{"id":8980,"date":"2010-02-24T18:50:24","date_gmt":"2010-02-25T00:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/artofmanliness.com\/?p=8980"},"modified":"2021-05-30T19:15:56","modified_gmt":"2021-05-31T00:15:56","slug":"so-you-want-my-job-freelance-writer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.artofmanliness.com\/money-wealth\/career\/so-you-want-my-job-freelance-writer\/","title":{"rendered":"So You Want My Job: Freelance Writer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Edward<\/p>\n

Once again we return to our So You Want My Job series, in which we interview men who are employed in desirable jobs and ask them about the reality of their work and for advice on how men can live their dream.<\/p>\n

Today we have an awesome interview with Edward Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell’s job has two incredibly desirable elements-1) He’s a freelance writer, and 2) He writes about guitars and rock n’ roll<\/em>. Edward writes for Total Guitar Magazine <\/em><\/a>and runs the blog, Fix Your Own Damn Guitar<\/a>. In this thoroughly enjoyable interview, Edward shares interesting anecdotes on how he got to where he is and some excellent tips for other aspiring writers. Thanks, Edward!<\/p>\n

1. Tell us a little about yourself (Where are you from? How old are you? Where did you go to school? Describe your job and how long you’ve been at it, etc).<\/strong><\/p>\n

I live in a small town in Scotland called Linlithgow. It\u2019s located about halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh. If you\u2019re already imagining a Mel Gibson look-a-like cowering on a windswept hillside, wrapped in a sheep carcass… you\u2019ve seen Braveheart one too many times. I\u2019m 39, married to Julie and I don\u2019t look anything like Mel Gibson.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been writing professionally for eight years. File me under \u2018late starter.’ I mainly freelance for guitar magazines, writing features on artists and instrument manufacturers. I also have a monthly guitar maintenance column called Ed\u2019s Shed in UK magazine, Total Guitar<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

As for education, my family moved around a lot when I was a kid thanks to my father\u2019s job as a soldier in the British Army. As a result I attended a bunch of different schools in Germany, England and Scotland. The only subject I was good at was English. I loved to write from an early age. If there was a project that involved writing a story or poem on behalf of the whole class, it always fell to me to do the job.<\/p>\n

I eventually left school without any formal qualifications. I suppose I would be more embarrassed about that if things hadn\u2019t worked out so well. I\u2019d never enjoyed school life but I lost interest completely when I discovered music in my early teens. I was just biding my time until I could leave. When my father spotted a job for an apprentice at a music store in Glasgow, I aced the interview and school was history for this laddie.<\/p>\n

2. Why did you want to become a freelance writer? When did you know it was what you wanted to do?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I got married. Not only was tying the knot the best day of my life, it forced me to take a long hard look at myself. I\u2019d been working in the music store for 17 years. I had worked my way up from tea boy and general dogsbody to the big cheese\u2019s second in command. I was earning damn good money, but I wasn\u2019t happy. My better half, Julie, was building a great career in marketing, and I felt like I was letting the side down a bit. Did I really want to be stuck behind a shop counter for the rest of my working life? It was a rhetorical question, easily answered…<\/p>\n

While walking one Sunday afternoon with Julie, I told her how unhappy at work I had become. I felt I was wasting my potential and if I was going to make a career change, I had to do it soon. I’d wanted to be a rock star but got realistic about that when I hit my 30s. She asked me what I wanted to do. I said I\u2019d always wanted to be a writer. Julie said \u2018go for it.\u2019 She would support any decision I made. She always has, bless her.<\/p>\n

I saw a position advertised in a music trade magazine. The job was for a staff writer in that same magazine. Taking it would mean giving up a steady job, moving 500 miles to England and taking a big cut in pay. It would also mean living apart from Julie for three months while she organised the sale of our house in Scotland. We talked it through. It was a great opportunity to learn my craft. I would be a professional writer. More importantly, I would be surrounded by seasoned journalists. These guys would soon let me know if I had what it took to cut it in their world. It was a bold move.<\/p>\n

