Universities produce tremendous amounts of written material—magazines, newsletters, websites. These publications rarely post guidelines for interested freelancers, but some investigation can pay off. First, dive into the institution’s website. Links for “alumni” and “alumni relations” will lead to alumni magazines. To find the institution’s regularly updated news site, try “university news” or “public affairs.” Search for “development” and “donor relations” to identify publications aimed at philanthropists. Visit the specific web pages for the institution’s most highly ranked programs to see if they maintain their own publications. Look for a masthead in sample copies or on the website. The university’s staff directory often provides contact information for editors you find. Some universities hire contract writers for special projects such as time-limited fundraising campaigns. Go to the university’s careers page and search for “writer,” “public relations,” “marketing” or “content.” This will yield both on-site jobs and contract positions, if available. No matter which type of university publication you are pitching, here are a few things to keep in mind: Start with your home institution An institution will likely prioritize assigning work to its own alumni. If you have an alma mater, start there. When pitching be sure to mention your degree and More
Pantser or Plotter
/ 2019-10-24“I’m very much a writer who lets the story develop. I have no idea how the book is going to end. . .I don’t know what my characters are capable of until I spend a hundred pages with them.” David Baldacci, told to The Daily Beast I listened to a freelance editor teach an audience once about pantsers versus plotters. When dealing with a newer author, she can tell the difference in the manuscript. The pantsers tend to write long, while the plotters write lighter. I had to think about that, and after a moment realized I’ve preached something parallel for ages. Plotters (or those who outline in depth before writing the story) have mapped out the story. In my experience, outlining robs the energy from the storytelling. The author may think they’ve told their story thoroughly in the “retelling” they are doing in the manuscript, but because they are in essence retelling, the repetition often makes the author feel like they’ve already told it. The brain is a weird and tricky organ. But that is my opinion. Pantsers (or those who make up the story as they write the manuscript) are mapping as they go, so they fear leaving More
Best Practices for Working with a Producer, Agent or Manager in Film & TV
/ 2019-10-11Producers. Agents. Managers. Oh my! As a writer looking to make a living in the world of entertainment, these enigmatic creatures will be an integral part of your journey from unproduced novice to sought-after scribe du jour. Learning to work with them in a way that proves mutually beneficial means creating a winning environment for both sides, creatively and economically. (That’s why we call it “show business” and not “show show.”) And while no step-by-step guidebook exists for doing this, because no two individuals are alike, I can suggest a handful of best practices that neophyte writers should keep in mind as they find themselves seeking these useful and often necessary allies. First off, let’s clarify some basic definitions of each role so we know exactly who we’re talking about. Producer – The chief visionary of a production who hires a writer to create a story or buys and develops her already written story with the ultimate intention of filming it for mass consumption. Agent – A commission-based representative who is solely responsible for seeking out and procuring work for the writer or selling the writer’s material. Manager – A commission-based representative who is tasked with guiding a writer’s career More
On Grants, a Primer
/ 2019-10-09Someone searches “grants for writers” and up pops FundsforWriters in the search. Right there upfront. All you have to do is email someone, say you are a writer and ask for a check to publish your book. Right? Sigh. . . if only it were that easy. Following is a generalization of what we tell writers when they write asking for a grant. . . Okay…first, I’m so glad you found FundsforWriters. We post a lot of information about how to earn money as a writer. However, grants are not pots of money waiting for someone to dip into for their indie book project. Let’s discuss grants. You have to match what you’re doing to the mission of a grant provider. In other words, it’s as difficult if not more so than finding a publisher. What you’re doing with your book has to fit what the grant provider wants to support. All grantors have missions and purposes. Just like Coca Cola doesn’t make diapers. Just like Ford doesn’t make cell phones. Grantors give grants for very precise purposes. If you decide you want to pursue a grant, you have to apply and prove you are someone who matches what they need, because grantors More
Five Pro Tips for Killer Email Subject Lines
/ 2019-09-05When you email an agency or editor to query new work or chase a submission, the subject line is almost as important as all the other elements of your email put together. Here, based on 20 years of working with email agencies and the CRM teams of big brands, are my tips for writing a subject line (SL) that will help your email to stand out from a noisy inbox and have the best chance of being opened and responded to. Avoid being cryptic Let’s say, for example, that you have written a new sci-fi saga called The Dragons of Jupiter. You might be tempted to write an intriguing SL such as: “Why did the Dragons move to Jupiter?” Out of context, alas, this won’t make much sense, and your intended recipient is likely a very busy person who is not looking for intrigue from their crowded inbox. This is even more the case if your sender name is unfamiliar to them. Make instant sense Instead, craft SLs that work even out of context, are easy to understand and give the recipient a very clear idea of what the message is about even if they don’t open it there and More
