Expert: Cathy Clamp - 3/25/2010

Question
How are writing credits determined? How many do you have to have to be considered a professional and are there organizations you have to join in order to get these credits?

Answer
Hi, Laura!

I saw your question in the pool and thought I'd try to help. "Writing credits" have different meanings in different forms of writing but the primary meaning is an article, story or book that has been purchased by a reputable publisher, with the author being paid for the right to publish the piece.

Some of the types of publications that count as writing credits in pretty much every form of writing are:

Print newspapers
Print magazines
Industry Trade Journals
Organization periodicals (like Rotary Club, American Automobile Assoc--AAA, etc.)
Airline in-flight magazines
Large, offset press publishers (books and anthologies)
Small, offset press publishers (books and anthologies)
Electronic book publishers that pay a minimum of $1,000 as an upfront advance

All pay either a per-word price to the author, or an advance against future royalties from sales.

To be a "professional" writer requires multiple sales. Every definition is different. Some people consider a single "pro sale" (usually meaning a minimum of 5 cents per word (U.S. currency) to be a professional sale. Other groups have a higher definition.

For example, one organization I belonged to had as a requirement of membership that the applicant have twelve published articles or stories PER YEAR. Only then were you a "professional writer." That's a TOUGH level to achieve in the freelance industry. I managed it for two years and then dropped the group.

On the plus side, you don't have to join any groups to GET credits. The groups often require them TO join.

In order to sell a magazine article, story, novella or novel, you'll first have to study the market you want to target, write the piece, submit a query, prepare a synopsis or such and go through many, many rejections (or perhaps none at all if you strike gold the first time).

Hope that helps! Feel free to ask any follow-up questions if I confused you.

Cathy