Build Your Clip File
All materials copyrighted

Building byline credits and clips are important to building your freelance writing career, whether you are hoping your career will be full time or a part-time supplement to your income. Yet, it seems like a catch-22 in the beginning, a struggle to build that resume and clip file that will help you climb the ladder to higher profile and higher paying markets.

But there are ways to begin that climb using hard work and persistence.

1. Always be watching for new markets. Check the bookstores, the grocery stores, your friend’s coffee table and bathroom magazine rack. Join market lists and take magazines for writers, both the larger ones and regional writing club publications. Never pass an opportunity by.
   
   Several years ago a friend in a local writers group announced during one of our meetings that he knew of an out-of-state travel magazine that was looking for short how-to articles on family travel. I wrote down the information he gave and went home that night to outline an article. The next day I made some calls to some veterinarians and pet boarders. That afternoon I mailed the completed piece about traveling with pets to the magazine. Two weeks later I had an acceptance and a check.
   
   I was shocked to learn that no one else in our writers group took advantage of this opportunity. They made a big deal about how I was making so many sales, yet all it took was getting it done. It was a nice little clip that led to a few other articles on family travel and traveling with pets.
   
   
2. Look for publications that buy a lot. If you are part of a church or specific denomination, find out if they have Sunday School take-home papers. These thin publications come out weekly and purchase 2-4 stories, poems, and essays or articles each week. That adds up to more than 150 manuscripts a year they are in need of for their publication.
   
   A generic article such as my article on inviting others to share our Christmas dinner can sell across denominational lines. Since many take-home papers and smaller religious publications buy one-time rights, you can resell the same piece many times to different denominations.
   
   
3. When you sell, you are selling your writing and yourself. Your first sale is only the beginning. As soon as possible, send another query, article, essay, or story to that editor. Thank them for their purchase of your first piece and see what else you can do for them. Don’t harass the editor by sending one piece after another without waiting for a response on the next piece you’ve sent, but don’t let grass grow under your feet.
   
   I was shocked when I received that first phone call from Woman’s Day and sold my first piece to them. I had originally hoped it would be a feature piece, but was just as thrilled that they bought my idea and had me shorten it to fit the Kid’s Day section. As soon as I got the contract, I sent another idea for that section and they bought it. A couple more and I was ready to query a larger piece.
   
   After sending several ideas and them choosing one, I again sent other ideas for the Kid’s Day section. In a 16 month period I sold them ten pieces—nine for the Kid’s Day section. I would have been thrilled with one sale to Woman’s Day, but repeat performances were fabulous for my resume, clip files, and my checking account.
   
   
4. Start by breaking into smaller sections. Besides smaller columns such as the above, many magazines have areas with parenting tips, humor, great ideas, etc. The pay is minimal, but you’ve suddenly received a clip from Family Circle, Woman’s World, Christian Parenting Today, and others. Who wouldn’t be thrilled with a humorous anecdote sale to Reader’s Digest.
   
   
5. Go local. Does your city have a local family, parenting, or general interest publication? What about a small-town newspaper? Take your clips, resume and ideas to the editor. Years ago, when I approached the editor of a local newspaper with the idea of a column sharing humor and insights about local people and events, I took samples of possible columns along with the few clips I had at the time. I didn’t hear back for a couple months, but after a reminder phone call, the editor looked over my packet and offered me a column. She asked if I’d do it for free. I suggested $15 per column and she agreed.
   
   Out & About came out once a month for two years until the newspaper stopped running. I had nearly 24 columns to add to my clips. When I approached a larger newspaper in a neighboring town about doing some profiles for a column they had, I was able to show them my newspaper clips. I was approved to be one of their profile writers and enjoyed doing this for many months, with a much higher pay scale.
   
   
6. Join writers groups, civic groups, the P.T.A. and get your name out. I was pleasantly surprised when a new member of our local children’s writers group, an editor for a lawyers magazine, asked me to do some transcribing and writing for their publication. For nearly two years now I have done this almost monthly.
   
   
7. Scour the papers for ideas. Profiling interesting people is fun and profitable. I have found articles on interesting teens, adults, and events that have become articles for children’s magazines, antique and collectible publications, religious magazines, a merry-go-round publication, and more. Clip those exciting stories, look for a publication that would fit the story, get in touch with the person or group and suggest an interview, then query the magazine. You can become a local correspondent for regional and national publications.