So, there seems to be a bit of a debate on the “Freelancing Insecurities” post regarding how much is appropriate to charge for writing services. It started with a new comment on an old post where someone said that she makes $100 for a 500-word SEO articles. Some people have congratulated her. Some people have been a bit skeptical. Some people seem to have called “B.S.â€
One interesting thing that has come out of the situation, though, is this discussion about writing for print media versus writing for the web. This issue actually goes back a long way for us. I seem to recall that it was the end of 2007 when we did a review of Men with Pens’ Write for the Web: A Beginners Guide to Writing on the Internet. It was probably around that same time that our friend Allana Tapia first started (lovingly) harassing…I mean encouraging…us to get into print media.
We’ve heard Allena’s arguments, most of which revolve around money, and I,, especially have been nearly seduced. (Tamara’s more interested in becoming a fabulous romance novelist.) In addition to potentially higher pay, being published in a magazine is one of those things that I always thought would make me feel more like a “real†writer. Until I really became a freelance writer, my ideas of what it entailed were a lot different. I expected to be querying editors and getting form-letter rejection notices from Reader’s Digest and Vogue.
What I found, however, was web writing. I mean, it was just sort of there. Bidding on several jobs on Guru seems a whole lot easier than trying to write just as many pitch-perfect query letters. Just the thought of truly using my Writer’s Market for its intended purpose is enough to give me heart palpatations. Here are the reasons I have mostly avoided print media up until now:
- It seems much more time consuming to get a gig.
- The gigs seem way more competitive.
- A magazine article would take way more work than a lot of the web writing we do.
- Magazine editors expect you to come up with your own ideas.
- Narrowing down the markets is overwhelming.
- You can’t get the gig without already having good published clips.
I have to say that those are all fairly compelling reasons, although, this whole discussion about money has made me feel like I need to look at them more critically. Are they reasons, or are they excuses? I suspect there’s a little of both.
So, I’m looking to you folks. What kinds of experiences have you had with print media? Has it been worthwhile, or was it more work than it was worth? Do you have any words of wisdom to share with the rest of us?
I’m going to try to revisit this topic a little more often, as we tend to mostly focus on the web writing stuff. I did actually get a few print pieces published in the last few months, so I suppose I have a little experience to share on the subject. Still, I know there are Freelance Parent readers who know way more about the subject than we do. Let’s hear from you folks!
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Christina Lemmey is the mother of two school-aged girls, a wife, and the owner of 
I’ve tried it and it’s not for me. Like you say, it’s a thankless, ungrateful task to even get something published. Magazines I’ve dealt with have rude editors and a lofty attitude. Getting published happens, but it takes months. The amount of work that goes into the article is ridiculous compared to the pay rate.
I’ll admit. Getting paid a few hundred bucks for a page of story sounds great. When you calculate everything you had to do to actually get your work out there, seen, read and enjoyed…
No way. Sorry.
I’ll take web work any day, where thousands of people read and enjoy my content – even what I write for free. It puts the joy back into writing and removes the thankless aspect of trying to be someone special for a little bit.
And the quality? Sorry, but I like to think that web work and print publishing is on equal footing. I’m not talking about the crappy work out there. But when I write a book like the Ultimate Freelancer and then pay for a print book on Amazon and compare the difference in information…
No.
I’ll stick with my web work. Thanks.
James Chartrand – Men with Penss last blog post..Freelancers Aren’t as Green as They Think
I’ve actually done some freelance work for print. I’ve enjoyed it, but mainly because I haven’t had to do much pitching. I write a column for the local newspaper, and I’ve occasionally helped an editor acquaintance of mine with some front of the book stuff at Discover. I will say, though, that writing FOB stuff for a major magazine pays better than writing almost anything for the Web — but it is more demanding.
Oh boy, you’ve asked this on a bad day for me. I’ve been busting my ass trying to get into print and have spent most of today pitching. I’ve a had a few pieces published, one in a national paper, but so far it’s been rough stuff. Definitely not enough to live on as of yet. Still, it’s my dream I guess – I like writing articles based on my own ideas. Web work just seems much more formulaic and dry. Granted my only experience looking for web work is surfing Elance and reading the posts on freelancewritingtips. You mentioned Guru… you reckon its worth paying for?
monicas last blog post..Find Success in a Subpar Economy: Capitalize on Trends
Perhaps my thought is a bit off topic, but we are seeing such convergence of media that the differences are declining dramatically. I am and will be focusing on the web because it is fast becoming THE major delivery system of all media.
