A freelance magazine writer writes articles for one or more magazines on a freelance basis, usually without a set contract, and is not a regular employee of the publication. Freelance writers are usually hired to write articles for publications or websites, but they are not considered regular employees in terms of benefits, schedules, offices, or other aspects of standard employment. A freelance magazine writer works from home or a small office and looks for magazines that need additional articles beyond what the regular staff writers are producing for a given period of time.
Finding a story to write about, conducting the research necessary to write an article, writing the article, and revising it so it is ready for publication are just a few of the responsibilities of a freelance magazine writer. Some magazines may have specific stories in mind that they want a freelance writer to research and write, while others may simply need to fill space or a regular thematic segment and need an article written. In either case, a freelance writer will gather information about the article, such as its length and tone, and conduct research to write it. The writer will then write and revise the article before submitting it to the magazine for publication.
The type of contract and agreement that the writer has with the publication is one of the major differences between staff writers at a magazine and freelance magazine writers. A contract for at-will employment with a magazine will typically include a minimum number of articles per month or year, specific pay and benefits, and provisions regarding offices and other work expenses. A freelance magazine writer’s contract with a publication, on the other hand, usually only specifies the type of work expected of the writer and the payment for a specific article or series of articles.
The majority of magazine freelance writers do not receive benefits from the publication, such as health insurance or retirement plans. While a freelance magazine writer’s earnings may be reduced as a result of this, the writer typically has more freedom. A freelance writer is not bound to a single publication and may work for several at the same time, contributing articles to a variety of publications. Though a freelance writer’s contract with a publication may include non-competition clauses prohibiting the writer from working with certain other publications while working on an article, these clauses are usually easy to work around.