With the magazine industry contracting, many of the freelancers I talk to are frustrated with the lack of response they’re getting from their queries.
Maybe it’s time to think about going back to where you started. I think most freelancers started out—as I did—writing for their local newspapers and city magazines. It’s absolutely the best way to learn to be a writer and reporter.
So while writing opportunities are drying up for freelancers who once relied on national magazines, you might find ample opportunity writing for city and regional publications you thought you’d outgrown. The fact is, the locals haven’t been as financially hard hit as the big national glossies.
I’ve found some great local gigs writing for pay that’s comparable to writing for national magazines. And the best part is, once you’ve established a relationship with your local editors, there’s really not much in the way of query writing. The ideas are often generated by the in-house staff and farmed out to a small stable of competent local freelancers the editors know can get the job done. And less query writing equals more time to spend on writing that pays.
City magazine editors want the local angle and someone who can carry off the voice of their city or region. These aren’t the kinds of stories an editor can ship out on elance.com.
You might even realize it’s refreshing to get out and chase down the local scoop and meet with sources over coffee.
Freelancers: Are you finding a ripe local writing market?
-Maria Schneider
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Excellent reminder!
Maria,
I do think this is a great idea. One question, though. Who do you send a query to, and is it different from say, a magazine query?
I sent a query to our local paper regarding an article idea and never heard back. I looked everywhere for some kind of writer’s guidelines and could find none. Chances are I sent it to the wrong editor?
George
Hi George,
You’re right, many local publications don’t have writers’ guidelines. I would simply pick up your city magazine and look at the masthead or call and ask the receptionist for the editor’s name and contact info.
Hey Maria, there’s definitely some work available by going local, but most folks probably won’t be putting the down payment on the Jag (or even the Prius) from it. I’ve been writing some 500-word profiles for the local paper for the past 2 months: I either call the subject on the phone, or meet them in person, with some prepared questions. The interviews have taken between 30-45 minutes. If I call them, I record the call using Skype, saving the recording to my hard drive. In person, I use a microphone attached to an iPod, and then put the recording on my computer.
Then, I transcribe the hard-drive recording into rough notes, and then write it into a story. For that, I have been getting a peppy $100. I’ve been second-guessing myself for accepting such low pay, but they say they can’t pay more, so it’s a fair amount of work for not much compensation. I have written for a local magazine (which pays 5 times as much), but they’re a quarterly. At least I’ve been getting some other national magazine work…
Hi Tom,
Yeah, I don’t think I’d even bother trying to freelance for newspapers anymore. They’re struggling and they’ve always paid lower than magazines. I’d suggest looking around for local and regional magazines instead.
On another note, I’m fascinated with your interviewing via Skype. Would you be interested in writing a guest post about your interviewing techniques?
Maria
That’s a post I’d be very interested in reading.
Sure, that would be dandy. Give me a word count and I can probably get you something in a day or two. I presume you want to cover both the tech aspects and any interviewing issues related to using the tools?
Great Tom! Less than 600 words. I am interested in both the tech aspects and issues related to using the tools. Can’t wait to read it. I’m always curious about how other writer/journos handle interviews.