Notice Steve Pavlina the major print publishers noticed that he was running one of the most successful blogs on the internet and they came to him with an offer for a book. And his book hit Amazon’s best seller list BECAUSE of his blog BEFORE the printing was finished. Stories like this are happening more and more. I personally think that as writers our root strategy should be write great stuff and get it out there. And do it again and again.
I’ve written for both print and the web. I’ve been a full-time writer for a print publication and for a web publication, and I’ve worked as a freelancer for both types, too.
And I think y’all are right on about the pros and cons. Print publications often do pay better, although that often depends on the size of the magazine and its subscription base. But it does seem harder to break into that niche, and pitching stories can be a huge time suck that doesn’t seem to net you very much in the end. Web writing is often lower-paid and can be (isn’t always) lower profile.
I guess my heart will always like with print media because that’s how I started out, a million years ago: as a newspaper reporter. But I’m clear-headed enough to understand that print media isn’t exactly the most stable industry these days. Newspapers are letting people go, and magazines are shutting down. Many print publications are vastly reducing the number of issues they produce, or shrinking the pages in each issue. To ignore the possibilities and opportunities of the web would be very foolish.
Ideally, I’d like to have a healthy blend of work from the two types. You know what they say: diversify, diversify.
Jennifers last blog post..Disappointment sets in, with A-Rod’s steroid admission
I do like to pay my bills and travel, I’ll admit that. But it’s more than just money: it’s writing about what YOU want to write about — YOUR idea with YOUR byline. And THEN they send you a couple hundred bucks for it!?!?
…and I’m harassing you because your writing is tight and efficient- good for print.
I haven’t yet noticed too much of a print slow down, personally, but I am bracing myself.
Allenas last blog post.."Gig Economy" Leads to "Accidental Freelancing"
I used to want to be published in a magazine. But after a hard look at it, there`s SO much work that goes into getting an idea approved. Sure, it`s yours, but will anyone like it? At this point in time, I just want to do the job and get paid.
Maybe when my kids are grown and my house is built I can afford to be less mercenary, but there it is.
Genesiss last blog post..Motivational Monday: Interview with Kelly Harmsen
I have to admit, the reason I began freelancing on the web was because the hassle of query letters just didn’t appeal to me. I started with Elance and the jobs began to flow in. Ok so that was 2004 when the pay on the likes of Elance was a minimum of $2 per article even starting out. I have stayed writing for the web because I have the clients and knowledge and just don’t see the point in starting to pitch editors now and be rejected when I can write for the web. Like James said, print and web writing are not very different when both are good both are really good.
Amanda Evanss last blog post..Content Writing Is A Waste Of Time
There’s no reason why web work couldn’t be “your own.” I see in a lot of the comments the major problem with web work is that it won’t be your own? I’m not sure if that’s the case.
Like you, I’ve been thinking about print this year but I think the real reason behind me looking for something else is that I want to be challenged again. After writing hundreds of 500 word articles I need something different. Instead of chasing print markets at this time, I’m taking myself “back to school” and polishing my copy writing skills, learning to do press releases and other various forms of writing. The back and forth and waiting game doesn’t seem like it’s worth it for me right now. Maybe when the kids are in school!
Courtneys last blog post..Goal Setting for the New Year
@ Courtney – Web work is always your own unless you chose to sell it to a client with full rights, as many do.
Ghostwriting is a career that both web and print publishing are full of. You tend to get more credit with print-publishing, but not that much.
I don’t think that anyone here feels they don’t own their work. They just choose to sell it. Make sense?
I had great aspirations of becoming known for my witty print material and perhaps a book or two, but it’s just not working out that way. And while I’m currently working on a “guilty pleasures” manuscript for my own benefit in what little spare time I have, I very rarely try to sell an article to a magazine.
What prompted me to start Root & Sprout was the pile of rejection letters I have stashed away in a file. I know I’m a good writer who has things to report, and yet my ideas weren’t being published. I knew there were other moms & dads out there with things to say, too, but who were perhaps too intimidated or under qualified to get anything published in print. I very rarely reject an article for Root & Sprout, and now I’m booking pieces through May’s issue. And even though I can’t pay near the amount print magazines do, it’s enough to encourage these non-professional writers and help keep them going. And I have to say, I’ve run across some fantastic writers in the process!
I think print will always hold that appeal. However, I don’t think someone who’s featured in a magazine is necessarily any better of a writer than someone featured on the web. I work my hiney off each day, and I know I’m not the only one.
I tried print but I had a problem because I didn’t have the contacts to get in front of places. I ended up using a syndication marketplace (in my case, The Syndication News) and it helped get me placements.