The only problem? You have no idea who you should pitch — or how to get in touch with them.

Figuring out which editor to contact — and finding that editor’s email address — can be a frustratingly time-consuming aspect of freelance writing. But it’s oh-so-necessary if you want to see that story published.

How to pitch a story to an editor

Don’t despair; there are a few tricks for making the process easier. All it takes is some sleuthing — after a while, you may even find the process fun! (I’m not the only one who does a little victory dance when I finally get in touch with the right editor, am I?)

In this post we’ll review both how to figure out which editor to pitch, and then tricks for finding that person’s email address, so you can place and get paid for more pieces.

To kick us off, here are some ideas for how to identify which editor to pitch.

1. Get as specific as possible

Unless it’s a really small publication, avoid pitching the editor-in-chief; she’ll probably just delete your email.

Instead, try to find the editor who oversees your story’s beat. If you’re writing about an up-and-coming clothing designer, for example, look for the fashion or style editor. The easiest way to determine this is to Google “Real Simple fashion editor,” or “Real Simple masthead” and then search for “fashion” or “style.”

If you can’t find that information, “Go for a senior, deputy, or associate editor,” says freelance writing expert Linda Formichelli. “If that editor isn’t the right one, she’ll often send your query along to the correct editor.”

She says not to bother with contributing editors or copyeditors, as they’re not responsible for assigning stories.

2. Call the publication

This may sound old-fashioned, but it works. If your target publication has a phone number listed, call and ask to be connected to the relevant department. Once you have someone on the line, ask, “Who should I contact with a pitch about travel to Greece?” Easy peasy.

“I sound like a broken record…‘Pick up the phone! Pick up the phone!’” says Formichelli. “Many of my students are pleasantly surprised that they get a quick answer.”

3. Ask your contacts

If you’re a member of any online writing groups, ask your fellow members if they have a contact at your target publication. If they’re familiar with your work, they may even be willing to introduce you over email—bonus points!

“Be sure to supply your email address on the forum or invite direct messages so respondents won’t have to share the info with the whole group,” suggests Formichelli.

4. Search Twitter

Smaller websites and publications may not publish a masthead. One of the best ways to find otherwise-unlisted editors is through Twitter, since users often list their place of employment in their bios. In Twitter’s search tool, type in the word “editor” plus the @handle of the publication you’re targeting.

Some editors even prefer to be pitched on Twitter before moving the conversation to email, so it doesn’t hurt to send a direct message.

If you’re really keen to make a connection, you might even create what The Write Life founder Alexis Grant calls a Notice-Me List, then strategically interact with editors you want to write for.

5. Join Freelance Writers Den

Yes, you’ll have to pay for a monthly membership, but for serious freelance writers, it’s worth it. You’ll get access to courses, ebooks, podcasts, and trainings to help you know who to pitch, how to pitch them, and how to uplevel your rates as a freelance writer. Ultimately, you’ll learn how to grow your freelance writing income and you’ll be surrounded by a community of freelancers who can inspire, encourage, and give advice along the way.

And don’t forget, this is self-education, which means the fee is tax-deductible in many countries!

Next up: Tips for finding that editor’s email

Once you’ve figured out which editor to pitch your story to, you’re well on your way! But how the heck do you find that person’s email address?

Here are a few tips for getting your hands on the editor’s email.

6. Use Google’s advanced search

Don’t skip this step just because it seems too easy.

Search “Jane Doe email address,” and it could pop right up. You could also try searching “janedoe@publication.com” to see if you get any hits.

And remember, while most of us stick to the search box on Google’s homepage, the search engine offers many more ways to find what you’re looking for. If you really want to milk Google for all it’s worth, try these advanced tips for using Google search from Lifehacker.

7. Try Sales Navigator for Gmail

This used to be called Rapportive before it was acquired by LinkedIn. Now there’s both a free and premium version. The Gmail extension shows the social media profiles of whoever you’re emailing right in the sidebar of your Gmail account, which is useful for brand building and general networking — and pure gold for finding email addresses.

When searching for an editor’s email address, start typing different name combinations into the “To” field, like jane@publication.com, janedoe@publication.com, jane.doe@publication.com, and jdoe@publication.com. If she uses her work email for her LinkedIn profile, her name and photo will pop up when you’ve hit the jackpot.

8. Look on LinkedIn

Do more than just glance at their profile. Dig a little. It’s becoming more common for LinkedIn users to include their email address either in their contact information section or at the bottom of their introduction note. Look deep in their profile and you might find an email address.

LinkedIn also has a direct message feature, but chances are you’ll have to upgrade to premium to send a message to someone who’s not your connection.

While you’re there, look to see if anyone you know is connected with this editor. Maybe they’ll make an introduction for you!

9. Find the editor’s colleagues

If you’re still coming up short, try to find an email address for a colleague at the same publication. In a post for The Muse, Grant calls this one of her “absolute favorite hacks.”

She shares this example: “Say you found one of Joe Schmo’s colleagues, Mary King, and her email is mking@starbucks.com. Knowing that, you can easily guess what Joe Schmo’s email might be: jschmo@starbucks.com.”

Next step? Pop it into your Gmail extension to see if you’ve got a match. (Note that just because it doesn’t appear doesn’t mean it’s a no-go; some editors may use their personal email addresses for their LinkedIn profile.)

