Writer Savvy

Q&A With Emily Esterson

2009-01-15T19:27:00.000-08:00

Journalist, Writer, and Writing and Editing Coach Emily Esterson has twenty years’ experience behind her back. After starting out as a newsletter editor for a global oil company, Emily moved on to corporate writing and journalism, working for the Boulder Daily Camera, Natural Foods Merchandiser, Inc. magazine and New Mexico Business Weekly. Emily has also authored two books, Covering the Business Beat, and The Adult Longeing Guide, and is working on a third one. She is currently running her own freelance business, writing and editing for a variety of magazines, and is building up her coaching business. She hails from New Mexico.

As a writing coach and magazine editor, what are some of the most common problems that you see writers struggle with? How do you try to help your students overcome these problems?
Most of the writers I work with don’t really have a clear idea of what the story is. That hold true for those working on journalism pieces and those writing corporate reports as well. You really have to be very diligent about honing your idea and sticking with it, no matter what. Lots of times people want to put too much information into a piece of writing. The human brain can only absorb so much.

What is the most important piece of advice that you can offer to anyone who is trying to start a writing or editing career? Why do you feel that this is important to a beginner writer?
Write, write, write. Try to get as much experience as you can—volunteer to write the church newsletter if you have to, but write! Once you get that assignment, treat it with the utmost seriousness and professionalism. Turn it in on time, make sure you have every source verified and ask the editor what else he or she needs. As glamorous as the writing life may seem, editors and writers are creating a product and that product has to meet certain specifications.

Since you seem to be both business savvy and accomplished in the art of writing, what are some pieces advice that you can give freelance writers/editors on how to focus on their business? What do you think are some business skills that many writers lack?
This is essentially what my first book was about. I believe that you have to have a niche—define what you do best, and what you love to write about, and then focus in on those publications and websites that cover those topics. Read voraciously on those topics and become a subject matter expert. Then when it comes to writing or editing on that topic, you have tons of knowledge to draw from.

Writers…hmmm, well, believe it or not, there are very few “businesslike” writers out there. As an editor, I don’t have time to hear about how the dog ate the story and the computer crashed and so forth. If you say you are going to deliver, please do so. There are too many people missing deadlines.

What do you prefer, writing for magazines, editing, or writing a book? What do you think is the best (and worst) of each?
That’s a tough question. I very much like to coach writers, which is what most editing is really about. Plus I like to dig into a story and see it evolve into an improved version of its original self. On the other hand, magazine editing can be a tedious and money-driven business. Writing books gives you the kind of intense satisfaction that, say, running a marathon does. So much work, so many words, organized together. Unfortunately there’s no money in it all, Writing magazine articles always leave me feeling like I could have done more, or better, or something. I find that probably the least satisfying of the three.

To learn more about Emily, visit her website at www.emilyesterson.com.

The Do's and Don'ts of Cold Calling

2009-01-14T19:37:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd take some time today to discuss the Do's and Don'ts of Cold Calling. I think that writers often get mixed signals when reading books or articles on the subject of freelancing, and what is labeled as "acceptable" or "unacceptable" when pitching to editor. Although cold calling is acceptable at some magazines, it is important to adhere to the following steps both before calling an editor, or when making the call:

Be Courteous. The most important step when cold calling an editor is to be courteous. If an editor tells you that he or she would rather receive a pitch and/or clips via email as opposed to over the phone, don't continue trying to pitch your story. I have read articles and books where writers give anecdotes about how they argued with an editor, telling the editor why the article should be assigned, and then writer ends up receiving an assignment. It is a rare occasion that an editor will assign an article to a writer that argues with them. If you do choose the route of arguing with an editor (which I don't advise doing), be sure to have the sense of backing yourself up. If the editor is persistent that your story isn't what he or she is looking for, thank the editor for his or her time, and hang up. I have had writers argue with me.Usually when this occurs, I ask them to send their pitch and clips via email—and then I never hear from them again.

Don't Waste the Editor's Time. This brings me to my next piece of advice: when pitching to an editor over the phone, don't waste their time. Get straight to the point of telling them why you're calling, have your pitch ready, as well as info on who you plan on interviewing, and why you're the perfect person to write the article (just like you'd do in a query letter). Most editors are expecting that you will have this information ready, as they only have a five minute time frame to speak with writers over the phone.

Don't Waste Your Own Time. Most magazines have writer's guidelines listed on their websites. If guidelines aren't listed on the magazine's website, books like the Writer's Market and websites like mediabistro.com often give insight to what editors are looking for as well as what departments and sections of the magazine they don't want writer's to pitch ideas for. Although Writer's Market is very expensive, and many websites like Mediabistro may require a membership to join, doing some research ahead of time online or by reading can be worth the time and money invested, as opposed to spending time planning a pitch to an editor over the phone, only to realize the editor won't take your call.

Don't Ask the Editor How Much They'll Pay You. Again, if you read a copy of the Writer's Market, or do some research on the internet, there are many writing websites (or the magazine's website) where you can find out a general ballpark of how much the magazine you're pitching to pays. Most editors won't discuss pay with you until the article has been assigned, and it is often considered bad manners to ask how much you'll be paid before the article has even been assigned. If the pay isn't what you had hoped once the article is assigned, you have the option of negotiating for a higher rate or cancelling the agreement.

