Making the bulk of your living from magazine commissions is a rarity for most freelancers these days, with many of us mixing it up with content marketing, copywriting and corporate work. But writer and author David Smiedt still works mainly for magazines and other media outlets. He's currently contributing editor at GQ Australia, list editor at escape.com.au and a columnist at The Rake and Home Beautiful. Plus, he's a stand-up comic!

In this episode, we talk to David about:

• How he started out in his career - and the request that saw him writing for Lisa Wilkinson at CLEO while he was still at uni
• How being known for a comic tone and style has helped him maintain a living writing for magazines when many other writers have had to branch out into other areas
• Why he views himself as an artisan, like a plumber or carpenter, rather than an artist - and why that's helped him stay on many editors' speed dial for so long
• How writing regular columns are his bread and butter, and how he percolates his ideas
• How he sets rates and determines which jobs to turn down
• His tips for new freelancers or those starting out
• And lots more!

Where to find David

Website davidsmiedt.com.au

Twitter twitter.com/Dsmiedt

His work: authory.com/davidsmiedt