Wanna Be A Freelance Writer?
These books might help you find your niche
Wanna be a freelance writer? Perhaps you need an inspiring book to kick-start your dream! Below are some writing books I’ve read. They’re full of useful hints and tips on how to succeed in freelance writing.
A Selection of Interesting Reads…
The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success
I love the approach of this book, which explains in a really honest, no-nonsense way, how the authors succeeded in freelance writing. I enjoyed the style so much, that when I came to write my own book on freelance writing, I endeavoured to emulate their style.
It’s frank, open, and hilarious in places, about the highs and lows of a writer’s life. The challenges of getting paid — I have a vague recollection of the writer camping outside her publisher’s offices! It was a while ago that I read it, so I’m not sure if that was just a suggestion or an actual event! It really is ridiculous, but in a fabulous way.
Be a Travel Writer, Live your Dreams, Sell your Features
I picked up this book because I was curious to find out if I could learn more on the art of travel writing, as a practising professional writer already. It’s aimed at beginners and gives some interesting examples of the diversity of travel writing.
It includes details of interviews the author has written after meeting people in foreign countries, and how she’s sold stories on poverty and abuse that she’s witnessed, as well as the beautiful places she’s seen.
She tells you to look for the unusual element, to make your story stand out, and gives examples. I would have liked to have seen more on the best opportunities for new entrants into travel writing. Interesting read.
Telling Life’s Tales: A Guide to Writing Life Stories for Print and Publication
I read this book out of curiosity mostly. It’s quite thorough, in that it covers how to tell your life story, how to help others tell their life stories, and how to approach these as topics for books, magazines, or other markets.
I liked the bits that encourage the reader to think beyond the story itself, to setting the scene and exploring what life was like at that time in history: the music, the style of clothes, the TV shows, games, lifestyles, and little things that people remember. They help bring a period to life.
The author explores how to conduct interviews, and different routes to publication, including self-publishing. For someone starting from scratch, this book could be a really inspiring.
On the downside, there were some annoying grammatical errors, that made me wonder what went wrong with the proof reading. On balance, it’s a good read for someone who’s interested in writing biographies, autobiographies, memoirs, real life tales for magazines, or indeed, any other form of life stories!
More from me…