Don't Hound the Editor. If you pitch an idea over the phone, and they say they'll get back to you, don't call them on a daily basis. Most magazines receive hundreds of queries a month, and are busy doing other things as well, such as editing the magazine. It is OK to follow up within a month, of course, if you still haven't heard anything.

Hopefully these tips will give both beginner and seasoned freelancers some insight onto what often appeals to an editor when pitching stories to them over the phone. As someone who has been on both sides, I understand the frustrations that both editors and freelancers face.

My Current "Writing Rut" - the Lede

2009-01-07T19:19:00.000-08:00

One of my more recent problems that I have been having with my writing lately is creating better ledes. A lede is the opening sentence of a news story or article. In older writing times, lede was spelled "lead" (as in the lead sentence of the story) but was often pronounced wrong, which is why the spelling was changed to "lede".

Apparently, I had fallen into a lede writing rut, which I could tell was happening, but wasn't sure how to fix. Fortunately, my writing coach, Emily Esterson (www.emilyesterson.com), who has been a great help to me in the past few months since I started working with her, pointed out that I was falling into this writing rut, and gave me some advice on how to fix my ruts. I won't share her exact advice - you will have to hire her yourself for that. And since I am in a current "rut" myself, when it comes to writing ledes, I have included some links to other blogs that may be able to give you some further insight on how to write a better lede:

The Lede: Starting Your Article

Writing the Four Graph Lede

Flashlight Lede: The Lede Take 3

In the meantime, wish me luck with my writer's rut! Also, stay tuned for some future interviews with Emily Esterson, who is currently coaching me as a writer, and Linda Formichelli, author of The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Success and The Renegade Writer's Query Letters That Rock: The Freelance Writer's Guide to Selling More Work Faster...

Query Letters vs. Networking: Part 2

2009-01-06T23:13:00.000-08:00

Here are the answers from the last post on which Query Letters were sent to editors I had already networked with, and which were sent formally for the first time. I will also explain which letters I landed assignments from. While viewing the following query letters, you will see some notes on common mistakes I made as well as some strong points that writers can adhere to as well.

Query #1: This query letter was quite informal, so I obviously had established a relationship with the editor beforehand. Unfortunately, I didn't land an assignment from this letter, but it opened the door for me to submit actual manuscripts, one of which was published. If you're wondering how I had established a relationship with the editor, it was actually because I had applied for a job at her magazine. Even though she didn't hire me for the job, I made sure that I kept in touch with her - thus, a relationship was born, bringing in more assignments.

Query #2: This was a much more formal query letter, which I had written to an editor I had not previously had a relationship with. By visiting the magazine's website, I found out that they preferred first time writers to send both a cover letter and a query letter. Although I did not receive an assignment off of this query letter, the editor responded to me by encouraging me to send in more ideas, pointing out which areas in the magazine they needed new writers for. Unfortunately, I became so busy with my writing quickly after, that I didn't follow up.

Query #3: Although it seems like I had a previous relationship with this editor, the only prior correspondence was in the form of another query letter, which had been rejected. Although I had been rejected the first time around, I seemed to prove myself in the second letter, which was accepted.

Query #1:
Hi X,

While brainstorming ideas for articles, I thought of something that I thought would be perfect for Young Rider. I know that you don't assign a lot of articles to freelancers - shows that I did my research on the magazine and what they were looking for beforehand, but I thought I'd send you my idea anyways. The topic of "Finding the Perfect Show Pony", "Buying Your First Horse" or "Finding a Horse For Your Child" has been written about millions of times, but while thinking about these various topics, I realized that nobody has ever really geared these articles to younger children. I'm sure that young rider - I didn't capitalize or italicize the magazine name, which means I didn't proofread very well. Editors don't like to see this in a query letter, because it shows that the writer can be careless. already has, but I was thinking about writing an article entitled "Are You Ready For Your First Horse?". I know - I have been using the phrase "I know" too much, which shows that I didn't proof my query before sending it out, which can break my chances of selling this story. that there are a lot of children out there that ride horses and read Young Rider, but who don't actually own a horse. Actually, reading magazines like Young Rider helps these kids to keep their dreams alive of owning a horse someday (I know this from my own childhood experiences, and because my husband has had many students that were horseless riders and read the magazine). I thought it would be a good idea to write an article for kids who are dreaming of someday owning a horse, but don't have one yet. - this shows that I know what demographic is reading the magazine. Here are some of the topics/questions that I would cover for readers:

-How many hours do you spend in the barn?

-What is your experience with horses? Have you learned the different aspects of caring for a horse, or do you only ride horses?

-Do you enjoy the different aspects of horse care, such as mucking stalls, feeding and watering your horses, etc.?

-Do you have reliable transportation (Mom, Dad, bike, etc.) that can take you to the barn to meet the farrier/vet?

-What is your schedule like? Do you have a lot of extracurricular activities after school/on the weekends? How important are these activities? Are they more important/less important to you than riding?

