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1. Editor and Freelance Writer
EDITOR
Mariana Toscas, MFA
Managing Editor, Journal of Property
Management (JPM)
The Institute of Real Estate
Management (IREM)
FREELANCER
Kristin Gunderson Hunt
Freelance writer for business
publications and marketing
communications departments
at several large Chicago
corporations

2. EDITOR: Build a trusted base
of freelancers
FREELANCER: Build a trusted
base of employers/publishers
•Try a new freelancer on a less visible/high-impact project
You get an idea of their skills and they get an idea of your
organization.
•Ease a new freelancer into a new assignment by first giving
context for the organization
(audience, members, readers, etc.)
•Accompany every story with story instructions, including
potential sources, specific points to be included, and any specific
editorial guidelines
How this helps you: By the time the story comes in, you
might forget what you originally assigned; plus, serves as
a paper trail if the story has gone awry
How this helps freelancer: ensures you get what you
want and that the freelancer doesn’t waste time or get
confused. Helps build trust.
*Give a “faux” deadline (about a week or more before the
actual) and check in with freelancer often in order to deal
with problems as they occur and not after the story needs to
be finished.
•Find your niche: Write about topics you
know and understand, and then prove yourself
an expert to those publications targeting that
niche.
•Quality over Quantity: Worry less about
writing for a multitude of publications, and
focus on being an indispensible resource for a
few publications that will give you repeat
business; you can expand your scope over
time.
•Get Familiarized: Be extremely familiar
with the publications in which you want to
be published and the industries they target.
Translate that knowledge into well-thought-out
pitches, substantiated by research that no
editor can turn down. A freelancer with an on-
point story idea will get work well before one
that is merely sending out resumes.
*Network: If you are trying to expand the
number of publications for which you write,
rely on contacts from prior jobs, attend
networking events, market yourself on
LinkedIn.

3. EDITOR: OK Before You Pay FREELANCER: If You Want to Get Paid
•Agree beforehand on scope and price.
•What is your maximum word count?
•How flexible are you on the freelancer
going over?
•Read a story immediately upon receipt
•A busy or distracted editor can easily set
a story aside without thoroughly reading
or reviewing it.
•Don’t end up paying for work that you
can’t use.
Potential problems: Being stuck with
extra words: Can’t fit story into layout
and/or have to spend time cutting words,
which can leave the story with holes
Too few words: You’re going to be over
reliant on photos or filler—worse yet—the
story might be completely non viable.
Guess what?
*If you have already paid without
checking first, you could be down on
time, money, and reputation.
•Follow directions
•This includes story instructions and editorial
guidelines
•Keep the lines of communication open
throughout the writing process. Contact the
editor as soon as possible if you:
•Have Questions: Ask questions if you don’t
entirely understand an assignment.
•Run Into Roadblocks: You’re running into
roadblocks or if your research is pointing in the
opposite direction of the assignment.
•Struggle staying within the word-count
parameters: Before turning in the story, offer
valid reasons and possible solutions to why
and how the story should be lengthened or
shortened.
•Risk Missing A Deadline: Meet deadlines or
tell the editor in advance if you anticipate
missing a deadline. If work is late, make sure
it’s exceptional and requires little editing.
*Sign a contract regarding rates, kill fees, word-
count overages or other editorial policies; rates
should be agreed upon prior to fulfilling the
article.

4. EDITOR: Ensure the content’s
validity
FREELANCER: Assure your
content’s validity
Check Sources: in every story you receive.
Even if you were clear in your story
instructions, some freelancers can get
confused on what constitutes a “member” or
other specific source type that might seem
clear to you.
Help provide sources: and/or approve
sources before the story is written. Chances
are you are in a better position to provide the
freelancer with viable contacts.
*Getting a good story benefits the editor
and the freelancer. The more information
you can provide, the better the story.
Source List: Provide your editor with a list
of sources and their contact information.
Ask about the publication’s policy
regarding the review of quotes/attribution by
sources
*Does the publication have any
requirements regarding featuring
members and how are you supposed to
go about accessing these members?