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Fillers Rely on Information, Not Writer Qualifications
Fillers usually rely on information, not on writer's qualifications. This means that you don't have to sell yourself when you submit fillers. Instead, information you put in filler sells it for you. This makes fillers a perfect option for writers lacking experience or clips to sell themselves to an editor.
You Can Write a Lot of Them
Since fillers are short, you can write a lot of them and submit a lot of them. You could literally have hundreds of pieces out in market for consideration in a short time. And if you write them well, you could have a lot of them published in a very short time. That means you can build a list of clips fast.
And one other benefit is that magazines don't have as limited a space for fillers as they do for feature articles. So if your filler gets accepted, it's likely to get published fast. The same isn't true for feature articles, where an accepted article will often be scheduled for an issue a year or two away. That's one more good reason why fillers are a great way to build clips fast.
Once you've got clips, then you have a few more options. Until then, fillers are a great place to start.
And one final tip. Once you have clips and start moving into feature articles, don't forget about fillers. As you're researching a feature, take note of interesting facts, trivia, or anecdotes you come across. These can make fillers and be an added bonus, bringing in some extra cash and some extra clips.
Shelley Wake is the author of “Getting Published Without Clips.” This practical no-nonsense guide shows writers exactly where to go and what to do to break into freelance writing. Packed with inside information, proven methods, hidden markets, and more, it’s successfully launched hundreds of freelance careers in record time. http://www.writingstuff.com/fr02m.html