-What is your (or your parents') financial situation like? Taking care of a horse is very expensive: vet bills, farrier bills, board, etc.
(Giving the editor a brief outline of what I'd be writing shows them whether the topics would be accessible to the reader or not. Also shows them how the article would flow, and if it would work).

After addressing these questions and concerns, I would discuss other options available to children/kids who might not be ready to buy their own horse. Some additional options would be becoming a working student or working in exchange for ride time and/or lessons (this allows kids to learn about the different aspects of horse care in preparation for owning a horse some day while getting to ride at a discount or for free) or leasing a horse. These additional options allow flexibility for children who don't have the money to buy a horse, or whose parents can't drive them to the barn all the time.

I don't think that this article would dissuade kids from wanting to buy a horse. Instead, it would make them understand what a big responsibility it is to own a horse, and hopefully allow them to find different options that will help them to bond with the animals that they love. I hope that you enjoy my ideas, and look forward to your response! (I always try to end on a positive note like this. By saying that I look forward to their response, editors are somehow guilted into responding to me, whether they decide to reject or accept my proposal. It's always a good idea to touch base with them if you don't hear from them within a month.)

Thank you,

Elisabeth

Query #2:

Dear Mr. X,

I am writing regarding the possibility of writing an article on New England Dogsledding for Yankee Magazine. I have been reading Yankee Magazine for years, and I would bring a lot to your magazine, as I have written for multiple publications upon earning my B.A. in English Literature in 2005.

I assure you that I am very qualified to work as a freelance writer for Yankee, as I have experience writing on a broad spectrum of topics for the Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar [not related to the magazine] while interning there during my senior year of college. I am also currently doing freelance work as a sports writer for various newspapers throughout Massachusetts, including the Charlton Villager, Blackstone Valley Tribune, Auburn News and Spencer New Leader. (This is a good body paragraph for a cover letter - it shows what I am capable of writing, and what I have written in the past)

I have attached various samples of articles I have written for the Pedlar, and the various newspapers I have written for. I welcome speaking with you in the near future regarding writing for Yankee Magazine. (This is another important paragraph, mentioning clips).

Sincerely,

Elisabeth Gilbride

Dear Mr. X,

In Mason Township, Maine, dogs are used as a mode of transportation. (This is a good starter sentence for a query letter because it grabs the readers attention, just as you would want to grab the readers' attention in the opening paragraph of a an article). New England Dogsledding gives tours to both children and adults, educating them on the adventurous sport. This allows both locals and tourists to experience an incredibly exciting outdoor sport, which is often overlooked by many people who are too busy in today’s society to take a moment and enjoy adventure in the wild outdoors.
New England Dogsledding offers an incredible experience through different mushing options, as well as skijoring, where guests cross country ski with either their own dogs (or dogs provided by New England Dogsledding) pulling them. (By using terms like mushing and skijoring, and explaining what they are, it shows I have done my research). Both skier and dog are attached with a harness, which allows for an incredible opportunity. Another feature that makes this a unique experience is the fact that New England Dogsledding provides for accommodations at the Telemark Inn, a wilderness lodge that offers a rustic backdrop, making it quite comparable with its country setting.
I would like to cover an article for Yankee Magazine regarding the extraordinary experience that New England Dogsledding has to offer. With winter starting in a little over a month, this would be the perfect time for Yankee to consider an article like this. (I mentioned why it is important to cover this topic at this specific time, which editors like to hear). Both pet lovers and outdoorsmen would be interested in reading this article, and the demographics of many of your consumers fit either of those categories. (Again, I am showing the editor I have done research on the magazine - I know the demographics of the readers) Having one dog and a horse, I am an avid animal lover myself, which is why I would be the perfect candidate to write an article such as this one. (Here I am showing the editor why I should be the person writing the article). I would like to write between approximately a thousand to fifteen hundred words, and plan on providing photos, but as I am a flexible writer, the article can be longer or shorter if you prefer. (This sentence can be both strong and weak, because I am telling the editor how long I would want the article to be - some editors like to hear this, others would rather just assign you a word count. This is something that I typically leave out now and let the editor decide how long the piece would be). Because winter is so close upon us, I plan on attending a mushing event in early December, and getting the article to you within a week later, so you can feature it in your magazine by mid-winter. I have already made initial contact with Steve Crone at New England Dogsledding, and he was very receptive towards the idea of my writing an article. Please contact me at your earliest convenience, as I would like to submit a query to another magazine if you are not interested. (This can also work either for or against the writer, depending on the editor of the magazine. Some editors don't like the idea of the writer pitching the same idea to multiple magazines, but at the same time, they wouldn't rather have the writer be upfront about it).

Sincerely,

Elisabeth Gilbride

Query #3:

Dear X,

Thank you for your quick response to my query regarding the profile
on Morgan Adair. I have been thinking of potential people to write a
profile on for The Chronicle of the Horse, (The editor has obviously previously given me the go-ahead to send her more ideas) and there is nobody I would
enjoy writing about more than Luis Denizard. Lou has been operating
his stable, Delante Equestrian Center, in Smithfield, R.I., since 1998,
but his skills aren't limited to running his own stable or teaching
lessons. He is an exceptional rider, and his credentials prove this, as he just recently represented Puerto Rico at the 2007 Pan-Am Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while riding the horse Nalando. Upon returning from the Pan-Am Games, Nalando contracted pneumonia, and is now taking a break. Denizard is also a USDF Bronze & Silver Medalist, a 2004 NEDA scholarship recipient, and a 2002 Major Anders Lindgren Scholarship Recipient. (This entire paragraph shows I have done my research on the person I would be profiling).

