Glossies and trade mags are all well and good, but there are other things you can do if you want to get published in the print industry. Here is a list of some of them to help inspire you:

Greeting Cards

Got a knack for delivering a message? You may want to try your luck at greeting cards. Although this won’t line your pockets with the big bucks, it can be a great way to make some extra dough. Birthday cards are always in demand, but there are also markets for holiday cards, anniversary cards and others. Why not try it out? Brainstorm some ideas and jot them down to smooth out and work through. It can be a fun change of pace.

Calendars

Some calendars have text instead of photos–or in addition to them. Again, this may not make your car payment, but it can round out your monthly bottom line.

Newsletters

Some businesses hire professional writers to author a newsletter for one reason or another. Sometimes it is an in-house deal, while other times it is more promotional.

Brochures

Marketing copy is another area you may want to consider. Brochures, press kits and other “collateral” as it is referred to in the industry is always in demand.

Custom Publications

Not quite a trade mag, custom publications are usually those written by a particular organization. Sometimes they are produced by the group itself, but they are just as often outsourced to a custom publisher to handle. Prove yourself here and you could make some nice money.

So how do you get into this stuff? Per usual, Google is your best friend here. Google “writers guidelines, greeting cards” or a similar phrase and dig in. It really is that easy–and that difficult. You’ll find you have to really target your pitch and make sure you position yourself properly to get a response. But if you do–you can really find yourself in a nice spot. These markets are generally not as competitive as the magazine industry, precisely because:

A. People don’t think to try them, and

B. They aren’t as prestigious

I have actually done all of the above in my career and have found some really rewarding jobs in the process. And made some pretty good money too.

A few last words on the topic…

For newsletters and marketing materials, you’ll have to work a little harder than just using Google. Think local. See what companies and marketing/pr pros you have in your area and either call or drop an e-mail. (I’d actually suggest doing both.) Make sure you have a solid pitch ready, and some work to show them should they ask.

Has anyone else out there made some money in one of these arenas? I’d love to hear about it!

Website: www.wrdforwrd.com

Specialty: writing-editing-blogging-ghosting

Rates: 50 per short blog post; 75 cents per word for articles

I’m writer-editor-blogger based in Seattle. Topics include renewable energy and the environment, logistics and outsourcing, trade and transportation. Proficient with WordPress, Office 2010, Acrobat.

A filler is basically what most people would call a blurb–a bit of information that readers will find interesting or educational. Many magazines have them, and those that do are always in need of engaging copy to fill those pages. Deliver one that works, on time, and you’ll have your foot in the door. From there, anything is possible…

Ok. So you are interested, right? What next?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to putting a filler together and sending it in:

Step 1: Target a magazine

You can do this one of two ways…you can look at the guidelines for writers to see which publications accept fillers, or you can write a filler specifically for a magazine that you know uses this material. Last time I checked, Writer’s Market gave out that information in their guidelines, but if you prefer, you can look through magazines that you would like to target and see if they have filler copy.

Bottom line? Just make sure you are sending a filler to a magazine that uses them–otherwise you look like a rank amateur. Even if you are one–you don’t want to look like one.

Step 2: Get a feel for the filler copy

Not all fillers are created equal. Some magazines only do fact-based fillers on things such as medical studies, while others pass along helpful advice on everything from household cleaning to coupon clipping. Pay attention to the “voice” as well…do the writers use first person, or is it more formal? You’ll want to keep the tone similar.

Step 3: Brainstorm ideas

Once you find magazines that accept filler material and get an idea of what they use, it’s time to try and come up with an idea. Flip through the publication and see if anything sparks your interest as a potential filler subject. Google some of the broad topics in the magazine and look for related studies if they use that kind of material. Once you have a few ideas, see which one is the best match for the publication and keep the rest in case you want to use them for another filler down the line.

Step 4: Write the filler

While you may be thinking this is just common sense, it actually requires a good look at the guidelines. Don’t send a magazine a filler that is 500 words if they ask for 200. If they want you to include your sources, make sure that information is clear for the editor that will be reviewing the copy. You need to follow guidelines for article submission, and this is true for fillers as well. Make it easy for the editor to say yes.

