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The Envy of the
Neighborhood My hard-working neighbors envy me. They see me walking my dog early in the morning while they are getting in their cars to go to work. Or they see me on my porch swing reading magazines. My retired neighbors watch me drive my van out of the garage at least once a day, sometimes more, and think I’m going to spend my husband’s hard-earned money at the local Wal-Mart. They are all wrong, as my fellow freelancers know. I’ve given up trying to explain that yes, I do work. That early-morning walk gives me the energy to research, interview, and write all day. Those magazines that I read on my porch swing are writing magazines. Those countless trips to Wal-Mart are actually trips to the post office, print shop, photo shop, and to visit my public relations clients. When I’m puttering in the yard, no one can tell that I’m procrastinating, suffering from writer’s block, or deep in thought about my next story. I have been a full-time freelance writer for more than four years. When I worked full-time in hospital community relations, I wrote travel articles for the local newspapers because I loved to explore and often visited friends in other states. I was offered the job of writing the local chamber of commerce newsletter, and through that, I wrote about two ladies who made and sold miniature dollhouse furniture. I realized that story had greater potential, so I submitted a query to "Women’s Circle" magazine. They wanted it, and my career began. I borrowed an expensive camera from a co-worker and went back to interview the ladies again. "Dollhouse Miniatures" then published my story about CJ’s Miniatures a year later, and several years after that, "Home Business Journal" and then "Home Business Magazine" ran short articles. It always amazes me when people call (it’s a small town) and say, "I (or my sister) want to be a writer. How do I get started?" If someone is truly interested in something, then why isn’t he motivated to learn all he can about it? I didn’t know anything about it other than I wanted to write all the time, I knew I had the talent, and somehow people made a living at it. That’s what books are for! I read all I could about writing and discovered a wonderful book titled "The Writer’s Market." So if you don’t know how to get started, then you’re just another "wannabe" writer. If you wanted to be, say, a jewelry designer, would you be calling the gal who works at the jewelry counter in Wal-Mart and asking her about it? I don’t think so. Or would you have your sister do your dirty work? I keep my sanity by networking with others who really know what I do, at local writers’ conferences and online. Writers have to network and keep in touch with the writing world, since the rest of the world doesn’t consider writing a "real job." Although writing may sound boring or uninteresting to some people, writers know it’s not. The biggest challenge sometimes is keeping busy. I can’t just finish one article, turn it in and wait for another assignment to come in. If I really want to make a living at it, I have to market myself, send out queries, check the online freelance listings and market listings, and keep sending out my resume and clips. The computer, together with e-mail and the Internet, is the best thing that has happened to writers since the printing press. We have no excuse for not keeping busy. I subscribe to as many online newsletters as I can about writing, and check a wide variety of job listings, from those found in writing newsletters to online employment and temp agencies. When I began my freelance career, I didn’t want to specialize in anything because I was afraid of limiting myself. My background in hospital community relations, however, landed me regular assignments with a company that publishes magazines for healthcare professionals. That relationship led to other medical writing assignments. When those assignments slowed down, I went to the library for Bacon’s Magazine Directory and copied all of the pages that listed medical periodicals. I began calling editors. Several requested my resume and clips. One very lucrative assignment and several other assignments resulted from those phone calls. I wanted to keep writing about travel, though, and subscribed to the travelwriters.com newsletter. When the dream destination of Aruba came up, a writer friend suggested I contact "Island Properties Report" to see if it would be interested in a story. The editor was, so I went to Aruba. Even though I didn’t make much money as a result of that trip, I still have all my brochures, notes, and photos, so there is still potential for more stories. Last year I went on four press trips. It was great for me, but since I wasn’t physically here in my office at work, I missed out on some assignments and I definitely missed being with my family. I have decided to stay home and concentrate on medical writing. At least that’s what I said last spring, until an editor whom I met on the Aruba press trip called me and asked if I would go on a press trip for her. I couldn’t turn down a Maine windjamming cruise ("Salute," July 2001). I think the best way for a freelance writer to have a steady income is to find a niche, whether it be medical writing, writing for greeting cards, or writing news content for a web site. The niche is the main bread and butter, while other assignments that result from contacts and query letters are the "jelly," or the added bonus. Some writers have a lot of local newspaper and magazine assignments that keep them busy and pay the bills. I live in a rural area and there are not a lot of newspapers here, let alone magazines, so I have to depend on long-distance assignments. Since I prefer to write on assignment, I am not one of those writers who will get rich quick from re-slanting and re-selling articles. However, I have found out that an interesting source for one story can be re-interviewed for a similar story for a non-competing publication. Not everyone can relate to reading about reverse logistics or new plastic surgery techniques, but I can re-write the article to make it appeal to a consumer audience. There’s got to be something about reverse logistics that would appeal to readers of "Good Housekeeping," for example (but I haven’t found it; let me know if you have any ideas). New plastic surgery techniques, now that has more appeal to consumers. One technique that helps me organize these new slants and angles is to list possible ideas and markets on a large index card and put the card in a card file (or in a stack on top of your desk if that’s your filing method). When you are between assignments, go through your cards and choose some ideas to re-slant and submit them. This is assuming that you have contact information and maybe some notes on file. A well-thought out query is the key to sales. Read, write, and always be on the lookout for new markets. Those human-interest articles in your local newspaper might just have potential for a national magazine article. People love to read about health, sex and money. If the article relates to any of these topics, start sending query letters to magazine editors. I think being a writer also obligates us to help others who are serious about writing (notice I didn’t say those who "wannabe" a writer) since it’s not a traditional career. I enjoy helping them, as long as they are serious. If they never find time to write, then I know they’re not serious. If they are serious, but need some help finding markets or ask me to help fine-tune their query letter, I will. There are so many books about all aspects of writing that there’s no excuse for being ignorant about it. There’s no "right" time to take the leap to full-time freelancing. You will know, in your heart, when the time is right. I will caution you to have some money saved for expenses and because many magazines pay on publication rather than on acceptance. If you can do any freelance work for your employer, that helps you as well as them. It’s not easy being a full-time freelance writer, but the benefits are outstanding. Laura (Papp) Gater’s medical, business, humor and travel articles have been published in Medical Imaging, 24x7, Plastic Surgery Products, Orthodontic Products, Island Properties Report, Family Fun, Young & Alive, Living, Porthole, Insurance Networking, Salute, The Optimist, Arts Indiana, Chicago Parent, Chess Life, Career World, and EMS Best Practices newsletter. She is a graduate of the Indiana University School of Journalism. Laura lives in a small Midwestern town with her husband, two children, and pets, where she enjoys walking daily through the change of seasons.
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