Freelance Writing Clips - Getting Published as a New Freelance Writer

by Amy Derby on August 22, 2007

You want to get published as a freelance writer, but you don’t have any clips (published writing samples). It’s the freelance writer’s catch 22. So, what do you do? There are several options.

1. Offer a previously UNPUBLISHED writing sample on a topic closely related to the publication, just so they can see your writing style. (Some editors are only interested in how well you can write, not in how many bylines you’ve had, so this one is wholeheartedly worth a try.)

2. Write for free (once or twice) for a RESPECTED publication to get the clips.

3. Use some “samples” of your writing which aren’t necessarily clips, but which showcase your writing talent, such as:

  • a letter to the editor
  • school papers or essays
  • reviews you’ve written
  • website or blog content

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