Step 5: Send the filler

No need for a fancy cover letter or much of anything else when you send a filler. Just a quick sentence or two to introduce yourself and the copy is sufficient. Personally, I always include a word count so that the editor knows I read the guidelines. I also make sure to have contact information available, including a phone number in case someone has a quick question. 

Writing fillers is a great way to get an editor to notice you. If you do good work, there is always the possibility of being asked to write something longer for the magazine. Even if you aren’t asked, you will have a better chance of getting an article published if you have already written for the publication. Be sure and mention that if you decide to pitch a piece, along with the name of the editor you worked with.

Some writers make filler copy their focus while others only do this type of work occasionally, but there is no denying that it is a decent way to try and break into a particular market–especially if you have little experience. Why not give it a try? You may even wind up with a few article ideas along the way!

Website: http://www.zahrabrown.com

Specialty: Web content

Rates: Between 55 to 70 per hour

After graduating with an upper class English Literature degree from one of Britain’s top universities, the highly respected University of Southampton, I entered the world of freelance writing and editing.

Attracted to on-line articles, blog posts, and forum messages, writing web content quickly became my speciality. Copy and substantive or developmental editing soon followed as I blossomed through invaluable writing experience. Areas of interest and expertise include: fitness and health, black and African American culture, Security, Hair Care, and Horror. However, I am proud of my ability to adapt to almost any subject requested.

I have worked with a range of clients – large companies such as Associated Content and small businesses like Affordable Handyman and Affordable Renovation. I am proud to suit self-employed and private or public organisations alike, due to my affordable prices with high quality content.

Website: http://sremmah.wordpress.com/

Specialty: Writing, editing

Rates: 50 per 500 word article written or edited

I am a Sydney, Australia-based journalist/editor with nearly a decade’s worth of writing experience on such topics as Australasian politics, the environment, science, health, human rights and general world news.

Specialising in news and news feature-style articles, I currently work as a contributing writer to the water sector news journal OOSKAnews, covering global water supply, sanitation, wastewater and desalination news and have recently taken up the position of Associate Editor for the Korean-based English language The Jeju Weekly.

EcoSeed, the global green news portal, also publish my extended commentaries on water, clean energy and other environment-related topics.

I recently founded my own independent Australasian/Pacific news site, theangle.org, realising a long-standing interest in developing the way news is written, presented, packaged and disseminated to readers.

Website: http://cyntay123.wordpress.com/

Specialty: Article writing and blogging

Rates: 50

two published samples of my work

http://ezinearticles.com/?Slots-Tournaments—-An-Online-Phenomenon&id=5001702

Website: http://melissasouza.webs.com

Specialty: Writing

Rates: 50 per hour or project rate

Melissa Souza writes regularly for examiner.com as the L.A. Horse Examiner. She has contributed to the Nashville music scene through various press releases, written several articles for eHow.com and freelances as a copywriter. A dash of prowess, a heaping handful of zeal and a pinch of talent, Melissa composes a wide variety of materials: turning drab copy into caliber marketing material for a medley of pieces a client may need to sparkle in their industry.

In the New York Times article, she said something that stunned me. Here is an excerpt from the article. When the article starts with “She” they are referring to Suze:

She has been reluctant to work on school curricula on personal finance, because she says students can’t learn empowerment from people who aren’t empowered, and teachers, she says, are too underpaid ever to have any real self-worth. She told me: “When you are somebody scared to death of your own life, how can you teach kids to be powerful? It’s not something in a book — it ain’t going to happen that way.” She once delivered pretty much the same message at an anniversary celebration of a private school — she seems to recall calling the school a “travesty” — and was all but escorted to the door when she was done.

Teachers Lack Self-Worth?

I don’t agree with Suze’s point of view here. I am friends with many teachers and yeah, they are underpaid, but they are not short on self-worth. When you choose to teach you are answering a calling that goes well beyond money. You want to play a part in the future of our world. You want to be a positive influence in a child’s life. In other words, you are getting something more than money out of your career.

