Notes in the Margin

by Roy A. Barnes

This is Part II of a two-part article. Part I, “Landing a Press Trip” appears at Kristen King’s freelance writing blog, Inkthinker. Click to read Part I.

If Accepted, Do Your Absolute Best To Attend

Remember, the CVB/PR firm has spent a lot of time and especially money (if they paid your airfare to come) in arranging your trip. The least writers can do is make sure they show up, sans something extreme. A number of CVB/PR firms are now making writers sign/acknowledge agreements to where if they don’t show up, they’ll be responsible for paying the airfare. This does make the writer accountable. But one thing a writer should never agree to is to sign an agreement guaranteeing publication nor would I ever sign such an agreement which I’ve heard does come up in rare instances.

The reason is this: a letter of assignment itself doesn’t guarantee publication. What it does is signify that you’ve had works published, that the editor likes your past work, and has faith that your press trip will be able to produce at least one article for the publication as long as the writer’s work falls within the editorial guidelines. But sometimes things happen, like the publication ceases or goes on hiatus, the editorial staff changes, and the new editor may not be interested in publishing articles that were commissioned from the previous editor. Your article(s), even with rewrites, might not impress the editor enough to justify publishing it. CVB’s do know that these things can happen, but for the most part, the letter of assignment is like a stronger assurance that they’ll see an article(s) in publications that cater to their desired audience.  (more…)

Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life
by Anne Lamott
Anchor
239 pages, 1995

reviewed by Karen L. Alaniz

After spending years in front of the classroom teaching aspiring writers, Anne Lamott decided to gather her teaching notes and write a book. Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life is the result. Her advice is a stew of sometimes simple, sometimes quirky, but always real ingredients, with a serving of humor ladled onto every page.

Lamott meets writers where they are, regardless of success or status. From the enthusiastic beginner to the struggling veteran, her advice is applicable to all. With chapter titles like, “Getting Started” and “Short Assignments” she gives practical advice that can be applied immediately. Most of her students (and now readers) begin with a huge goal in mind; to write their life story, or to write a book that chronicles the history of say, women. But Lamott observes that when it comes to actually sitting down to write, they are paralyzed by the enormity of the task. So Lamott offers some practical guidance. (more…)

by Dawn Colclasure

Want to land more e-assignments, get published in more e-zines and have your name on more virtual newsletters? All of that can be yours — the secret is to know the right way to get there. Here are seven tips to help you improve your freelancing online.

1. Include links. The makings of a good Internet article? Crisp writing, proper organization, and links for readers who want to know more! When you include links in a print article, readers won’t jump online to check them out right away. They’ll probably write it down to save for later. They might even forget about it. Writing for the ‘Net gives you a bonus: including links readers will likely click on right now! They’re already on the Internet reading your article. Chances are, they’ll click on links. Throw in a link or two and you’re on the right path to writing a great e-article!

2. Work magic with e-mail. Not everyone’s up for an e-interview, but when you can use e-mail, do it. It’s the best way to copy quotes verbatim, scan material and save information for later. As long as you keep your e-mail account active and advertisement-free, it’s a great electronic tool to conduct interviews and get information faster. (more…)

by Erin Blakemore

Let’s face it - with the expenses of a home office, time spent trying to find well-paying markets, and the million and one other speed bumps on the road to a professional writing career, it’s hard to justify much time and expense for marketing your writing business. Luckily, low-key marketing doesn’t take big bucks or huge time commitments. In fact, sometimes marketing on a nonexistent budget is as easy as A to Z:

Always give contacts two business cards – one to keep and one to pass along to a friend.

Blog your way to exposure and new clients – with free and cheap online options, there’s no excuse not to learn more about blogging.

Charity can work two ways – what else allows you to get karma points while flexing your marketing muscle? Try allying with a local charity for effective cross-promotional opportunities.

Distribute your press release online – there are several free options and you’ll get search engine exposure.  (more…)

by Jodi M. Webb

People have been asking me for years where I get ideas for my articles. I’d like to say they come to me in a flash of brilliance but it’s much less impressive. They come to me from my daughters’ book bags, an advertisement on the back of my cereal box, or a comment made by my hair stylist. Every day, the ideas are there, waiting for writers to notice them and turn them into articles. Unfortunately, they hide in the most unlikely spots and don’t wear signs that read “I would make a great magazine article!”

Local Publications
The smaller a writer’s hometown the more valuable your local newspaper. Local folks that do memorable things could be interesting to people across the country—but how many of those people read your newspaper? After reading articles in my paper, I’ve written stories about local artists, charities, and events for statewide, national, and even international publications. Never read your paper without scissors in your hand and the question “Who would find this interesting?” in your mind. (more…)

by Suzan L. Wiener

Have you hurt a writer’s feelings inadvertently by saying something when you only meant to be helpful? Here are five tips to avoid that problem.