You can also simply try sending your pitch and see if the email goes through. You never know, you might get lucky!

The Write Life regularly updates and republishes posts so they are more useful and relevant for our readers. We updated this post in 2022.

If you’re a writer, it makes perfect sense: You can use a blog to serve as your author platform, market your work or find new freelance writing clients. Blogging is also a great way to experiment with your writing style.

This is the age of content — people are always looking for more to absorb, and your unique voice has a place on the vast, limitless interwebs, too. 

How to start a blog

Starting a blog can feel overwhelming. But the truth is, it’s doable for anyone with the right guidance.

We’re here to help you navigate every step so you can start a blog stress-free — from choosing your domain name to publishing your first post.

This is a long post, so here’s a quick summary of what we’ll cover:

• Pick a domain name (URL) and see if it’s available (to cut to the chase, check URL availability here)
• Purchase a hosting package and install WordPress
• Choose a theme and blog header
• Write your blog pages
• Install plugins and widgets
• Promotion, including building an email list

Ready to dig in?

Here’s how to start a blog.

1. Pick a domain name (and get it for free)

First things first when you start a blog: choosing a domain name. Where are people going to find you online?

This can be one of the most enjoyable parts of getting started with a blog; it’s such a rush when the URL you want is available and you can buy it right away.

But if your first choice isn’t available, if someone else is already using that URL, it can be stressful to come up with another domain that feels right. After all, this is a permanent home on the Internet you’re creating!

The truth though, is that you can always change this down the line if you decide to go in a different direction with your URL. The most important part isn’t choosing the perfect domain, it’s choosing one and getting started.

One of the best places to start is using a variation of your name. Especially as a writer, because you are your brand. Your name will never go out of style no matter how your interests change over time.

To check availability, search this handy domain-name checker:

If you’re feeling good about your choice, you can also visit Bluehost directly and purchase your domain there. The company offers a $2.95/month plan for The Write Life readers.

Even if yourname.com isn’t available, you might find it with a different ending, such as yourname.co or yourname.io. If you’re super committed to this whole writing thing, you can also try tacking a “writer” onto the end of your name, as in susanshainwriter.com.

Alternatively, you could opt for a creative blog name — but remember your interests and target audience may change as the years go by. When I started blogging in 2012, I focused solely on adventure travel and named my blog Travel Junkette. After expanding my niche and services, I switched to susanshain.com because my name won’t change, no matter what I’m blogging about.

Although it wasn’t a huge deal, I wish I’d started out using my name as the domain, and would advise you not to make the same mistake I did.

Once you’ve settled on your domain (or domains, if you’re like many of us writerpreneurs!), don’t wait to buy it. Even if you’re not ready to start a blog right now, domains are cheap — and you don’t want to risk losing the one you want.

If you’re really having a hard time picking a URL, review our more detailed post on how to choose a domain name.

Before you actually click “purchase,” though, you might want to read the next step; we’re going to tell you how to get a domain name for free.

2. Purchase a hosting package

Now it’s time to choose a web host.

What’s a web host? Your hosting company does all the technical magic to make sure your site actually appears when people type your domain name into their browser. In other words, it’s pretty important.

While we use MediaTemple to host The Write Life, it’s typically better for blogs with lots of traffic. You probably don’t need that if you’re just starting out, so go with a cheaper option instead.

For a new blog, try Bluehost. It’s used by top bloggers around the world and is known for its customer service and reliability.

The Write Life has a partnership with Bluehost whereby they allow our readers to purchase hosting for $2.95/month. The cool part is that INCLUDES your domain.

Oh, and pro freelancer money tip: Put your purchase (and all the purchases listed in this post) on a business credit card and keep the receipts; as investments in your business, they’re tax-deductible.

3. Install WordPress

We’re almost through with the techy stuff, we promise!

You have several different choices for blogging platforms, but we like WordPress best. Not only is it totally free, but it’s easy to learn, offers a wide variety of themes, and has an online community and abundance of plugins that make blogging accessible to everybody.

You can read comprehensive instructions for installing WordPress on your new blog here. Once you’ve completed that, you can officially log into your blog and start making it look pretty.

4. Put your site in “maintenance mode”

While working on your blog’s appearance, you might want to put up an “under construction” sign to greet visitors.

You don’t want any potential clients or readers to Google your name and find a half-finished site. (You may think you’re going to finish setting up your blog tomorrow, but we all know how writers procrastinate when there are no looming deadlines!)

To set up maintenance mode, just download this plugin. On your maintenance page, you could even include a link to your email newsletter or social media profiles so visitors have an alternate way of getting in touch with you. When you’re ready to share your blog with the world, simply deactivate and delete the plugin.

5. Choose a blog theme

Now we’re getting to the fun stuff! Your theme determines what your blog looks like, and you’ve got a lot of options to choose from. Yes, there’s a wide range of free themes, but if you’re serious about blogging, the customization and support offered by paid themes can’t be beaten.

Here at The Write Life, we use Genesis, which is one of the most popular premium themes available. Another popular and flexible theme is Thesis. On my first blog, I used Elegant Themes, which has a wide selection of beautiful themes at a reasonable price. All of these themes come with unlimited support — essential when you’re starting a blog.