Reading Aloud Can Pay Off – Literally
/ 2019-08-22Are you a writer who studied acting? Learned vocal techniques that enhance projection, enunciation, and relaxation? Have you practiced dance or movement? Become an experienced public speaker? Any of these skills can translate into a revenue stream for writers. Twenty-five years ago, in New York City, I enrolled in acting school. One of my reasons was to become a better writer. Acting is noted for engaging sensory detail, a necessity for writers. As my stories became richer, I took other performance-related classes, including voice, movement, and improvisation. All these techniques resulted in strengthening my reading aloud skills—and most writers at some point have to read their work aloud, be it to try out a chapter or to sell books. Reading aloud is also a great proofreading tool. In time, my public readings were noticed by prospective publishers. Fast forward ten years. I’m living in Taos, NM with one memoir published, a second one in the works, and various acting roles under my belt. I’m asked to teach “Theater Games” classes as a vehicle to explore and enhance creativity. At the fourth class, Judith, a schoolteacher, asked if she could bring a selection from a children’s book she was writing “so More
Teaching Others to Write. . . Online
/ 2019-08-02If you’ve been published for any length of time, you realize thousands upon thousands of writers still struggle to get published or to decide what they want to write. Some still need to learn the basics while others seek to be steered in the right direction. With enough experience and knowledge under your belt, you might be able to help them and, in turn, increase your writing profits. You don’t need to be a New York Times bestseller or have numerous awards to your credit to teach; however, you do need strong writing skills, proof that you’ve mastered an area of writing, and the ability to convey the knowledge you have learned to others. Choosing the topic to teach involves research as you look into writing courses already available. You don’t want to offer a course too similar or too generic, and what you do offer should be a component of writing with which you’re extremely familiar. For instance, if you’ve gotten rave reviews on your villainous characters, you could possibly teach a course for other aspiring suspense/thriller writers. Teaching writing courses involves designing the course, which includes writing all of the lessons and the assignments, and setting the price, More
Your 100 Fan Club
/ 2019-07-06By C. Hope Clark The older I get, the more simplified I seem to want my life. That’s why I toned FundsforWriters down over the years from four newsletters, to three, to two. . . and now one, just like I started years ago. More time to write. More time to enjoy myself while writing. I love losing myself in a story. But marketing, publishing, and so on tend to distract us and rob us of the joy. At a recent conference speaker, I spoke to writers about corralling all the to-do things on their plates and learning how to focus on writing. I suggested they do what I’m doing. . . write for their most avid 100 fans. You know who those are. They are the ones who review, who respond to your blog, who converse with you on Facebook, who like your Instagram posts. They don’t just say they love your work, but they talk it, naming characters and plot points that resonated with them. Why just 100? Because those are your concentrated dose of energy. You have a better feel for what they like. Since they’ve contacted you somehow, you feel a few degrees closer to them. You More
How to be a Welcome Guest Poster
/ 2019-06-29Posting on guest sites is a great way to increase your profile, develop your personal brand – and subtly plug a product or service. Here’s how to increase your chances of getting your posts accepted… Writing guest posts is a great way to promote your work and build your personal writer’s brand. I’ve done a lot of this recently, to promote my book, Kitten on a Fatberg. I’ve spent quite a lot of time sending off ideas, reading submissions guidelines, and liaising with editors. Here are some of the things I’ve learned along the way… Have something to say Start by sitting down and thinking of a few topics that you could write about. These need to hit the content sweet spot – that happy overlap between the things you want to talk about, the things people might want to hear about, and the things the blog or website might actually want to publish. Look for topics that are editorial in nature but aligned with your product. My book is a comic novel written with two co-authors, for example, so I’ve pitched various ideas to do with writing humour, crowdfunding a novel, collaborating on a book and so on. Research More
7 Nudges to Work Into Your Query Letters
/ 2019-06-29Nudges are psychological levers that can be used to help influence and persuade people because they work with the way our minds are wired. Here are some common nudges you can work into your query letters and project submissions… Nudge Theory is a branch of economics designed to help us all make better decisions by appealing to the way our minds are wired. Instead of expecting people to make rational, considered decisions about everything, or trying to boss people into doing what’s good for them, nudges appeal to the mental shortcuts we all make when faced with choices. Nudges are widely used in social policy and the corporate world now, to help people make better choices in everything from pensions to well-being. Richard Thaler, one of the developers of nudge theory, won the Nobel Prize for Economics last year. For example, we tend to take the path of least resistance when it comes to decision-making and will, as a rule, opt for the default option. For this reason, it’s suggested that state pension schemes and organ donation policies should be opt-out rather than opt-in. Marketers have long used many a wide range of nudges and are finding new ways to nudge people More