The job was a baptism of fire. Expecting a plush office, I instead found myself crammed into a tiny attic space with two other journalists, both heavy smokers. Great… I don\u2019t smoke. There was also no air conditioning. The heat in the summer was unbearable. I went home each night drenched in sweat, reeking of cigarettes.<\/p>\n

I was beginning to think that I\u2019d made a big mistake when something interesting happened. The magazine\u2019s editor liked my work. Without any prior experience or training, I was cutting it. I learned to write copy fast; to chase down juicy news stories; I nailed the art of turning a two paragraph press release into an 800 word feature. I became part of a team that often had to put an issue together in nine days. I regularly worked from 8am to 4am the following day… and would have to turn up for work at 8am that same day. Fun. But I learned from the best in the most intense six months of my life.<\/p>\n

After those first six months I got an opportunity to work as a reviews editor on Total Guitar<\/em> magazine. It was, and remains, the biggest selling guitar title in the UK and Europe. It sells well in the US too. I took over the reviews section and set about improving it. I got rid of some existing freelance reviewers, some because they didn\u2019t \u2018get\u2019 the magazine\u2019s demographic, others simply because their writing wasn\u2019t up to scratch. I took on some new contributors, great writers that raised the bar for musical instrument reviews. I became part of a great team. Total Guitar<\/em> is about to celebrate its 200th issue. I\u2019m proud of the fact that I\u2019ve contributed to the last 85 of those issues.<\/p>\n

It was while at Total Guitar<\/em> that I began the Ed\u2019s Shed guitar maintenance column to teach novices how to maintain, service and repair their own equipment. I wanted to save them money and allow them to fix problems fast instead of relying on someone else. The column has been a huge success. I also write cover features and \u2018how to\u2019 guides for the magazine.<\/p>\n

3. If a man wishes to become a freelance writer, how should he best prepare? Is getting a degree in journalism or writing worthwhile? How do you go about breaking into the business and getting your work published?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Although I haven\u2019t gone down that road myself, I think a degree in writing or journalism is absolutely worthwhile. I doubted my own abilities for so long because I had no formal training or qualifications to back up my work. Perhaps I’ll look at getting a degree in the future. Even now, I torture myself a little when I\u2019m putting some copy together. I\u2019ll write a feature a few times over before I\u2019ll admit to being happy with it. Sometimes I think about it for days, then write through the night when the inspiration finally hits. Some stories are easier to write than others. That\u2019s part of the deal with this job. You have to put the work in to produce something you can be proud of. If I\u2019m honest, I still doubt my abilities these days. I temper that with this golden rule: If no one says that you\u2019re messing things up… then you\u2019re not messing things up.<\/p>\n

Breaking into the business is the tough part. There are a lot of writers out there. That said, if you\u2019re good at what you do, you\u2019ll make it. Target those publications that deal with subjects that you are interested in; subjects that you actually know something about. Don\u2019t try to fake it. A good editor will spot a bogus writer straight away. My main expertise is in the history of rock \u2018n\u2019 roll and guitars. I\u2019m also good on vintage cars. I\u2019ll leave landscape gardening tips and motorcycle maintenance to writers that know about that stuff.<\/p>\n

4. How do you market yourself? Do you have any tips on consistently getting your writing published?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Inspired by the positive response from readers to my monthly Ed\u2019s Shed column in Total Guitar<\/em>, I\u2019ve just started my own blog. Called Fix Your Own Damn Guitar<\/a>, it\u2019s a showcase for my magazine work and a journal of the development of my guitar maintenance website. It will also have some stories about my life as a music store worker, some of which are quite bizarre. Ed\u2019s Shed is about to run in US magazine Guitar World<\/em> which has a monthly readership of about 250,000. I\u2019m hoping the blog will lead to a successful website and more writing opportunities.<\/p>\n