• Always start off your critique by saying something positive about the work. No matter how poorly you might think of the writing, there is a way of writing an encouraging remark, such as “I can see that you have given thought to your story, but…” This way, the writer won’t feel defensive.
• When you write a critique, read it as if you were receiving it instead of you writing it. This way, you will see where you can improve the tone of something you have written. Even if you feel it is an honest assessment of the writing, you can word it in such a way as to not attack the writer personally.
• Don’t be afraid to give your honest opinion of the piece. Keeping it to yourself won’t be of any help if he/she wants to improve their writing, which most serious writers want to do. No one should be afraid of frankness. In fact, they should welcome it. You can always be tactful, even if you’re saying something less than positive.
• Be specific in your feedback. Saying “This stinks” is meaningless. Of course, the writer will know you don’t like the piece, but it won’t make him stop and think about why you don’t like it and he won’t be able to make the right changes without knowing what the problem is.
• If you think the work has no redeeming value whatsoever, it might be a better idea not to give it a critique. Trashing it completely isn’t the right thing to do. You won’t feel good about it and neither will the writer. Remember, the fact that the author bothered to take the time to write, makes him/her worthy of respect.
• Don’t feel that the first critique you do has to be an epic. One paragraph is plenty to start with, and then you can build it up as you gain more experience in critiquing.

For more tips on critiquing, check out these resources:

• How to Deal With Critiquing, by Rich Hamper
• Critiquing: A Gift You Can Give, by Angie Dixon
• Share Your Work at Absolute Write Water Cooler

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Suzan L. Wiener has had numerous articles on writing, stories and shorter pieces published by many major publications such as Canadian Writer’s Journal, MetroSeven, The Writer’s Ezine, Verses, Complete Woman, Mature Living, Mature Years, Reader’s Digest, and the Saturday Evening Post.

Although this article was published by Kristen King, the original author retains all copyright and should be contacted for reprint requests.

by Susan Johnston

Let’s face it — even the best writers face their fair share of rejection. It could be because that newspaper just assigned a similar story, or maybe the magazine already filled up that issue, or perhaps the editor is just having an unusually bad day… who knows? Rejection can be disappointing and downright heartbreaking if you agonize over it, but it needn’t keep you from achieving your publishing goals.

First, take heart in the fact that rejection is universal. Every writer has a tale of disappointment and despair, but the successful ones keep at it. Many of Louisa May Alcott’s stories were dismissed by her publisher for being too “sensational,” but Little Women has become a classic. Charles Scriber’s Sons rejected F. Scott Fitzgerald’s first two attempts before finally publishing This Side of Paradise. J.K. Rowling had to submit Harry Potter to more than a dozen publishing houses before her books found a home, and now the books have sold more than 300 million copies. You get the idea. Rejection is not a reflection of you or your writing ability, it’s just a fact of life.

After you’ve processed the initial disappointment, it’s time to evaluate whether your idea and query letter were targeted for the right editor at the right market. If you’re querying a beauty article, did you address your letter to the travel editor by mistake? Did you do your homework or did Magazine X just publish that very same article two months ago? If your response included any kind of feedback (like “not enough research” or “where’s the fresh slant?”), then you should rework your query for next time.

And don’t worry, there can and should be a next time. Have a plan B so you’ll know where to submit your idea next. As you’re brainstorming, make a list of all the publications that might be interested in your story. Obviously you’ll want to offer the idea to your top choice market first, but if Cosmopolitan passes, then you should be ready to send a slightly tweaked query out to Marie Claire or Glamour before you get bogged down by disappointment. If you’re querying by mail, have the envelope addressed and ready to go, because even if your query succeeds on your first attempt, you’ll want to try those other markets with new ideas.

If an editor takes the time to email you personally but says your idea isn’t a fit, don’t take it personally. Many people never get an answer or receive an automated “no thanks” to their query, so getting a personal email is a small (albeit bad-news-bringing) victory. Use this opportunity to thank them for their feedback and offer a few back-up ideas. For example, “I appreciate your getting back to me so quickly, and I wanted to offer you another idea for the magazine.” Or “I know you are very busy, so thank you for your response. Could you tell me what upcoming themes need more content that I could contribute?” At the very least, you now have the name and email address of an actual person, which could be a resource for future queries.

It’s also a good idea to stagger your submissions. If you have pieces in every stage of the submission and writing process, then you won’t come home one day to find a mailbox stuffed full of rejection letters. Plus, you’ll have other projects to focus on and keep you from getting too down on yourself. Keep track of where and when you’re querying in case you need to follow-up or submit to another magazine, but don’t get too hung up on the dates or numbers. Just as a watched pot never boils, it will seem as though you never get good news if you’re constantly refreshing your inbox. Give yourself permission to do other things, like going for a walk, treating yourself to some fro-yo, or curling up with a good book. You may even find an idea for your next query.

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Boston-based writer Susan Johnston is a two time National Scholastic Writing Award-winner. Her writing has appeared in Young Money magazine and Brookline magazine, and at DigsMagazine.com, RentalDecorating.com, and SavvyInsider.com. Read more at www.susan-johnston.com.

Although this article was published by Kristen King, the original author retains all copyright and should be contacted for reprint requests.