A quick thanks to Rebecca for inviting me to take part in her collaborative blogging project here at Writer’s Round-About. A good beginning, as we all know, should throw readers right into the middle of the action. But there’s also nothing wrong with a tightly-written prologue.

It was a dark and stormy night… no, I’m kidding! This story begins with a writer and editor who found her passion in guiding young wordsmiths (“newbies,” we call them in the trenches) through the often-rough terrain of the freelance landscape. I want to write fiction badly (and I do.) But I make my living from magazine articles, blogs, marketing material and the like. If you’re just starting out, you can glean good tidbits from the tips I share.

To begin, here are three basic rules for freelance success.

• Learn the basics.

  This seems so obvious, but many writers want to pursue their goal of getting published before they’ve learned the mechanics of good grammar, tight writing, how and when to incorporate quotes, what makes a good lead, etc.

  Unlike talent, tenacity and persistence, the basics *can* be taught. Writing is a competitive field and writers have enough factors working against their success. Do yourself a favor and learn the basics first. You wouldn’t call yourself a mechanic if you didn’t know how to use a wrench, would you?

  Grammar, flow, pacing, word usage, interview skills, etc. are a writer’s *tools*. With these tools, we can create great, publishable work. You may have a captivating story to tell, but without the basic storytelling tools in place, no editor will take you seriously.

  Some writers say, “Fixing my grammar is the editor’s job.”

  No, it’s not.

  There are too many writers out there who know how to use the basic tools of the trade. An editor will hire them, instead, because those writers make the editor’s job easier.

  It is also not an editor’s job to teach you these skills. There are plenty of resources available. Start with Strunk & White’s Elements of Style. Read William Zissner’s On Writing Well. If those aren’t sinking in, start with a basic grammar book or take a course.

  Good writing begins with the basics.

• Observe and absorb.

  Ideas are all around us. A good writer swallows these ideas, savoring every taste like a ravenous lion. Pay attention to the way people talk, how they respond to certain stimulus, how they act in one situation or another. People-watch. Eavesdrop. Listen.

  As a writer who writes a lot of interview-based features, I am often tempted to “space out” during interviews, especially when I know my recorder is catching it all. Don’t.

  Focus on what your subject is saying, so you don’t miss the perfect follow-up question. Besides, people are that much more forthcoming when they know you’re paying attention and are truly interested in what they have to say.

• This one has nothing to do with typing letters into a Word document: Be easy to work with.

  This encompasses many aspects of freelance writing. Knowing how to follow writer’s guidelines makes you easy to work with. Happily re-writing when an editor requests it makes you easy to work with. Not squawking when an editor alters your precious prose, but, instead, studying what he did so you can improve your work next time makes you an editor’s dream. Delivering the story you pitched in your query makes it more likely the editor will hire you again.

Oh, and, finally… just being a friendly, nice person, with a kind word for your editor every now and then will set you apart. All other factors being equal, an editor is more likely to hire the writer she enjoys working with than the arrogant know-it-all or even the stick-in-the-mud who has skill but less personality than a wet rag. That’s life.

This isn’t all you need to know about freelancing, but these three tips alone can get you far.