But with freelance writing, it’s different.  I do believe that freelance writers who allow themselves to be underpaid are probably lacking in self-worth. I say probably because, well, what am I—Carnac? I don’t know anyone’s mind but my own, but I do know this—there is no reason to be underpaid other than being too scared to go after the pay you deserve unless your writing is altruistic in some way. Maybe you write for non-profits and like to bask in the glow of charity more than greenbacks—that’s cool. But if you are writing cheap for a company that is going to profit off of your writing then that’s not altruistic. I can think of a lot of things it is (all of them negative), but altruistic it is not.

Learning to Value YOU

Now, when I talk about going after the pay you deserve, I’m not talking about the pay you want or the pay you’d like—but the pay you deserve. Sure I’d like to get paid a million dollars every time I deign to sit at a computer, but my work is not worth that much. It is worth what I bring to it through my experience, my voice, my knowledge, my education, my talent, my notoriety, my innate me-ness.

So how do you put a value on your worth? Is there some sort of algorithm you can plug facts about yourself into and a sample of your writing in order to get the number that fairly and accurately represents the value that you provide to a client?

Well, unless Google is currently working on that, no… no there isn’t. So you have to get your hands dirty. You need to seek out other writers in your field, compare their writing style, accuracy and their experience in your niche. You have to figure out where you fit within the scheme of talent, knowledge, voice and expertise. You have to take your ego out of the equation and objectively weigh your strengths and weaknesses against other writers in your niche (Dare I say—your competition?). You can’t allow yourself to feel threatened or bad by this process.

Let me explain to you why it’s so important to take your ego out of the equation. My husband thinks that Kim Kardashian is hot. I do too—but that doesn’t threaten my husband like his acknowledgment of her hotness threatens me. For some irrational reason, I am threatened by Kim Kardashian’s hotness. So when I found out that she had gotten Botox, I ran to my husband, tugged on his shirt and gleefully told him that. It was as though I thought that my Botox-free face was somehow hotter than hers now. I thought this because my ego desperately wanted that to be true and because I am a sad, sad old woman. If I actually look at the situation objectively, I can see that I am in no way as hot as Kim—Botox or no Botox—and likely never will be. I can also appreciate that she is totally hot—but doesn’t have many of the personality quirks that I have, and these are the things that make my husband love me and not simply find me “hot.” So yes I objectively think that she is hotter, but I am actually valuable to hubby as a person, so HA! SUCK IT! I WIN! Oh… wait… no… that wasn’t the point. Okay, my point is my self-worth is now increased because I realize my true value while acknowledging hers as well.

Now, let’s talk about that other freelance writer’s rates… next week!

Website: http://jennifer-roland.com

Specialty: Business and publication writing and editing

Rates: 50+ per hour

Jennifer Roland is a writer and editor with nearly 20 years education and experience. She offers business writing to help you better connect with potential clients and ghostwriting to help you publicize your company/service in trade periodicals.

She also publishes bylined articles in trade and consumer periodicals and on the web on educational technology, personal finance, pets, and lifestyle topics.

Website: http://www.martenebattle.com

Specialty: Blogging, Creative Writing

Rates: 20 for every 200 words

I am a creative writer on one side, and a blogger on the other. I enjoy writing especially on topics that move me. I have over the past year put myself out there and have written under different guises, from paid blog posting, to full length articles.

I have written under many topics:
Outdoor equipment
Clarinets
Phone Apps
Parenting Product Reviews
Book Reviews
MMOs (especially World of Warcraft,
Second Life, Runes of Magic)
Console Games
Hand Held Gaming
Table Top Gaming
Video game strategies or reviews
Micro gaming (Facebook games)
Blogging
Erotica and Adult Products/Reviews

-but am strongest in the Gaming and Adult niches. I would love to be of service to your writing needs.

My portfolio showcases how my work stands as of now. I if you would like links to my adult works, email me at sailorhotaru(at)hotmail(dot)com for links.