The Story Behind the Story: Getting Published in The Boston Globe
“The Story Behind the Story” is a behind-the-scenes series on the essays and articles I’ve published in various outlets. By sharing information on pitches, rejections, and lessons learned (all the information I wish I’d had when I was starting out), I hope to help other writers who are trying to establish a successful writing career. (Disclosure: Any link below with an * is an affiliate link, which means I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase.)
When I decided two years ago to become a full-time freelance writer, I was overwhelmed by the possibilities. I didn’t know where to begin. Who knew there were so many options? Social Media Content Creator is a thing? What the hell is SEO??
I spent months Googling the topic, eventually homing in on the writing I wanted to do (personal essays, articles, blog posts) vs. what I didn’t want to do (copywriting, sales, marketing). From there, I ordered books on how to write, pitch ideas, and launch a freelance writing career:
- The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing* by Zachary Petit
- Writer’s Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing* by Kerrie Flanagan
- Writer’s Market: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published*
- On Writing* by Stephen King
