With the current boom in the global economy, all economic activities have seen an upward swing. The magazine industry is no exception. This industry has experienced regular growth. It has seen the predictable effect of increased competition. Today, more and more employers are opting for freelancers and independent contractors.
Having full time employees can be a drain on a company's financial resources, as workspace, paid holidays, and other benefits have to be provided as per the industry norms. Many publications prefer freelance writers, as it's a win-win situation for both the writers and the publication. The publications can have as many freelance writers as they wish, offering different points of view. This also saves money as they only have to pay per assignment and no benefits have to be provided as in the case of regular employees.
With the advancement in information and communication technology, freelancers can write their articles anywhere and have them mailed to the editors in no time. However, it is important to note that freelancing is a very competitive field.
A few tips to freelancers aspiring to write for magazines.
Many writers offer their services for free or for a ridiculously less fee. They only want the status of being published. There could be many reasons for this, maybe the writer is not dependent on writing for a living or writing is just a hobby. I strongly advise against this. You should value your own writing, as someone else is going to make money from your work. It is your right to get the monetary benefit for your work.
However, if you are writing for a worthy cause, then you may write for the sheer joy of writing. When writing, stick to deadlines and present your article in an organized manner. Read and rewrite your piece many times to make it error free.
Evaluate your skills, interests, and past experience and put that into your writing, everybody has some core competence area. There are magazines that specialize in fitness, furnishings, home decor, photography etc. Choose the subject of your interest and do some additional research.
Once you have zeroed in on the issues and subjects of your interest, locate the magazines and publications specializing in this area and market yourself aggressively. This will make writing very easy and enjoyable, as the subject you will write on is well known and interesting to you.
Do not overwhelm your editors with unnecessary queries but take editorial guidelines when necessary. Always try to meet your deadlines. In case you cant meet them, you should communicate with your editor. Stay in touch and always keep the communication line open with the editors. The more you are in touch with your editors the more you will be hired for work.
Stay focused on your area of competence, as you are likely to do a better job of it. Venturing into unknown territory is fraught with dangers. However, if you have to do it then arm yourself with all the knowledge you can gather on the subject before attempting it.
Not everyone is cutout to be a freelance writer, but if you are confident that you have the skills and the aptitude then you are guaranteed a great deal of job satisfaction. Also, you can work your own hours while still polishing your skills in any other craft.
