Writers Unbound

WELCOME BACK and Happy New Year! I am well rested and ready to offer you the best blogging year I’ve got in me. Let’s get to work! Ok, I’ll admit that the “top 5 genres” is subjective, but whether you’re a freelancer, biz-tech writer, blogger, novelist, or poet I’ve got something for you today!

Freelancers: Now is the time to find out the editorial schedule of your targeted magazine for the following year! Editorial calendars basically tell you what topics the magazine has planned for the year. Many will also indicate the amount of lead time needed for each issue. You can then tailor your pitch to fit their needs. So, how exactly do you find the editorial calendar? 

The easiest way is to subscribe to a service such as CyberAlert or MediaCalendars. Designed and aimed at PR professionals, these subscription-based services offer a searchable database of thousands of publication’s editorial calendars. Of course, I said it’s the easiestway- it’s not necessarily the cheapest. For example, a subscription for CyberAlert costs $499.

Don’t want to invest $500? I don’t blame you. Another way to find editorial calendars is the old fashioned way- search their website. If you can’t find the info on the writers page, be sure to check the advertising page.

Biztech Writers: Tired of trolling the same old places for jobs? Yes, it sure is convenient, but how about creating your own list of weekly job board bookmarks to check? Advantages include:

• Job searching on your own schedule
• That whole “early bird gets the worm” adage means that your resume and email are in front of the hiring manager’s eyes before he is buried under an avalanche of queries.
• Keeping your bookmarks up to date means that you’ll build a series of multiple leads that are tailored to your preferred job boards. 

Ready to go? Start building your list by checking out my list of 20 Links to Find Your Next Job. (Full disclosure: this link is to my guide site at About.com.)

Continue building your list by bookmarking every job board you happen upon. Soon you’ll have a huge list (like me! 85 and counting!) 

Poets: Do I ever have a great resource for you! Check out this listing of over 25 poetry contests with deadlines coming up soon. (Hurry, some require submission as soon as January 15- how’s that for motivation?)

Novelists: I’d never wish writer’s block on anyone- the frustration level is outright horrific. However, if you suffer from this infliction, there’s a multitude of resources out there. Here’s one of my faves.

Bloggers: How do you get great blogging jobs? Have a great blog! Aren’t bloggers lucky in that we don’t have the chicken and the egg issue that freelancers have? (How do I get clips, no one will hire me without clips!) Just about any literate individual with an internet connection can start a blog.

Now, that doesn’t mean it will be great, or that it will get traffic. Luckily, I can help you with one of those. Submitting your blog to directories is one way to increase the flow. Here’s a couple to try out:

• RSSFeedSubmission.com keeps a huge list of directories.
• Search Engine Watch offers these step by step tips on blog submission.
• Give Best Web Directories a try.

Thanks for reading!

writing tips, writing resources, freelance, poets, poetry, blogs, novels, business writer

Thank you kindly to those who followed our markets series that wrapped up yesterday. 

Moving on, I am currently reviewing “The Anti 9-5″ for my freelance writing site at About.com. It’s about leaving behind the cubicle farm for the “freedom” of freelancing.” Haha. While I adore the book, I do have a shot of reality I’d like to share!

For all those considering freelancing as a career, hoping for some of that “freedom,” I’ve decided to share with you a rundown of a day in the life of a full time freelancer:

• 7:30 Up and out the door. Since we’re down to one car for the next couple days, I have become the official chauffeur. Drop off child #1, drop off husband, drop off child #2.
• 9:00 Stop at Office Max and pick up ink for the printer that decided to suddenly die with no warning at 11:30 last night.
• 9:30 Back home. Let dog out, feed cats, print grad school applications and etc to get into the mail by 10a. Yeah, um, the deadline is Friday.
• 10 Time to “start work,” although I’m not sure what that means I’ve been doing since 7:30.
• 10 to 12 Work on editorial management of regional magazine. I have a meeting today at 4:30 with the magazine’s publisher. I showed up at the last meeting with not enough done, and the guy’s flying to Guatemala for a month on Thursday! Needless to say, he’s a bit antsy about the issue’s MLK print date.

