When you open a discussion with someone, do you lead with “Once upon a time I lived in Michigan. I was twenty-four. I was working at the mall and was trying to figure out my life.” No. BIG YAWN. You don’t start with the backstory. Frankly, I’d bet you’d be embarrassed to start with the backstory, because you know before you spit out the words that nobody really cares. No. You start with some sort of energy, because after all, you want someone to listen to you. “On the way home from work, a car sideswiped the van in front of me, running us all off the road!” “In my first job I found myself in a room full of people twice my age, and without notice the boss asked me to sing because his wife heard me in the restroom.” What do you lead with? Do you lead with the action or the introduction that put you in that position? When figuring out how to write a story, imagine yourself telling it aloud at a party. Which do you think will work best? Same goes for the written word, whether you’re talking novel, nonfiction, or a magazine piece. People expect More
How to Create and Pitch a Television Show
/ 2020-07-17Series programming continues to be a desirable source of content for buyers around the world, even as the entertainment landscape shifts and evolves. And the proliferation of newer platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon and others means more places for writers to pitch their shows. In the marketplace of ideas, a good one will rise to the top. The key is knowing how to develop and present that idea like a pro. For beginners out there with a million-dollar idea, here are the most important steps in the process: Work Out the Concept Flesh out your idea with a logline. This is a simple one- or two-sentence description of what your show is about. Consider whether the idea is truly original and what would make viewers want to tune in. Think about who the audience would be, the length of each episode (half or full hour?), which networks would air it and in what time slot. Then solicit feedback from people you trust. That could be members of a writers’ group, industry colleagues or really honest friends. Develop the Story If the idea passes muster with your test group, it’s time to jump into the development process. Come up with a More
12 Phrases NEVER to Use in Your Freelance Writing Pitch
/ 2020-07-10To help make the best impression, avoid this dirty dozen. ‘I hope you don’t mind me dropping you a line…’ / ‘Apologies for emailing out of the blue, but…’ Phrases like these have a defeated air. If you don’t sound like you believe in yourself, why will anyone else? Don’t brag but be confident. Say what you’re good at and back it up with facts and examples. ‘For as long as I can remember…’ This phrase will dismay editors and commissioners, who don’t have time for you to go through your life story. Instead get to the point, and show that you respect your recipient’s limited time. ‘I don’t know whether you remember me, but…’ So, you met an editor and they agreed to look at some of your ideas. This gives you an in, and there’s no need to agonize over how well they remember you, especially if you’re following up promptly, as you should. Just say: ‘We met at the BookBiz event last week and you offered to look at a few of my ideas, so here goes…’ ‘Are you looking for…?’ Starting a cold email with a closed question is a risky strategy, because the recipient is More
How to Deal with Your First Bad Review
/ 2020-06-12Amid all the euphoria of getting published for the first time, and all the good wishes from friends and family, it’s easy to forget that your book is now out there in the world, alone and unprotected, and must sink or swim on its merits. Soon enough, all that positivity will be challenged by your first negative review. It stings, of course, especially as it’s your first. But what happens next is up to you. Here are a few ideas. Feel what you feel. It’s perfectly natural to be upset by a first bad review, and to feel hurt or even angry about it. Don’t try and stifle the feelings, or they could become toxic or disproportionate. Just process them fast so they don’t take over your head space. Go for a walk or a swim, smash a few balls around, cry on the shoulder of a pal, whatever works for you. Then move on. Congratulate yourself. Why not? Getting published is a massive achievement, and only a fraction of those who claim that their ultimate ambition is to write a book ever manage to do it. A bad review is a milestone that many will never get to enjoy! More
When You Have an Editor’s Ear
/ 2020-06-12Editors juggle a lot of balls in finding literary material for publications. They have multiple deadlines for multiple editions and all the administrative nuts and bolts that come with putting a publication together. When finally obtaining the ear of an editor, keep your moment(s) brief, because others just like you are vying for that editor’s attention, too. A few words of advice. Although we are a small-time publication and only online, FundsforWriters’ editorial issues apply to most editors of any type of publication. 1. Send one version of your submission. An editor receives so many emails that say, “use this version” or “I forgot something so use this instead,” adds to an already hectic day. For all you know, the editor has already edited the original submission to their satisfaction. These subsequent versions also show you don’t proof properly. 2. Include all requested information with the submission. Sending one email with the article, then another with the bio makes for double work. Forgetting the method of payment (in our case PayPal) in the submission adds more work. Worse yet is not sending all the information and making the editor ask for it. Because the editor is easy to work with More
Four Important Lessons About Magazine Writing
