Freelancing and identifying yourself to sources

Ace · Oct 13, 2010

friend of the friendless said:

Mr Ace,

Ace said:

I am just wondering what type of uncommissioned freelance work you are pondering.

If you are a well-known writer or expert in a field, that's one thing.

But if you are trying to write a story then sell it to a newspaper, good luck.

Not to be cruel, but we have almost no interest in stories freelancers try to pitch.

I would be more receptive to a story PITCH.

As an editor, I would feel more comfortable giving some instructions and guidelines beforehand than being handed something I didn't ask for, don't have room for and probably don't want to pay for.
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That's the advice I always give but I didn't take it myself. The first magazine story I ever sold, 2500 words, I wrote on spec, had never talked to the editor, just sent it in and said that I was just following up on an earlier conversation we had. He called me back to say he was buying it (princely sum of 1K) but was trying to remember when we talked.

YHS, etc
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You are quite the rascal.

friend of the friendless · Oct 13, 2010

Mr Typist,

Clerk Typist said:

friend of the friendless said:

Mr Ace,

Ace said:

I am just wondering what type of uncommissioned freelance work you are pondering.

If you are a well-known writer or expert in a field, that's one thing.

But if you are trying to write a story then sell it to a newspaper, good luck.

Not to be cruel, but we have almost no interest in stories freelancers try to pitch.

I would be more receptive to a story PITCH.

As an editor, I would feel more comfortable giving some instructions and guidelines beforehand than being handed something I didn't ask for, don't have room for and probably don't want to pay for.
Click to expand...

That's the advice I always give but I didn't take it myself. The first magazine story I ever sold, 2500 words, I wrote on spec, had never talked to the editor, just sent it in and said that I was just following up on an earlier conversation we had. He called me back to say he was buying it (princely sum of 1K) but was trying to remember when we talked.

YHS, etc
Click to expand...

Nifty stickhandling there, Friend. Did you ever 'fess up?
Click to expand...

Not even when I became associate editor. Some people ask, "What would Jesus do?" I always ask, "What would Jim Rockford do?"

YHS, etc

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Freelancing and identifying yourself to sources

Ace Well-Known Member

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Freelancing and identifying yourself to sources

Ace Well-Known Member

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