Nathan Segal Shares His Freelance Writing Secrets

When I began freelance writing back in the 1980's the keys to success included being part of a writer's group, attending a few writers conferences and reading as many books and magazines on writing as you could get your hands on. The best of these ended up in my personal library, and a few of them I pored over as if they were sacred.

With the exception of Stephen King's book on the the topic, it has been a while since I read a book on writing other than for reference purposes. And, if I may be honest, King's book left me flat. For some reason the press summary that I saw last month about Nathan Segal's book intrigued me and I contacted him for this interview. From the first pages of his book Secrets of Profitable Freelance Writing I could see this was like nothing I had ever read. Why? Because it has been written post-Internet and offers up tools and insights that no one in my writers circle could have conceived of. A scant 103 pages in length, it's packed with more information than a knuckle sandwich.

Here's Nathan Segal.

Ennyman: I’ve owned or read dozens of books on writing. Yours is like nothing I have ever seen. What prompted you to write this book?
Nathan Segal: It came about as a result of hanging out on forums. There were so many people who wanted to write for a living and many of them didn’t have a clue what to do. Worse, I kept seeing competitions on some web sites where people were charging only $3-5.00 for a 500 word article and talking about writing those in batches. That’s not possible long-term for a couple of reasons. One is that you won’t make any money to speak of. Worse, there’s an excellent chance you’ll burn out. I wrote this book to show writers how to market themselves in a way that would allow them to do well financially and be respected for their work.

Enny: It’s obvious the freelance writing business has changed dramatically with the advent of the Internet. At one time Writer’s Market was the mandatory pipeline to editors. Has Google made Writer’s Market obsolete?
NS: First off, I wouldn’t say that the Writer’s Market is obsolete. I admit I don’t use it and the reason is because it’s the easy route, where most writers would go. I strongly suspect that the editors mentioned in that book are inundated with more queries than they can handle. Also, with regards to finding writing work, Google is only one of many tools. There are online directories that you can use, as well.

Enny: The book is packed with resources for writers, but assumes the reader knows how to put articles together. Can you recommend a couple books that would help article writers improve their skills?
NS: The Elements of Style, by Strunk and White is my number one reference book. The Chicago Manual of Style is another one, though I haven’t used it. As for putting articles together, it’s crucial that writers study back issues of magazines before they send in a query. There, they will see how articles are constructed and they will also find out how to match the style of the publication.

Enny: My first “check” for a freelance article was for $20, which I photocopied and placed on my wall. What was your first article for which you were paid and how much was the tab?
NS: It’s been a long time since I wrote my first article, some 13 years ago. I don’t recall what I wrote, though I think the fee was around $100.00.

Enny: At one point you suggested batch query letters. Isn’t this a bit impersonal? Does it really work?
NS: It would be impersonal if the letters were just a form letter. Each one is personalized to the editor and each refers to different article ideas to match the tone of the magazine. When I recommend batch letters, what I mean is sending out several at once, so you make the best use of your time. And does it work? Yes.

Granted, not everyone will respond to you, so following up is necessary. It’s also important to realize that what you’re doing is selling yourself online and it’s a numbers game. Not everyone will say: “Yes,” so it’s important to cast a wide net.

Enny: Using your methods here, can you really find ten “paying markets” for the same query? Give me some examples of topics that fit this mass marketing approach effective?
NS: I think you’ve misinterpreted my approach. I’m not talking about using the exact same letter for all these markets. You might be able to do so for a few of them, but not all. The reason being is that each publication will have its own style and audience, so you’ll need to modify the query letter for each publication. The query letter is a template and once you’ve set it to match your requirements, the main change you’ll make is on the topics to query. You might also want to highlight some relevant experience, as well, though that’s about it.

Enny: You seem to have a lot of energy. Is your goal to continue freelance writing? Do you think you will get tired of this kind of hustle? Where do you see yourself in five year?
NS: I will continue to do freelance writing, though not as much. Also, my methods have changed, partly because of learning about joint ventures, which I explain in my book. My current and long-term goal is stepping into the role of teacher and mentor and to show others how they can build a career from writing. Among other things, I want to make this knowledge more accessible to other writers, so they, too, can realize their dreams of being published and make a good/great living as well.