So, this two hours of work consists of: managing his magazine, managing my email and other projects who are poking me for attention, researching for a subject interview for this afternoon, and researching for a client call also coming up this afternoon. In addition, I haven’t done any subject interview for over a year, so I have to cough up my recording equipment and digital camera.

• 12:30 Shower and prep for the interview
• 1:40 Leave
• 2:00 Realize I forgot my laptop, which I need for my 4:30 meeting with my publisher. Crap.
• 2:10 Arrive at interview. Early. Hoping he will be ready. Early.
• 2:40 Subject arrives…late.
• 3:10 I should leave the interview right now. We arranged a half hour, which should be enough for a half a page with the research already done and a stock bio covering the first paragraph.
• 3:15 Ok, I really should leave now.
• 3:30 Finally leave. Call my daughter’s school and let them know I am on my way to pick her up.
• 3:45 Pick kid up, 15 minutes late.
• 3:50 Coach kid not to make a peep during 4 pm phone interview.
• 4:00 Potential client calls. Did I mention I’m still in the car?
• 4:10 Arrive home, gather laptop, get back in car to head to next appointment. Yup, still on the phone interview with client.
• 4:30 Pick up hubby. Still on the phone interview. Yes, we still only have one car. But at least now he can drive while I talk.
• 4:34 Phone interview over.
• 4:35 Dropped off at meeting with publisher at local internet cafe.
• 5:15 Publisher has family emergency. Is called away. I eat dinner alone while waiting for my family to pick me up. They are finishing up their dinner down the street.
•  5:30-8 Family time.
• 8: Children to bed, back to work.
• 9: Conference call with About.com’s fellow channel guides.
• 10-11: Back to work (typing this post, among other things.)

A time breakdown:

1. 4 hours family time
2.  7.5 hours work time
3. 3 hours ”other”- shower, travel time, pets

;-} So that’s my life…not that I’m complaining! Hope I’ve infused some reality into your view. Best of luck!

Greetings readers and writers. Last week we began this 5-part series on finding markets for your magazine articles. I hope some of the resources I gave were new and useful to you.

My challenge today: to gift unto you a good variety of personal bookmarks of “potential markets” that I have earmarked while browsing the net/applying for jobs/chatting and networking.

All of these “potential markets” had a call out for new material or a blog post, or were the subject of freelancers discussion within the last 6 months.

Most of these links are directly to their “writers guidelines,” which is, of course, your best jumping off point.

Now, onto the list, in no particular order!

• From Brave New traveler, a list of over 50 travel magazines that want to publish you!
• Babble.com Writer’s Submissions page.
• Chicken Soups Calls. Ok, not particularly magazines, but a good place to sell short, personal essays.
• Skirt Magazine writer’s guidelines.
• Faith, Hope and Joy: The Unexpected Side Effects of Cancer is accepting short personal essay submissions until December 31.
• So you want to contribute to Grandparents.com?
• Highlights Magazine seems to release new calls every couple months.
• National Parks Conservation Association has writer’s guidlines available.
• Wow. Poets and Writers has a large, varied listing.
• Back 2 College is a magazine aimed at adults reentering college to start or finish a degree.

Well, I have many, many more. If you’re not seeing a particular genre in which you’re interested, leave a comment and I will be happy to see what I can come up with!

markets, writers, submissions

Hello and welcome back! We’re in the midst, nearing the end, of a market-finding series, suggested a week back by a reader who wanted to know where/how to sell more stuff. I’ve focused this series on targeting magazines.

I’m going to deviate a bit and look at Ezines today. If you’re a regular reader, you know that I gave a general intro to ezines here, including pros and cons, which I think are worth another read.

