All that means is that professional writers query first and only write an actual article once they have an assignment for it. Amateur freelance writers (a.k.a. “beginning” freelance writers) write the article first and then try to find a buyer for it.

If you’re trying to become a professional freelance writer, what I call a “working” writer, someone who earns a good living from your work, take this saying to heart and always query before you spend time writing an article. There are a number of good reasons for doing it this way.

The first reason is that editors won’t take you seriously if you submit a completed article instead of a query (unless their guidelines specifically ask for the full article on submission). They’ll know right away that you’re an amateur and haven’t worked with many (if any) other publishers or editors before, so they probably won’t want to take a chance on you either.

The second reason for querying first is that editors will invariably ask you to change some of the ideas in your query, which means if you’ve written the entire article you’ll probably have to completely change it anyway, even if the editor likes your idea.

The third, and very important, reason to query before writing is that you don’t want to spend your precious time and creative energy on something that may or may not sell. Just spend enough time to create a “winning” query and send it off to the appropriate market.

For additional help to get your freelance writing career to really take off, join The Working Writer’s Coaching Program - an intensive 8-week coaching program, where I’ll personally lead you every step of the way to creating the freelance writing career of your dreams! You don’t have to settle for being a “starving artist” as a writer. Learn the “tricks of the trade” and start making a comfortable income from what you like to do best - write!

They think they will earn more money writing about “anything and everything.”

And, being a generalist like this can have its advantages.

Generalists can take on all sorts of assignments.

The trouble is, generalists are never recognized as experts in anything.

And, we all know, experts are paid big bucks for their expertise.

So take some time this weekend to figure out what your focus should be.

What do you want to become known as an expert about?

Then keep your focus narrowed to finding and accepting writing jobs that are within that focus.

You’ll find that even within a somewhat narrow focus, you can still cover a variety of different topics.

For example, my focus is children’s writing.

But I love to write anything for kids.

Maybe you love to write about medical topics, or personal healing, or exercise and fitness.

Narrow your focus to one field, then branch out a little within that narrow focus.

1. Look at your query letters. What sets them apart from the hundreds of other queries an editor will receive this month? A good query should show the editor (of the publication you are targeting) your unique writing style. If the writing in your query isn’t interesting and engaging, the editor probably figures (and rightly so) that your article won’t be that interesting or engaging either. Also, editors receive thousands of queries a year that start off with a question. Be a bit more original than that and you’ll gain the editor’s interest immediately.

2. Give the editor appropriate writing samples. If you apply for a freelance assignment you’ve seen advertised somewhere, and an editor asks for writing samples or an outline for the project advertised, make sure you really understand what he needs to see. Remember, this editor is just trying to figure out if you can deliver the type of work the project calls for. If you don’t already have a writing sample in your files (for the type of work this editor is asking for), take the time to craft a sample that will show this editor you can write about a particular subject in the style, tone, etc. that he is looking for. If the editor has requested a custom sample, and has given you guidelines for this, then study those guidelines carefully and follow them to the letter. If you don’t fully understand the guidelines, then ask the editor for clarification.

3. Make sure your cover letters aren’t including too much information, or not enough. A cover letter is simply a courtesy, a way of introducing yourself. If you’ve included a manuscript, resume, or writing clips, state that in your cover letter. Also, mention why you are writing - in response to his ad for freelance writers, etc. - but don’t go on and on about your writing background, the fact that your kids all love your funny stories, etc. Be cordial in your cover letter, but remember, this is a business letter, after all, so don’t get too chatty.

4. Don’t use a standard resume when submitting to publishers. Develop a “writer’s resume” that includes just your publishing credits, education, and writing related activities. Editors don’t care that you worked as a nanny for three summers, or you were a camp director to put yourself through college, unless those activities related to writing.

Follow these tips and soon you’ll be right on target to land more and more of those freelance assignments you’re aiming for.

There are many mistakes that beginning freelance writers make in trying to make a living from their writing.

Then, when they aren’t able to make a living from their writing within a reasonable amount of time, they give up on freelance writing.

Don’t let this happen to you.

Subscribe to Writers on Call and join us this Thursday night when we’ll talk about The Fast Track to Freelance Writing Cash.