Writing Samples to Land a Gig – Six Things to Know

Image via CrunchBaseSometimes when applying for a new client or freelance writing gig, you will be asked to provide a ‘sample’ of your work. Usually, you can simply provide appropriate links to previously published work in the same topic. However, sometimes new prospects will insist upon custom ‘samples’. What should you do?

There are several schools of thought on this, and it seems to be more a matter of personal preference than anything else. However, there are a few great rules of thumb to keep in mind as you make your own decision about how to handle such requests.

1- If you write it, you own the rights to it. If someone insists they own the rights to the sample they are asking you to submit, there is a strong possibility you are being conned. There will then be nothing to stop them from saying you did not meet their hiring guidelines and then ‘rewrite’ your submission enough to prevent you from being able to take legal action against them. If someone wants the rights to your work, you will have to sell or assign them. Otherwise, the sample still belongs to you.
2- Samples should be paid for. If someone really insists upon a custom sample, they should be willing to pay for your time and effort. After all, they are asking you to work for them, even if it is just to create a custom sample. Exceptions to this are a matter of opinion. I have found very few instances in which I felt it was acceptable to write a free custom sample.
3- Previously written works should usually be sufficient examples of your style, voice, knowledge, and skill in the topic and genre. While there are legitimate reasons why a custom sample might be necessary, in most cases, prior works should suffice.
4- Protect yourself with links. If you send in a link to a sample that has been previously published and someone else now owns the rights, you are giving yourself extra protection against theft. This is because if the new prospect steals your content, the company/client that purchased it will be able to take legal action and probably has deeper pockets and more legal resources than you do.
5- Set up ‘Google Alerts’ on all your published works. Some recommend using the title, some say to use several lines from your work, and others recommend using key words/phrases. Be sure to enclose lines, sentences, and other word groupings in quotation marks to get results that are more accurate in your notifications. This is not fail-proof, but it is a great way to track references to your work, as well as help protect yourself against content theft.
6- Get or stay involved in writing forums. Members are very good about protecting one another from the scammers and giving one another leads to great gigs. More than once, I have seen alerts about such fraudulent job postings just as I was getting ready to report them to the group. Having such a great group of writers to confer with has saved me enormous time and effort when it comes to weeding out the bad gigs from the good ones.

Resource:
Google Alerts

Best Sources for Finding Writing Work – Perpetual List

Last Update: January 5, 2009

Whether it is for magazines, newspapers, or other enterprises, there are some places where good job offerings for writers are compiled and listed on a daily or otherwise frequent basis.

This list will be updated as I collect more great sources of job listings. A permanent link to this list is in the sidebar for your convenience.


1-Freelance Writing Jobs
www.freelancewritinggigs.com

Daily listings of work each weekday, plus “Monday Markets” listing of magazine writing opportunities. During the week, Deb and the others on her team post information related to freelance writing and blogging, as well.

2-Accentuate Services
http://www.accentuateservices.com/xmb/forumdisplay.php?fid=3

Frequently updated list of paid writing gigs, primarily magazines. Site wide challenges, contests, and forums. Michy is a published author, and also writes a blog for writers: Editing & Proofreading Hints & Tips.

3-All Freelance Writing Jobs
http://allfreelancewritingjobs.com/

Regularly updated list of job leads, with a key to help you discern if its right for you or not. Also on the site are great articles by Jennifer, who has recently published a very helpful ebook for web writers.

NOTE: I got to preview the book, and it is fabulous! I am very picky when it comes to spending money on books, and I would buy this one. As a pre-viewer I got a free copy, though I forgot about that and was ready to buy one until I was reminded of that fact! *laugh*


4- Freelance Writing at About.com.
http://freelancewrite.about.com/

Guide Allena Tapia complied a 5 part listing of places to look for freelance writing work. Her section on about.com may be subscribed to and is a fabulous resource for freelance writers. Here are her job listing links:

Part 1:http://freelancewrite.about.com/od/freelancejobresources/tp/Freelance-Jobs.htm

Part 2: http://freelancewrite.about.com/od/freelancejobresources/a/FreelanceJobs.htm

Part 3: http://freelancewrite.about.com/od/freelancejobresources/a/Jobsthree.htm

Part 4: http://freelancewrite.about.com/od/freelancejobresources/a/FWJ4of5.htm

Part 5: http://freelancewrite.about.com/od/freelancejobresources/a/FWJ5.htm?nl=1

For 2009, she added more leads (non-repetitive) that she will add to the others. For now, here are her new leads: http://freelancewrite.about.com/b/2009/01/02/freelance-writing-job-leads.htm?nl=1

5-Online Writing Jobs
http://www.onlinewritingjobs.net/

Robert is a freelance writer who is providing this free review service for other freelance writers. He reviews places that buy content and posts the reviews on his site. Other great information is available there as well, including how to make $300 in one day with writing. He later posted proof of those payments.

If you know of any more top-notch writing gigs boards, blogs, or websites, please let me know so they may be included in this list.

Two Quotes for Writers

Yesterday, I got a message from a fellow writer who is participating in NaNoWriMo. It really struck a chord with me in general, but especially as a writer.

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” ~Mark Twain. (Thank you, Michy!)

The other is part of a song I love. I think anyone who writes will be able to relate to the sentiment. I've included the music video so, as she sings in the song, you can 'sing it if you understand'.

“2 a.m. and I’m still awake, writing a song
If I get it all down on paper, it’s no longer inside of me,
Threatening the life it belongs to.
And I feel like I’m naked in front of the crowd
‘Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud
And I know that you’ll use them, however you want to.”
~Breathe (2 a.m.) by Anna Nalick

The message of both is that you have to grow a thick skin to be a writer because there will always be naysayers and critics around you trying to belittle you and twist your words around.

