Freelance: Adding a Little Extra


When we think about writing an article, we often limit it to the article itself. Did you know that many markets also seek shorter ancillary pieces?

In today’s Tuesday Tip, we’ll explore what it means when a magazine requests “extras.”

An extra is a second or even third piece that adds value to the original article. It’s shorter. It ties in with your main article theme. It might be a quiz, a sidebar with bulleted information, or even a great photo.

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Let’s say that you are writing a query for a magazine addressing social justice issues, titled, “Fighting for Fairness.” You notice in the most recent Christian Writers Market Guide that a particular magazine pays for extras.

The good news is you probably already have an extra waiting to be developed! When you researched the proposed article, you accumulated a lot of information.

For example, you could propose a bulleted sidebar in the article and title it, “Five Ways to Fight Fair.”

You could propose a quiz titled, “Put Up Your Dukes” that offers 5 questions with true/false answers about how to use your faith in the fight for fairness.

If you were personally involved in a fight for justice, you could offer photos that you took that reflect that event or you praying with a team before setting out on a mission (only with permission of all in the photo on both counts).

In most instances, extras are worth additional pay. However, they also offer additional value for the editor and reader, which makes you that much more valuable as a writer to this publication.

Your Turn

What freelance article are you currently working on that can be enhanced by the extras Suzie mentions? Take a moment and leave a comment about the ideas do you have for a sidebar, quiz, photo, or bullet list to enhance your piece? To learn more about writing impactful freelance articles, click here to enroll in Suzie Eller’s course Mastering the Art of Writing Freelance Articles. 

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Comments

  1. Amazing blog! Do you have any hints for aspiring writers? I’m hoping to start my own website soon but I’m a little lost on everything. Would you suggest starting with a free platform like WordPress or go for a paid option? There are so many choices out there that I’m completely confused .. Any tips? Appreciate it!