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There are one hundred million websites (including this one) that will tell you how to escape the day-to-day grind of freelancing and move into a book writing career.

Today, I read an article that revealed the only fool-proof method to break out as a writer. The Big Top Secret Method for Becoming a Successful Freelance Writer is...WORK! 

This little gem of wisdom came from rock & roll journalist Matt Diehl, as revealed on the writing blog, SlushPile.net:

"The lifelong punk rocker, art history major, and respected music critic says you shouldn’t hesitate to review 'someone on American Idol,' he says. 'It may be against your value system on some levels. But you actually might learn something. That is being a professional writer. Take writing assignments that you would normally turn down for whatever reason and see what you do with them.'"

Work. That's the secret. Work whenever you can. You build clips and build relationships with editors. That's the only way it happens, that's the only way people learn to trust you as a writer.

Check out the rest of that invaluable essay for more tips about managing your day-job and freelance work, research, and insider music journalism gossip.