However, the bottom line in that post, in relation to markets and market series, is that ezines might just be worth your time, especially if you are a new writer. (And, honestly, even if you’re a veteran.)

Instead of rehashing the whole old post (please, take a look at it), I’d like to highlight some of my fave ezines, and perhaps jog your query writing hand in the process . I may have mentioned some of these in past posts or my other blogs, as I am drawing from my bookmarks here.

 Women on Writing: Pretty self explanatory title, huh? It’s a very chatty read, be sure to match your writing style to theirs.

Work Home You: I’m am such a fan of this magazine, and honestly, it’s on my query list, if I could just find a minute!

The Muse Marquee: I will admit that I’m not sure if MM accepts queries from outside readers. However, I also admit it’s one of my faves, so hopefully you’ll garner some inspiration anyway!

As always, BEST to you!

ezines, magazines, getting published

A couple days ago we began a series on finding markets, specifically targeting magazines/trade journals.

My second most trusted resource for finding markets, after the Writers Market, is Places for Writers. Places for Writers regularly posts calls for content from journals, magazines and other print outlets nationwide (perhaps even worldwide!)

Places for Writers is at the top of my bookmarks for several reasons. For one, it is updated often. However, past calls are easily accessed through their archives.

Secondly, Places for Writers doesn’t just post a magazine and some bare bones info. Instead, they regularly give details and hints about the print outlet, what they are looking for, and how to approach them.

Third, the remainder of their site is also a great resource. They’ve got links to writing contests, and even a section specifically devoted to young readers.

Be sure to check them out when shopping around your next piece! 

writers markets, places for writers, getting published

Last Friday, we began a series on finding markets for your writing, and are focusing first on articles/magazines and perhaps some non-fiction essay markets, which can be found in similar ways.

We started at the beginning, sort of conquering “the chicken or the egg” riddle and found a decent mix of writers here and throughout the net who tend to oscillate between beginning with the targeted market or beginning with the piece.

Today, we’re going to begin finding a market for that (hypothetical) piece that you’ve got burning a hole in your hot little hand…er…hard drive….

Enter: The Resource of All Resources. The Writers Market.

For those new to the writing and publishing world, the Writers Market is a huge print resource listing a downright feast of magazines and trade publications. Each entry also provides hints and tips for each entry regarding how to approach with an idea, who to direct pitches to, what to avoid, and how to get the editor’s attention. Honestly, as a resource, it’s one of the best out there.

Writers Market is also made of an online component- a subscription-based service that basically provides the same thing, but also adds in newer listings, updates, and software that helps you track your submissions. 

Veterans, don’t fret! I know your Writer’s Market is thumbed through and flagged up! Tomorrow, we’ll continue our series on finding markets, and perhaps you can jump in pass along some of your favorite little gems!  

writers market

In a past post, one reader said they’d like to see more information on finding markets for your writing.

Today, I’m starting a blog series on selling to the consumer and trade magazine markets.

I was fortunate to intern under a magazine with a decent circulation in college, and found my editor/supervisor to be a wealth of knowledge. I also write and edit for a local magazine, and although the publisher himself actively seeks out our writers, I have a sense of what he likes to see from them.

However, unfortunately (or fortunately I guess), I haven’t needed to go through the process of querying very much, as I’ve found these contacts to be enough- for now ;) So I did some digging for you, dear readers, so that you can benefit from those actually in the trenches of querying. I think that viewpoint is equally as important as the editor’s viewpoint for those just beginning the query process.

The Beginning 

My first and foremost question was the very beginning of the process. Do you begin with the idea, or begin with the audience?

 Of the few times that I did query, waaay back, I was..ahem…pushed to it by a professor who particularly liked an article. So, I had an article in hand, and had to match it to a publication.

However, I figured this may not always be the case, and did some research and poking. Sure enough, there are writers who are inspired by a particular magazine or type of magazine, and may write a wholly targeted article to/at that magazine.