Lou is currently trying to qualify for the 2008 Olympics (selling point! If you can interview someone famous, an Olympic athlete, or potential Olympic athlete, I'd say you have a pretty good chance of landing the article - of course, timing is everything and I pitched the story six months before the Olympics) (he would be representing Puerto Rico, not the U.S.), and will be headed down to Florida in January to compete on Paige Finnegan's mare Karola 1. He is also taking two other horses with him: My Aleman, whom he is hoping to qualify for the 2010 Central American Games; and Paladin, whom he is hoping to move up to 3rd level. Lou not only shows at the national level, but also still competes locally, and teaches clinics in his
"spare time".

I have contacted Lou about the possibility of writing a profile on him for The Chronicle (again, poor proofing skill "The" should have been "the" and Chronicle should have been italicized), and he has been very receptive to the idea (this is good - if you are absolutely sure that you will be able to interview a person for the article (especially if they're famous or an Olympic athlete), mention it. You are more likely to land the article that way). I am hoping to approach the story from the standpoint that he is an American citizen that is representing the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. He was the first person to represent Puerto Rico in the Pan Am Games,
and if he competes in the 2008 Olympics, he will be the first to represent Puerto Rico while in Beijing.

Although I understand you are very busy, I am hoping that you can respond to me at your earliest convenience, as I am hoping to schedule a time to interview him before he leaves for Florida in January. He will also be in Puerto Rico between December 9, and December 14, so I
would really like to schedule a time to meet with him as soon as possible. I have included a few article clips that I have written for the Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar (always be sure to mention any clips that you're including - and if you have GOOD clips, include them. If they're bad, DON'T INCLUDE THEM). I look forward to hearing back from you!

Best Wishes,
Elisabeth Gilbride

Query Letters vs. Networking: Part One

2009-01-06T21:52:00.000-08:00

There are two ways to get published: one is through writing an awesome query letter, and another is by networking with editors and then sending them a query. Which way works better? I would have to say that for me, it's a toss up between the two. I landed my first published article while interning for the magazine I currently work at (this was back in my college days), and later began writing for them as a freelancer, and eventually worked as a freelance editor for them. If it weren't for my college internship, I probably never would have become a freelancer for the publication (nor would I be working there today). This is mainly because when I started proposing articles to them, I didn't even know what a "query letter" was.

I would have to say that 50% of the articles I have landed were through networking, and 50% through my querying skills. Some writers and editors would argue that networking helps you get a foot in the door, while others argue that a good query letter will help you get your foot in the door. I would have to say it's a toss up. I have sent some proposals to many magazines with very weak query letters (by saying weak I usually mean short, sweet and to the point), but I think including well-written articles along with my query letters makes up for any weaknesses in the query writing department.

Of course, on the other hand, when proposing articles to larger magazines (such as Wired, Rolling Stone, Family Circle, etc.) an editor won't even look at your clips if you don't have a well-written query letter...unless, of course, you've previously caught their attention through your brilliant networking skills. Following are a couple of query letters that I have sent to different magazines - some are good query letters, some aren't too great. To add in a fun factor to this blog, I want you to try and guess which ones I was able to get assignments from, and which ones I didn't. Also, if you think I received an assignment, go one step further and guess if I landed the assignment because of my savvy networking skills or if I landed the assignment because of my strong query writing skills. In Query Letters vs. Networking: Part Two, I will reveal which letters earned assignments, and which assignments were earned from networking skills. I'll also deconstruct each query letter to show you what their strengths and weaknesses were.

Query #1:
Hi X,

While brainstorming ideas for articles, I thought of something that I thought would be perfect for Young Rider. I know that you don't assign a lot of articles to freelancers, but I thought I'd send you my idea anyways. The topic of "Finding the Perfect Show Pony", "Buying Your First Horse" or "Finding a Horse For Your Child" has been written about millions of times, but while thinking about these various topics, I realized that nobody has ever really geared these articles to younger children. I'm sure that young rider already has, but I was thinking about writing an article entitled "Are You Ready For Your First Horse?". I know that there are a lot of children out there that ride horses and read Young Rider, but who don't actually own a horse. Actually, reading magazines like Young Rider helps these kids to keep their dreams alive of owning a horse someday (I know this from my own childhood experiences, and because my husband has had many students that were horseless riders and read the magazine). I thought it would be a good idea to write an article for kids who are dreaming of someday owning a horse, but don't have one yet. Here are some of the topics/questions that I would cover for readers:

-How many hours do you spend in the barn?

-What is your experience with horses? Have you learned the different aspects of caring for a horse, or do you only ride horses?

-Do you enjoy the different aspects of horse care, such as mucking stalls, feeding and watering your horses, etc.?

