How I landed, juggled and completed a baker's dozen of projects and how you can, too.

How I landed, juggled and completed a baker's dozen of projects and how you can too! By David Geer During April - May (2003) I completed 13 simultaneous projects. I pitched an antiques magazine on a tip from a gallery about the recovery of North Carolina's Bill of Rights. The publication assigned the news item. The story suited their readership; I had also sent a previous query, which though rejected was well written. The news release gave me contacts. I developed solid interview questions in order to cover the topic thoroughly. It wasn't hard to turn around in a few hours, spread out over some days. They paid $1/word. I landed an assignment about a new technology by approaching a magazine's news editor with my availability. They needed someone experienced and he assigned me the topic. This editor provided a detailed template. This article paid $1,000. I received an article published in an engineering publication (randomly, by e-mail). There was mention that the author had gone on leave. On the chance that they might need someone, I looked them up. They needed someone in Ohio to pitch ongoing stories. I pitched an idea that was perfect for a grouping of pieces about to be published. If I could complete it in a few days, the assignment was mine. After looking up a local source that was a big part of the story, it wasn't hard to find the other participants. The editor of a legal publication called upon getting wind of my research for another project. He wondered if I had ideas for a spin-off. I pitched a spin-off that looked at the topic from multiple angles and he liked it immediately. The assignment paid $1,500. Prior research eased the process. I am a contributing writer for a wireless publication. I pitched a three-part series on space shuttle wireless, coincidentally just after the Columbia tragedy. They were looking for pieces about wireless that works and liked the idea. I used the same research for all three pieces. A real estate appraiser contacted me. He needed marketing letters and other work (three projects to start). He provided samples, which saved research time. More work is coming, at $75/hour. I have been working for a consultant. I take IT interviews and write them up. The consultant approached me about two new topics and with a "can do" attitude I assured him I could handle it. He originally found me through someone he hired especially to find people just like me. The only deadline was ASAP; I was fortunate to turn them in at a good clip. I submit poetry. Finally, a publisher in NY accepted a poem. I had been following their guidelines faithfully for a while. Because they were responsive, I believed they would eventually publish my work. They advised a rewrite; once I understood what was needed, I completed it in an hour or so, to everyone's liking. Here are some additional lessons from this experience. Take in news releases about topics you even MIGHT like to write about. Pitch stories that FASCINATE you. KNOW the markets for your ideas ahead of time. Write great queries about great ideas EVERY time. Persevere. Follow up on leads that seem to come from out of NOWHERE and from EVERYWHERE. Make SACRIFICES to take on assignments that are worthwhile. Try to get more work out of people who are already assigning you projects. Market yourself. Be available. Say, "Yes, I can!" and then make sure you do. Build relationships. Pitch and submit to the same people over and over until they use you.