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How to Write Stories People Will Read
And pay you to write
Are your experiences enough?
How I spent my morning isn’t interesting?
Real Information
Where do you find that?• The Internet, but …• News releases, but ... • Government websites, but ...• Organization websites, but ...• Experts, but …• News websites, but …
Real reporting is a lot of work, but it makes the difference between a story people will want to read and just another throwaway piece on the Internet.
If your mother says she loves you, check it out.
How to vet information
• Verify with multiple sources.• Consider the source. Is he in
a position to know? • Look for hard data. Analyze
the statistics. • Call and talk to real people
on the telephone.• Snopes.com
How to write with authority
Use details, drawn from both your experience and from factual material. Compare:• Home ownership is down since the recession
came.• Home ownership has declined from a high of
69.2% in 2004 to 65% today and is expected to fall to 64% in the next year.
Find the source
Use primary sources, not other blogs and other media. Compare:• According to USA Today, 90% of homes can
expect higher utility bills this winter.• According to the U.S. Energy Department's
annual outlook for heating costs, 90% of homes can expect higher utility bills this winter.
You can’t just paint some
writing on as a veneer.
-- Roy Peter Clark, writing coach
or some SEO
Who pays for good content?
Where can you sell your work?
• Blogs• Websites• Corporations• Newspapers• Magazines• Individuals
How much can you earn?
0 to $100,000-plus a year
Where can you learn more?• Freelance Success: Newsletter and forum for professional freelance
writers, $99 a year. http://freelancesuccess.com• Media Bistro. Market reports, classified, some free and some paid.
http://mediabistro.com• WordCount: Freelancing in the Digital Age blog.
http://www.michellerafter.com.• “Six-Figure Freelancing” and other books by Kelly James-Enger.• Mridu Khuller Relph, International Freelance blog:
http://www.mridukhullar.com/2013/10/first-year-of-freelancing/• “The Renegade Writer” by Linda Formichelli and DianaBurrell. Book and blog, http://www.therenegadewriter.com/• Local classes and writers’ groups