If you want your blog to be a marketing tool for your writing services, you might look for a theme with a static home page (like mine). That way, your site will look professional and appealing to everyone — whether they’re there to read your latest post or hire you for a project.

Whatever you do, make sure your theme is “responsive,” which means it automatically adjusts to look good on any device. Since more than half of website visits are made on mobile phones, this is crucial for your blog’s aesthetic.

6. Create a blog header

I think it’s always worth getting a custom header for a new blog.

You can ask your favorite graphic designer, create one with Canva, or order one on Fiverr. I’ve had great luck getting headers and other graphics designed in this online marketplace, where thousands of people offer their services for $5 per gig.

7. Write your blog pages

Though you’re starting a blog and not a static website, you’ll still want a few pages that don’t change. (“Pages” are different from “posts,” which are the daily/weekly/monthly entries you publish on your blog.)

Here are some pages you may want to create:

About

The about page is frequently touted as one of the most-viewed pages on blogs, so don’t overlook it. Include a professional headshot and brief bio, and explain why you’re blogging and why the reader should care. What makes you an expert? How can you help them?

Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through; blogging is a personal affair!

Contact

You want your readers to be able to get in touch with you, right? Then you’ll need a contact page.

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy; just tell your readers how best to reach you. Avoid putting your full email address on here, as spambots could get ahold of it. To work around that, you can use a contact form plugin, which we’ll link to below, or simply write something like “yourname AT yoursite DOT com.”

Portfolio

It’s your blog, so flaunt what you’ve got! Show your prospective clients and readers that you deserve their time and attention with examples of your past and present work.

You can see examples of great writer portfolios here; personally, I love Sara Frandina’s.

Resources

Do you have a list of favorite writing tools? Or maybe books that have inspired you? Readers love resources pages, and for bloggers, they can also be a clever way to earn income from affiliate sales.

Check out The Write Life’s resources page for inspiration.

Start here

You probably won’t need this at first, but a “start here” page is smart once you have a decent amount of content. It’s a great opportunity to express your mission and highlight your best work, so your readers can see the value of your blog without wading through months or years worth of posts.

Joanna Penn does a good job with hers, encouraging readers to download her ebook and then choose a topic that interests them.

Work with me

If you’re using your new blog to sell your writing services, this page is essential. Be clear about how you can help people and how they can get in touch with you. You could even list packages of different services, like Lisa Rowan does on her site.

Once you’ve set up all your pages, make sure they’re easily accessible from the home page. If they’re not showing up, you may have to adjust your menus.

8. Install plugins

Plugins are great for everybody, especially those of us who are less comfortable with the technical side of things. Think of them as apps for your blog; they’re free tools you can install to do a variety of things.

Though having lots of plugins can undermine the functionality and security of your blog, there are several we recommend everyone look into:

Contact Form 7: If you want to avoid putting your email address on your contact page, use this plugin, which is frequently updated and receives good reviews.

Hello Bar: Want to get readers to sign up for your free newsletter? Or want to announce the release of your latest book? This plugin allows you to create a banner for the top of your blog.

Mashshare: These share buttons are similar to the ones you see here on The Write Life. Another minimalist option is Simple Share Buttons Adder. It doesn’t matter which plugin you choose; it’s just important to make social sharing easy for your readers.

Google Analytics Dashboard: This plugin tracks the visitors to your site so you can see what people are interested in and how they’re finding you.

Akismet: One of the headaches of blogging is the plethora of spam comments. This plugin will help you reduce the number of spammers that sneak through.

WP Super Cache: Another plugin that’s not sexy, but is important. Caching allows your blog to load faster, pleasing both your readers and Google.

Yoast SEO: This all-in-one SEO plugin helps you optimize your posts so you can get organic traffic from search engines.

9. Install widgets

If your blog has a sidebar, you might want to spruce it up with a few widgets, aka small boxes with different functions. That said, the minimalist look is in — so skip this step if you want to keep your sidebar simple.

Here are some ideas:

About box

You’ve probably seen this on a lot of blogs; it’s a box in the upper right-hand corner welcoming you to the site. Check out The Write Life managing editor Jessica Lawlor’s blog for a good example.

Social media icons

Make it easy for your readers to follow you on social media by including links to your profiles in the sidebar. Your theme will probably include this feature, but if not, here’s a basic tutorial.

Popular posts

Once you’ve been blogging for a while, you might want to highlight your most popular posts in the sidebar, which you can do with a basic text widget. We do this here on The Write Life so you can find our most popular content quickly and easily.

10. Purchase backup software

Don’t overlook this important step just because you don’t have content yet! It’s better to install this software early than to start blogging and forget until it’s too late.

Free options exist, but I’ve never had good luck with them — and for something as important as my entire blog, I don’t mind paying a little extra. (It’s a business write-off, remember?!) Popular backup options include VaultPress, BackupBuddy, and blogVault.

11. Start your email list

I know, I know, you haven’t even started blogging and I already want you to build an email list. Trust me; you’ll be so glad you did.

Alexis Grant, founder of The Write Life, agrees with me. “If I could go back and do one thing differently for my business, it would be starting a newsletter earlier,” she writes. “My email list is THAT important for my business, bringing traffic to my website, buys of my products and opportunities I never could’ve expected.”

