Asja Guide to Freelance Writing

Freelance journalists come together to offer advice on their solitary business in this handbook for working, and aspiring, writers. Each of the 26 chapters is penned by a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and their subjects range from how to stock a home office and how to hire an assistant to how to brainstorm new ideas. Lisa Collier Cool's essay on writing a successful magazine query brims with smart suggestions, as does Richard A. Marini's contribution on contracts and protecting your rights as a writer. Perhaps the most valuable part of the book is its appendix, which shares""Tips From the Pros."" Here's where Sondra Forsyth recommends,""Always finish a story two days before your deadline,"" and where Greg Daugherty counsels,""Aim high. Try the best-paying, most prestigious markets first. You may find, as I have, that you're rejected less often and simply treated better."" Though the great variety of voices sometimes makes for abrupt transitions and small contradictions, this advice-filled book successfully provides an enlightening guide to the field.