Honestly, I think that either approach has the potential to work, as long as the end product is a polished article and a polished query.

So, let’s begin at the beginning. What approach do you take in marketing to magazines? Do you have an article in hand? Or do you simply have a targeted publication? Or, perhaps you’re somewhere in between, as one of the community members I polled said- having more of a rough idea of an article that is then pushed, pulled and mashed to the magazine’s specifications?

magazine writing, magazine markets, getting published

I must thank Write From Home for this one!

The Parenting Publications of America Association will charge you 50 bucks if you wish to have a listing of their parenting publications who are members….Sounds like great thing to have for us writers, right? Sure…but who wants to spend 50 bucks on it? (not me, thanks, I’m saving for a new printer that works with my Vista).

So, as Write at Home explains, you can get around that by visiting the site, clicking on ‘Find a Member’ in the left navigation, and then plugging in your state and searching. POP! You’ve got all the parenting publications in your state, just waiting for your well thought out query!

Many people answered my post from yesterday about what you NEED in yet another writing website, and I will most certainly get on that soon. Items mentioned were blogging and cold calling, among others. So let’s start brainstorming!

Hump day’s near done everyone!

Don’t we all have an excuse for that unfinished novel on our hard drive and in our heads?

I do, anyway, and I like company. 

Over the summer I stumbled onto an August issue of O Magazine where Walter Mosley, author of 47 and multiple other books in several genres, tells you that This Year You Write Your Novel. That article was singlehandedly responsible for getting my novel out of my head and at least halfway on through my fingers (I’m still working on it). 

Mosley addresses a couple of my novel writing fears:

1) Similarity of my characters to real life
2) Lack of an ending. I didn’t know the ending.

Mosley helped me both via this highly recommended article in the August 07  issue of O Magazine.

Another way to go about getting your novel out would be to join National Novel Writing Month. For all the would-be NaNa novelists out t here, I wish you the best of luck! Keep us updated!

Happy writing!

Not long ago, I received my copy of the inaugural issue of Coastal Homes Southern Style, a new upscale bimonthly magazine. The magazine focuses on luxury living along the “Sweet Tea Coast,� an area spanning Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay to Florida’s Palm Coast. The magazine is glossy, with lots of color photographs, features and community profiles.

I wrote a story about Palencia, an upscale, environmentally friendly development near St. Augustine, Fla. I covered available properties, feedback from residents and information about the tennis courts, golf course and other amenities. There’s a lot of nuts and bolts information, but the story is also a feature, so quotes from residents and anecdotal information about the community and its history are also included.

The first issue totaled 84 pages and hits newsstands July 31. Coastal Homes is the latest periodical of 35-year-old Leisure Publishing of Roanoke, Va. Leisure publishes 18 titles.

“Coastal Homes provides that connection between boomers and the developers of quality coastal communities,� says Richard Wells, publisher and Leisure founder. Wells says the magazine is “a relocation guide for those who want to compare living on the Chesapeake Bay with the Palm Coast of North Florida…to understand the lifestyle considerations between, say, Nags Head and Hilton Head.�

CH editor Marie Hodge, winner of a National Magazine Award and former New York-based editor of Sesame Street Parents and Longevity, says another important factor in the purchase of retirement/vacation homes is proximity to current residence. “Studies of buying trends suggest the majority of buyers want to remain within a three to four hour travel time from their primary residence,� Hodge says. The magazine’s targeted distribution will be focused geographically within four hours of the coast and in key metro markets where air service provides less than four hours travel time.

I got the first assignment to write for Coastal Homes by way of my Freelance Marketplace listing at MediaBistro.com. Working with the magazine was a pleasure, and I’m working on my second assignment for the next issue.

If you’re interested in submitting, visit the Web site and study the content.

Writers may submit queries directly by snail mail:
Editor
Coastal Homes
3424 Brambleton Avenue
Roanoke, VA 24018

Include a brief bio, your pitch and 2-3 clips of published work.

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