Enny: Thanks for your time and insights.

You can purchase the print version of Nathan's book here or the Kindle version here.

Segal's book is self-published. This reviewer does not promise that the book will have value to all readers. I did find much of the information interesting, though some sections appeared to be padding to help transform a long pamphlet into a short book.

How to Buy a Used Piano

In 1992 I published an article on how to buy a used piano. It was actually co-written with former piano tuner and friend Ed Beaver, appearing in the January issue of Parenting magazine. I learned a lot about the freelance writing occupation through that experience. But first, a little background.

When I was about eight (1960) the Coopers, a neighbor in Maple Heights, moved to a different part of town. I believe I was asked if I would like to take piano lessons and upon displaying a suitable level of enthusiasm for the idea my parents bought the Coopers' piano for five dollars, plus whatever it cost for the movers to roll it down to our basement three houses away.

I took lessons for almost three years and have played ever since. It was a wonderful investment that paid dividends. So when my wife and I moved to Duluth in 1986 that fall my dad bought me another used piano for my birthday. We found it at a garage sale and this one was twenty dollars. Plus a $125 fee for the piano movers. Later, when we moved to the country, that piano cost $185 to move, plus tuning and new replacement ivories for some of the keys. At this point that twenty dollar piano had cost over five hundred green ones.

It's a big old upright, one of those former player pianos without the works, and we painted it forest green. It sat in our living room from 1993 to 2006 when we were offered yet another upright piano (for free) and after my arm was twisted we paid to have it moved to the living room, and the first upright moved to the garage.

All this is to say that I have some experience with used pianos. One evening, possibly over the grill, I was talking with Ed B. about the piano business and he shared some of his knowledge with me regarding pianos. I was impressed at how practical the information was that he shared, and I suggested we do an article together for a magazine like Parents. He was game and I proceeded to write a strong query letter.

In the query I probably explained how a piano is not only a nice piece of furniture, it's a wonderful way to bring music into the home and the hearts of your children. I also noted that if you do not make a good purchase, you can have a 900-pound lemon in your living room that is not very easy to dispose of. Since a piano has more than 7500 parts, it really helps to know what you're doing when you buy. Our article would give useful, practical advice on this matter.

So in January 1990 I sent queries to every magazine listed in Writer's Digest that might be interested in such and piece. And we waited.

In November we received a reply. Parenting magazine wrote to say they were interested in seeing an article called How to Select a Piano for Your Children. We had pitched a feature of 1200 to 1800 words, but they wanted a 500 word condensed version for their Care & Feeding section. Whatever. It would be due December 14, 1990. No problem. This was a national publication and seemed a nice feather in the cap when it appeared in print. We signed the contract, agreeing we would be paid 25% if they did not like the piece in the end. Hmmm. $50. Better than nothing.

The query promised a four week turnaround and we delivered. Then we waited again. In January the editor we were working with replied. She wanted us to revise the piece, incorporating information about the Piano Technician's Guild and another professional source. Alas, we were getting close. It wasn't an outright rejection. We quickly made the suggested modifications and posted the finished piece one more time. And we waited.

Weeks, then months, went by. At the time I had a system for keeping track of queries out, rejections, submissions and all the details you're taught in writer's magazines to do if you're a serious freelancer. Every now and then I would notice that the article was still "out" but I had been trained to be patient. You're not supposed to call editors or pester them, we're told.

Finally, in September the news came. Our article was accepted and would appear in the January issue of Parenting. The check for $200 was split between us, so we each received $100... not a lot of bread for a two year stint getting a piece published in a national magazine, fifty dollars a year each. And in January 1992 we received our complimentary copies with the story, "Pianos: A Sound Investment," on page 208.

Trust me, there really is a need for writers, but don't believe all the hype you read in those writer mags about how easy it is to live your dream life as a freelancer. Most of the people you're competing with aren't needing the income, so the market is glutted with people (like Ed and I were) willing to work for a pittance.

The byline was nice, though.

In the meantime, if you were reading this in the hopes of finding help buying a used piano, here's one link that I found with a simple Google search with a few tips. I'm sure you'll find more.