The hope in both is that you can adopt an attitude that will allow you to withstand all of that, and succeed in your dream of writing.

And, like the song says, remember along the way to "BREATHE".

Hang in there. You can do it!

NaNoWriMo – Annual November Writing Challenge

National Novel Writing Month is an annual challenge designed to motivate fiction writers to get a book written. The challenge begins on November 1 and ends on November 30. The rules are simple: the book must be written during that time – not before and not after. In thirty days, each participant is challenged to come up with a 50,000 word rough draft of a fictional novel from scratch.

Awards are given to all those who complete the challenge, and some NaNoWriMo novels have actually been published later on. The biggest benefit of the challenge is getting the motivation to just write. The challenge is not about writing a perfect novel or even to upload perfect copy at the end. The point is to write.

There is no fee to participate, though donations to the cause are always appreciated. To find out more, check out the home page for NaNoWriMo, the What is NaNoWriMo page, the How it Works page, and the FAQs page. Please note that in the official word count process, your work is not retained in any way. You just have to temporarily input it in order to register your word count with the site. Instructions for how to ‘scramble’ your temporary input will be forthcoming (from the site – to those who register to participate).

I participated last year, but did not get much done as I found about it after it had begun. This year I have been waiting for the start and will be scheduling in time for the challenge each day. I have a lot of fictional novel ideas floating around in my head, and its high time I put some of them to paper.

For those involved with Michy’s Accentuate Services (free writer site with job leads, tips, and more), Accentuate has begun a fund-raising drive for NaNoWriMo. If you would like to donate via Accentuate’s drive, or if you would like to help spread the word, please check out the information page at Accentuate.

By the way, if 50,000 words sounds overwhelming think of it in these terms:

A typical web writing assignment is 500 words. 100 such articles (a little over 3 a day) equals 50,000 words. When writing your own story with your own words and knowledge, 1,500 – 2,000 words a day flies by.

Earlier this year I was hired to write one chapter of a book. The word count the publisher gave me for one chapter: 10,000 words. 50,000 words is approximately 175 pages or 5 chapters. That is not very long. If you feel overwhelmed, remind yourself that you are not writing War and Peace or one of the Harry Potter books. *grin*

Tips:
If you use Microsoft Word to write, be sure to turn on the ‘Spell check’ and ‘Grammar Check’ features in order to quickly proofread your work.

To check your own word count more easily in Microsoft Word, check out my How-to for adding a word count button on your MS Word toolbar.

Life happens. For some, setting aside the same amount of time every day, at the same time of day is the way to be most committed and effective for completing the challenge. For others, the most effective and least discouraging way is to just write as much as they can whenever they can. Do what works for you. It is not a competition against anyone but yourself. Undertaking this challenge – whatever the results – will be a rewarding experience in many ways for anyone who dreams of writing a fictional book.

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Book Review Templates

Photo © Sarah Sturtevant Whether by assignment or choice, writing book reviews can be a fun way to earn some income as a freelance writer. The site or company you are writing for may have their own template or format for your review. If so, their template trumps any other you may be using.

If there is no template, or if you are writing a book review you will try to sell, there are places that offer free book review template advice.

It is important to note that a book review is very different from a book report. Though I have read some reviews of books and other media that contain spoilers and give away endings, unless requested or noted in the beginning of the review, it is best to avoid giving away the ending or revealing the entire plot line in a book review.

Below I have linked to a few places with templates and advice for writing book reviews. Please review them and use the one you like best, or create your own from the information you find:

Writing with Writers offers a step-by-step approach from an experienced book reviewer.
Tips for writing a book review - From Los Angeles Valley College Library
Book review structure guide from University of Washington at Tacoma
The OWL at Purdue guide for writing a book review
Quick Tips from Writing-world.com for how to write a book review
Suggested elements to be included in a book review
10 Step Process for Writing a Book Review
About.com Classic Literature Guide's steps for writing a literary review
Writing a book review with SEO in mind

For more information and ideas, read some book reviews online and in print. Use the ones you like best as your template for how to format a review and what to cover.

Online book reviews from Bookreporter.com
New York Times Book Reviews

Finally, I cannot remember or locate where I got the information or from what sources I compiled it, but the template I personally use is shown below.

Book Review Template Used by Daniella Nicole

Title:
Author:
Place Published:
Publisher:
Publication Date:
Edition:
Pages:
Special Features:
Price:
ISBN:

Introduction

Body of the Review

Rating/impression and why

Author background

Conclusion/summary

Have a template you prefer or would like to share? Please tell us about it in the comment section.

Welcome Back to Beginning Write!

Photo © Chance Agrella


After a hiatus, Beginning Write is back with a new look and new information. I can't guarantee regular posts, but I promise to blog about and list the best information I can find to help freelance writers. I will share personal experiences, thoughts, and opinions related to my life as a freelance writer as well.

This blog is not a daily newsflash kind of blog. This is a reference source for writers kind of blog. The information in this blog will be evergreen as much as possible, and I will be updating information as needed.

A few things I will be adding to Beginning Write will be sources of additional great freelancing info, job lead sites, and a compilation of 'content mills' that are legit. I will also be adding information about SEO, how to set your rates, taxes, contracts, monetizing your sites/blogs, grammar, punctuation, style guides, spelling, writing tips, and much more.

So, please pour yourself a tasty beverage, kick back, and enjoy! Your comments, thoughts, opinions, and questions are always welcome - unless they are inappropriate, spam, rude, or otherwise deemed crap not fit for print. ;-)