Submitting to newspapers

[novelator]

Is submitting to newspapers any different than a submission to a magazine or contest or anthology?

If so, how?

How should something like a guest opinion be formatted?

And to whom would it go--executive or managing editor?

Thanks in advance,

Mari

[Writing Again]

I don't know of any newspapers or even Sunday supplements that publish novels or even short stories any more.

[katdad]

If you submit blind you'll likely get nowhere. So you must have prior knowledge of whom to submit to and the requirements.

Phone or email the paper for guidelines. They're usually very responsive.

When I wrote for newspapers, I normally submitted in MS-Word and emailed directly to the contact person I'd been given to.

[maestrowork]

My newspaper buddies told me they normal don't accept submissions like that. The best way to get into newspaper writing (e.g. columnist or op-ed) is to a) be famous; b) be a journalist first and work for the paper; c) know the editor...

Or so I heard.

[aka eraser]

A guest-opinion piece generally goes on the op-ed page so you'd query the editorial page editor. If that person isn't identifiable from the masthead, then just go for the person identified as plain old "editor."

With newspapers, and unless guidelines indicate to the contrary, I nearly always send along the finished piece with a short cover letter, rather than just query. Newspaper editors are among the most harried people on the planet. It's much too easy to say "no" to a query. But they're also curious critters and will often take a peek at an included piece.

[Will Abrahams]

Novelater..........

A lot depends on the size of the newspaper. Smaller ones, say with a circulation close to 50K or thereabouts, are more approachable, especially if you live in the main area of circulation. These observations are from personal experience and may not be applicable to where you live.

One thing you can bank on: newspaper editors are, in the main, very approachable. Their business is getting out news and other features they know their subscribers want and read. If you can provide them with what they need and do it in a competent fashion, your being a member of the immediate community will count for much.

Don't be afraid to approach the managing editor. But do call first and ask the receptionist when the paper is "put to bed." This is the time of day (or night) when all last-second additions to the day's edition are locked up in the system for the print run. At that point, all editors are sitting back heaving great sighs of relief over the day's work being done. They are accessible then and will most likely be happy to see someone able to take their minds off their immediate work.

Call a few minutes after that time and ask for the managing editor. Make an appointment for the next day to discuss your plans. He may even ask if you can come in right then. Don't pass up a chance to do so.

Such newspaper work doesn't pay a lot. (My own weekly column fetched a mere $25 per story.) But you gain experience of great value and have something concrete to add to your CV. And it's a lot of fun. Heck, you may get addicted to working with news people. I did. And if you're lucky, you'll be working with some great people.

[novelator]

Thanks so much for all your great answers.

I took the plunge, and submitted my piece to the managing editor. I dressed it up as nice as I would any other submission--short cover with a nice hook sentence (I do write the shortest covers on earth), double-spaced mss, word count, and an SASE, even though I live about ten blocks from the paper. My thinking on it was that when he had time, he'd read it, and since it makes a point, I thought I had a chance.

Now, I guess I sit back and wait to see. They've published my letters to the editor, even called me on the phone before, so I'm thinking I might have a little name recognition going, or maybe not. But, the piece is funny, based on a true story, and that's what I think will sell it.

The market isn't too big, but it's ten times the size of the last paper that ran an article of mine.

All he can say is no, right? I just hope he gets a good laugh out of my piece before he does so. I have another idea--this one a column--but I'm going to approach the editor of the little weekly newspaper, three blocks away, on that one first--they're affiliated with the daily newspaper in town so one thing may lead to another. Baby steps they are, but heck, I don't want to work my day job forever. I'm a novelist, first and foremost, but my kid needs that roof over her head. Might as well write for a living until I've got my niche carved.

Again, thanks so much,

Mari

[reph]

I feel silly saying this, but you're on the Novel Writing forum.

[novelator]

I know I'm on the Novel Writing Forum, but everyone here is so knowledgeable I felt I could trust the information. Not that I couldn't trust it elsewhere on this board, just that I hang here most of the time.

Sorry if I inconvenienced anyone.

Mari