If you want to make money as a travel writer, being hosted or going on a famil (where you get to stay, travel or experience activities for free) is almost a necessity. Writing compelling requests to tourism bodies, PR agencies or other operators to ask for hosting is crucial.
When I went to write up this post, I opened my spreadsheet to check how many pitches I sent out for April and I was shocked.
Oh how I love blogs written by, and for, freelance writers. These blogs are so good that I almost can’t believe they are giving away their content and wisdom for free.
Some of my highest paying clients have come through LinkedIn. A couple of times I’ve spotted these opportunities while ‘passively’ scrolling, but I’ve also had great success in reaching out directly to people who commission freelance writers. In this post I share how I landed one gig that paid $2/word.
I was feeling a bit flat at the end of February. I hadn’t hit my monthly income target and even though I had potential for recurring income, clients were taking a while to get back to me and things were dragging. But three months into the year, I’m starting to recognise a pattern.
I have always been a big reader, but since having kids there is no longer a stack of books next to my bed. Rather, my iPhone memory is almost full from all the writerly podcasts I subscribe and listen to.
A lot of freelance writers say their dream is to be a columnist. I asked three of Australia’s best-known columnists to spill the beans on how they landed their regular gigs, how column writing differs from feature writing and what advice they would give to freelance writers who dream of having their very own regular space to rant, review or reflect.
I sent out a lot of pitches in January (24 to be exact) and was waiting on quite a few responses from editors. But I didn’t quite get the responses I was expecting.
There aren’t too many people telling the stories of rural Australia the way Kate Stark does. As she says, “My focus is on telling the stories of agricultural Australia and I think there is certainly a growing thirst for knowledge … people want to know more about where their food comes from, whether that be for health reasons or simply because they are willing to be more mindful about agricultural impacts on the earth.”
During interviews with case studies I often find myself in the middle of a fascinating conversation. Often, though, the topic is nothing to do with what I’m writing about and we have veered off from our original subject to something else the interviewee is passionate about. For many years I just wrote those conversational titbits off as interesting distractions during the interview. But recently, I’ve changed my tune.
I am the first to admit that I have never been a fan of spreadsheets. As a writer, my comfort has always sat firmly with words rather than with numbers. But in December last year I decided to try something new.
I always love reading about how many pitches other writers send out each month, how many commissions and how many rejections. So here it is. My month laid bare.
About how to write fabulous articles for publications you love? What about strategies on how to earn great money from content writing?
Weekly emails on what’s working right now for freelance writers who are writing for magazines, newspapers and corporate clients.
We acknowledge the Traditional Aboriginal Owners of the land we work on – the Dja Dja Wurrung. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and to the ongoing living culture of Aboriginal people. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land. 💛🖤❤️
