Writing Lessons Learned: We Learned The Hard Way So You Don't Have To

Beginning freelance writers want to know (but often don't know who to ask) how to go from beginner to published writer. Full of questions, the writer needs a mentor to guide them through the first shaky steps on the road to being a successful published writer.

In Writing Lessons Learned, the beginning writer receives sage advice from not one, but two experienced freelancers and editors. The beginning freelancer becomes part of the conversation between Shelley and Linda as they answer the 50 questions new writers ask most. For every question, both Shelley and Linda provide answers they've learned along their own path to publication.

The authors tackle the big questions including "Where do I get ideas?" and "Should I write for free?" and the housekeeping issues like "How do I keep track of submissions?" and "Do I need business cards and what do I put on them?"

These, and forty-six other questions are each answered by both authors, providing the reader with two perspectives. The answers given are often reaffirmed by the description of a real-life writing experience. Readers won't just find the answer to "What?" but also to "Why?" and "How?"

In addition to the questions, the book has several bonuses including tips on how to submit queries, clips and submissions by e-mail; structure a multi-topic query, pitch a column and how to write what you don't know. These appendices provide the reader with the tools to immediately start practicing all the things they've just learned.

The book will guide you throughout the entire process from developing the idea, researching the topic and market, writing the query, submitting the piece and even sending the invoice and tracking your income.