Even if you don’t have anything to send, just start collecting email addresses. The best way to entice people to sign up is by offering a free ebook or resource. For a great example, check out The Write Life’s Freelance Writer Pitch Checklist.

My favorite email newsletter platform is Mailchimp. It’s intuitive, fun, and free for up to 2,000 subscribers.

A lot of creatives also use ConvertKit. It also offers a free plan, and some people say it’s easier to use than MailChimp. If you want more options, browse our list of news of tools for building your email list.

Once you’ve created your list, encourage your readers to sign up by adding a subscription box to your sidebar, and maybe even install a plugin like PopupAlly. Or, if you use ConvertKit, they have pop-up options built-in.

12. Write!

If you really want to start a blog, you’re going to need to…start writing your posts.

We recommend creating an editorial calendar, even if you are coordinating with no one other than yourself. It doesn’t have to be fancy; it can even be scribbled out in a notebook.

What’s important is that you plan your posts in advance, so you can keep track of your ideas and stick to a schedule. It’s also a chance to assess and tweak your content strategy. What do you want to write about? How will you draw readers in?

Don’t forget you’re writing for the web, so your style should be different than if you were writing for print. Keep your tone conversational, use “you” phrases to speak to the reader, and break up text with bullet points and sub-headers.

Images are important for grabbing attention and breaking up the text, so find a feature photo on Unsplash or Pexels to make each post shine.

13. Promote, promote, promote

You’re almost there! Now that you’ve started writing, it’s time to get readers. And I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but for many writers, this is the most surprisingly time-consuming aspect of blogging. Though it’d be nice if we could just write (that’s what we love to do, right?), it’s nicer to have people actually read your work.

You can try guest posting on other blogs, reposting on sites like Medium and LinkedIn, or including links when writing responses in forums, Facebook groups, or on Quora. Just make sure you’re adding value — and not spamming people with your URL.

Social media is another great way to get more traffic and grow your author following. Instead of merely tooting your own horn, be sure to interact with editors, writers and bloggers, too.Share their content with your community, comment on their posts and support them when and where you can. Hopefully, they’ll return the favor!

In the end, creating a successful blog is about hard work and consistency. Keep posting helpful and engaging content, optimizing it for SEO, and sharing it with your networks — and you’ll soon see your new blog start to blossom.

Congratulations, you’ve now officially started a blog as a writer.  Maybe one day it can become a full book? Time to get writing!

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!

This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.

Though working solo has many benefits, everyone has moments when they wish they could stop by a coworker’s desk to ask a question, get feedback on an idea or simply share a crazy client story.

I worked on my own for several years before going in-house as a staff writer for a personal finance website. And, while I missed the freedom of working remotely, I loved the daily banter with my colleagues. Not only was the camaraderie enjoyable, it often sparked my creativity.

So, when I returned to freelancing a year ago, I wanted to bring a bit of that feeling along with me — and I started a writers mastermind group.  

What is a mastermind group?

Napoleon Hill, author of The Law of Success and Think and Grow Rich, is largely credited with introducing the word “mastermind” in the 1920s, though the concept has been around far longer than that.

Organized by entrepreneurs across industries, a mastermind is a group of peers who meet regularly to set goals, overcome challenges and use their collective brainpower to accelerate business growth.

Famous mastermind participants include Franklin Roosevelt, Andrew Carnegie, Bill Gates — even the Knights of the Round Table!  

And they’re still very much in vogue today. As the legendary online entrepreneur Pat Flynn writes: “A mastermind group is mandatory to achieve online success… I would not be where I’m at today if it weren’t for the mastermind groups that I’ve been a part of.”

My mastermind consists of five female freelance writers. We meet once a month over Google Hangouts to share highs and lows, resources and encouragement.

I always look forward to our call, as it’s one of the only times I get to have honest conversations about writing with people who understand what I’m talking about. I also learn so much from my fellow group members, and love the support we provide each other.

5 steps for starting a writers’ mastermind group

Becoming part of a writers mastermind can certainly be a boon for your career — and your mental health.

So, rather than waiting around to be invited to one, why not start one yourself? 

Here’s how to start a writing group.

1. Outline your goals and rules

The first thing to figure out is what you want to gain from your mastermind. Collect your thoughts in a Google Doc that you can share with potential members.

For example, here was my mastermind’s main goal: “To grow our writing careers while traveling the world — and without going crazy.”

In the document, I also included secondary goals about accountability, perspective, support and inspiration, as well as the proposed schedule and rules. Some examples: “Show up every month (if you miss three calls, you’ll be asked to leave the group)” and “Listen openly and without judgment.”

Though I’m generally not a stickler for rules, I thought they were important to mention. That way, potential members would take the group seriously, as well as understand the type of environment I hoped to create.

2. Determine your meeting cadence

Most mastermind groups meet once a week or once a month.

My mastermind meets from 3-5 p.m. EST on the first Wednesday of every month. Having a regular time makes it easier for us to fit the meeting into our schedules (and to remember when it’s occurring!).

Determining your meeting cadence will also determine your meeting structure. In many weekly masterminds, for example, each member offers a brief update, then one person is in the “hot seat” with the rest of the meeting focused on their business and goals.

Since my mastermind only meets once a month, we all take turns sharing our highs, lows and goals, then it’s an open floor for any member to discuss challenges they’re facing.

