Writing and the Business of Writing
By Jason Tanamor, N2Arts Correspondent
It's the same thing, isn't it?
 

‘ve been a full-time freelance writer for almost five years now and the one thing I will say is that although it can be a rewarding career, it can also be challenging. One of the obstacles is finding publications to write for.

There are many great resources to assist freelance writers such as the Writer’s Market and various websites. All of these are great tools to building a writing career.

But once finding publications to write for is accomplished, it’s getting them to print your work that is challenging.

Many promising writers ask me, “How would one go about writing for Rolling Stone or Maxim magazine?”

The first thing to do is write a query letter. This is the most important tool for a writer. A query letter is the bridge between an unpublished piece of work and a published one. It’s essentially a sales letter that is designed to interest an editor in a writer’s (you) proposed article or manuscript by explaining what the manuscript is about, why people want to read it and why you are the perfect person to write it.

No matter how well a story or article is written, it will never see the light of day without an effective query.

So what does a query letter entail? I’m glad I asked.

As stated earlier, a query letter is a sales letter. It should start off with a one or two sentence question or fact that introduces your idea. After you’ve gained the editor’s attention, expand on the idea by writing one or two paragraphs about the process you will use to complete the article (interviews and resources lined up), why you’re perfect for writing it (including educational and professional background) and why you feel people would want to read the article.

But it doesn’t end there.

The second thing to do is read. Reading makes you a better writer. I always advise writers to read the magazine(s) they are interested in contributing to. Find out what types of articles the publication prints. Although good writing usually sells itself, having an edge over the mass of other good writers certainly helps.

Right?

The reality is writing and the process of writing is a business. As much as writers would like to
see their name in print, it is a job and bills need to be paid just like any other profession.

I’ve had the opportunity to write for many publications, with some being established and others brand new. What I’ve learned is my landlord and my phone company could care less that I’m a writer. What is most important is that my bills are paid on the date they’re due.

This is why it’s crucial to have corporate clients. Corporate clients are important because their budgets are bigger than smaller publications and upstart ones. As long as the corporate client isn’t Enron or WorldCom, a writer can focus on penning that best selling novel without the worry of your electricity being disconnected.

Writing is a privilege and the fact is, anybody can be a writer. However, that doesn’t mean everybody should be a writer. There’s no reason why a writer can’t get published. But there is a
reason why writers do get published. They love writing, the process of writing and most importantly, the business of writing.

By sticking to these rules, you are well on your way to a successful writing career. 

Jason Tanamor is an award-winning writer. His articles have appeared in more than 250 publications nationwide. He is the author of the new humor book "Random Acts of Nonsense." You can learn more about him at www.tanamor.com. Jason can be reached via email at jason@tanamor.com.