By Terreece M. Clarke The world’s eyes are on the United States today as we swear in our first African-American President. As I watched history and prayed morning sickness wouldn’t strike in the middle of it, I found myself thinking several things. One of which was: “That would make a good article.” What can I say, I’m a writer and I find inspiration where I can! Let’s look at some of the themes and occurrences of today and shape them into article ideas using popular categories that you can further break down to fit your niche: Responsibility This was a [Read more…]
8 Things to Do Before Submitting an Article
January 15, 2009. 4 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke You’ve got it down to a science. Research, interview, write, spell check, submit. Assignments come in, articles go out – but are they everything they could be? Make sure you check these 8 things off your list before you submit: Check all names for correct spelling. Is it Allyson or Allison? Don’t count on the copy editor to catch your mistakes. Spelled write but used wrong. Spell check and even you’re grammar cheque may not pick up on these simple mistakes. Double check direct quotes. Nothing is more embarrassing than an editor calling you because a [Read more…]
Men's Vogue Hits It from the Back…
January 9, 2009. Leave a Comment
Industry News You Can Use: Memo Pad reports: In order to save Men’s Vogue after shrinking the pub dates to twice a year, Conde’ Nast is going to put the Spring issue of Men’s Vogue on the back of the April issue of women’s Vogue. Media Week reports: Country home is folding with the March issue and the Boston Globe is joining the NYTimes in offering front page ads.
Query Tips: Know Your Audience
January 6, 2009. 3 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke Who is your audience? Do you write pieces with a focus on the people who will be reading the piece or the editor who will review and approve the piece? Do you write just to hear yourself talk, covering topics and issues you want to learn more about or is it a combination of all three? I ask because I have found myself on the three sides of the issue. I’ve written on things that I found interesting and figured if I wondered about the subject, other people probably did as well. Sometimes it worked out [Read more…]
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
December 25, 2008. Leave a Comment
Merry Christmas Freelance Writing Jobs Community! Take this opportunity friends, to enjoy this moment to relax and reflect on all that you’ve accomplished this year, but not in the freelance writing arena. Today is a day to be with the people that have supported you on your freelance writing journey. The friends, family and religious mentors, if you have them, that have listened to your triumphs, frustrations and aspirations. Most of us get into freelancing so we can make our own hours, rearranging them to spend more time with our family. Have you accomplished your goal? What fun times did [Read more…]
Query Challenge Update: Where are you now?
December 23, 2008. 6 Comments
It’s late Tuesday evening and you are checking your feedreader, email and social networking sites one more time before you disappear into a mound of wrapping paper, yummy meals and family fun. You know there’s something you forgot to do. What is it? Write an article? Nope. Follow up on a source? Nope. The query challenge! That’s it! Where are you on the query challenge? Have you pitched a publication yet? Remember we wanted to do this by Christmas so we’d start the New Year off right with either a great or an encouraging response or heck, let’s be honest [Read more…]
In Interviews, Reputation Matters
December 19, 2008. Leave a Comment
By Terreece M. Clarke Hot on the blog today is Deb’s post on “Eight Reasons Why You’re Not Getting The High Paying Freelance” Jobs of which #5 is about your reputation and James Chartrand’s “Are You Creating Your Own Bad Reputation?” So I thought I’d round it out with how your reputation matters in interviews. Imagine the worst interview you’ve given. You were late, you hadn’t really researched the person or subject, you fumbled around for a pen, you asked pretty lame questions and followed it up with injecting personal info into the conversation. Scary huh? Now imagine the interview [Read more…]
Query Challenge – Dear Random Editor:
December 16, 2008. 9 Comments
by Terreece M. Clarke “Dear Editor: This is a fantastic query. It’s a hot topic and perfect for your biggest issue of the year. It’s well-researched and has a fantastic expert on board for an interview. Unfortunately, I didn’t take the time to find out which editor I should send it to. Sure I could have sent a quick email or picked up the phone to be sure that the person on the masthead is still there and in the department, but I decided to go generic. Just any random editor at the publication. So now my query is stuck [Read more…]
Caller You Say What? Questions About Queries
December 11, 2008. 3 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke I always wanted my own talk show :0) Today I’m going to answer a few of the great questions I’ve received: Rupa Says: Hi Terreece, Off topic – but I wanted to return to the query challenge. (Yes, I am working on it!) I have spent some time studying query letter tips and sample queries online. I have never done this before and want to learn to do it right. I have a few questions – Is it absolutely necessary to mention in the query some of the names of the people I will be talking [Read more…]
How Well Do You Fact Check?
December 9, 2008. 5 Comments
by Terreece M. Clarke The BEST writing “how-to” ever!. Our first job as non-fiction content writers/journalists is to present the truth fairly and accurately. Whether it’s on the web, in glossies or newsprint we are obligated to uphold a certain standard. It is what makes people trust what we say and what makes them look to us when they need information. Most of us do our jobs well. We seek out knowledgeable sources and we try to stay as objective as possible. But how well researched is that knowledgeable source? You’re writing an article on clothes detergent – the best [Read more…]
Thoughtful Thursday: How's that Working For You?