/ 2020-06-05Having worked in the book industry my entire career, I decided that 2020 would be a great time to not only broaden my writing repertoire but also add another revenue stream by writing for magazines. So, in January, I pitched article ideas to a local magazine publisher. I felt confident about the topics and assumed it would be easy to obtain the requisite interviews and source material. Shortly after being assigned my first article, however, I learned several important lessons about writing for this genre. Lesson #1: Never assume and always confirm. I scheduled a meeting with the founder of a nonprofit I was to write about. On the dhe day of the interview, I arrived ten minutes early to discover the front door locked. Having noticed several cars in the rear parking lot, I assumed the founder was inside and had merely forgotten to unlock the front door. I reached for my cell phone and dialed her number. She informed me that the organization had experienced an emergency situation two days prior and that she and the volunteers had been working almost around the clock ever since. She was at home trying to catch up on some sleep and More
Use LinkedIn to Find Your Next Writing or Editing Job
/ 2020-05-29Undoubtedly, LinkedIn is the work world’s primary search engine and yet most job seekers do not maximize it. Instead, they copy and paste their resume thinking someone might reach out to them. As a former introvert, I needed to manipulate LinkedIn if I wanted to prove my marketability. I have gotten assignments, requests for interviews and networking meetings, invitations to do presentations, calls for pitches, paid tests all through LinkedIn. It’s a gem of a free resource, but only if you know how to use it. Typical writing and editing jobs (remote, contracted, freelance) include: • white paper writer • freelance (digital/content) writer/editor • brand writer/editor • junior/senior copywriter/editor • SEO (content) writer • web writer • copywriter • blogger • communication specialist • creative writer • technical writer Use these insider tips to leverage your job search using one of the work world’s most undervalued search engines. 1. First, continually expand your professional network. The more contacts, the higher your visibility and credibility. Using the “people filter” add people to your network by niche, location company, 1st, and 2nd tiered connections. After a while LinkedIn will begin to make suggestions based on your searching history. 2. Search jobs by position, More
Top Tips for Projecting a Professional Video Presence
/ 2020-05-22Virtual meetings are becoming the new normal for job interviews, writing groups, workshops, author talks, readings, press calls and more. Finding a way to be as professional and effective on screen as you are in real life is a bit of a learning curve. Here are a few pointers… Video Platform There are lots of platforms to try now, many with features like screen share for free – here’s a useful overview. If you’re using someone’s else platform always do a dry run, to check you’ve downloaded the software OK, and sound and connection work. Watch out for sessions that are time-limited, as with Zoom. (Remember that poor sound will be far more frustrating for your audience than poor visuals.) If possible, have a back-up plan too – another password or login that people can use, or another platform to try. Wardrobe Avoid jangly earrings and bright make-up. Avoid bright colours, stripes, logos and other distracting clothes and accessories. Wear a smart-casual outfit in a darker shade, something that you feel comfortable in. Tuck the tail of your jacket under your rear to keep it looking tight-fitting and to stop it riding up as you speak. More tips on how to presentable here and here. Posture Prop your More
When It Isn’t Fun
/ 2020-05-22Each time to ascend to a higher rung on the ladder of personal evolution, we must go through a period of discomfort, of initiation. I have never found an exception. – Dan Millman, author of Way of the Peaceful Warrior and 16 other books of inspiration During this Time of COVID-19, we have learned to make do with less. While some are chomping at the bit to get back into the world and renew their busy-ness, there are just as many who’ve learned to maintain their simpler way of life. This isolation was discomforting for many. We learned to practically forage for our needs. So we adapted. We studied the pantry and got creative with what we had. We took online classes, and we wrote more words. But we did so with worry in our minds. Throughout all of this quarantine, we grew concerned. Some of us took stock of what we had and who we were. We might have even decided that the path we were on wasn’t the one we wanted after all. Some businesses have taken off. Some businesses were created. But none of this happened without us experiencing change and loss. When I posted on More
The Journey of Editing Autobiography and Memoir
/ 2020-05-15Are you an editor of fiction who would like to venture into editing autobiography and memoir? When I took my first autobiographical editing job in June last year, I soon recognized a whole different ball game – and a fresh learning curve. Autobiography… Or Memoir? An autobiography recounts the whole story from beginning to end (“Long Walk to Freedom” or “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”), whilst a memoir tells of a certain section, time or series of events (“My Booky Wook” or “My Squirrel Days”). It’s Not Quick Some editing jobs are cut-and-dried in a few weeks, but a developmental autobiographical or memoir edit can take months. Prepare for this or prepare to let the client know as soon as possible about any apparent change in delivery date. It’s the Lack of Mistakes Spelling errors are easy to edit, but clients with flawless spelling are harder to edit. You assume they won’t make spelling errors, and you can miss them. Look carefully and don’t assume. Meet Your New Friend: Style Sheets Start keeping (1) style & punctuation sheets, (2) a sheet for every change made, and (3) a chapter sheet. Save every single version of the manuscript as More