340 By-Lines in Less Than Two Years… Eight Savvy Techniques for Landing Repeat Assignments By Roy...

340 By-Lines in Less Than Two Years…Eight Savvy Techniques for Landing Repeat Assignments

By Roy Stevenson

AWAI’s Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop ● Denver ● July 2009

My Freelance StoryMy Freelance Story

• Attended this workshop in July 2007Attended this workshop in July 2007• Started writing September 1, 2007Started writing September 1, 2007• 340 articles accepted for publication as of July, 340 articles accepted for publication as of July,

2009 (less than 24 months)2009 (less than 24 months)• Different articles = 150Different articles = 150• Average of 3.7 articles/weekAverage of 3.7 articles/week


• Published in 72 MagazinesPublished in 72 Magazines• “ “ “ “ 20 e-zines/websites20 e-zines/websites• “ “ “ “ 4 Newspapers4 Newspapers• “ “ “ “ 1 In-flight1 In-flight• “ “ “ “ 1 Newsletter1 Newsletter• Published in U.S.A., Canada, Australia, Published in U.S.A., Canada, Australia,

New Zealand, England, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Ireland, South Africa and In-flightsSouth Africa and In-flights


• Generated $42,720Generated $42,720• Free articles = 100Free articles = 100• Paid for 240 articlesPaid for 240 articles• Average for each paid article = $178Average for each paid article = $178• Have made as much as $600 for writing Have made as much as $600 for writing

an article the first timean article the first time• Have made as much as $1800 after Have made as much as $1800 after

reselling the same article several timesreselling the same article several times

Why Do You Need Repeat Why Do You Need Repeat Assignments?Assignments? It’s easier to pitch a story to an editor you It’s easier to pitch a story to an editor you

“know”“know” Get to know editors so well they’ll take Get to know editors so well they’ll take

everything you send them.everything you send them.

Why Do You Need Repeat Why Do You Need Repeat Assignments?Assignments? Financial benefits are greater with repeat Financial benefits are greater with repeat

business business You have a better idea of your monthly You have a better idea of your monthly

incomeincome

Why Do You Need Repeat Why Do You Need Repeat Assignments?Assignments?• Your objective: get lots of editors wanting Your objective: get lots of editors wanting

your work your work

• You won’t have to seek out new You won’t have to seek out new magazines to querymagazines to query

• If you do a great job with your first article--If you do a great job with your first article--expect repeat businessexpect repeat business

• I’m running a 59% repeat rateI’m running a 59% repeat rate

How I Land Repeat How I Land Repeat Business…Business… in magazines in magazines in-flightsin-flights newspapers newspapers e-zinese-zines

Trick # 1: Pitch a New Article When Trick # 1: Pitch a New Article When You Submit a Completed One You Submit a Completed One

• This works over half the time for me This works over half the time for me (53% of the time)(53% of the time)

Trick # 2: Pick One Idea at a Trick # 2: Pick One Idea at a Time to Pitch to the Editor!Time to Pitch to the Editor! Only when you have completed your Only when you have completed your

previous pieceprevious piece Don’t bombard editors with several Don’t bombard editors with several

ideas--this overwhelms themideas--this overwhelms them They want to see you can complete an They want to see you can complete an

article article

Trick # 3: Demonstrate Trick # 3: Demonstrate Flexibility to the EditorFlexibility to the Editor

They might suggest a different slant on itThey might suggest a different slant on it My motto is “whatever the editor wants, My motto is “whatever the editor wants,

the editor gets”the editor gets”

Trick # 4: Deliver Your Articles Trick # 4: Deliver Your Articles on Time, and Well Writtenon Time, and Well Written

This gains the editor’s trustThis gains the editor’s trust I promise the article within three weeks, I promise the article within three weeks,

then deliver within two weeks or a few then deliver within two weeks or a few daysdays

Trick # 5: Keep the Editor Trick # 5: Keep the Editor Updated on Your ProgressUpdated on Your Progress

If you’re behind schedule, let the editor If you’re behind schedule, let the editor know--they appreciate thisknow--they appreciate this

It also lets them know you’re It also lets them know you’re conscientiousconscientious

Trick # 6: DonTrick # 6: Don’’t Play Games t Play Games with Editorswith Editors Be scrupulously honest when working Be scrupulously honest when working

with editorswith editors They do not have time to deal with high- They do not have time to deal with high-

maintenance writersmaintenance writers

Trick # 7: Always Ensure Your Trick # 7: Always Ensure Your Article is Well WrittenArticle is Well Written

Editors come to rely on a certain Editors come to rely on a certain standard from you. . . . .standard from you. . . . .

Don’t let them downDon’t let them down

Trick # 8: Multiple Submissions Trick # 8: Multiple Submissions = Multiple Acceptances= Multiple Acceptances

ALWAYS send multiple submissionsALWAYS send multiple submissions The main key to my success is The main key to my success is

aggressive use of multiple submissionsaggressive use of multiple submissions

Multiple Submissions…Multiple Submissions…

Boost your chances of getting an article Boost your chances of getting an article acceptedaccepted

If you don’t, you miss out on a huge If you don’t, you miss out on a huge market . . . .market . . . .

and waste a lot of time and waste a lot of time


Editors know freelancers pitch their work Editors know freelancers pitch their work to many magazines simultaneously…to many magazines simultaneously…

Encourages them to jump on your idea Encourages them to jump on your idea quicklyquickly


Amazing: “long shot” magazines have Amazing: “long shot” magazines have picked up my articles. . . picked up my articles. . .

Magazines I thought were dead certs Magazines I thought were dead certs completely ignored them!completely ignored them!


Create a list of potential magazines to Create a list of potential magazines to pitch your idea to. . . pitch your idea to. . .

Fire off your query lettersFire off your query letters

Want to know more about…Want to know more about…

• How I manage multiple submissionsHow I manage multiple submissions• Where I find the publications I pitch toWhere I find the publications I pitch to• How I write about topics I’m no expert inHow I write about topics I’m no expert in• And more…And more…

Join me for my next presentation…Join me for my next presentation…

Thank you!Thank you!

340 By-Lines in Less Than Two Years… Eight Savvy Techniques for Landing Repeat Assignments By Roy...

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