11.03.08
Getting Published Without Writing Clips
Hi Freshman Writers! Today, we have a guest poster here at the Freshman Writer. My fellow AbsoluteWrite.com pal, Monica Shaw shares with you how to get your name in print without clips. What are they? Clips are your published works whether on-line or in print. But, enough from me. Monica is going to show you the ropes! Happy Reading! ~ Heiddi
Getting Published Without Writing Clips
This is a guest post by Monica Shaw. Monica is a freelancer writer and co-creator of Writer’s Residence, an online portfolio tool for writers. You can find more of her tips on writing at the Writer’s Residence weblog.
One of the biggest challenges in starting out as a freelance writer is getting your first article published. But to get published, you need show editors what you can do. How do you do that when you’ve never been published before?
Just because you don’t have any published clips or writing samples doesn’t mean disaster – we all have to start somewhere. Here are a few tips for dealing with clips in the early stages of your career.
Think again
If you want to be a freelance writer, chances are you’ve already some writing. Consider these possible sources for your writing clips:
- Letters to the editor
- Newsletters
- Business reports
- Technical manuals
- Website copy
- Sales letters
- Press releases
Write sample articles
Write a couple of articles in the genre you’d like to write for and be your own editor. Make sure these articles represent your best work and give them the same amount of attention you would to a paid article. Who knows, you might be able to sell them someday.
Publish online
Start a blog or offer to write guest posts on other people’s blogs. This is a great way to build up your portfolio and gain exposure to your work at the same time.
Write on spec
Pick your target publication and write an article as if you’d been given the job. Do research, get quotes, and follow the guidelines exactly. There’s no guarantee that the editor will buy it, but it can be a good way to get your foot in the door.
Go for small publications
Many small publications and local newspapers are more willing to take a chance on an unknown writer. You can also try pitching shorter pieces to magazines as fillers.
Query without clips
Don’t let a lack of clips keep you from pitching ideas. Simply write a great query and don’t mention clips at all. Instead, talk up other aspects of your experience that makes you right for the job. As always, play up your strengths and omit the weaknesses. Most importantly, keep writing!
Writer’s Residence Blog » Blog Archive » Getting Published Without Writing Clips said,
November 4, 2008 at 3:54 pm
[...] find out, check out my guest post at The Freshman Writer, a blog for new freelance writers. My article, Getting Published Without Writing Clips, features a [...]
monica said,
November 4, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Thanks for featuring my article, Heiddi! Hope it helps.
Heiddi Zalamar said,
November 4, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Monica,
Thanks so much for being a part of this! I’m sure my readers will love it. I sure did.
Please come back soon!
Tumblemoose said,
November 5, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Monica,
Great post. When a new writer is paging through Writer’s Market, or stumbling through pro writing advice blogs it’s very easy to be intimidated. There are so many “Thou Shalts and Shalt Nots.” All of it is advice – not gospel.
I agree with you. If you’ve got no clips, just get out there and query with your best stuff. Local venues are great stepping off points. Pay attention to the publications in your community and you will find one that will accept an article from you. Many of those small publications are single person operations and the editor/writer/accountant/dishwasher/dog polisher there would probably love the break.
I know that Writer’s Residence does portfolio pages as well. I think it’s never too soon to put together a portfolio even with minimal things to add at first. Your portfolio will grow and so will your career.
Cheers!
George
Heiddi Zalamar said,
November 6, 2008 at 12:21 am
George,
Thanks for visiting the Freshman Writer. Monica’s post was a great one for beginning writers. She kept it simple and straight to the point.
As for the portfolios, I think every writer needs one. Maybe that’ll be the next post.
Please come again soon.
Heiddi
moth said,
November 6, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Great article! I have a question though — you mention letters to the editor as possible sources for clips. I thought those didn’t count as pub credits…? But believe me I’d be thrilled if they did, since that would mean I already have three national bylines!.
I’d feel strange saying “I’ve been published in [national mag]” and then having only a letter to the editor to show if they ask to see the clip. You know? Is it ever okay to reference letters to the editor as a previous publishing credit?
Heiddi Zalamar said,
November 6, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Moth,
Thanks for visiting. I’m glad you enjoyed the article. As for letters to the editor, they count because they showcase your writing skills and interests. If that’s what you have, flaunt them I say. If you’re still unsure, try drafting sample articles of things that you want to write about and then add them along with your letters to the editor. These also show what your passionate about. Just go for it!
Come back again soon.
Heiddi
moth said,
November 7, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Really! Wow! I would never have thought. Very cool! Thanks Heiddi!
Heiddi Zalamar said,
November 7, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Not a problem, Moth. Please come back again to visit. Loved having you here.
Heiddi
monica said,
November 8, 2008 at 3:57 pm
I agree with George – it’s never too soon to start building a portfolio, even if you have to start with unpublished writing samples. Just get your work out there and show off what you can do! It’s all about having confidence and saying to the world “I am a professional writer and here is why you should hire me!”
Regarding letters to the editor, granted, many big publications won’t really take these too seriously, but many smaller publications will. Again, if it’s the choice between that and nothing, then a well crafted letter to the editor is a great sample. We all have to start somewhere. Once you’ve reigned in some assignments you can replace those samples with articles and such.
Glad you all enjoyed the post. Feel free to drop me a line if you have any more questions.
Kathryn said,
November 8, 2008 at 4:39 pm
Getting started seems to be the hardest step. If you do query without clips (and any query for that matter) be sure that you focus on your positives!
Heiddi Zalamar said,
November 9, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Monica,
You’re absolutely right about the portfolio. It only took me three years to build up the confidence and the absolute nerve to create one for myself.
Thanks again for the post. You’re amazing!
Heiddi
Heiddi Zalamar said,
November 9, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Kathryn,
Thanks for coming through. Getting started is the hardest step, especially for me. Because I sit there and think too much about whatever I want to start. Then doubt starts creeping in and keeps me from what I want. My portfolio and The Freshman Writer were both on my mind for a long time, but I plunged into them after going through a rough patch and needed the distraction. But, they’re here!
Thanks again for visiting.
Heiddi
Kate said,
November 16, 2008 at 2:54 pm
It was a blessing finding this blog. I used to not have any published clips (apart from those 2 essays I submitted 5 years ago). I’m also a beginning writer and have just started to get the ball rolling bit by bit. I didn’t have anything to show off so I just started submitting to Ezine, reviews to my college newsletter and blogged daily to use those to build up my portfolio. I also recently put up a portfolio page in my wordpress blog and used that in my query letter to a small local magazine. It worked and I was offered some writing assignments. I also recently did a guest post. To know more about these you can click on this link:
Writing Updates-My First Break in Getting Published . I also agree getting started is the hardest part because you don’t know what to do. To think a few months ago, I was not writing for anybody or even for my blog at all.
I’ll be coming back here for sure.
Heiddi Zalamar said,
November 16, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Kate, thanks for visiting. I’m glad that you find the site helpful. That was the purpose. To support freshman writers. I’ll check out your portfolio and blog. I’ll also add you to the roll. We writers have to stick together.
Way to go!
Take care and I’ll see you soon.
Heiddi
Writer’s Residence Blog » Blog Archive » What if My Writing Samples are Unpublished? said,
September 16, 2009 at 11:54 am
[...] For more ideas on writing samples, checked out a guest post I wrote for The Freshman Writer: Getting Published Without Writing Clips. [...]