How to Submit Your Writing Like a Pro, Make a Good Impression, and Get Paid to Write

If you want to get paid to write for Barefoot Writer Magazine – or any other client, for that matter – you want to make a good impression when you submit your writing. Careless errors could make you look unprofessional, and might affect whether or not your submission is accepted. When you’re submitting files for real writing jobs, it’s a good idea to make sure everything is as polished as possible. 

We’ve compiled a list of tips to make sure you always submit your best work. Follow them, and you’ll have a much higher chance of editors accepting your submission, leading to you getting more paid freelance writing jobs from them in the future. 

Read the submission guidelines and follow them to the letter. It seems like an obvious step, but in reality, this is one of the most important things you can do – and something too often overlooked by novice writers. When you’re nervous and excited about submitting your writing, it’s easy to forget things. So before you hit the “send” button, read and then re-read the submission guidelines. Pay attention to everything, especially word count and formatting guidelines. And above all, don’t forget to put your name on the actual submission! (You’d be surprised how often this doesn’t happen…) 

Use Microsoft Word unless you’re told otherwise. Microsoft Word is the industry standard. 

Name your file appropriately and include your name in the file name. That helps the client keep track of your file. 

Include your name and contact information in the document unless instructed otherwise. Your file will probably be saved in a folder separate from the email you send. By including your contact info in the document, you ensure the editor knows who wrote the piece and how to contact you, even if it’s reviewed by someone else. 

Check for typos and errors, at least twice! Even the best, most experienced writers can miss typos in their own writing. You’ll have the best chance of catching errors with one of these two tricks: First, read you writing out loud, slowly. You’re more likely to hear errors that your eyes miss. Second, start at the end of your piece, and read it one sentence at a time from the end, working your way back to the beginning. Reading “backwards” like this is more likely to highlight any errors you might miss when reading normally. 

Following these tips will help you submit your writing error-free. Plus, it shows the client that you’re a professional, increasing the chance that they’d like to work with you again. 

Note: We’re always looking for new writers and new content for Barefoot Writer! If you’d like to write for us, please see our Submission Guidelines.  

If you’ve always dreamed of writing for a living, we can help! Join Barefoot Writer today.