eing an international writer can be tricky. Freelancer problems like getting paid on time, proving your writing capabilities, meeting clients on a mutually optimal time, and keeping up with trends become a bit more problematic when you are in a different country or even on a different continent than your clients.

But this post isn’t about the challenges. It’s about how to become a successful international writer via tips from writers who have overcome these issues and got that seemingly elusive first break. (Most of the tips can also apply to all writers, however.)

I’m an international writer myself. I’m currently based in Turkey, and I have mostly worked with international clients. I’ve been published on The Washington Post, Be a Freelance Blogger, Brazen Blog, and WOW! Women on Writing, among many others. I have three screenplays meant for Hollywood studios, and one was even a semi-finalist in a screenwriting competition. While there is still a long way for me to go, I’m climbing that high ladder with all I’ve got.

My first writing assignments came in the most cliché way possible: via a free job board. Even though my writing portfolio until then consisted of essays and screenplays, I landed a business writing gig using my bachelor’s degree.

It’s true that you don’t need a degree to find work as a freelance writer. However, it doesn’t hurt to showcase your education when it is directly related to a particular job. And if you don’t have any clips in the niche, it definitely goes a long way.

I got my next gig through my love and abundant knowledge of music. Afterward, I landed my first paying guest post on the Make a Living Writing blog by finding a slant about freelancing that was unique to me. Then I kept pitching, getting rejected, but also getting published.

Now that you know how I got my start, let’s move on to some more international freelance writers:

My good friend Olga Mecking is Polish, married to a German, and lives in The Netherlands. And she primarily writes in English. She has been published on The Washington Post, NYP, Ravishly, Mamalode, Babble, and Matador, among others. She basically created her own break. First, she started her own blog, The European Mama, and kept writing and pitching about being an expat mom. She also writes about technology, traveling, and whatever else inspires her.

“I started out slowly. First, I had a blog about being an expat mother in the Netherlands. Then, I noticed I was having readers, and I was added to blogger groups. I started writing guest posts and noticed that people enjoyed my ideas. That’s how I had the idea that maybe I could submit my writing to other places. My first ones were unpaid: I syndicated my blog posts on HuffPost and BlogHer (now SheKnows). And after a while, it hit me that maybe I could start being paid for my writing? At that time, I found myself in other writers’ groups, and they shared many great tips and editors’ contacts. Since I’m someone who has more ideas than I know what to do with, I started pitching publications. Basically, it all came down to good ideas, good connections, hard work, and lots of luck.”

Bernadette Geyer is a writer, editor, and translator living in Germany. When asked about her first big break, she says that it wasn’t really a first big break, but rather “a series of many little breaks that, when I looked back, are what mattered.” Geyer recommends being organized and dedicated. She knows there will be days when you won’t want to work, but you still have to. She also advises having a plan for topics you want to focus on as well as publications and companies you want to target. According to Geyer, persistence is another key element to succeeding as an international writer:

“If you are pitching to magazines, don’t just give up if you don’t hear from the editor you pitched. If you don’t hear back in a week or two, send an email to follow up (...unless their guidelines state otherwise). Also, editors change. If you pitched one editor at a magazine who said no, but a new editor steps in, pitch the new editor with your idea. After pitching, following up, re-pitching, following up, pitching the new editor, and following up—over the course of more than 1.5 years!—I finally landed a contract for a feature article in a major food magazine I knew was the perfect place for my story idea.”

Gila Green is based in Israel and writing is her family’s second income. This mother of five has a new YA novel called No Way Home (from Simon Pulse, an imprint of Simon & Schuster) available for preorder on Amazon. She believes being an international writer has certain advantages, such as focusing on writing instead of trying to attend all available workshops and conferences. Another advantage is the different sense of place that can benefit you as a fiction writer as well as having a fresh voice. She advises using the Internet to its full capacity to network.

“Don’t assume you are the ONLY one writing in English in your area. You don’t need to meet one hundred writing partners; one excellent partner is invaluable. Ask around. You’d be surprised. I met a writer at a seminar in Montreal who told me about another Canadian writer who ended up living only thirty minutes away from me in Israel.”

Suchi Rudra is a digital nomad currently on the road. She is an established freelance writer and the author of the book, Travel More, Work Less, and blogs about traveling. While she loves life on the road, she recommends sorting out your online work before starting your journey. The book consists of nine chapters, beginning with the first steps required to take the leap into freelancing while traveling, and includes helpful sections on accommodations, finding work online, cheap transport, and more. Because of the challenges of being a freelancer on the move, she advises meeting fellow traveling freelancers and discussing these. She doesn’t just rely on travel stories but writes in other niches (sustainable building/design, education, entrepreneurship) as well. She notes that working with European publications can be different than working with American ones.

“I have noticed that a few of my British editors prefer a Skype call instead of going back and forth over email. Also, some British editors seem to be open to phone calls as a first contact if you have questions about guidelines, what they are looking for, etc. Remember to stick to British spelling when writing for a British publication, and often other European pubs will require that, too. And you have to keep in mind that the audience is different for European pubs, so your story angle will have to appeal to and be relevant to them.”

Remember that it all comes down to being persistent, professional, and diverse. You should keep in mind all of your passions and your education when mining for story ideas. Waiting in a state of panic for acceptances and your break might be tempting, but it is better to follow-up, brainstorm, and connect with other writers instead. And don’t forget, you can always create some of your own breaks in the digital age. Good luck, and may inspiration be with you!

 

Pinar Tarhan is a freelance writer, blogger, and screenwriter for hire. She believes in fun, variety and big dreams, and she helps fellow writers with all three through her blog Addicted to Writing.

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