Still looking ....

Comment

Comment by Tim Ghianni on April 28, 2009 at 10:29am

Thanks Erik:
I have taken your advice and have actually gone directly to assigning editors. I'm scratching off from a list I'm keeping. I'm definitely interested in free-lance career. I actually prefer it, as long as I can get enough gigs. So far, I've been trying to peddle Nashville-flavored stuff outside Nashville. In other words, music and culture here. I have had limited success, but I think that can be changed. I also approached one of the big health-care outfits about writing consumer-friendly stuff for national distribution. I am beginning that next week. I'm just trying to put together pieces of an interesting puzzle. I appreciate your thoughts. I really didn't know if those "cattle call" ads were worth bothering ... Also, thanks for advice on health insurance. I worked through a broker to come up with a decent policy for my family that doesn't cost me as much, per month, as my old health insurance when I worked for Gannett. Thanks again. And if you have any contacts to spare, send them my way. I'm going to make this work.

Comment by Erik Sherman on April 28, 2009 at 7:27am

Sorry, that's assuming that you're interested in freelance work. (And, by the way, you can make at least as much, and possibly more, as a freelance than as on-staff.)

Comment by Erik Sherman on April 28, 2009 at 7:26am

The best way is not to look at writer needed ads - they are rarely the best money and you become part of a cattle call. The best way I've found is to directly approach assigning editors at publications (taken loosely, because that can be web sites, magazines, trade pubs, etc.), ask them how they work with freelancers, and then come up with story ideas that grab them. Think of it as working in-house and trying to sell an editor on a story idea you're particularly keen on.