3. Choose your tribe

This is the most important step in creating a writers mastermind: Who are you going to invite?

Here’s some common advice for choosing your mastermind’s members:

• Invite three to five other people: Any more, and your sessions will go too long; any less, and it’ll be overly detrimental if someone can’t make it.
• Choose peers: Try to find people in similar stages of their careers. If someone’s significantly further along, it’ll probably feel more like a coaching session for them — rather than an open exchange with peers.

In terms of the type of writing your members do, I’ve found it helpful that all of my mastermind’s members are freelance writers. I purposely also chose people who enjoy traveling, since it’s something we can all bond over.

To find my members, I turned to my personal network: Three were writers I’d met at conferences, and one was a friend of another member.

4. Create a shared space

You’re going to need somewhere to record the ideas generated during your calls and continue the conversation in between.

For my mastermind, I created a private Facebook group where we ask questions and share resources. We also have a few documents where we’ve written out successful pitches (though, to be honest, we don’t use this as much as we should).  

If you’re not into Facebook, you could do this via Slack or another platform; choose what works best for you.

5. Get going

Now all that’s left to do is get started! It probably won’t be perfect, but you’ll be able to fix any bumps along the way — with the help of your new mastermind buddies.

Or, as those in the tech world would say, “Ship fast and iterate.”

One year into our writers mastermind, we’re still figuring out how to improve our processes. For example, we recently began assigning one notetaker per meeting, since so many good ideas are shared in the moment (and it’s tough to remember them all).

Bumps aside, starting a writers mastermind group was one of the highlights of my year.

It’s been so helpful to chat with these fellow writers; to know they’re on my side when I’m having a rough day (or month), to know they’re there for my silly questions and to know we’re all helping each other progress in our writing careers.

This may be my first mastermind — but I can tell you with confidence it won’t be my last.

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!

If, six years ago, you said that would be my routine, I wouldn’t have believed you. At that point, I’d just started my travel blog, with the dream of someday earning an extra $100 per month.

Without even knowing what “location independence” meant, I’d begun working toward it. I already had the travel part down; it was the remote work I needed to build up.

These days, however, I often hear from writers with the opposite problem. They’re technically location independent, and can work from wherever they wish — but aren’t sure how to integrate travel into their lives.

If you want to travel and write — either to mix things up for a few weeks, live abroad for several months or become a lifelong digital nomad — the process can certainly seem overwhelming.

The good thing? As a writer, you already have the hardest part figured out: how to make money from anywhere.

Beyond that, it’s just a matter of taking the leap. No small feat, I know — which is why I wrote this post. Hopefully, it’ll help you take your writing on the road (with as few bumps as necessary!).

1. Crunch the numbers

Yes, MATH.

Although I did my best to avoid math classes for years, I actually like budgeting — probably because I view it as a tool to help me travel more. And if you want to go away for any length of time, you need to make a budget.

First, determine your net monthly income — whether that’s from freelance clients, blog affiliates or a remote writing job. If you have recurring monthly expenses like your mortgage, cell phone bill, student loans or retirement, subtract those.

The remainder is what you have to play with on a monthly basis: your budget for food, activities, lodging, etc. From that, you’ll also need to subtract one-time expenses like immunizations, travel health insurance and plane tickets.

Use those numbers — and tools like Budget Your Trip, Nomad List and The Earth Awaits — to determine which locations you can afford.

2. Start small

You don’t have to sell all your possessions and go halfway around the world on your first trip.

In fact, I highly recommend taking a trial run to see how you like running your business from the road.

Where you go is totally up to you. Choose somewhere that calls to you (and that’s within your budget) — and don’t allow anyone else’s opinion to matter more than yours.

For her first solo adventure, writer and content marketer Jaclyn Schiff went to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

“I deliberately chose a place that attracts a lot of foreigners and where English is widely spoken,” she says. “Some travelers look down on this because you’re not having an ‘authentic’ experience, but I wanted to be in a place where I could easily get my bearings.”

Once you’ve figured out your destination, book a short stay: between a week and a month. Most Airbnbs offer discounts for weekly and monthly stays, and have the added bonuses of full kitchens and reviews (so you can read up on the wifi before booking).

Pick inexpensive, non-English-speaking countries. Stay a month. You won't have to compete w/ US writers for the most colorful, local stories

— Lori Cullen (@LoriCullen) November 4, 2017

And, if you start to get nervous, remember: Everything’s reversible. You can always come back.

3. Think about where you’ll actually work

That rental might have a dreamy view and a cute kitchen — but where are you going to write? And are you going to be comfortable while doing it?

“As boring as it sounds, you want to think about ergonomics when you’re working from the road,” says Helen Anne Travis, a Tampa-based freelance writer who recently spent time working from Peru and New York City.

“Look for a rental that has a table, comfortable chairs and space for you to spread out. I always bring an external keyboard and mouse when I travel so I have flexibility when trying to create a comfortable work space.”

4. Expect things to go wrong

No good story is free of conflict, and travel’s often the same way.

You should expect things to go wrong — from missing the bus to finding something strange in your soup.

Happy travelers don’t have better luck than the rest of us; they simply manage their expectations.

So instead of hoping to find the perfect cappuccino halfway around the world, be happy to find coffee at all. Instead of assuming every day will be perfect, be grateful for any moments that are.

