For most freelancers, just selling an article they've slaved over is reward enough. But that doesn't mean you should settle for what an interested editor offers. Rather, it should be the cue for you to start bargaining. Read on for five successful negotiation tips every writer should know.

1. Don't make the first offer. If your editor asks you for a rate first, ask what she thinks is fair. If she turns the question back on you, press for an answer. You'll never know what she thinks is fair until she names a price. If you make the first move, you could undersell yourself.

Hey there, Beginning Writer.

It's admirable you should want to become a freelance writer in today's market. Competition is fierce, with so many layoffs and former staffers being shifted over to vetted freelancers (see this wonderful yet depressing article in Slate). And pay rates are sad, sad, sad.

But you've determined you want to give it a shot, and who am I to dissuade you? Here's how I'd recommend beginning.

by Linda Formichelli

What do your online activities say about you to potential employers?

Experts say a resume is nothing more than a piece of paper, that it won't get you a job. Ha! After being on both the hiring and the hired ends, I can tell you resumes do matter. I study them hard when I get them, and that's easier to do when they're in an electronic format.

You're not far from producing an e-resume, since you probably have a resume stored on your computer somewhere. However, before you send it around, remember that it's probably in a funky format that doesn't jive with an employer's computer system -- the whole Mac vs. PC thing.

Electro-Compatibility

From the way editors talk, you might think guidelines are actually worth something. "Don't you dare submit a query," they tell you, "until you've acquired, studied and memorized our guidelines."

They say it like it's easy. But you know better. You know the truth of writing a request for guidelines one week, and perhaps getting a response three weeks later. That's if you're lucky. And by the time you've actually read through the thing and conformed your query to its constrictions, they're probably out of date.

Unless you chop an arm off, you can have a hard time finding medical coverage as a freelance writer or editor. Rates are high, deductibles are even higher, and coverage is low.

There's no easy solution for finding insurance as a freelancer, but there are some resources that can help you find some semi-decent rates. Here's a list of options that might help you when you're undertaking the onerous task of insuring yourself.

By Dan Rohn

Be Realistic.

If a company is seeking an editor with 8 to 10 years experience at a major metropolitan newspaper and you've only got three years at a small daily, it's probably not wise to apply. You'll be wasting your time and the employer's time, and you'll force them to weed through unqualified applications. Stay within your range. Maybe apply for an editor (or comparable) position at a medium-sized newspaper.

Don't Misrepresent Your Experience.

by Ken Gordon

HI, I'M KEN GORDON, Associate Editor of 1099, the mother of all online self-employment magazines. How are ya?

Me, I'm annoyed.

I've just been reviewing the clips of a would-be 1099 writer -- actually, "reviewing" isn't quite the right word; I've been reformatting. Unlike most of the clips I receive, these weren't e-mail attachments or faxes or a list of links. They came in disk form. Hand-delivered. With great care and superb packaging. Which would have been dandy, except the shiny green iMac 1099 gave me to work on has no disk drive.