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Travel Writing

From pitch to published article – a behind the scenes look at travel writing

I recently received an email from a fellow writer saying they would love to see a post about freelance travel writing. More specifically, they wondered if I could share a timeline for what goes into getting a travel story commissioned. So I thought that rather than giving you an arbitrary timeline of what it generally looks like as a freelance travel writer, I’d pick a trip that I did last year to give you a sense of the time (and level of communication with editors and PRs) it takes from pitch to published article.

the 4 things you must include in a content proposal

Corporate Writing

The 4 things freelance writers must include in a content proposal

We’ve all heard that content is king. Nearly every business has a website and in order to creep up the Google rankings content needs to be updated regularly.

the best (free and paid) tools and apps for freelance writers

Business of Freelancing

The best (free and paid) tools and apps for freelance writers

I am definitely not someone who nerds-out on the newest freelance writing apps or writers’ organisational tools, but I have to say, there are a lot of super helpful (and easy to use) tools that can make a freelance writer’s life so much easier. In this post I’ve rounded up the best tools I’ve found for freelance writers – I use them all and they have saved me time, money or a mental breakdown (and at times, all three).

The 4 best rejections I’ve received from editors

I’ve been thinking lots about embarrassing moments and how many I have had in my (fairly short) writing career. I think it’s easy to see ‘successful’ writers and not see their backstory, where they have made mistakes or had challenges. Well, today I wanted to clear that up. I’ve unearthed the best (read: the worst) rejections I’ve had to pitches and stories. Because let’s face it, no one is perfect. And the truth is, it’s only a mistake if you don’t learn from it.

Travel Writing

Travel writing post COVID-19

When COVID first hit in early 2020, all my travel writing assignments fell over like dominos. I had a series of local, interstate and international trips lined up, commissioned and ready to go.

What makes a successful freelance writer? It comes down to ONE factor

Here’s the thing. There is one simple factor behind almost every successful freelancer. I’m yet to meet a freelance writer (or any freelance professional) whose business is thriving, who doesn’t have this thing. It’s not a tool or a qualification. It’s a quality. A characteristic. Something that you can hone and tune. Do you know what it is?

Business of Freelancing

“What’s your rate?” Answering the trickiest question in freelance writing

Sometimes when freelance writers are asked “What’s your rate?” it feels like a game where every answer is wrong. Here’s how to answer.

the most common mistakes writers make with letters of introduction

Corporate Writing

The most common mistakes writers make with letters of introduction

Letters of introduction (commonly called LOIs) can be intimidating for freelance writers. It can be hard to find the exact words to interest and entice potential clients. And if you don’t get many replies to your LOIs it’s easy to feel that no one wants your services and give up. But I’ve found that many of us are doing LOIs wrong. And what we should be doing instead is simple.

3 easy ways to get an editor’s attention (without being obnoxious)

You know those images in movies where someone wins the jackpot on a poker machine and it’s spitting coins out everywhere? That’s exactly how I think of an editor’s inbox. No matter what they do, the emails keep on coming, piling up on top of each other. So how can freelance writers get noticed amongst all the digital noise, get an editor’s attention and ensure our emails get opened?

get freelance writing work without pitching

Feature Writing

Get freelance writing work without pitching

When I started out as a freelance writer it never occurred to me that editors might one day come to me with articles they wanted me to write. In the past, I’ve had the occasional editor ask me to write a specific article for them. But this year, I’ve had multiple editors come to me over and over again with commissions.

science and environmental writing for freelancers 10 publications that pay well

Where to Pitch

Science and environmental writing for freelancers – 10 publications that pay well

It’s a great time to be a freelance writer who creates articles and content about science, the environment, climate change and conservation issues.

what makes an editor say yes to a pitch?

Feature Writing

What makes an editor say YES to a pitch?

There are lots of articles out there about how to pitch feature articles to magazine and newspaper editors, but recently I’ve been thinking about exactly what makes an editor say yes to a pitch. We all know that pitches usually need to include a timely, “newsy” angle or element. But one piece of advice I heard in a podcast episode made me sit up straight. It was where an editor spoke about the two crucial elements in any publication.

Want juicy, snackable emails?

And how about writing articles for publications you love? What about strategies on how to earn great money from content writing?

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I’m here to learn about

From pitch to published article – a behind the scenes look at travel writing

The 4 things freelance writers must include in a content proposal

The best (free and paid) tools and apps for freelance writers

The 4 best rejections I’ve received from editors

Travel writing post COVID-19

What makes a successful freelance writer? It comes down to ONE factor

“What’s your rate?” Answering the trickiest question in freelance writing

The most common mistakes writers make with letters of introduction

3 easy ways to get an editor’s attention (without being obnoxious)

Get freelance writing work without pitching

Science and environmental writing for freelancers – 10 publications that pay well

What makes an editor say YES to a pitch?

Want juicy, snackable emails?

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“What’s your rate?” Answering the trickiest question in freelance writing