It’s not always best practice to conduct email interviews as a freelance writer. But sometimes, for whatever reason, it’s what you have to do. Over the years, I’ve gleaned some great email questions that ensure you get fantastic quotes from case studies.

It’s the moment many freelance writers dread.

An editor asks if you’ve got any ideas you want to pitch.

A client wonders what you think would make a good article for their business blog.

Or you want to break into a dream publication, but your ideas have dried up.

So, where do freelance journalists and writers get their great ideas from?

And how can you ensure you have an endless supply of unique stories that editors will find irresistible?

This post shows you where all the best ideas are hiding ….

I know that moving from corporate writing to writing articles for magazines, newspapers and online outlets may seem like an unusual topic.

Especially given I’ve written so many posts about how freelance writers can find high-paying corporate work.

But a few months ago a lovely reader got in touch and asked if I would write about how to move from the corporate world and into pitching editors and writing feature articles.

So, how can corporate writers pitch magazine, newspaper and online editors?

This is the simplest and most effective way.

Last week’s post was about 3 reasons why freelance writers’ pitches to magazines and newspapers aren’t successful.

This week I want to do something different.

Rather than writing a post about pitching, I’m sharing a video of a pitch review.

I’m regularly asked by writers in my coaching sessions about how to pitch an article, what makes a successful magazine pitch, and why I think their pitches aren’t being commissioned.

This week you can watch me review a writer’s pitch.

This pitch is from an established Australian writer and author who was having trouble breaking into one of her favourite publications.

You’ll see (and hear) my process for reviewing her pitch, what I think works well and the things I think she needs to work on before she sends it.

I hum and hawed about what kind of post I would write this week given most of the world is in some kind of lockdown.

I wasn’t sure if freelancers needed another ‘how to survive/capitalise on Covid-19’ article (although can I just say, reaching out to your editors and corporate asking them if they need content is a good move – I picked up 5 stories last week doing this).

So I decided to write about what to do when an editor leaves their job.

But if you think it would be useful for me to write a post about ways to protect your career and places to pitch while there are so many unknowns, please let me know.

Okay, on with the post.

This may sound pessimistic, but I’m never really surprised when an editor moves on.

It’s an unavoidable part of life as a freelance writer. I’ve had a good run with editors lately, but when I first started freelancing it felt like every editor I worked with moved on after a couple of years. So while it can be incredibly frustrating and disappointing when an editor finishes up with a publication, the editor’s departure actually offers some big opportunities for freelance writers.

This is how you can prepare for the inevitable.

Is it wrong for freelance writers to pitch the same story idea to multiple publications?

There are a couple of gigs in the writing world that seem to have universal appeal – travel writing and food writing. Getting paid to eat – what could be better?!

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.

If you’re a feature writer contributing to magazines or newspapers, the chances are that you might be feeling pretty bummed by the current state of media affairs (unless you’re a travel writer). There was an article in The Guardian recently (sparked by the closure of Marie Claire’s print edition in the UK) about ‘how the British fell out of love with magazines’, and the collapse of newspapers in Australia has been predicted for years. But in the last little while I’ve seen a striking trend. One that offers real hope for freelance writers.