-Do you have reliable transportation (Mom, Dad, bike, etc.) that can take you to the barn to meet the farrier/vet?

-What is your (or your parents') financial situation like? Taking care of a horse is very expensive: vet bills, farrier bills, board, etc.

Thank you,

Elisabeth

Query #2:

Dear Mr. X,

I am writing regarding the possibility of writing an article on New England Dogsledding for Yankee Magazine. I have been reading Yankee Magazine for years, and I would bring a lot to your magazine, as I have written for multiple publications upon earning my B.A. in English Literature in 2005.

I assure you that I am very qualified to work as a freelance writer for Yankee, as I have experience writing on a broad spectrum of topics for the Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar [not related to the magazine] while interning there during my senior year of college. I am also currently doing freelance work as a sports writer for various newspapers throughout Massachusetts, including the Charlton Villager, Blackstone Valley Tribune, Auburn News and Spencer New Leader.

I have attached various samples of articles I have written for the Pedlar, and the various newspapers I have written for. I welcome speaking with you in the near future regarding writing for Yankee Magazine.

Sincerely,

Elisabeth Gilbride

Dear Mr. X,

In Mason Township, Maine, dogs are used as a mode of transportation. New England Dogsledding gives tours to both children and adults, educating them on the adventurous sport. This allows both locals and tourists to experience an incredibly exciting outdoor sport, which is often overlooked by many people who are too busy in today’s society to take a moment and enjoy adventure in the wild outdoors.
New England Dogsledding offers an incredible experience through different mushing options, as well as skijoring, where guests cross country ski with either their own dogs (or dogs provided by New England Dogsledding) pulling them. Both skier and dog are attached with a harness, which allows for an incredible opportunity. Another feature that makes this a unique experience is the fact that New England Dogsledding provides for accommodations at the Telemark Inn, a wilderness lodge that offers a rustic backdrop, making it quite comparable with its country setting.
I would like to cover an article for Yankee Magazine regarding the extraordinary experience that New England Dogsledding has to offer. With winter starting in a little over a month, this would be the perfect time for Yankee to consider an article like this. Both pet lovers and outdoorsmen would be interested in reading this article, and the demographics of many of your consumers fit either of those categories. Having one dog and a horse, I am an avid animal lover myself, which is why I would be the perfect candidate to write an article such as this one. I would like to write between approximately a thousand to fifteen hundred words, and plan on providing photos, but as I am a flexible writer, the article can be longer or shorter if you prefer. Because winter is so close upon us, I plan on attending a mushing event in early December, and getting the article to you within a week later, so you can feature it in your magazine by mid-winter. I have already made initial contact with Steve Crone at New England Dogsledding, and he was very receptive towards the idea of my writing an article. Please contact me at your earliest convenience, as I would like to submit a query to another magazine if you are not interested.

Sincerely,

Elisabeth Gilbride

Query #3:

Dear X,

Thank you for your quick response to my query regarding the profile
on Morgan Adair. I have been thinking of potential people to write a
profile on for The Chronicle of the Horse, and there is nobody I would
enjoy writing about more than Luis Denizard. Lou has been operating
his stable, Delante Equestrian Center, in Smithfield, R.I., since 1998,
but his skills aren't limited to running his own stable or teaching
lessons. He is an exceptional rider, and his credentials prove this,
as he just recently represented Puerto Rico at the 2007 Pan-Am Games
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, while riding the horse Nalando. Upon
returning from the Pan-Am Games, Nalando contracted pneumonia, and is
now taking a break. Denizard is also a USDF Bronze & Silver Medalist,
a 2004 NEDA scholarship recipient, and a 2002 Major Anders Lindgren
Scholarship Recipient.

Lou is currently trying to qualify for the 2008 Olympics (he would
be representing Puerto Rico, not the U.S.), and will be headed down to
Florida in January to compete on Paige Finnegan's mare Karola 1. He
is also taking two other horses with him: My Aleman, whom he is hoping
to qualify for the 2010 Central American Games; and Paladin, whom he
is hoping to move up to 3rd level. Lou not only shows at the national
level, but also still competes locally, and teaches clinics in his
"spare time".

I have contacted Lou about the possibility of writing a profile on
him for The Chronicle, and he has been very receptive to the idea. I
am hoping to approach the story from the standpoint that he is an
American citizen that is representing the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
He was the first person to represent Puerto Rico in the Pan Am Games,
and if he competes in the 2008 Olympics, he will be the first to
represent Puerto Rico while in Beijing.

Although I understand you are very busy, I am hoping that you can
respond to me at your earliest convenience, as I am hoping to schedule
a time to interview him before he leaves for Florida in January. He
will also be in Puerto Rico between December 9, and December 14, so I
would really like to schedule a time to meet with him as soon as
possible. I have included a few article clips that I have written for
the Horsemen's Yankee Pedlar. I look forward to hearing back from
you!

