Strike Two.. wah, wah, wah

hockeytaxi · Mar 21, 2005

Good afternoon all,

I'm trying to break into the magazine, trade, cards freelance markets and MAN is this frustrating. Strike one: is waiting for replies. How the *&#! am I supposed to gage how I am doing if I never hear from anyone. O.K, I've had one reply and they didn't bite on the article as they said it was very similar to one they are running soon, but still.

Strike two: I thought, TRADE mags. Our local supermarket is building a huge new store so I put together some interview questions (2 hours) and approached them today for an article for a grocery mag. I was pretty comfortable talking to them as I've known them for awhile and shop there regularily. Well, they said no thanks. It's not that they don't trust that I'll write article well, it's that they like to stay "under the radar" in their industry. They quite like their market share and they do not want to attract competition. Dang.

So, I'm back to square one. I figure I'm going back to basics. I am going to complete an article on something I know well. The cost of my son's hockey over the last 6 years WILL be compensated by my next article! I'm hoping that by sending the article completed, it will entice someone to accept it.

Phew. What a ruddy exhausting day. Thanks for letting me vent and not teasing me for whining.

Selena

Rose · Mar 21, 2005

Hi Hockeytaxi,

I am newbie-ish, so keep that in mind as you read my post. Still, I've sold or been contracted to write almost 30 articles (including the 10-article assignment I just landed last week), so this might be helpful.

1) Waiting for replies is the name of this game. I suffer(ed) just like you, but now I know the secret. Pump out so many queries you don't have time to think about which ones have received replies.

2) In my experience, queries are a much better bang for your buck. Spec articles take too long to write and then really annoy me if they don't sell.

I've also noticed that people who expressed little interest in talking to me suddenly became interested when I came back and said, "I am writing a story for XYZ magazine, would you be willing to do an interview with me?" (Caveat: don't say in your query letter that Mr. A promised to be interviewed for the story if he's previously told you get lost!)

3) I feel your pain with the trades. I'm still trying to crack that market, too.

3) Hang in there!! You'll make sales if you keep trying!!

mommie4a · Mar 21, 2005

Hi Selena - I saw in another post of yours that you may be heading to Port Angeles. My family spent a week in Port Townsend last summer, but we're from Ohio. It was gorgeous, perfect weather. Climbed Hurricane Ridge. What a great place. Have fun!

As for the writing, check out www.parentingpublications.org if you haven't already. Regional parenting publications are great for breaking in. They don't pay a lot but they cover a lot of subjects. I like your voice, from what I've read, and I've had some success with those pubs and bet that you will too if you give them a shot. Absolutewrite.com has great articles for how to present your work etc. and there are a lot of other sites out there that can help you. I came to writing as a second career and am pretty much self-taught as far as the business side goes. If you can figure out how to raise a kid - more or less - you have a good chance with freelance writing!

Welcome, good luck and never stop asking questions!

Strike Two.. wah, wah, wah

hockeytaxi

Rose

Escribo, entonces existo.

mommie4a

Mother of All Addictions