I received a newsy email from a writing friend this morning. She told me about some interesting assignments she had lined up and it reminded me of how much fun freelance writing can be.
As most of you know, it has been a little while since I’ve been in the freelance article-writing trenches. And sometimes I really miss the occasional excitement. It seems that I had a lot more to talk about in social settings when I was writing for magazines.
You see, when you do freelance work, it is up to you to come up with the article ideas. Generally, writers will pursue articles on topics of their interest and this can certainly result in some fascinating encounters.
I once photographed two unusual and rare Pallas cats at the Denver Zoo from INSIDE the cage for an article for Cats Magazine. I’ve observed up close and personal how birds of prey are trained. I have interviewed some fairly high profile professionals in a variety of professions over the years—a former Miss America, a couple of world class public speakers, several widely-known artists, some amazing inventors and other interesting people.
Just think about it, as a freelance writer, if you want to try sailing, you can plan an article about the upsurge in sailing locally and, perhaps, get a free sailing lesson as part of your interview. If you love to hike, hook up with an avid hiker on his next trek into a particular wilderness and then write about it. Maybe you have an interest in gourmet cooking. Arrange to sit in on one of her classes and you’ll get material for a story while learning some culinary techniques you can use at home. I once learned how to make a living wreath (planted with live plants) because I was writing about the process for a magazine.
Are you interested in knowing more about dating services? Find a magazine that wants an article on the subject and then see if the directors will let you try the service for free so you can report on it in a more personal way. Suggest a piece on the summer hot air balloon festival in your area to an appropriate magazine and you might get a complimentary ride up, up and away. A local magazine might be interested in an article featuring people who ride the rails (use train travel). This assignment would surely get you a free pass to the next town and back.
Are you getting bored with your mundane writing life? Spice it up by writing about some of the things that excite you and then go in search of the opportunities to experience them. What would create excitement in your life? Scuba diving, watching a famous artist at work, spending the day on a movie set, interviewing a well-known philosopher, doing a few celebrity interviews, going to a dude ranch, taking a ballroom dancing lesson or volunteering at a cat rescue or wild animal rescue facility? Come up with a slant for an article on the subject, present it to an appropriate magazine and maybe you’ll get some opportunities that will spice up your life.
I will be gone most of the next week. I’m not sure how many times I’ll come home to check email or if I’ll have internet access at the beach house where I’ll be vacationing with family. So I may not add to this blog for as long as a week. I hope I am missed.