Aspiring writers should consider writing some copy for free. You have to get your name out there. A few years ago I emailed the editor at an American publication called Rockabilly Magazine. The guy was interested in my work but couldn\u2019t pay for any copy. I decided the exposure was worth my time and effort, and I began submitting articles. Rockabilly music is a passion of mine so I enjoyed putting the features together. Writing for fun keeps your work fresh… and you\u2019ll be exposed to a whole new set of readers. It doesn\u2019t always have to be about the Benjamin’s…<\/p>\n

If you give the magazine what they want, if your copy is consistently good, they will keep giving you work. Simple as that. Once you’re in, don\u2019t be afraid to suggest feature ideas. Most editors will appreciate your enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

5. How difficult is it to make a living as a freelance writer? Do many writers have other jobs or sources of income on the side?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It can be a tough way to make a living. Some people do get enough work to make it their only job, but most of the freelance writers I know have other sources of income. I run a business importing electric guitars, now that I am back living in Scotland. I still call myself a writer because in my heart that is what I am. With a bit more hustling, I hope to be a full-time freelancer, writing interesting articles for magazines like Esquire. <\/em>I\u2019m also working on some ideas for television with a writing partner. That\u2019s the dream.<\/p>\n

The great thing about freelance writing is that you can do it even if you have a day job. That way you can learn your craft without compromising your living standards. If that sounds like a cop out, it\u2019s not. It\u2019s called being smart.<\/p>\n

\"Edward<\/p>\n

6. What is the best part of your job?<\/strong><\/p>\n

I still get excited when I see my name in print! I don\u2019t think I\u2019ll ever get tired of that. I\u2019ve also \u2018met\u2019 most of my heroes. My job often involves chatting with rock stars, sometimes face to face, sometimes on the phone. I\u2019ve interviewed over 70 guitarists over the past five years from the likes of Joe Perry of Aerosmith to pioneers like the late, great Les Paul.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve downed a few Budweisers with the Dropkick Murphys, tried (and failed) to get a word in edgewise with George Thorogood and chatted to Sonny Curtis of The Crickets about the day he wrote “I Fought The Law.” I\u2019ve had a laugh with Bon Jovi\u2019s Richie Sambora (his definition of the word \u2018wanking\u2019 was very different from the British interpretation). I\u2019ll also never forget my conversation with Bob Wootton, the man who played guitar for Johnny Cash. That was a real career highlight… for me I mean. Perhaps not so much for Bob!<\/p>\n

The job can also involve a bit of travel. On one occasion I was asked to fly to LA to interview Ozzy Osbourne and his guitarist Zakk Wylde. A two-day visit turned into six when Ozzy missed his flight. While I waited for confirmation of the time and location of the interview I blasted round Hollywood in a rented Dodge Charger and ran up a bill at the Beverly Hilton. My wife and I vacation in the States twice a year so I wasn\u2019t too put out by Ozzy\u2019s tardiness. When the interview finally happened the first thing Zakk Wylde said to me was \u2018Hey man, have you still got that 14-inch cock?\u2019 I\u2019d never met him before. I just nodded my head and said \u2018ah, my reputation precedes me\u2019. What was I supposed to say? No? I knew the feature was going to be great from that point on. It practically wrote itself.<\/p>\n

I still get a tingle of excitement before I do an interview. If you ever get complacent about picking up a phone and hearing a voice say, \u2018Hi, this is Jimmy Page,\u2019 well, this job isn\u2019t for you…<\/p>\n

7. What is the worst part of your job?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Writer\u2019s block is a bitch. Most writers experience it at some point. I\u2019ve had my fair share. There\u2019s nothing more terrifying to a writer on a deadline than staring at a blank computer screen waiting for inspiration to strike. It\u2019s mental constipation. In my experience there are two ways to deal with it: write down anything you can think of relating to your subject, then look for that killer first or last line. The rest of the piece will follow. The second method is to simply walk away and come back to it later. That does help. A looming deadline is also a good motivator.<\/p>\n