“The best way to avoid frustration when embarking on a new endeavor like this is to let go of any and all expectations,” says Leah Davis, a writer who’s been location independent for four years.

“Working from the road probably won’t turn out exactly how you imagine, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be worthwhile. You may lose clients unexpectedly or find it difficult to maintain a healthy work/life balance at first, but it’s important to think of these as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks.”

View the entire experience as an adventure, a story waiting to be told, and you’ll enjoy it far more.

5. Separate work and leisure time

I’ve heard this advice over and over from friends, and I totally agree: Expecting to get work done “when you have time” is a one-way ticket to stress and burnout.

“I always fell in the trap of thinking I could get work done in the hotel in the couple of hours between travel and activities,” says Dana Sitar, a freelance writer who spent several years crisscrossing the United States. “That was terrible for productivity, and it made work stress seep into any fun I tried to have.”

Now she sets aside vacation days, just like with any other job. By doing that, she says, “you’re totally focused on work when you’re working and on experiences when you’re not.”

If you don’t want to take off days at a time, try setting aside certain periods every day. Since I work best in the morning, I try to get most of my writing done before lunch.

Stephanie Zito, a writer and travel rewards expert who’s been semi-nomadic for nearly 20 years, works for two “solid hours” before breakfast, then two again in the evening.

The knowledge of what’s waiting outside her doors motivates her to work hard during those short bursts. “I get a lot done and still have the day to see amazing things,” she says.

Eileen Guo, an independent journalist who’s reported from several countries, says it’s also important to remember what your goal is.

“Working from the road is very different from traveling as a tourist,” she says. “So don’t feel guilty about not visiting all the sites, taking time off from travel, or doing whatever it is that you do at home to relax.”

6. Don’t be afraid to go solo

One of the most common worries I hear from aspiring globetrotters is they don’t have anyone to travel with.

I understand why that seems like a deal breaker, but I’d urge you not to wait until you have the perfect travel buddy to hit the road. Getting outside your comfort zone will expose you to new thoughts and new people, and will surely inspire your writing.

Even if you’re not outgoing, you can find ways to meet people: I’ve used Couchsurfing and Meetup, and friends of mine have used Tinder. I also made great friends when I volunteered in Nicaragua and Mexico.

Or you can try one of the slew of startups that combines co-working and co-living, like Roam, Unsettled and Selina.

Schiff, who went to Mexico on her own, admits that even though she likes “the experience of navigating unfamiliar surroundings,” she was “definitely nervous” about going solo.

She didn’t know anyone at her destination, but told people about her plans and ended up connecting with a friend of a friend. Then, once there, she joined a coworking space and attended the local synagogue.

“You can’t be shy and you need to make an effort to put yourself in different situations where you can start a conversation,” she says. “You have to be comfortable taking initiative. But I found that if you do that, people are pretty receptive.”   

7. Travel light; travel slow

It’s tempting to bring everything with you — but the whole point of traveling is to do something different, to leave your regular life behind.

So remember: If you need it, you can buy it. It’s way better to purchase a $3 umbrella when it starts raining than it is to carry one around Thailand for weeks (not that I’m speaking from experience or anything).

And, more importantly, travel slowly. I try to stay in new destinations for at least a month.

Freelance writer Jamie Cattanach, who’s currently bouncing around Spain and Greece, has met many travelers who think it’s “bonkers” she stays in a single place for weeks.

But “they’re not splitting their attention between seeing the world and working — both of which are time-consuming and energy-draining,” she explains.

“You simply can’t always be on; sometimes, you need to spend a night vegging out in front of Netflix. By giving myself ample time at each destination, I get a chance to catch my breath, see the sights at my leisure, and do my work well without the pressure of FOMO.”

In the end, planning an adventure is pretty similar to tackling a big writing project.

You’ll have some crappy first drafts, and some moments when you want to pull your hair out — but if you take it one step at a time, you’ll get there. And will be so glad you did.

What other questions do you have about life as a location-independent writer? Leave them in the comments below.
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Generating ideas? Conducting interviews? Sending invoices?

Nope. It’s pitching.

Where should you send your queries? Which editor should you email? When should you follow up? If you’re anything like me, these questions are a constant buzzing in the back of your brain.

I’ve discovered a few tools that help me pitch smarter — and even created one I thought was missing.

Want to streamline your pitching process? Give one or six of these free tools a shot.

1. Google Sheets

The greatest pitching tool might be lying right under your nose. Seriously, if you’re not using Google Sheets to organize your life pitches yet, it’s time to get started.

My initial inspiration came from Lola Akinmade Åkerström, who creates pie charts that reflect the number of pitches she sent and had rejected or accepted each year.

I wondered how on earth she knew those kinds of numbers, and after some Googling, discovered that some writers use spreadsheets to track every single pitch they send.

Writers like Alicia de los Reyes. Or Julie Schwietert Collazo.

Impressive, right? Well, once it’s set up, it’s pretty easy to maintain. You can see examples in the posts above — but at its most basic, your spreadsheet needs to include columns for an outlet, title, pitch date and follow-up date. Plus a place for editor feedback, and a way to indicate where your idea is in the pitching process (accepted, rejected, or my favorite, crickets).