Delta Sky

Well, it’s official. Northwest Airlines has been swallowed by Delta. I know this because today’s in-flight mag offering is no longer the Northwest version. Today I am being introduced to Delta Sky.

Frankly, I've always thought in-flight magazines to be a pretty lame form of distraction. But maybe that’s because I've never flown Delta. I’ve done Eastern and Allegheny, but my primary transportation vehicle has been NWA, simply because no other airline wanted to have anything to do with these tiny airports ringing the outskirts of civilization known as "Up North."

So there it was, in the sleeve behind the seat in front of me, waiting for my curiosity to be aroused.

When I was a young wanna be freelance writer, I remember interviewing at a publishing house in St. Paul that produced some of these magazines. While sitting with my modest portfolio in a waiting room I talked with a woman who was on retainer to write for the company. She was paid six hundred dollars a piece, she said, which I thought was pretty good money considering my best paying gig had been about fifty bucks. (Do the math and you quickly see why I wasn’t quitting my day job painting apartments.)

The thing is, I wanted to write for these in-flight mags because they paid real bucks, but honestly found them so dry you could dip them into the Mississippi and they would still come out dry. Why is this? I’m sure the writers are trying to be interesting. I mean, some of those pieces I'd written for peanuts had lingo that really sang.

So I was on the plane this morning sliding my August Wired magazine into the pocket and there it was, Delta Sky. A smiling Serena Williams, tennis superchamp, graced the cover next to a large headline, “Got Game?” The subhead explains, “The Extra Mental Edge It Takes To Win.” OK, an article with celebrity sports stars telling their secrets.

After the plane is filled and we’re doing the runway thing I reach for my reading material, but instead choose SKY. First impressions can say a lot sometimes. I well remember my first impressions of the very first Wired magazine I purchased back in 1994. I’d attended a class at UMD on The Internet, and the instructor recommended it. So, like a dutiful student who was in awe of that first introduction to all things wired, I picked up a copy at Barnes & Noble…. And… whoa, wow, way cool. I mean, the ads were just so strikingly original. This was an incredible magazine. I hadn’t even reached the content yet, but had reached a conclusion. I was determined to linger on every page.

It think it was the sense of style that hooked me. To this day Wired strives for that occasionally elusive but hip stance. Elusive because styles have cycles and can you really hit the bulls-eye with every burst?

And as the first pages glide past, I immediately sense that Sky is not Wired. The ads have no continuity and are uneven in quality. Feeling a little ho hum already I stumble past pages of print ads that must be either selling the wrong products or just have become too cliche to bother stopping at. I realize it takes a little work to come up with a compelling concept and a little more to bring eyeballs to a standstill. My goal is usually to attempt cardiac arrest. At least I'm aiming high.

OK, we're reaching the real magazine now, and the first section, after the clutter of introductions, is called Wheels Up. It is a section with articles related to travel, business and lifestyles. At least the title has a little panache. The section has that USA Today feel of little entertaining snippets and infobriefs. Sports stars and their paychecks. A Guide to the new "Freeconomics". Getting your point across in a foreign country. Five minutes with..

Here's a page about Brussels for Road Warriors. And something about Bernadette Peters speaking out for the animals. (Not the rock band. Sorry.) Followed by a half page on how to craft the perfect cocktail.

On and on. Too cluttered for my taste. And it still feels so much like an in-flight magazine. I dunno how they do that.

OK, here's an interesting page. It's called August Citylicious. It's actually attractive enough that one could theoretically enlarge it, and frame it as art. Or make it into a poster. It lists cities all over the world and cool things that are happening there, like the Guy Expo in St. Paul this weekend, or the World Water Week symposium in Stockholm. I wonder if Woodstock would have made this list forty years ago. Alas...

The rest of the mag has features and ads, most of them so cliche I am zoning out and paging through to the end of the book. As is the custom, the very last section is airport terminal maps to help you get oriented when you finally get your feet on the ground again.

As for this month's Wired, I will have to savor it on my return flight this weekend. That cover shot of Brad Pitt alone is worth the price of my subscription. Cover stories include Unintelligent Design and Is Google A Monopoly? Is Google a monopoly? I'll find out Saturday.