Tag Archives: freelance markets

Five Story Ideas To Sell In Overseas Freelance Markets

freelance writing overseas marketsIn a previous post, Yolander Prinzel mentioned selling freelance writing work to overseas markets. But how exactly do you DO that? It all starts with a good story idea, and here are five you can adapt and pitch to overseas editors:

Write destination travel pieces for European magazines on stateside destinations

–Pitch overseas magazines on expat topics such as getting American work visas, immigration issues and how to stay legal while in the USA.

–Write comparison/contrast articles on the diversity of American cuisine compared to overseas fare, diverse or homogenous.

–Do some research and compare a common experience such as going to the theater with the same experience in a foreign country. For example, in certain parts of Iceland, movie theaters have an intermission for every film because small theaters don’t have multiple projectors. Contrast that with rural “dollar theaters” and the massive 25 screen cineplexes..amazing!



And finally, compare old, famous travel writing with your experiences or those of someone you can interview. Think Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London, and compare notes with the modern-day equivalent. It’s both literary and hip, sure to please a well-read editor.

Selling Your Seasonal Freelance Articles

If you are trying to sell articles for print publication (as opposed to the web, naturally),  the accepted wisdom found in every book about freelance writing and how to get your articles published in magazines is pretty basic. Many publications want your Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s-themed pieces well in advance. Usually when there is still suntan lotion being passed around.

It’s pretty common in the magazine publishing world to have an editorial calendar worked up six months in advance, but those who are just now starting to think about writing seasonal stuff do have an option for writing and publishing now. Last year Catherine and I sold a holiday piece to an alternative news weekly only weeks away from the Thanksgiving holiday.

Alternative news weeklies are often starved for good material from local writers and you may find yourself able to sell your holiday stuff now if you act quickly. With Turkey day so close at the time of this writing, you’re better off trying to hit the December holidays now, but don’t hesitate to try out your local newsprint options and see what you come up with.

My Freelance Writing Secret Weapon For New Markets

How does a writer expand a portfolio into new subjects with little or no expertise? If you are primarily a music journalist, but want to break into medical writing, how do you take that first step? Here’s my secret for branching out into other areas. It’s so simple you’ll wonder why you never thought of it before. Continue reading My Freelance Writing Secret Weapon For New Markets