Successful freelancers know that making a good living as a writer doesn't mean sitting around waiting for the 5,000 word Vanity Fair feature to be thrown your way. It means branching out clients like trades, custom pubs and newsletters. What does writing a newsletter entail, though? What are the pluses and minuses? I talked to a few writers who count some newsletters as clients about why you might want to start looking for some to include in your client list.

Newsletters might not be sexy, but writing for them has many benefits. "Writing for newsletters can be, relatively, stress-free and straightforward work (depending on who you're working for)," says Karissa Krenz, who got into writing newsletters due to a freelancing background in not-for-profit arts organizations. "It's a good opportunity to stretch your writing legs in the marketing/PR world, because the pieces need to be tight, informative, and positive. It can also be a very independent project--sometimes you're the writer AND editor (though it's always checked by the organization), so it gives you another level of responsibility, which is nice."

The nice thing too is that newsletters tend to be loyal clients. If they like what you do, they will have you coming back. "They are a steady assignment, income you can count on," says writer and mb instructor Daina Hulet.

"I found that newsletter writing is very client-focused, "says Janet Maragioglio. "True success in the field means you're not only a good writer, but that you can interpret and meet people's needs to a T. Oftentimes people requiring my services are not writers or editors themselves, so they need expertise and guidance, but at the same time finesse because it is their product I'm writing for and they need to feel that sense of ownership and control. I stuck with it because I like the combination of skills that are required, and it's always a challenge."

Other benefits, Maragioglio finds? "You can specialize in one subject matter or field and sell yourself as having that expertise (and charge for it). You can develop one-on-one relationships with clients and become a partner with them in developing useful communication tools. You get to hone your writing skills by tailoring messages to a specific audience."

The downsides? "The main drawback can be that you have to do whatever the organization says, which is sometimes rough as a writer/editor depending on what you're used to," says Krenz. "Some people micromanage, make strange requests, etc. But again, it depends on who you're working for (and you can usually tell what some of the issues might be when you're initially talking about the job). And it definitely doesn't have the cachet that newspaper/magazine writing has."

"You don't have as much creative control as you might have writing for another type of publication," says Maragioglio. "It's frustrating sometimes when you know you've done good work, but the newsletter publisher wants it written differently or in a manner you disagree with. Unless you are producing your own newsletter, you are usually working for a corporate communications or marketing department, or for a large corporate entity, so you need to always keep their messages in mind when you are writing. Usually the length and format of articles is limited. Most newsletters follow a strict format."

They also might not be good for those writers who live for the thrill of the newsletter. "They're sent out as if they come from the company owner or spokesperson. So, I don't get any credit for it. But, in all actuality that is fine, because writing the newsletter doesn't mean that I'm personally backing the products or the ideas," says Hulet.

And one note for writers with a very strong voice: you might have to curtail it when you write for newsletters. "The voice change is significant," says Hulet. "I am actually attempting to think and 'speak' like the person for whom I am writing the newsletters. In most cases, they have very little, or almost no time to work with you so you become very resourceful. I have done everything from Q& A's to interviews and columns for newsletters written as if the owner had written them. The pieces also have to speak for the brand and move the brand along. And, of course, the person who I'm writing for has to feel like they wrote it. I have a pretty hefty marketing background which has been extremely helpful in my being able to sell and cross sell without being blatant. For instance, for one of the pieces for a cosmetics company Christmas newsletter, I had a gorgeous bath layout photographed and gave the consumer tips on calming, energizing and skin soothing baths and showers to help women relax over the holidays. The bath story was filled with tips from their spa treatments (the company also has a spa), the products were theirs--and of course the whole idea was to promote the spa and the products as gift ideas. Of course, a fab looking gift basket of the products was among the photos."