In her excellent Pitch Like a Honey Badger course, Schwietert Collazo also recommends creating a spreadsheet that lists publications and editors — which you can update with information like email addresses, preferred topics and pay as you come across it.

2. Trello

Although I’m a Google Sheets fanatic, it’s not for everyone.

For a while, freelance writer Danielle Corcione tried to track her pitches within the platform, but found herself “getting frustrated” with all the columns.

So she turned to Trello, a web-based project-management tool. In this post, she explains her process for tracking pitches with Trello — and it’s definitely worth a read.

You can also use the tool as a repository for pitch ideas. When I’m struck with inspiration at the grocery store, I open Trello and pop the idea onto my “Headlines” list.

(I also have a “Get Sh*t Done” board where I track all of my assignments, biz to-dos and life maintenance tasks — but that’s a tale for another time.)

3. Where To Pitch

Naturally curious — and ok, nosy — I have no problem coming up with ideas for stories. What I find challenging? Figuring out where to pitch them.

I’m not the only one: In writers’ groups on Facebook, people are constantly saying things like…

Travel+Leisure turned down my story on skiing in Azerbaijan. Do you know who else might want it?

I have a killer idea for an article about detox teas, but that’s not my normal niche. Which health markets accept freelancers?

So, in hopes of helping people like me, I created Where To Pitch. On the site, you can type in a market or a topic, and related publications will pop up.

Whether you’ve got a brilliant new idea, or a pitch that’s already made the rounds of rejections, my hope is that Where To Pitch will help you find a home for it.

4. Who Pays Writers

Let’s say you have a fabulous story about breakfast. You might consider pitching it to Eater. Or Extra Crispy. But before deciding, you’d probably like to know which one pays better.  

To get that information, simply hop over to Who Pays Writers, a crowdsourced site where freelancers share their pay rates at different publications. (Please keep it valuable by adding your own experiences, too!)

Not only will knowing rates help you figure out which outlets are worth your time, it’ll also put you in a better position when it comes to negotiating.

If you know what a market’s average per-word-rate is, then you can feel a little braver when it comes to asking for higher pay.

Remember: The worst they can say is no.

5. Your Library Card

You thought these were all going to be digital tools, didn’t you? Well I’m a sucker for the library and all the resources it offers.

When it comes to pitching, I love plopping down and browsing through magazines to take note of the editors on the masthead and the sections where my pieces might work.

Sometimes, you can find recent magazine issues on issuu, and I certainly do that in a pinch — but I don’t find it as gratifying as the glossies. Or, you could buy a membership to MediaBistro’s AvantGuild, but the selection of titles is limited and occasionally outdated.

6. Rapportive

How do you figure out which editor to pitch? You can, like I mentioned above, look through mastheads. You can also search Twitter or LinkedIn.

But contacting them is a whole other ballgame. In this story, I mention some strategies for finding an editor’s email address, including one of my secret weapons: Rapportive.

After you type an address into Gmail, this magical tool scours LinkedIn profiles — and if it finds a match, that person’s profile appears in your sidebar.

Of course, not every editor’s work email is associated with their LinkedIn, but if a profile does pop up, you’ll know you’ve scored.

Speaking of email tools, you might wonder why I didn’t include the popular email-tracking extension Streak. Well, the reason is simple: I hate it. When I tried it, the only purpose it served was to make me INCREDIBLY anxious.

That editor opened my email 17 times and never responded? Why? They must hate me. Maybe I should go back to scooping ice cream at ColdStone…

You know how that spiral goes. So I say just avoid it.

Using the tools above, you’ll be able to pitch a little more confidently; a little more systematically. You’ll get inspiration for where to pitch your stories, and knowledge of who will pay for them. But you certainly won’t get all your ideas accepted.

Because, despite all our best efforts to turn pitching into a science, there’s still another person on the other side of every query — which means it’ll always retain an element of mystery.

Maybe that’s what makes it such a thrill.

What are your favorite tools for pitching? What’s your least favorite part of the pitching process?
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I first learned the news in a Facebook group for contributors, where reactions were shocked, confused, and for the most part, sad.

I was among those disappointed by its demise. Here’s why…

How The Mix worked

In case you’re not familiar with the platform, here’s a brief rundown of how it worked:

You applied to become a contributor, and if accepted, you’d receive Hearst’s writing prompts (written as headlines) via email each day.

If you saw a prompt you wanted to write about, you had two days to submit your piece. Hearst selected one story for each prompt, which it then published on one of its sites — huge titles like Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, and Esquire.

Published pieces earned $50 (the rate used to be $100), plus $.0025 per view after your story reached 20,000 views.

The platform and its prompts were controversial: Jezebel called it a “personal essay tragedy content farm,” and some said it was “profiting off aspiring freelance writers who need to pay rent.”

But others (me included) appreciated the ability to write a quick story that had the potential to be picked up by a huge publisher.

After all, it’s just a more competitive version of writing “on spec“ — without having to undergo the pitching process.

My experience writing for The Mix

I heard about The Mix last summer, and in true writer fashion (no deadline? no problem!), waited a while before applying.

Even after joining the network, it was several months before I saw a pitch that really drew my attention.

It was: “Please don’t sit on my bed in your outside clothes.”

As my friends know, I border on obsessive-compulsive when it comes to bed cleanliness. This headline was written for me.