Best Wishes,
Elisabeth Gilbride

Create Creative Heads and Subheads

2008-12-30T22:12:00.000-08:00

This is one of my most dreaded activities while at work. I actually have nightmares about it at work, and I don't think I'm alone. Creating good headlines and subheads can be one of the most difficult tasks for anyone, but can be just as important for freelancers as creating a good article. Headings (or Deks) for freelancers are important because they sum up your story in less than a sentence - by creating a catchy heading, this can often be the selling point for an editor on the fence about accepting a story that may need a little work (especially one that dreads writing them herself!). It shows that you can be creative and are willing to go the extra mile. Here are a few tips on how to turn a dreaded activity for both editors and freelancers into something more fun:

1. Read back issues of the magazine that you're either pitching to or writing a story for. I know that this can be a pain in the butt to do, but it's actually very helpful. Editor may prefer to use specific words in Heading and Subheadings. Here are some words that I always find work to get a reader interested in a story: Learn, Discover, Experience, Understand, Master...
I prefer using words that readers feel they can benefit from, and these are all types of words that will draw a reader in. If the first word a reader sees in a heading or subhead is Discover or Learn, they are subconsciously going to ask themselves, "What can I benefit from this article?"

2. Alliterations are fun, but can also be overrated. While they roll off the tongue, are catching to the eye, and definitely appeal to many editors, use them with caution. Editors don't want every single article in their magazine to start off with an alliteration. The same goes for rhyming. If you are looking for a word to rhyme with your topic though, a great website to visit which may save time is www.rhymezone.com, which will tell you how many syllables are in each word or phrase that rhymes with your original word that you typed in a search for.

3. Try to find a well-known book, song or movie that you can use as a subhead. I recently used the subhead "An Affaire to Remember" for a press release on a well-known Equine Trade Show called the Equine Affaire. Visit www.lyrics.com or www.imdb.com and type in a search for one word to find out what your options are for movies or songs that can be applied to your heading!

4. Use numbers. If you're giving tips or writing a "How-to" article, implementing numbers in your heading (i.e., 13 Tips on Planning a Party) is always an option. Here's a fun fact that a marketing friend once told me: odd numbers are more appealing to people than even numbers. Also, the more tips or pieces of advice you're willing to share, the merrier! Would you rather hear about eight places to go on a day-trip with your family, or nine places to go?

5. Seek help from friends and family. At a recent writer's conference, we were paired into groups so that we could come up with headings for stories, and the old saying "Two Heads are Better Than One" proves to be true. Each writer in our group managed to come up with their own heading, such as "Bids for Kids: Make Your Business More Marketable to Children" and "Finding Equine-librium".

6. That last heading leads me to my last piece of advice! Don't be afraid to create a new word! Some of the best phrases used today have been coined by freelance writers (probably most of them)! Wouldn't it be cool to see a word in the dictionary some day and tell your grandchildren that you created it? One recent word coined in the equine media world (besides equine-librium) is equinomics (economics in the equine industry). We coined the word equine-librium by simply brainstorming words and expressions that referred to an article about balancing life between the barn and home. One person mentioned the word equilibrium as being synonomous to "balance", I threw the word "equine" into the mix, and a new word was born. When you hear someone mention the word equine-librium someday in the future, be sure to tell them that I coined the word!

Becoming Business Savvy

2008-12-29T20:12:00.000-08:00

A freelancer recently emailed me, asking for advice on how to market her coaching services. Whether you are trying to market yourself as a freelancer for magazines, a copywriter or writing or editing coach, here are a few simple steps to help you become more business savvy.

1. Review your Rates. Take a look at how much you've been charging (or getting paid) in the past five years. Were you making more or less five years ago, and how much has your pay increased or decreased? Should you consider changing your rates (or changing your goals for how much you want to get paid) to accommodate the plummeting economy? When considering a change in your rates or your goals of how much you want to make, talk to other freelancers and compare your own rates/payment goals to theirs. Then decide if you need to make any changes to your original plan.

2. Find a New Target Market. Is there a specific market you'd like to target, or have just overlooked? I've been working mainly with beginner writers. I find that college students are a market that are often overlooked - this is a great group of people for you to target your services toward. Call the head of a local college's journalism department and see if they are interested in hiring you as a guest speaker. Even contact a local high school and ask if they'd be interested in having you speak to students in a classroom. The more people you can tell about your services, the better.
If you want to make yourself known at the national level, you can try using the same tactics by contacting different colleges throughout the U.S. Many college students (especially journalism) don't necessarily know the benefits of freelance writing or how to get into writing, and may be interested in coaching services! If you're a freelance writer looking for more work, you need to do the same thing - find a new niche magazine that you can target your services to. There are many out there to choose from!

3. Become Involved in the Community. If you aren't already involved in your local Chamber of Commerce, this is a great way to network with people in the community and make yourself well-known. Donate coupons for your services through contests in the community, or if you're just starting out as a writing or editing coach, become involved with your local library by offering a free class once a month, or once a week. Many smaller organizations (I belong to the American Horse Publications, www.americanhorsepubs.org) hold contests at their conferences and would accept donations such as coaching services, or would be willing to hire successful freelancers as a speaker. For the more experienced writing/editing coach: Media Bistro (www.mediabistro.com) offers classes at discount rates and often hires professionals in the industry to teach classes on anything from "Intro to Copy Editing" to "Getting Your Fiction Book Published". There's something out there for everyone!

