Every once in awhile someone writes me because they read one of my articles and they are hoping I can give them some advice on getting a freelance writing career off the ground. This is always flattering. And surprising. I still feel like I’m striving to build a freelance career so it’s interesting to me that I must look like I have one. I’ve started trying on the title lately. When people ask what I do I say, “I’m at home with my son and I’m a freelance writer.” I have to subdue a moment of panic after I say it because I expect someone to leap up and say, “Balderdash!” imaginary people are always more colorful than real folks

I’m betting that many of the people who write me are reading my articles thinking, “Well, jeez, I can write this well; why’s she getting published and I’m not?” or “Gosh, if they’ll print something like this, I’m sure they’d print my stuff!”

I know they’re probably thinking this because this is what I often think. Not when I’m reading Elie Weisel or June Jordan or Jonathan Kozol or … oh man, I better stop; I’m depressing myself. What I’m saying is if you ever look at someone’s work and think, “Hey, I can write that well!” you’re probably right. You probably can. Good for you! Now on to getting published.

Here is my advice on getting your non-fiction or creative non-fiction work published (fiction is a whole ‘nother breed entirely):

Show up.

Yes, that’s it. Show up. Send your stuff out. Send it out again. Send it out some more. Get better and better at querying; get better and better at producing. The difference between a published person and an unpublished person is not necessarily talent; it’s determination. It’s hard to get up the nerve to get rejected but you have to remember that people get turned down for reasons that have nothing to do with their writing. We get turned down because the subject has been covered or because the editor disagrees with our point of view; we get turned down because the issue where the piece would work is already full or because the editor promised her friend that slot. The point is, rejection is part of the deal so steel yourself and move on.

There aren’t really any other secrets to getting published. There are query techniques but once you’ve learned the basics, you’ll figure out what works best for you and for the markets you’re querying. As you gain clips, it’s easier to get editors to look at you and as you keep writing you’ll make friends with people who can help get your work out there. But those things can’t happen until you show up.

You can do this. Seriously. Get on out there.

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