Catherine's gutsy freelancing experiment

Some aspiring freelance writers take their foray into this industry calmly and simply, easing their way onto editors' contact lists.

Not Catherine Boundy. She's driving a metaphorical Mack truck right through their front doors.

She has embarked on an experiment to pitch 100 stories in 100 days - just in time for her 30th birthday.

The motivation for her gutsy experiment, she explains on her blog Pitch Fever, is to finally realise her dream of becoming a writer.

Her idea, she writes, is simple: "To pitch like a madwoman, 100 story ideas to a whole host of publications over the course of 100 days, and see what comes of it."

Interestingly, Catherine's hoping that what comes of her first pitch to Australia's only pig hunting magazine, Bacon Busters, is a rejection.

"Fingers crossed this one will get the big red rejection stamp, as I’ve just remembered that I’ve been asking for a miniature domestic pig for Christmas," she writes.

I, for one, am eager to see what does actually come of Catherine's feverish pitching exercise.

When she mentioned her plan to me a few weeks ago at the end of her first feature writing class at the Sydney Writers' Centre, I was impressed by her tenacity and enthusiasm.

Wearing my sensible shoes that night, I suggested she pare it back to 10 pitches in 10 days.

But, I have a feeling that once Catherine gets an idea in her head, she doesn't let go - a little like the times she took trapeze classes and paraded naked at the Opera House.

I am wishing her the best of the luck. If she gets a lot of commissions from this exercise, she may well have to give up her day job just to ensure she can meet the deadlines.

If, on the other hand, editors don't share her passion and desire to experiment a little, she can always have a 500-word rant about their lack of spunk in the Sydney Morning Herald's Heckler.

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For more information about Pamela Wilson or WriteSmart, log on to http://www.writesmart.com.au/