen” articles and posts are the staple of most magazines and blogs. If you can pitch them to a publication or blogger–especially with new angle–you’ll land yourself a writing gig almost every time. The key, however, lies in the unique angle. It’s easy enough to determine the evergreen topics. These are the ones the publications or blogs cover on a…
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If you have never had an article published, that first gig can be the most difficult one to land. If you’ve got many bylines under your belt, landing freelance writing assignments gets easier and you are likely to get paid something for most, if not all, of them. So, how do you get that first byline, or more of them,…
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As part of my ongoing planning for 2014, I want to find ways to better address my readers’ needs and interests. That means your needs and interests. I want to improve this blog and make it more relevant to you. To accomplish that goal, I need to know more about you. So, I have created a 2014 Reader Survey. I’d…
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Some writers begin with an article idea and then find a market, or publication, to fit the idea. Others begin with a market and then develop an idea for a particular magazine’s readership. No matter which method fits your personality, you will need to learn how to research markets for your ideas. By finding the best markets for your work…
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Prior to the beginning of the year, I wrote about branding for nonfiction writers and authors. However, branding constitutes a huge topic, and I don’t claim to be the expert on it. That’s why I asked branding pro Judy Baker to write this guest post. She explains how your brand identifies you, your book and so much more. You might…
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Nonfiction encompasses a broad range of forms. That’s good news for a versatile writer with many interests. You might find you can become quite well versed at more than one of them, thus earning your keep by producing a variety of nonfiction work. Or you can hone your skills and become an expert in one particular area, such as restaurant…
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