Getting Started as a Freelance Writer, Revised & Expanded

Robert W. Bly is a self-made multimillionaire from his successful freelance writing career. Bly is the author of 100 books, including Careers for Writers, The Copywriters Handbook and The Elements of Business Writing. He has published more than 100 articles and is an expert on direct marketing. He lives in Dumont, NJ, near New York City.

In Getting Started As A Freelance Writer, professional writer Robert W. Bly draws upon more than twenty-five years of experience and expertise (he became a self-made millionaire while still in his thirties and is the author of more than one hundred articles and sixty books) offers aspiring writers and authors a comprehensive understanding of the highly competitive process of becoming a published freelance writer. Introducing readers to a complete knowledge of where the work for writers is to be found, how to get paid assignments, the fine art of negotiating fees and contracts, how to turn out acceptable manuscripts, and how to insure getting paid, Getting Started As A Freelance Writer provides a concise exploration and complete knowledge of what freelance writing is all about. -Midwest Book Review, June 29, 2009 An informed and informative resource for a sustainable progression into the world of profitable writing and freelance authorship, Getting Started As A Freelance Writer is very strongly recommended as a key "how to" reference for anyone at the beginning of their professional writing career. Many people, at one time or another, fantasize about writing a book or screenplay. We all have stories to tell or opinions to foist on the deserving public. Wouldn't it be great if you could make money by publishing your words? Bob Bly does. He makes a very good living - more than $600,000 a year, in fact. Bob writes stories. And essays. And advertising copy. Some of Bob's writing - his copywriting - earns him a very high per-word rate. Other writing - essays and even books on a wide range of topics - brings him more modest income but great emotional rewards. By any measure, Bob is an extremely successful writer. He has written some of the most successful direct mail promotions of all time. And he has authored more than 60 books, more than a few of which have been bestsellers. What amazes me about Bob's writing is that it is always good. If you write for a living, as I do, you can appreciate how rare a quality that is. Bob's newly revised and expanded Getting Started as a Freelance Writer is no exception. Bob sent me a copy two days ago and I stayed up that night and read it cover-to-cover. It was, as expected, thoughtful, comprehensive and lucid. It was jam packed with helpful advice from Bob and other writers, including yours truly, such as: Where the work is How to get assignments How to do online research The art of negotiating fees and contracts The secret to turning out good manuscripts How to get paid as much as you deserve And lots more If the fantasy of the writer's life is still tugging at your heart strings, get a copy of Getting Started as a Freelance Writer and read it right away. --Michael Masterson, Ready Fire Aim Newsletter Michelle Connell, Christian Communicator; September 2006 How do you get started in a writing career? How do you write a book proposal? How do you analyze a magazine you want to break into? How do you know if you're ready to write full-time or if you should moonlight? Bly, an author of more than 100 articles and 60 books, answers these questions and many more that writers have about this business. The fact that he became a millionaire from his writing and earns over $600,000 yearly lends credibility to his answers. Though it is not our intention to make millions, since we primarily want to get God's Word out, there is a lot of information in this book to help any writer from beginner to advanced. Other topics include how to network, how to crack new markets, what to charge for various services, and how to equip your office. Bly uses many examples from his own writings, but he quotes other writers and publishers as well. Every chapter is broken into shorter topics, and the book is easy to read in short segments or by chapter. It isn't necessary to read the chapters in order or to read them all if you are only interested in commercial writing or writing books or writing magazine articles. Appendices list writers' organizations, Web sites, books, and software that aid writers in their work. Getting Started As a Freelance Writer is a tool you'll want on your bookshelf and one you'll use often. --Michelle Connell, Christian Communicator; September 2006