In 2012, Twitter co-founder Evan Williams launched Medium. It was originally intended to extend Twitter’s 140-character limit. Now, it’s major hub for social journalism. Although it began more like a blogging platform, the site has expanded to feature various types of...
Everyone says to read a publication before you pitch it, but what exactly are you supposed to be looking for? Below are a few things to examine in order to help you figure out what your dream magazine is looking for and tailor your pitch for that title. First, grab a...
A few weeks ago, with zero fanfare or warning, Hearst killed its outside-contributor program The Mix. I first learned the news in a Facebook group for contributors, where reactions were shocked, confused, and for the most part, sad. I was among those disappointed by...
Sooner or later, every freelance writer will get the dreaded phone call or email: Your client’s business is shutting down. Or they’re restructuring and bringing the work you did for them in house. Or maybe they just say you’re no longer a “good fit”...
Having writer’s block means something different to every writer. For some, writer’s block is just procrastination. For others, it’s a lack of ideas or inspiration. What’s true for all writers is that writer’s block can be difficult to...
Finding uninterrupted time to focus on your craft is tough. That’s why attending a writing retreat or residency is often a highlight of a writer’s year. Writing retreats and residencies alike can be a fantastically rewarding experiences, but not everyone has the time...
Overwhelmed by the thought of finally writing that book of yours? You’ve dreamed about it forever. You’ve almost started several times before, then convinced yourself you weren’t ready. You worry you’ll be forever trapped in the planning stage, never fulfilling your...
Having a long-term working relationship with a paying publication’s editor is a freelance writer’s delight. Freelancers who send out lots of pitches know the routine: sometimes your query isn’t answered for six months or more; sometimes it’s answered by a form reply...
I finally got a report from my publisher detailing my book sales from January, February and March. As I touched on last month — yes, that did take a while. There was a delay of two months, to be exact. This type of delay between the close of a sales quarter and a...
Previously, my colleague showed you how to make money off your novel using your book as a prompt source. Today, I’ll continue those ideas with tips that have to do with you: the writer. With the personal-essay market experiencing a surge in print and web publications,...
