The Renegade Writer Blog

Elaine Grant’s e-course Magazine Writing Basics starts on Monday, May 4.
If you’ve always wanted to write national magazine features but haven’t known how to get started – or if you’ve tried your hand at it and want to learn more – this course is for you. In Elaine’s course, you’ll learn about:

The various kinds [...]

It’s hard enough to get an editor’s attention…when you finally have it, don’t lose it! Here are some ways I stay in touch with my editors even when I don’t have an assignment.
1. Say Thanks
Whenever one of my articles hits the stands, I shoot a quick thank-you note to my editor. There’s always something to [...]

My buddy Jennifer Lawler has a great post on her Finding Your Voice blog called 7 Tips for Pitch Sessions with Editors and Agents. If you’re heading to a conference that includes those speed-dating-like pitch sessions, give this blog post a read. [lf]

1. You have the right to say no.
An editor asks you to write for exposure? “No.” A source asks to see your article before you turn it in? “No.” A friend keeps calling during your working hours because “you’re always free”? “No.” See how easy it is? You have the right to say no — [...]

One of my e-course students asked me how to know if an idea will fly before you start putting a lot of work into it. For example, say you come up with the idea “10 Reasons It’s Good to Be Bad,” about the benefits of letting your wild side show. Before you pitch, you need [...]

Every writer has had this happen: You send a query or letter of introduction (LOI) to X Magazine, and realize after you sent is that you left in a mention of Y Magazine, which you had pitched previously. This is frighteningly easy to do when you use standard LOIs or send queries to multiple magazines.
It [...]

In 2005, I spent a few fabulous days at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA. The next year, Diana and I got a free stay there when we gave a talk on magazine writing. I’d love to return for more spa treatments and wonderful dining, but it is pricey — and I mean really pricey.
Last [...]

Looking to boost your freelance career? The Renegade Writer has four courses starting this month and in early May:

The Travel Writing Workshop with Alison Stein Wellner starts on April 13.
Build a High-Paying Career with Trade Magazines with Pat Curry starts on April 20.
Get Published in Magazines with Linda Formichelli starts on April 13. If you [...]

When Linda posted her productivity tips last fall, we were shocked (shocked!) to discover how many freelancers put off showering during the day. It seems like a lot of you plop down at the computer in the morning and don’t look up until you can barely see the screen through your PigPen-like cloud of stink.
The [...]