The other worst part of the job is that, in a sense, real rock \u2018n\u2019 roll journalism is dead. There\u2019s so much money tied up in the music industry these days that record companies and PR people won\u2019t risk their artist\u2019s public image. Positive spin is the name of the game. The days when rock writers like Lester Bangs and Steven Rosen would go on the road with a band, and live the rock \u2018n\u2019 roll lifestyle themselves, are pretty much over. These days you\u2019re more likely to get a 30 minute \u2018phoner\u2019 with an artist. I\u2019ve had anything from a 13-minute chat with M\u00f6tley Cr\u00fce bassist Nikki Sixx – I had to turn that into a 1,400 word feature – to an hour and a half with Aerosmith\u2019s Joe Perry. The time you\u2019re alloted can vary a lot.<\/p>\n

8. What\u2019s the work\/family\/life balance like?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unless you\u2019re doing a lot of travelling, freelance writing shouldn\u2019t negatively affect your family life. If you\u2019re on a tight deadline you might find yourself typing through a few late nights but that\u2019s about it. I find that I need total peace and quiet to write, so late nights work best.<\/p>\n

My wife Julie encourages my writing. I read most of my work to her to make sure that it flows well and makes sense. Writing doesn\u2019t have to be a lonely profession!<\/p>\n

9. What is the biggest misconception people have about your job?<\/strong><\/p>\n

That it\u2019s highly paid! Unless you\u2019re a big name columnist or a novelist living off a fat advance, freelance writing is not a get rich quick scheme. Do it because you love it. There are easier ways to make money, but few are so satisfying.<\/p>\n

10. Any other advice, tips, or anecdotes you’d like to share?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Develop your own voice and learn how to make it work on the page. There are rules that you must follow: good grammar is essential; your spelling better be spot on. Allowing your personality to shine through in a written piece is important too. We can\u2019t all be Hunter S. Thompson or James Ellroy, but you can try to make your writing recognisably yours. That\u2019s the element that makes people want to read what you\u2019ve written… and look forward to reading your work again.<\/p>\n

Know your subject inside out. Do your research. If you\u2019re not sure about something, look it up. There\u2019s no excuse for silly mistakes like misspelling someone\u2019s name or getting an album title wrong.<\/p>\n

When you approach an editor looking for work, don\u2019t send any unsolicited material. Only send examples of your work when specifically requested to do so. Consider setting up a blog or website to showcase your work. It\u2019s then ok to direct an editor to your site through an introductory email. If you are asked to submit copy, study the publication in detail. You want your work to fit the \u2018style\u2019 of the magazine. Every magazine is different so don\u2019t assume that the way you write will work for every publisher. Put the time in and get it right.<\/p>\n

Finally, and in many ways most importantly, there are a couple of things that I always consider when I write. I keep it simple and I always think about the reader.<\/p>\n

In my opinion, bad writers try to show off with big words. If you don\u2019t use a word in everyday life, don\u2019t write it down. It\u2019s that simple. Letting your ego get in the way of a good story will get you canned from any decent magazine. I\u2019ve seen too many CD reviews where the writer had spent so much time showing off that it was impossible to tell whether they had actually enjoyed the music or not. That\u2019s unforgivable. Simplify your work. Go through it and take out unnecessary words or whole sentences. The final draft will flow better.<\/p>\n

Remember that someone is going to be reading your work. Think about them. Who are they? What knowledge will they have of your subject matter? If you\u2019re writing about The Beatles, The Munsters or 50s \u2018Lead Sleds\u2019 and your readership is predominantly young, don\u2019t assume they know everything that you do. You have a responsibility to guide them through the story. If you don\u2019t, they\u2019ll lose interest in what you\u2019re trying to say. Speaking of which, I hope I\u2019ve done my job well here… and you\u2019ve made it to the end of this interview!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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