December 4, 2008. 3 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke Tuesday in “Date Your Publication” we talked about getting to know the publications you want to query and got some great feedback, specifically from Mary who commented on how frustrating her first year writing was because she hadn’t tailored her queries to specific publications. Once she started however, her success rate climbed. Mary is an excellent example of a great writer stopping to take stock in their career to see where things could be improved. This time of year is a great time to take stock in your career and goals as Deb wrote in her [Read more…]
Query Tip: Date Your Publication
December 2, 2008. 6 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke There are a variety of things a writer must take into account when making a pitch to a publication. A writer must meet and get to know the publication. So I’m advising writers to take it out on a date. Make an appointment, clear out the distractions and ask the publication about itself: Are you printed often? Who’s your audience? What’s your tone? Are you authoritative? Cheeky? Friendly? How much of you is written by freelancers? Any specific sections? What have you talked about in the past year? Are there certain topics you just love to [Read more…]
Happy Turkey Day!
November 27, 2008. Leave a Comment
If you are celebrating Thanksgiving today, I have one tip for you – get off the computer! We love the hits and your loyalty, not to mention your dedication to all things freelance writing, but seriously, go eat some turkey and relax with family or friends. Not everyone has a family to go home to and that’s okay too, why not cuddle up with your pet, a good piece of pie and just reflect on what sends your gratitude meter into overload. I’ll share a secret: I’m grateful for you, our FWJ readers, and not because I’m getting paid to [Read more…]
Query Challenge!
November 25, 2008. 12 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke Think about the top three publications where you’d like to be published. Got ‘em? Now take the FWJ query challenge. Between now and Christmas, research, develop and submit a stunning query for those three publications. If you are a business writer, do the challenge with three clients you’d like to land. I’m talking about serious work – going to the library to look through back issues, zoning in on a section, finding the correct editor to pitch to and carefully crafting a spectacular query. We sometime underestimate ourselves. I hear writers say all the time they [Read more…]
Say What? A Quick Guide to Using Quotes
November 20, 2008. 6 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke Most articles would look pretty naked without quotes. Quotes give a human voice and flavor to the article and gives the reader a break from “just the facts.” Because quotes are so important to an article, let’s make sure we make your quotes count. Use Great Quotes It’s not enough to have a quote, the quote has to contribute something more to the article than just confirming information. For example, a good quote for an article about using Twitter could be: “I’ve used Twitter to stay connected with friends and land new clients,” Bob Johnson said. [Read more…]
DOES it feel as good as your first time?
November 18, 2008. 11 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke Do you remember what your first time felt like? The nervous, but excited fumbling to open it up (the web site or paper publication), the feverish scanning to take it all in (checking to see what the editor changed, making sure your name was spelled right) and the last cry of ecstasy (your paycheck!). Dianne Burrell over at The Renegade Writer Blog is asking writers about their first time – literary experience you dirty minded thing. I want to know something different from the FWJ community – does it still feel as good as the first [Read more…]
Writing Tip of the Day: Know your style guides
November 17, 2008. 5 Comments
I love my AP Stylebook. It’s worn and scribbled up with notes and stains and Post Its with changes from the latest editions, etc. It makes me feel like a real writer and I browse through its pages just for fun. On the other hand, my Chicago Manual of Style guide is less than loved. I don’t have to use it often, but in an effort to be all the writer I can be, I’ve been trying to cuddle up to it and you should do the same. Get to know your style guides. Writers faithfully follow the “don’t guess, [Read more…]
What are you learning from your Feed Reader?
November 13, 2008. Leave a Comment
A common freelance writer ritual is, at some point, usually at the beginning and maybe again in the middle of their day, freelancers will take trip through their feed readers and see what’s happening on the ‘Net. The idea of the reader is to allow people to follow their favorite blogs and Web sites without having to go to each and every site to look for updates, saving precious time. But every so often a writer must ask themselves “What is my feed reader teaching me?” Great writers read voraciously, are curious and follow other great writers. Are you following [Read more…]
Writing on a Schedule
November 11, 2008. 14 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke Sometimes your creativity needs security. It needs to know that you won’t pounce on it after it has a few off days nagging, pleading and begging it to get with the program and the deadline. Sometimes your creativity likes, dare I say, needs a routine. Many writers benefit from a writing schedule. An editorial calendar in combination with a regular writing routine is like giving your creativity a work-out schedule. For instance, my creative bug – which looks much like a ladybug wearing Mickey Mouse ears – knew I would be writing on this topic today [Read more…]
Break the election tension & boost your productivity
November 4, 2008. 2 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke If you have not voted yet do not start reading this column. You are to immediately get yourself to a polling location. Tension, excitement and curiosity is high around the country today as Americans vote and wait to hear the news of who will be the next president of the United States. Some of you are trying in vain to stay on task, but your finger keeps taking you to news sites to get updates and you’re having a hard time not following the updates on Twitter. There’s two ways to get past this time until [Read more…]
Best Query Advice
November 4, 2008. 2 Comments
By Terreece M. Clarke One of the first things people ask me after “How do I get started with freelance writing,” and “Is there any money in that?” is how to write a great query letter. A query letter is what’s going to get you into the door – wait, scratch that. A great email subject line is what’s going to get you into the door. The query letter is going to get you invited in for a moment, and that’s all you have – one moment to land that writing job. Your query letter is like anything else you [Read more…]