I also assumed fewer people would answer this prompt, as opposed to other, more general ones like, “My boyfriend had a secret that ruined our relationship.”

So, I whipped up a story.

Soon after, an editor requested edits. I still didn’t know if I was going to make the cut, but I eagerly addressed them… and waited.

The next day, a nondescript email arrived in my inbox saying, “Your story is now published on Cosmopolitan.”

WHAT? I was elated.

As the story caught fire, the emails continued to arrive. Your story is now published on Country Living. On Redbook. On Marie Claire. On Town & Country.

It paid off. I’ve earned $1,652.11 for something that took me less than an hour to write.

Why I’m sad The Mix died

For people who normally write for magazines, maybe that figure isn’t that impressive.

But me? I started jumping up and down when I saw that check. It’s exponentially more than anything I’ve made writing a single piece.

So yes, I’m sad The Mix died.

My experience, I’ll admit, probably isn’t typical. The topic of my story (to no credit of my own) was at the perfect crossroads — of really bizarre yet just common enough — to make it go viral.

Still. Even if you never submitted anything to The Mix, but read its prompts, it provided excellent market research. If Hearst was interested in a particular topic, other publications probably would be, too.

It also sparked ideas: I, for example, never would’ve dreamed of pitching a story about sitting on the bed in your outside clothes.

But for me, the biggest benefit of The Mix was this: It made me finish a post.

I don’t know about you, but I have half-written drafts lurking on my desktop and Google Drive — even in the notes of my iPhone.

With The Mix, the limited timeframe and temptation of seeing my work on one of the biggies made me sit my butt in a chair and actually ship something.

Had my post been rejected, I still would’ve had a finished piece to pitch elsewhere; I heard about other Mix writers who had success with this.

What we learned from The Mix

There are a few things we can take away from The Mix’s short life:

Refuse to work for free. If a publication is big enough that you’re tempted to work for them for “exposure,” it’s also big enough to pay you. The Mix’s pay was pretty crappy, but it was better than HuffPo’s, and more importantly, it rewarded you for a successful post.

Sometimes headlines are all the inspiration you need. I’ve now created a list in Wunderlist where I write headlines I might someday want to flesh out.

Pitch and ship. Those half-done drafts aren’t doing anybody any good. So pitch them somewhere. Only once that deadline is looming will you actually get motivated to finish them.

A writing career is not “one size fits all.” Many writers scorned The Mix, and, I’m assuming, the people who wrote for it. That’s okay. For me, it was a killer opportunity, and I grabbed it.

You don’t have to create your writing career like other people. And you really shouldn’t sit on the bed in your outside clothes.

Did you write for The Mix during its short tenure? What was your experience?

As a travel blogger, I constantly ask myself this question. And no matter what type of writing you do, I bet you’ve asked yourself the same thing.

Here are five ways to live a life worth writing about.

Read the rest of this post over at Positive Writer.

Course: Write Your Manifesto

About the creator: Dana Sitar is an author, blogger and e-publishing coach. She blogs at A Writer’s Bucket List and co-hosts the This Is Temporary podcast.

Price: $45. The course comes with lifetime access and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Who It’s For: Anyone who wants to write a nonfiction, message-driven ebook (or, as Sitar calls it, a manifesto). It’s a perfect fit for people who know they want to write an ebook, but aren’t sure what they want to say or how to get started.

What It Will Help You Do: This course will walk you through each step of writing your ebook — everything from carving out the time to write to defining your audience and finding your voice.

What’s Included: An online course with 10 modules:

1. Commit to Your Writing Routine: How can you fit writing into your life?
2. Clarify Your Message: What do you want to be known for? What do you have to offer?
3. Define Your Audience: Who are you writing for?
4. Describe Your Offer: How are you going to solve problems for your readers?
5. Determine Your Action Steps: What actions do you want your readers to take?
6. Create Your Outline: What is your book going to say?
7. Know Your Unique Voice: What is your genuine voice?
8. Consider the FAQs: What questions will your readers have?
9. Write!: Finish your first draft!
10. Review What You’ve Written: Who can you ask for feedback?

Each module is further segmented into information and tips, writing prompts, worksheets and assignments. Some modules have an “additional resources” section with helpful links for further reading.

The Best Part: This course breaks down the monumental task of writing an ebook into bite-sized chunks. The truth is that you probably don’t need help with the writing itself; you need help figuring out what to write, who to write it for and how to manage your time.

That’s where this course comes in. Sitar helps you determine your message and your offer through helpful writing prompts, questions and exercises. As shown above, you don’t even start writing an outline until Module 6 — and you don’t start drafting until Module 9. To top it off, she even includes an ebook publishing timeline for spreading your message to the world.

What Would Make It Even Better: There’s a private Google+ group for people taking the course, but it isn’t active. As evidenced by events like #NaNoWriMo, writers thrive when they have a support network, so a lively Google+ community would give this course a huge boost. Almost all of the assignments are “community challenges” that encourage you to post in the group, but without anyone else posting there, it’s a bit intimidating.

Our Recommendation: The hardest part of writing is starting, which is why this course is worth the money. It guides you through every step of the creation process, making completing an ebook much more manageable. If you take this course, you’ll have zero excuses for not starting — or finishing — your project.

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!

Are you planning to write an ebook in 2015?