Value-adding your writing for added income

Want to make more income from an article for a print or Web publication? You can, when you add value.

You can add value in many ways. Consider:

* A sidebar or two. Sidebars give additional information. For example, if you’re writing an article about dieting, you could add a sidebar about debunked diets;

* Photographs. These can be photos you’ve taken, or photos you’ve sourced. If you source the photos from a stock photography library, make sure you can pass on the rights to the publication;

* A quiz. Editors love quizzes, because readers enjoy them;

* Additional resources – books, movies, Web sites, etc to give readers more information about the article’s topic.

Important tip – clear your value-adds with your editor

Before you go to the trouble of value-adding, suggest the additional material to your editor. If she says yes, ask how much extra the publication will pay. Make sure that your agreement covers the payment for your value-adds.

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