Advice? Know that you might not be able to ask for a kill fee from some. Ask in advance if there is one. Be okay with losing your spot in the news cycle if that happens. Because I had a full-time job, I mostly gave up on chasing the news cycle.
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The news cycle can be incredibly rewarding (that's how I have a freelance career to speak of, tbh) but it can be taxing, discouraging, and also not the best investment for a longer term career. A balance might be key. I try to strike it but mostly stay content with "evergreen"
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A bunch of newsletters like , have been helpful in keeping on top of open calls. Twitter is great for cold-pitching (but do not DM). I've only been reached out to like 3x. I have a spreadsheet of editors I like, or who have responded nicely to me!
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In addition to these articles, I made very decent money by contracting full-time, Feb-now (applied after reading a post in a Facebook group), and got two project-based contracts with Disney and a prod company (which I haven't been paid for yet).
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My contract gig as editor/producer with Oxygen has been incredibly rewarding; desk jobs are kind of great and I've made a bestie here. I found freelancing FT lonely so it's not a great match for my personality or lifestyle, rn. If I don't get out of the apartment, I cry a lot!
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(The lessons I've learned from writing full-time are incredibly valuable; it's interesting to have a "beat" assigned to you by a boss. I have so many more bylines than I've shared in this thread, all about crime and justice.)
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Major lessons from this half-assed freelance life:
- Social media is your friend for finding opportunities
- You don't have to self-promote on it, though
- The pitch should never be taken lightly
- Cast a wide net
- Be understanding of your editors
- Stress is not a good thing
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Twitter has been v diminishing returns for me of late! Who knows why!
But next year, I hope to:
- write more about tigers and feminism and lifestyle culture
- get deeper into this one WEB SERIES in development !!!
- fix up this awesome FOOD DOC idea i have
- be kinder
<3
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