Includes index

Starting Your Career as a Freelance Writer, Third Edition, offers a step-by-step guide to launching a successful freelance career. For beginners and experts, full time or part time, Moira Allen explains everything freelancer writers need to know, including how to set up a home office, develop and pitch marketable ideas, approach editors and other clients, and prepare and submit material. In addition, readers will learn the business side of freelancing, such as how to deal with rights and contracts as well as how to manage income, expenses, and taxes

Introduction -- So you want to be a freelance writer -- Tools of a freelancer -- Making time to write -- Setting effective writing goals -- From idea to outline -- Exploring the markets -- How to write a successful query -- Creating your first draft -- Personal experience articles -- Conducting research on the web -- Conducting interviews -- Submission process -- Understanding rights and copyright -- Negotiating contracts -- Setting fees and getting paid -- Writing and selling a column -- Writing for newspapers, by Sue Fagalde Lick -- Selling reprints -- Adding photos to the package -- Writing for businesses, by Dawn Copeman -- Social media marketing for businesses, by Dawn Copeman -- Commercial freelancing: where's the money? -- Writing and selling a nonfiction book -- Establishing your online presence -- Social media for writers, by Gary McLaren -- Handling income and expenses -- Keeping records -- Five habits of the effective freelancer -- Full-time freelancing: taking the plunge -- Author bio/contributor bios