Any freelance writers on here?

[heliocentric]

Is so, how did you make in-roads into the profession? how does one approach a potential employer or publication?

t'all seems very hit and miss really, so anyone who has any proper experience or advice, id love to hear from you ;p

[Baron Max]

How many works have you completed?
How many of those have been read/reviewed by neutral parties? (not member of you family or good friends who won't tell you the truth!)
How many have you submitted to publishers?
Have you talked to a literary agent?
What kind of education do you have?
What writing courses have you taken?
How did the professor(s) react to your work?
How many short stories have you written?
How old are you? (Yes, it seems to make a difference)
.
.
.
There are millions of issues with writing, just like with most professions. Mostly, however, you have to pay your "dues" ...and you don't even know enough to know what those are, do you?

Baron Max

[heliocentric]

There are millions of issues with writing, just like with most professions. Mostly, however, you have to pay your "dues" ...and you don't even know enough to know what those are, do you?

Baron Max

No i dont know what those are, which er, is kind of the point of me starting this thread, and one that you seem to have have missed with great fucking aplomb.

I think i almost knew in the back of my mind before starting this thread that someone would give me the massively unhelpful and world-weary.. 'ive paid me dues; you aint' routine. Walked right into that one didnt i eh?

All i can say is dont ever work in an citizens advice bureau..

'hello there can you tell me the way to any musems or direct me to any places of interest'

'Yes i could, but i guess youre just too damn ignorant to know where those places might be arnt you!.'


No matter, ive tracked down a bloke whos freelanced for new scientist and the guardian who appears to be incredibly helpful and giving of his time and should be able to give me the pointers i need without being infantile and obtuse.
Its weird how failed-careerists are always the ones to bark at you, successful people always seem incredibly open and supportive in my experience.

Thanks though, if i need career advice from a bitter/failed hack i'll be sure to look you up mate.

[spuriousmonkey]

If you are interested in writing horror go here.

http://aestheteka.forumwise.com/forum.html

Some aspiring and published writers in the horror genre visit this forum.

[Baron Max]

No i dont know what those are, which er, is kind of the point of me starting this thread, and one that you seem to have have missed with great fucking aplomb.

If you'd have answered any of the questions I asked, you would have been in a position where I could have given you some good pointers.

As it is,....we know nothing about you or your skills. Your question then becomes something akin to a 5-yr old asking for advice about nuclear physics.

Although you seemed to take my post as demeaning, it was not intended in that way.

Baron Max

[heliocentric]

s'ok, im not sure a forum is really a good place to be seeking advice anyway to be honest, gonna do it the 'old fashioned way' as it were

[nietzschefan]

It was a good question, I am curious too. Don't let the Baron Maxes of the forum de-rail the thread.

[Baron Max]

It was a good question, I am curious too. Don't let the Baron Maxes of the forum de-rail the thread.

A 5-year old kid can ask a damned good question about nuclear physics, but that doesn't mean that even the most knowledgeable physcist can actually answer it in such a way as the kid can understand.

I'm sorry, but I thought I asked some very good, very revealing questions ....without which answers would be of little to no use to anyone.

Baron Max

[nietzschefan]

Maybe you were trying to help, I all read was your sneering sarcastic, you might want to tone that off in your posts.

[one_raven]

It was this bit...

...and you don't even know enough to know what those are, do you?

[GeoffP]

If you are interested in writing horror go here.

http://aestheteka.forumwise.com/forum.html

Some aspiring and published writers in the horror genre visit this forum.

Know any good ones for fantasy writers?

[Exhumed]

How many works have you completed?
How many of those have been read/reviewed by neutral parties? (not member of you family or good friends who won't tell you the truth!)
How many have you submitted to publishers?
Have you talked to a literary agent?
What kind of education do you have?
What writing courses have you taken?
How did the professor(s) react to your work?
How many short stories have you written?
How old are you? (Yes, it seems to make a difference)
.
.
.
There are millions of issues with writing, just like with most professions. Mostly, however, you have to pay your "dues" ...and you don't even know enough to know what those are, do you?

Baron Max

Can you elaborate on that? I would think that all you need is quality writing, not personal qualifications. A degree in English or a professor writing your work is no guarantee of professional success. It is probably hard to get your work viewed if you are an unknown, so perhaps you have to get an agent and pay a reading fee or something.

I'm most interested in why age plays a role. Not that I want to publish anything (or even write anything myself).

[spuriousmonkey]

Know any good ones for fantasy writers?

Fantasy you say!
I have the perfect forum for you!.

[Exhumed]

Know any good ones for fantasy writers?

http://www.sfsite.com/fsf/

I used to read this magazine and checked the site out when the announced a message board, but it turned out that like everyone on the message board was some aspiring writer for that and similar magazines. Not very great for discussion for my interests, but you'll find fantasy writers by the dozen.

[GeoffP]

Fantasy you say!
I have the perfect forum for you!.

Hmmmm...you'll forgive me if I don't click that link at work.

[stretched]

Write and submit ... write and submit ... write and submit.

[GeoffP]

Fantasy you say!
I have the perfect forum for you!.

Yep, about as expected. When did you start posting there?

[Dinosaur]

Talented and successful freelance writers spend a lot of time writing and with activities related to writing. They do not have time to post spend at SciForums.

Those employed at 9 to 5 jobs can more easily find time for SciForums than those who work in some unstructured environment like running their own business or free lance writing.

[GeoffP]

Ooooh; I feel positively told-off.