Marketing focuses on soliciting a response from the prospect, not just the work. If all you do is ask for work, most likely you will not get it the first time around, no matter how qualified you are. To increase the chances of the prospect outsourcing work to you, you must also try to solicit a response, not just the work. Have the prospect contact you to receive your free business newsletter, or a free consultation, or to review a piece of his material for free. When you solicit a response, it brings you closer to securing work from the prospect.
Responses are nearly as important as getting the work itself.
Marketing sells solutions, never your writing services. Prospects don't care how creative and professional you write. If you can't help the prospect solve his problem, you won't get the work. It involves finding out the prospect's problems and needs, and then fulfilling them. That's one reason why networking is the best type of marketing around.