How to get paid for writing

Journalist Liz Jarvis who blogs at The Mum Blog  shares her top tips for getting published.

If you’ve ever looked at my avatar and wondered why I have a slightly haunted expression in my eyes it’s probably because I’ve been writing, commissioning and editing professionally for 23 years. I know what it’s like to be on a never-ending rollercoaster of deadlines, flaky case histories, even flakier celebrities, demanding editors (I’ve been one several times myself) and the need to come up with a constant supply of new, exciting, publishable ideas to entice readers.

But I know that many of you would love to get paid for writing features, columns and stories for magazines, websites and newspapers. And I know I’m very lucky to have been able to survive doing something I absolutely love.

So here are some tips to help you on your way to achieving your goal of seeing your own name in lights. The rest is up to you.

1. Editors want great ideas. But do your research. Read the publication you’re pitching to and make sure the story or idea you’re pitching really fits in with the rest of the stuff they’re publishing. (For tips on pitching, see Linda Aitchison’s excellent book Freelance Writing: Straightforward Advice from a Woman Who Knows
2. Get your head down. ‘Learn your craft, find out about media law – including libel – and work hard,’ says Linda. ‘Learn about how different types of paid writing are constructed and how to hone research skills. Good writing for me is about the depth of information contained, rather than purely how it is conveyed. It irks me when I read a piece from a new writer who may have a lovely turn of phrase but hasn’t asked the questions that matter – and that readers absolutely need to know.’ Consider investing in a course.
3. Build up your portfolio. Editors like to see what you’ve had published before. I realise this is a bit chicken-and-egg. I would advise trying to avoid the ‘free features’ route, but instead, start off by pitching to smaller publications until your confidence grows. As far as major newspapers, mags and websites are concerned – well, no editor will pass up the chance of a really great exclusive, even from a previously unpublished writer. The story’s the thing. Use your blog to display your work – add a tab saying ‘freelance writing’ or similar.
4. Don’t expect commissions to fall into your lap. They won’t. You have to be prepared to graft for them. Telling an editor they should commission you because you’ve been writing a successful blog just won’t cut it. You need to have something to offer.
5. Be original. If an editor is going to take a chance on you, they need to know why they should commission you instead of one of their staff or regular freelances. You have to convince them that you are the only person with this story or idea and you are the only one who can write it. Features journalists will scour newspapers and forums looking for stories to pursue, they will pitch endless ideas to their editors – this is your competition. So make sure that what you’re offering is a) original and b) exclusive, and that your pitch is perfectly targeted. But never, ever tell an editor they ‘should’ use your feature. Sell the idea, sell yourself (not too much, you don’t want to come across as arrogant), but don’t ever presume to tell an editor what’s best for their publication.
6. Please do not swear. I mean on your blogs, or Twitter – anywhere that’s publicly available. You may think it doesn’t matter, and it’s your own personal space, and of course it is. But trust me, commissioning editors do look at your social media, and if they see a timeline littered with the F word (or worse) it will put them off. And while we’re at it, make sure your spelling is perfect. ‘If you want to be taken seriously as a writer, a start would be to drop the exclamation marks, learn more about the humble apostrophe and channel an inner sub editor,’ says Linda Aitchison.
7. Network and make contacts. On BritMums, on Twitter, everywhere you can. Follow editors and journalists you admire. If you’re pitching to a magazine, newspaper or website make sure you have the name of the right person to pitch to (not just ‘the Editor’). A good starting point is the Writers and Artists Yearbook, which has lots of contact details, but it’s always worth verifying these by ringing the switchboard or doing a web search to be sure.
8. Develop a thick skin. I mean, the hide of an elephant. Be prepared for rejection, and lots of it. And many commissioning editors won’t reply to you at all – they are simply too busy. Don’t take it personally, move on, and if you still believe in the idea, pitch it elsewhere.

So those are my tips – for those of you who have been paid to write, what would you add?

About Liz Jarvis

Liz Jarvis has been a journalist for more than 20 years and has been blogging since 2009. She was shortlisted for a 2010 Outstanding Achievement Award by British Mummy Bloggers, the precursor to BritMums. In 2012, she was shortlisted in BritMums' BiB Awards for the Outstanding Acheivement Award and was a finalist in the 'Go' category. You can find her at The Mum Blog, click on Blog below

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