🎥 Watch the Replay
Ever wondered what it takes to get featured in Freelance Magazine — or even create your own print publication from scratch?
This month’s paid reader session was a total treat. I was joined by Sophie Cross, editor and founder of Freelance Magazine, for an open Q&A about pitching, contributing, and promoting yourself through indie media.
Sophie shared everything from how she crowdfunded her first issue to the types of stories that actually make it into the mag — plus what not to send in your pitch.
💡 Useful Takeaways
- Quality over quantity. Sophie can spot a generic, copy-paste pitch a mile off. Tailor each one — it should sound like it was written for her publication only.
- Do your homework. Read Freelance Magazine before pitching. Understand the sections — micro-columns, “day in the life” features, money mindset stories, and event listings — so you can match your idea to the right format.
- Timing matters. The magazine is quarterly (April, July, October, January). You can pitch up to 3–6 months in advance, and January’s issue will be the 20th Anniversary Edition.
- Pitch in service, not in self-promotion. Frame your idea around what will help the reader — not just what makes your business great. Sophie said, “If you lead with ‘my business is amazing,’ you’ve lost me.”
- Make editors’ lives easy. Include one high-res image, a short blurb, and why it fits their theme. Don’t send your book unless asked — but do send a great press image and concise blurb.
- Events welcome! Freelance Mag has an open events page where anyone can submit workshops, meetups, or book launches for free. There’s also a £25 banner slot if you want extra visibility.
- Advertising can work if the fit is right. Ads start at £75 (quarter page), and their weekly newsletter “The Dunker” now offers £125 takeovers for freelancers wanting to reach a 50%+ engaged audience.
- Join the community first. Sophie prioritises contributors who are already readers or members — people who “get” the tone and values of the mag.
