Making a living as a Freelance Writer

[kennyc]

in looking at the speedwriting book crich posted I noticed this one on freelance writing which is on special for 99 cents at amazon at the moment. Looks pretty good, I picked it up, though have not read it other than samples at this point. Looks to have a lot of advice (much which I'm sure we've heard before) but always good to review and their might even be a gem in there somewhere.

Publication Date: April 9, 2014
Finally: the complete guide to creating a full-time freelance writing career from the world's foremost writing guru, Rob Parnell.

This massive digital volume is a unique writing resource for new writers who want to get paid for their work. It is also a comprehensive motivational system that enables you to start writing from just five to ten minutes a day and progress to becoming a well-paid Easy Cash Writing professional - within days or weeks, if that's what you truly want.

Full of tips, tricks and strategies for realistic, proven writing success, Easy Cash Writing shows you how to pitch and write for freelance markets. It shows you exactly what to do to achieve your creative dreams. Better than that, it tells you exactly what not to do and what to avoid in your quest for financial independence as a full-time writer.
...

http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Cash-Writ...ZYWRX1X2E0CG46

[crich70]

I imagine it's easier than ever (in some ways) to start a writing career. What with things like Smashwords and Amazon publishing to give someone a means of breaking into (electronic) print. Of course you still have to have something that people will want to read.

[kennyc]

Easier than every to publish, but harder to market, harder to get the word out above the noise. After reading the first couple of chapters of the book I'm less impressed, lotta sizzle and not much steak.

[jandrew]

Hmm, let's see what titles turn up under this author's credits:

The Easy Way to Write Short Stories That Sell (2013)
The Easy Way to Write a Novel That Sells (2013)
The Easy Way to Write Fantasy That Sells (2013)
The Writer & The Hero's Journey (2014)
The Easy Way to Write Horror That Sells (2013)
Easy Cash Writing: How to Make a Living as a Freelance Writer (2014)
The Easy Way to Write Thrillers That Sell (2013)
The Easy Way to Write Crime Fiction That Sells (2013)
The Easy Way to Write Romance That Sells (2013)
The Art of Story: Writing Fiction That Sells (2014)
The Easy Way to Write TV Shows That Sell (2014)
The Easy Way to Write Hollywood Screenplays That Sell (2013)
The Easy Way to Write An Autobiography That Sells (2013)

Clearly a writer's writer

To be fair, there were three non-writing titles:

Nine Tales of Terror (2013)
Kindred - A Serial Killer Thriller (2013)
PSI Kids: Willow (2013)

Maybe they're all great and I'm just a cynic.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by jandrew

Hmm, let's see what titles turn up under this author's credits:

The Easy Way to Write Short Stories That Sell (2013)
The Easy Way to Write a Novel That Sells (2013)
The Easy Way to Write Fantasy That Sells (2013)
The Writer & The Hero's Journey (2014)
The Easy Way to Write Horror That Sells (2013)
Easy Cash Writing: How to Make a Living as a Freelance Writer (2014)
The Easy Way to Write Thrillers That Sell (2013)
The Easy Way to Write Crime Fiction That Sells (2013)
The Easy Way to Write Romance That Sells (2013)
The Art of Story: Writing Fiction That Sells (2014)
The Easy Way to Write TV Shows That Sell (2014)
The Easy Way to Write Hollywood Screenplays That Sell (2013)
The Easy Way to Write An Autobiography That Sells (2013)

Clearly a writer's writer

To be fair, there were three non-writing titles:

Nine Tales of Terror (2013)
Kindred - A Serial Killer Thriller (2013)
PSI Kids: Willow (2013)

Maybe they're all great and I'm just a cynic.

Or maybe he just knows how to Sell his writing.

[jersysman]

For some reason, this reminds me of those ads in Popular Mechanics magazine where it said to send the person $1 and he would divulge his secret on getting rich. When you sent it, he would respond on a single page instructing you to place the same type of ad and watch the dollars roll in.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by crich70

I imagine it's easier than ever (in some ways) to start a writing career. What with things like Smashwords and Amazon publishing to give someone a means of breaking into (electronic) print. Of course you still have to have something that people will want to read.

You mean, kind of like Easy Cash Writing: How to Make a Living as a Freelance Writer or even How to Make a Fortune Writing Books in Three Easy Steps?

Like in the ad, and most other get-rich-quick schemes.

[HarryT]

There are much, much more reliable ways to earn money from writing than writing fiction - eg journalism, working in advertising, etc.

[VydorScope]

If you want good advice I suggest you read:

Your First 1000 Copies: The Step-by-Step Guide to Marketing Your Book
http://www.amazon.com/Your-First-Cop.../dp/B00DMIWAIC

and

Write, Publish, Repeat
http://www.amazon.com/Publish-Repeat.../dp/B00H26IFJS

[crich70]

I think it comes down to the writing itself really. All the marketing in the world won't help if you don't have a complete story and one that is well written to boot. And in the case of non-fiction articles the same sort of rule applies. If the article isn't well written and is all over the place with no rhyme or reason to it who will read it?

[crich70]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

You mean, kind of like Easy Cash Writing: How to Make a Living as a Freelance Writer or even How to Make a Fortune Writing Books in Three Easy Steps?

Like in the ad, and most other get-rich-quick schemes.

By "Something that people will want to read" I mean you have to write the story/article well. And do proper editing after it's written and before submission. No one wants to read a mish mash of sentences that don't make sense and are so full of spelling errors that you can't tell who or what is supposed to be happening. I'm sure those members of MR who have written and published works on sites like Smashwords and Amazon didn't just pound out their text on the keyboard on a Monday and upload it 2 hrs later. It's far more likely that they spent weeks if not months of time editing each book so as to make sure that as many errors as they could catch were removed and the story polished.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by crich70

It's far more likely that they spent weeks if not months of time editing each book so as to make sure that as many errors as they could catch were removed and the story polished.

Only a fool tries to edit their own work: your brain will see what should be there, rather than what is there. It's essential to use an external editor, and preferably a professional.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Only a fool tries to edit their own work: your brain will see what should be there, rather than what is there. It's essential to use an external editor, and preferably a professional.

Or at the very least, put your own work away for sufficient time to forget what you expect to see, perhaps weeks, and then come back and edit with fresh eyes.

[cromag]

While I understand HarryT's position -- and agree with it, to an extent -- there are practical considerations and limitations, and ways to work within them. I can't justify paying for a professional editor at this stage. If there's no money for it, there's no money for it. But, I did technical editing for years for a former employer and there are some tools that make it a bit easier to edit your own work. Setting it aside to view with "fresh eyes" is one way. Reading it aloud is another. Also, I've been involved with a group of other writers -- we meet weekly and read each others' work.

[crich70]

That's the advice that I've read in several books on writing. Set a project aside for several weeks (or longer) and then come back to it later with fresh eyes for it.