Getting writing work: do your research first and then pitch

Many writers, when they’re looking for work, send around their CV.

This is a VERY ineffective tactic. Everyone’s busy. Who has time to read a CV, and then work out how they can use your talents? CVs, resumes, and blatant statements like: Hi, I’m Mary Jane Writer, and I’ve written blah, blah, blah… do you have work for me?

Mary Jane, it’s YOUR job to find out what I do, and how YOU can help me to do it better, faster and cheaper.

Therefore, you should always focus on a pitch as your primary selling tool.

When you send a pitch, it’s read. Your pitch is offering to solve a problem. If you send me a letter offering to solve a problem for me, I’ll read it with close attention.

Pitches are your primary tool for getting work from businesses, and they will also get you commissions from magazine and book publishers.

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