The 25/50/25 Rule of Freelance Writing

In this issue, author and freelancer C. Hope Clark shares the 25/50/25 rule of freelance writing to increase income; plus, 100 common publishing terms and much more!

The 25/50/25 Rule of Freelance Writing

You've been submitting to a few places, and you've published a few pieces. This freelance writing business is intriguing, but you'd love taking it from hobby level to professional, so what is the answer?

Submit more often? Of course. Your goal is to increase your acceptance rate, and that takes more submissions. Let's say you do this for months, and you have some acceptances under your belt, but the income isn't quite what you hoped it would be.

(How Much Should Writers Charge Per Word or Per Project?)

You do have a few regular markets that provide steady income. It might not be the best income, but its reliable. They'll take almost anything you write, so you keep sending them pieces. They take up a major chunk of your time when you stay insanely busy writing, researching, and pitching. So busy, yet you can't break the ceiling of mediocre pay.

Let's visit the rule of 25/50/25 when it comes to pitching your talents.Read the full article...

Craft & Business of Writing

Washingtonian: Market Spotlight

Washingtonianis a monthly regional magazine for the Washington, DC, area. While the focus is regional,Washingtonianis a general interest magazine. Read More...

Lina Chern: On Loving the Process

"Figure out what makes writing fun for you and do that. If you know you want to write, but can't seem to get into a groove, it doesn't mean you're a bad writer, or weren't meant to do it. It just means you haven't figured out your own process yet." Read More...

Write a Poem-a-Day in April!

Get ready for the 16th annual April Poem-A-Day (PAD) Challenge! Each day in April, go to the WritersDigest.com home page and grab a new poetry prompt and poem along with poets from around the world. Read More...

Send Your Work to 2nd Draft Critique Services!
No matter your style or genre, Writer's Digest Shop offers a high-level view of your writing. Gain a critique of your manuscript, query letter, synopsis, and more! Click here to learn more >>

100 Common Publishing Terms

I've spent more than two decades in the publishing (and/or media) business now, working on everything from books to magazines to websites to databases to events and, well, whatever allows me to write and interact with other writers. Over time, it can be easy to forget that publishing has its own jargon that may not be familiar to people new to the business. Here's a list of 100 common publishing terms with definitions. Read More...

Robert Lee Brewer

Robert Lee Brewer is a senior editor for Writers Digest and former editor of the Writer's Market book series. He is also the author of Smash Poetry Journal and Solving the World's Problems. Find him on Twitter at @RobertLeeBrewer