Freelance Writing Tips
Journalist Linda Jones Shares Advice in a New Book
The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips In The World covers all aspects of professional writing from how to organise yourself with a business plan to doing your own PR.
It’s all very well being able to write, but how do you convince editors you have the talent, ideas and diligence to provide fresh, original copy to deadline? There are plenty of books covering the basics of grammar, constructing articles and plotting short stories, but a new book by Linda Jones gets straight to the nitty-gritty of freelance writing as a business.
Former Editor and Experienced Journalist
Jones doesn’t plump for buttery sweet-talk about how easy it is to become a successful writer. “Anyone who goes into freelancing thinking the streets are paved with gold needs to get a grip,” she cautions in her introduction. But with tenacity, determination and a good grasp of the basics, Jones believes a good writer can thrive.
As a former editor with nearly twenty years of journalistic experience behind her, including an established blog offering further freelance writing tips, Jones relates the advice and observations she believes will get you on your way to making a decent living.
Basics of Freelance Writing
Each chapter is broken down with subtitles into succinct sections and neatly summarised at the end with bullet points. Besides the business of writing, which Jones marks out as vital for the success of a good freelancer, she also covers the basics of writing for newspapers and magazines, interviewing and researching, writing for the internet and commercial writing.
Do you know what to do once you get your first commission? Have you considered negotiating pay and contracts? Do you know the importance of keeping records of interviews? Will you remember to ask your interviewee their basic details, such as their full name, age and occupation? If you have the flair for writing clear, accurate copy but don’t know your rates from your reference number, this book will set you straight.
Blogging and Websites for Writers
A keen blogger herself, Jones also offers insight into the value of starting your own blog, how to keep readers coming back and the importance of interacting with them through the comments section.
Written in an accessible, chatty style the book is easy to read cover to cover or to dip in and out of. Quick tips and pages devoted to ‘Six of the best’ offer interesting advice about where to go for more information, such as useful websites, markets for beginners and myths about freelancing.
Nuggets of information about the history of writing and inspirational quotes from famous scribes offer interesting trivia alongside the essentials.
Kick Start your Writing Career
If you thought freelancing was going to be a doddle this book may make you think twice before giving up the day job. But if you’re prepared for the pitfalls, hard work and resolve required to succeed in this competitive business, Jones’ advice may be just what you need to further your writing career.
