Freelance Resource Monday: The Renegade Writer

The Renegade Writer by Linda Formichelli and Diana Burrell was the first freelance writing book I ever purchased. I was in New York at a college journalism convention and for some reason, broke as I was, I decided I had to have the book.

I've read it a couple of times since then, and you'd know instantly it's an often-used tome by the pages that are dog-eared, by the underlining and stars and the notes throughout.

What I love most about The Renegade Writer is exactly what you'd guess from the title: It bucks the rules. It is, as the tagline states, an unconventional guide to freelance success. Many freelance writing "rules" are made to be followed. But a whole lot of them can be ignored, I learned from Formichelli and Burrell, and you can still reach success. In fact, you'll get quicker responses from editors, you'll earn more for your work, and you'll thrive as a freelance writer.

The other thing that really stands out about the book is the way it's written. It's conversational and casual and even a bit snarky in places. Formichelli and Burrell are honest and aren't afraid to share their insider secrets and fill you in exactly what has—and hasn't—worked for them.

Plus it's inspiring. These writers have made it and, armed with their pointers, it's possible the rest of us can too.

Since the relase of The Renegade Writer in 2003, the authors have also written The Renegade Writer's Query Letters That Rock. (I haven't checked it out yet, but it is on my to-read list.) And, perhaps best of all, they blog away about their renegade ways at The Renegade Writer Blog.