A Few of My Favorite Things

2008-12-20T07:47:00.001-08:00

When I was just starting out as a writer (which wasn't too long ago), I began my journey by taking out as many books from the library and buying whichever ones they didn't have. I wanted to develop my skill in the craft of writing as much as possible, as well as learn how to get published. Some of these books were very helpful, and some not so much. To help you weed out the good from the bad, here are is a list of some of my favorite books:

1. Six Figure Freelancing by Kelly James-Enger
What I enjoyed most about this book is the fact that James-Enger looks at freelancing from a business perspective, showing you how to create more opportunities for making money, and how to make the most of your time. This book is a must for anyone who wants to become a full-time freelancer without having to constantly worry about their income.

2. The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success by Diana Burrell and Linda Formichelli
Another important piece of literature for anyone in the industry. It includes information on how to pitch to an editor and get them to respond to you, as well as how to get paid more, create more money making ideas, etc., etc. I call this my freelance bible: whenever I have a question or problem about writing, I turn to this book. I usually take the book out every few months for inspiration, especially if my freelance writing slows down.

3. The Writer's Market
This book is a must for anyone trying to break into writing at all, looking to break into a new magazine, or write a book. At the beginning of the book are anecdotes and advice from professionals in the industry on how they broke into writing, whether for magazines, books or newspapers. It lists every major publication in the U.S., Canada, and beyond, and explains what to pitch/what not to pitch to editors at each publication. It also divulges how much each publication pays and the percentage of freelancers that write for them. There's also a listing of literary agents and book publishers for those interested in writing books.

4. On Writing Well by William Zinsser
Although this book put me to sleep countless times while reading it (I found the writing style very dry), Zinsser offers great advice on how to become better at the craft of writing, and how to edit a piece by cutting it down and fact checking before submitting to an editor.

Coming Attractions: Next time I will discuss how to become more business savvy with your writing services.

Surviving as a Writer in Trying Times

2008-12-19T22:09:00.000-08:00

Whether you're a full-time freelancer, or are just doing it for supplemental income, it can be hard to publish a consistent amount of articles every month. And in the state of today's economy, this has become even more difficult. I struggled with this a year ago when I decided to try becoming a freelance writer full-time. At the time, I had barely any articles under my belt, and the few I had were all for the same magazine (which happens to be the publication I work for now).
Almost exactly a year later, I am no longer working as a full-time freelancer, but I have increased my writing samples, which have been published in a variety of magazines, and I also used my samples to land my dream job as an editor at an equine publication. Here are a variety of tips to help you gain exposure (and income) in a weak economy:

Know How to Network
For the Fearless Freelancer: In the business world, networking is everything. Many people visualize writers to be people who spend all of their time sitting at a computer and writing, but they don't usually realize that most full-time (and part-time) freelancers need to be business savvy as well.
In my experience, one of the best ways to network is to attend a writer's conference. When attending a conference, it is important to bring business cards and writing samples with you. Don't just try to network with editors, though. At my first conference, I exchanged business cards with many other freelance writers and publicists, whom I have kept close contact with. Whenever I am having a hard time getting in touch with someone, I can contact one of my fellow freelancers or a publicist, and they are usually more than happy to help me. I've also contacted a friend (who is a freelancer) to ask for advice on how to pitch to a trade journal that she has written for. She was more than happy to help me out, and I landed a contract to write six articles for that trade journal in 2009, thanks to her!

For the Timid Writer: If you're more timid, and can't bear the thought of attending your first conference alone (or you can't afford attending conferences, which can be rather expensive), there are some other options available as well. If you're assigned a story for a publication, don't be afraid to ask your editor to give you leads on people to interview. Many editors have someone in mind as an interview subject when assigning articles, and are more than happy to provide contacts.
Once you've interviewed the contact for the article, try to keep in touch with them after the article has gone to publication. I usually do this in one of two ways: I either ask for their address and send out brief thank you card, or I offer to send them a free copy of the publication. Sending a thank you card is usually more time consuming, but sending a copy of the magazine is more expensive. No matter which route you choose, be sure to save a receipt, as you can write this off as a business expense.
A great website that I have also used to build interview contacts is www.profnet.com. They have a list of experts in many fields. After posting a topic for a business article, my inbox was filled with responses from people interested in being interviewed. I wouldn't always use this website as a source for contacts, though, especially if you're looking to interview someone for a niche magazine (like Dolls magazine or Cat Fancy - you aren't likely to find an expert in that area on Profnet).

Keep Your Options Open
When I started out as a full-time freelancer a year ago, I bought a bunch of books that offered advice on how to make a lot of money as a writer. Almost all of those books told me that the best thing to do was find a few magazines that will assign articles on a regular basis. While this is good advice, finding articles that assign on a regular basis can be really difficult to do, especially if you're a beginner writer.
I suggest that all freelancers (not just beginners) constantly try to pitch to at least one new magazine every month. Why? Because if for some reason, one of the magazines that assigns articles on a regular basis ceases publication, you will have a back up plan, or will already be writing for another magazine as well. I recently learned this from experience when a trade journal I was writing for discontinued publication. I was writing a couple of articles for them a month, but luckily I had just landed a contract with another trade journal. My first article for the second publication was due right after I wrote my last article for the first one. In today's economy, the media especially has taken a hit. More publications are going under every day, or are having to limit the amount of articles they print.

