The freelance issues are always my favorite and very near and dear to my heart. Before becoming an editor and publisher, I was a six-figure freelancer working in brand advertising. Over the years, my passion project consumed me, and I let my freelancing take a backseat. But recently, I realized something; I miss the challenge of working with clients on innovative projects. I miss the chase, the pitch, and pushing my creativity to new bounds. I miss working with people from all walks of life. (I also miss the money!) So I’ve made a decision to get back into it, but so many things have changed over the past six years—especially technology and contacts—that I realize I have to pretty much start from scratch. That means back to basics: building a portfolio, researching markets and planning a strategy, probably taking on some pro bono work in the sector I want to reach, networking with fellow freelancers and potential clients, and creating a daily routine for not only my creative and marketing time but my health and non-writing related activities as well. So I’m glad this issue came along to help me. I’m certain it will help you, too. MORE >>

Whether you are looking to boost your income or work on your craft, we know that education is an important part of a writer’s career. That’s why WOW! handpicks qualified instructors and targeted classes that women writers will benefit from. All of the courses operate online and are taught one-on-one with the instructor. The flexibility of the platform allows students to complete assignments on their own time and work at their own pace in the comfort of their own home. Visit the classroom page and check out our current line up of workshops: fiction writing, writing for children, screenwriting, creativity, memoir, personal essay, grammar, food writing, freelance writing, novel writing, finding a literary agent, blogging, social networking for authors, independent publishing, and more. MORE >>

You can’t get published or win writing projects without providing a portfolio, but you can’t build a portfolio without clips: a catch-22 for many new writers. Beyond grammar, punctuation, and syntax, writing quality is subjective. Previous work proves your prowess. Some writers complete projects for free or turn to content mills to get published. While donating writing to a charitable cause you care about can give you experience and help a good organization, it may not hold as much weight when trying to get paid work. Writing for content mills can actually hurt your reputation, as it casts you as desperate enough to work for three cents an hour or so. Fortunately, you can break into writing without a huge portfolio of impressive work, and you won’t have to give away work either. Deborah Jeanne Sergeant shows you how. MORE >>

“Write what you know.” Veteran writers gave me this advice from day one. To prove their point, they showed me sales they had made writing about things they knew a great deal about. These included hobby-based articles published in gardening magazines, boating journals, and genealogy newsletters. One writer even had a book in a nonfiction educational series. She got the contract to write it because of her day job as a nurse. Other writers had parenting and family essays and pieces on faith and spirituality. Obviously, they had all found ways to use their day jobs, hobbies, and other things they cared deeply about to make sales. What I didn’t realize until later was that none of them had published any articles on writing, although it was as important to them as everything else. There are a wide variety of publications and websites that need writers who can explain what they do to other writers. Why shouldn’t you be the one doing the explaining? Sue Bradford Edwards shows you how to break into this lucrative market. MORE >>

If you are interested in sharing your spiritual side, consider writing for Busted Halo, an online magazine for spiritual seekers. Rebecca Gallo interviews editor-in-chief Barbara Wheeler about the site’s mission, what they are looking for, and how to pitch. Rebecca also shares her personal story of how she became a blogger for Busted Halo (without any clips except her blog!). You’ll also find writer’s guidelines and advice on what not to pitch. MORE >>

Living a healthy freelance life means being a well-rounded writer in all areas of your life—both personally and professionally—and nurturing your health and well-being. These three articles will help you do just that. In Freelancers: Shed Your Pajamas and Share Your Passions, Charlene Oldham interviews expert freelancers Kelly James-Enger, Lisa Jackson, and Christie Ison to find out how getting out of their comfort zones and into the real world improves their writing, their productivity, and their lives. In The Renaissance Writer, Devon Ellington explains why you don’t have to find your niche to do well as a freelance writer. In Put the FREE Back in Freelance: Becoming a More Sustainable Writer, Suchi Rudra shows you how to cut costs and streamline your work, so you can work less and still live a comfortable, free, and healthy life. MORE >>

Author Peter Benchley described freelancing this way: “The freelance writer is the person who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.” While some writers may dream of earning a dollar for each word they place on paper, Seattle freelancer Carol Tice puts her money where her words are, cashing in with a six-figure income and landing top-tier clients. Carol’s work has appeared in many publications, including Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, In These Times, Daily Variety, Seattle Homes & Lifestyles, Today’s Careers, Utne Reader, Nation’s Restaurant News, L.A. Business Journal, and Seattle Business Journal. She’s also nabbed copywriting gigs with Dun & Bradstreet, Lending Tree, CBS, American Express, and Costco. How does she do it? And, why did she decide to share her secrets with other writers at her wildly popular blog, Make a Living Writing? LuAnn Schindler interviews Carol to find out the secrets of her success. MORE >>

Did you read those Choose Your Own Adventure books as a child? I sure did. I enjoyed making decisions and being the master of the character’s destiny; but even more than that, I enjoyed the ability to go back and start new if something went awry. Freelance writing is just like that. And this characteristic of the career—the ability to adapt and try out different “adventures”—is pertinent to you, whether you’re an author looking to take your first crack at freelance writing or an experienced, professional journalist ready to see what else is out there. Allena Tapia explores five different pathways and tells you what qualifications you will need, what competition to expect, and what steps you will need to take to embark on your adventure. MORE >>

Few writers would exclude personal writing from their repertoire, but many have no idea how to turn their personal experiences into cold, hard cash. With a few easy pointers, though, you can learn how to mine your personal experiences and spark ideas from everyday life situations, which will yield plenty of opportunities to expand your sales. Lisa Tiffin shows you how! MORE >>

I don’t know about you, but home and garden markets constantly inspire me, and not just with writing ideas. As I flip through the pages, I bookmark every interesting home and unique DIY project I can find, envisioning them in my future home. (Sometimes, I pretend to already live there, especially when my storage-locker-sized apartment starts getting to me!) Krissy Brady interviews five editors of home and garden publications to find out what they are looking for and how to pitch. MORE >>