Online Freelance Writing vs Print Writing Projects

Are you a freelance writer or thinking about getting into getting into the freelance writing game on either a full-time or part-time basis? Although I’m currently working full-time as an in-house Internet Marketing Coordinator, I always try to have a couple of freelance projects on the side to bring in a bit of extra income. But that brings up the next question, should you write for print publications or just concentrate on online digital projects?

I actually do a little bit of both. Let me back track: Hello, my name is Lynn Smythe, I am the Founder and Chief Blogger for The Creative Cottage lifestyle blog. This posts shares some of my history writing for both print and online publications. FYI: Here is the link to my Amazon Author Central page if you want to take a look: https://www.amazon.com/Lynn-Smythe/e/B00IPGUVTG

Print vs Online Publishing

Digital Content Specialist, SEO Copywriter, Content Manager, Marketing Communications Strategist – these are just a few of my titles I’ve had as a freelance and in-house writer over the years. I actually have over 23 years experience as a content writer. Yikes, now all y’all know that I’m an old lady – ha ha! My initial foray into freelancing was writing individual articles for different print publications.

Writing for books, magazines and yearly anthologies is a long and drawn out process. It might be a few months or more than a year from the time you send out your initial query, or pitch, to the time the article actually gets published. And most print publications don’t pay you, the writer, until the magazine or anthology hits the news stand. That means you can end up waiting a long time for payment.

So, that’s how I ended up getting into online writing. You usually get paid shortly after or even before your article goes live. I can write an article, upload it to the clients website or my own blog in the case of a sponsored blog post, then send the link to the publisher for their review. But, this post isn’t getting into the in-depth, nitty gritty details of getting paid, that topic is best left for a future post.

Lynn Smythe Featured Artist

I’m featured in a few books and magazines written and edited by other authors, editors and publishers. This includes either being quoted in the article, having my beadwork featured in a book or writing an article or entire chapter for a book or yearly anthology.

1. The Sea; Selections From the 1st International Miyuki Delica Challenge. My dolphin themed beaded amulet bag is featured on pages 44-45. Edited by Barry Kahn, published by Caravan Beads Inc.
2. Beading with Peyote Stitch by Jeannette Cook & Vicki Star. One of my beaded needle cases is featured on page 101 of this book. Published by Interweave Press.
3. Creative Cash; How to Profit From Your Special Artistry, Creativity, Hand Skills and Related Know-How – pages 19, 91-92, 242-243. 6th edition, by Barbara Brabec, Prima Publishing.
4. The New Macrame by Katie DuMont. I wrote two chapters for this book. My beaded macrame projects are featured on pages 27, 41-43, 96-98. Published by Lark Books.
5. Make It Profitable by Barbara Brabec; pages 21, 32, 124, 145, 154, 169, 171. Published by M. Evans & Company.
6. “Insight – Bead Artists”; August 2000 issue The Crafts Report; page 17.
7. “101 Things You’ll Need for Every Craft Show” by Barbara Brabec; August 1999 issue The Crafts Report; pages 26-27, 61.
8. “Something for Everybody”; January/February 1999 issue of the Tampa Bay Bead Society newsletter; page 5.

Lynn Smythe’s Print Publications

In the past I have written how-to articles for a variety of magazines and yearly anthologies. Here is a listing of my published magazine articles.

A few of these publications, like Veggie Life and Jewelry Crafts, are no longer in business. I silently cry whenever I hear of another print publication closing their pages for the last time – geek much!?! LOL.

Gardening & Cooking Publications

Old Farmer’s Almanac

• 2006 edition – “Boo! Scaring Up the Ancient Traditions of Halloween” – pages 130-131.

BackHome

• March/April 2005 – Herbaceous Salad Bowl – pp 63-64
• May/June 2005 – Edible Flowers – pp 29-31
• Nov/Dec 2005 – Holiday Herbs & Spices – pp 63-64
• Nov/Dec 2008 – Traditional Blends of Herb & Spice – pp 24-27

The Essential Herbal

• Issue? – Wonderful World of Weeds – pp 24-26
• March/April 2005 – Magic in the Kitchen – pp 5-8
• May/June 2005 – Herbal Picnic Basket – pp 11-15

The Herb Quarterly

• Fall 2003 – Halloween’s Herbal Legends – pp 38-41
• Spring 2004 – A Spring Floral Brunch – pp 44-48
• Winter 2004 – The Doctrine of Signatures – pp 36-39
• Winter 2005 – The Art & Craft of the Apothecary – pp 50-54

Veggie Life

• Winter 2005-2006 – Cranberry Pecan Salad with Herb-Orange Dressing – p 59

Craft Publications

Altered Arts

• May/June 2006 – Clown Album

Beadwork

• Fall 1998 – Beaded Needle Case
• Summer 1999 – Patterns
• Winter 2000 – How-to Start a Bead Society in Your Free Time
• December 2000/January 2001 – Flower Garden Loom-Woven Bracelet

Jewelry Crafts

• May/June 1997 – A Lovely Lacy Miniature Pouch
• November/December 1997 – Beaded Comanche Rosettes
• May/June 1998 – Beaded Beads & Macrame
• September/October 1998 – Amulet Bag Earrings
• January/February 1999 – The Art of Glass Fusing
• March/April 1999 – Make a Mini Amulet Bag

Lapidary Journal

• September 1997 – Bead-Netted Cabochon
• July 1998 – Macrame Beaded Earrings
• April 1999 – Loom-Woven Bracelet

Llewellyn Publications

I’ve had quite a few articles published in Llewellyn’s yearly almanacs. Here is a list of those articles, and the year they were published.

Llewellyn’s 2004 Herbal Almanac

• The Story of the Edible Herbal Flower – pp 83-100
• Medieval and Renaissance Strewing Herbs – pp 233-246

Llewellyn’s 2005 Herbal Almanac

• Monastic Herb Gardens – pp 9-22
• Herbal Thanksgiving Celebration – pp 99-114

Llewellyn’s 2006 Herbal Almanac

• Red Herbs of Chinese Medicine – pp 133-144

Llewellyn’s 2007 Herbal Almanac

• Thanks for the Memories – pp 145-154

Llewellyn’s 2007 Magical Almanac

• Magic Wands & Wizards Staffs

 Llewellyn’s 2007 Witches Datebook

• Making Magical Inks

Llewellyn’s 2008 Herbal Almanac

• Organic Gardening Practices – pp 49-58
• Breakfast & Brunch Delights – pp 89-98
• The Herbal Alchemist – pp 251-260

 Llewellyn’s 2008 Witches Calendar

• Common Scents

Llewellyn’s 2016 Magical Almanac

• Unlock Your Inner Spirituality with the Magical Power of Water

Contact Lynn Smythe

I’ve decided to start writing for a few print publications after a brief hiatus. I’ll keep you all updated when I get any new article queries accepted along with the name of the publication and projected date of publication.

If you’d like to contact me to write an article for your book, magazine or anthology, send an email to: lynn@thecreativecottage.net. I look forward to hearing from you!

FYI: I’m also a Contributing Writer on Arianna Huffington’s health and wellness website Thrive Global: https://thriveglobal.com/authors/lynn-smythe/. If you subscribe to HARO (Help A Reporter Out) you’ll occasionally see my requests looking for subject matter experts to interview and product samples for in-depth product reviews. So, within reason, I’m open to connecting with brands, PR agencies and marketing reps.

Take care,
Lynn Smythe of The Creative Cottage

© 2020, The Creative Cottage. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.