Don't Be Afraid to Say No (or Yes)
When to Say No: When I recently starting working full-time again, I had to limit the publications I wrote for, and I had to choose wisely. After building relationships with editors, it was really difficult for me to tell some of them that I wouldn't be writing for them anymore. How did I do this? First, I estimated the amount of time and research I would have to put in each article, and looked at how much each publication paid me. Another factor that helped me make my decision was how often the publication gave me work. By deciphering which magazine paid the best, while constantly assigning work, and didn't take up too much time, I was able to make the right decision.
Also, don't be afraid to discontinue writing for a magazine if you feel you aren't being paid enough for the time spent on an article. When I first started writing, I accepted an offer as a Sports Correspondent for a local newspaper. The newspaper offered me $25 for every story I wrote (about 400 words). Being young and naive at the time, I thought this was a great offer, until I drove to my first soccer game, which was 45 minutes away. Then the game lasted at least another hour, and I had to drive the 45 minutes back home and still write an article. I only wrote for the newspaper for about a month.

When to Say Yes: Although I didn't feel like I was getting paid nearly enough money to cover all of those soccer, football and field hockey games, the experience of interviewing coaches on the spot was well worth the low pay-rate. I am now able to use the skills I developed from covering soccer games and apply them to my current job, where I sometimes have to cover horse shows or conduct a quick interview over the phone.
Covering games for the local paper also gave me a niche market that I could include in my portfolio. If I ever want to become a sports editor, a sports writer (which I doubt will happen), or apply for a position at a newspaper, I have some writing samples under my belt! If the pay-rate is low, but you are an inexperienced writer or are looking to expand your repertoire and need a few published samples to get your foot in the door with other magazines that pay better, then working at a lower pay-rate may be well worth it.

Coming Attractions: In my next blog, I will include a list of my favorite books for freelance writers.

Key Elements in Writing

2008-12-19T12:18:00.000-08:00

Remember when you were in grade school and you first learned how to write an essay? What were the the most important things your teacher told you to include in every story? If the Five W's was the first thing that came to mind, you are on your way to writing successful stories that sell. Whether you're in Public Relations and you need to write a good press release, or a journalist covering an event for the local newspaper, the Five W's (Who, What, Where, When and Why) never go out of fashion.

I have received many stories from writers who are just starting out and from seasoned professionals. More often than not, there are only four out of the Five W's incorporated into a news story. People usually include the name of an event, but often forget to tell when or where it occurred. Another common mistake often made by newbies to the industry includes writing a straight bio of someone when writing a personality profile. Can you say boring?! I have also been known to make this mistake. Next time you write a story, make sure you cover all your bases by including the Five W's. By asking yourself What happened that makes this story compelling? or Why is this person so interesting? you will be on the right track to becoming a better writer.

Coming Attractions: In tomorrow's blog, I will discuss how to increase your writing opportunities in a severe economy.

Welcome to Writer Savvy!

2008-12-19T00:45:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Writer Savvy - the blog for anyone interested in becoming a savvy writer! My name is Elisabeth Prouty-Gilbride and I decided to start this blog to educate and become educated on the art of writing. As the Assistant Editor of a leading monthly equine publication based out of New England, I will have a lot of tips to offer both beginners in the writing world and writers that have published articles in multiple magazines and trade journals. I also plan on interviewing a writer or editor once a month and will include a copy of the interview here on my blog so that readers can glean advice from some experts in the industry. Please feel free to leave comments or email me at writersavvy@gmail.com.

Tips of the Day: Fact Checking
When submitting articles for publication, writers are often told to check their facts. The problem is, many writers that are starting out don't know exactly how to do this, which often leads to sloppy final drafts. By checking your facts and making sure everything is accurate, editors are more likely to publish your work again in the future. Here are a couple pieces of advice on how to make sure your facts are accurate.

1. To make sure your quotes are correct, it is a good idea to record the interview. If you are conducting an interview over the phone, or don't have a recorder that you can use, it's a good idea to email the interview to the person you are quoting. This will ensure that the interviewee is happy with happy with how everything sounds, without having to send them the entire article. If they do ask to see the article, it is always important to check with the editor of the publication first. If worst comes to worst, you can always email them the quotes that you are planning on using in the article. By sending a pdf file, they are less likely to make too many changes.

2. Make sure names are spelled correctly. This is probably one of the biggest problems that writers have - they get so caught up in interviewing that they forget to ask the spelling of the name. How would you like it if a magazine misspelled your name in the byline? It's important to give the people you're interviewing the same courtesy. If you are retrieving photos for an article, always be sure to check the spelling of the name from the photo against the text in the article. If the name doesn't match, you can always Google it online, or call the source to get the correct spelling. The same goes with photo captions - make sure the caption is accurate by checking it against the text in the story. This will save magazine editors a lot of time!

Coming Attractions: In my next blog, I will discuss some key elements that every writer should include in an article or press release.