Category Archives: Magazine

How to Be a Full-Time Freelance Writer: An Interview with Laura Hooper Beck

Posted on November 16, 2011 by | 7 Comments

Laura Hooper Beck is one of the funniest writers I know (and I live with a TV comedy writer). She’s smart, sassy, and honest. When I first read her “Ask Laura” column in VegNews magazine, before I even started working there, I looked forward to reading it every issue. Fast forward to present day, I am working at my dream job AND working alongside Laura, who is Editor-at-Large at VegNews. Plus, I found out that Laura and I are both NYU alum from Tisch School of the Arts, so we know nothing about sports and everything about TV shows. Go Violets!

Laura is also a successful blogger at Vegansaurus, the web mistress behind VegWeb.com, and a freelance writer for The Huffington Post, 7×7 magazine, SF Weekly, SFist, San Francisco Magazine, SF Appeal, The Bold Italic, and others. Girl has got it going on.

So I asked Laura to share the secrets behind her success and dish about her favorite vegan meals. Enjoy!

Q: You have a fascinating story of how you got your start in freelance writing. Please share.
A: In 2005, I was working at a kind-of soul sucking job, and used to write Yelp reviews for fun. Yelp introduced this feature where you could “fan” people, and I started accumulating a lot of fans, and became the “mostpopular” person on the site, which was kinda awesome because all of my self-esteem was being stomped into the ground every day at work. At least people on the internet liked me! And that’s what really matters, right? I thought it was pretty cool that an opinionated vegan could be the most popular person on this site that was mostly meat mouths. So THEN, Yelp started bitching about my reviews having too many swears and other stupid infractions, which is totally fine because it’s a privately owned website and they can do what they want, and so I started a local vegan blog, Vegansaurus, to take the show on the road. Then, from there, I met other local bloggers, writers, editors, and a bunch of jobs came my way. I feel super lucky that I’m able to make a living this way, and I’m still very grateful to Yelp, even though it’s pretty much unusable these days and every review starts with, “I wanted to like/hate this place, BUT…”

Q: What tips would you give to freelance writers who want to be writers full-time?
A: You gotta hustle! I know you know, freelancing is not about laying around naked eating bonbons, although that is always my end goal. It’s near constant pitching, writing, or editing, and on top of that, you have to network so that you can find future jobs. As gross as it is, like most things, little of it is based on actual ability, it’s just about who you know. Find out if there’s local networking events or readings, and go to them to get to know other people who are living your life! Strength in numbers! If there’s a writer you admire, send them an email and ask some questions, and maybe they’ll offer contacts right away? People who are stingy with that shit are stupid because if you’re right for the job, you’ll get it. If not, might as well let someone else take a stab at it. Oh, and look up to see how to pitch publications you’re interested in, lots of people get jobs from doing that, just make sure your pitches are professional. Almost every editor I know is looking for new writers and new voices, so put yourself out there!

Q: You’re a passionate vegan and you write a hysterical advice column in VegNews (I seriously can’t stop laughing when I’m reading it). What would you tell someone who says, “I would love to go vegan, but it seems so hard.”
A: Thanks! That’s super nice of you to say! It’s all the good editing, though! Love that VegNews crew! OK, so, I guess I’d say that being vegan is an exciting ethical opportunity that many of us (not all of us!) have the ability to act on, so why not do it? Like, I loved eating dead animals, I did, I used to break open chicken bones and suck out the marrow. I was hardcore. I was like, the white friend at dim sum who WENT THERE. I’d eat ANYTHING. But when I learned how that stuff got to the table? It’s so freaking gross! It’s the GROSSEST and the SADDEST and I didn’t want to have anything to do with it, especially when there are so many great vegan meats and vegan foods, in general. Also, I’ll say, my palette has grown so much since becoming vegan. I try foods I never thought I’d try, and just the other day I actually MADE injera. Bam!

Q: You run a successful vegan group community blog. How did you start Vegansaurus and what would tell would-be bloggers who want to get started but are scared to jump in?
A: Just do it! You can even just start with just you and then get new writers from commenters. One of our most prolific, best, funniest, greatest bloggers on Vegansaurus was a commenter back in the beginning. I don’t really know anything about anything, this is just my guess, but I think the thing to having a successful(ish) blog is consistency. Like, don’t give up after a few months if nobody is reading, they will come! And comment on other blogs, offer to do guest posts on more popular blogs, be active on Facebook and Twitter, and it’ll happen. It’s just a commitment, and I’m not sure the commitment is for lots of people, because they have lives they enjoy.

Q: OK, now we’re getting to the tough stuff. What’s your absolute favorite vegan meal of all time?
A:Ugh. Can I choose a few?? Thanks, Jenn! Veggie Combo at Cafe Colucci in Berkeley, anything at Saha in San Francisco (as long as the fried avocado salad is included!), the reuben from Locali in Los Angeles, and a mega feast at the Veggie Dim Sum House in NYC.

Special thanks to Laura for taking the time out of her busy schedule to answer my questions. Got more questions for Laura? Post them and maybe if you buy her dinner at Cafe Colucci, she’ll answer them.

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Posted in Interviews, Magazine, Vegan, Writing, Writing Advice & Exercises

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Balancing Work & Writing

Posted on August 31, 2011 by | 3 Comments

I recently was fortunate enough to be interviewed by Hyphen, a San Francisco-based Asian American magazine, about being a full-time magazine editor and writer. Hyphen online Q&A editor Rachel Filipinas asked how I balance my time to juggle both careers. And often, my blog readers ask me the same thing. I wish I could say that I have a clone who helps me out with these projects, but I haven’t perfected that science yet. I wanted to expand on my answer to Rachel and give you a little more detail here.

What I do is schedule. I use my handle iCal on my iPhone and set dates for myself to write. Since I’m balancing outside projects such as a photography book with top photographer Bambi Cantrell, working on a new young adult series, and freelance, my calendar is my best friend. Since I work 9am to 5:30pm most days, I work at nights and during my lunch hours. I purchased a MacBook Air so I could lug my laptop to work without killing myself. (A great investment if you can afford it.) It is a bit crazy to work during a lunch hour but it really forces me to get work done. You have 60 minutes, go! I go to a nearby café and churn out as much as I can.

Talk it out. My husband is a great sounding board. He works full-time while balancing outside projects such as his graphic novel, RASCAL RACOON (out this December 2011, Oni Press), so he understands what it means to work on multiple projects. I like to talk out my work schedule with him. He tells me honestly if I’m tackling too much in one night or week. Find a person in your life that you can discuss work with and your goals. Sometimes it’s hard to see what you’re working on from the outside.

Love what you do. I love magazines, young adult novels, photography, and being creative. I might be working until midnight to finish an article, but I love it. I can’t stress this enough. Don’t kill yourself for something that doesn’t matter to you. It’s not worth it.

Most of all, take some time off. I’m a perpetual worker. Every minute of the day must be filled. But when I do that I burn out. I either get sick or get cranky. That’s no way to live. I’m trying to remember to take a night off and relax. Work will always be there.

How do you juggle multiple projects?

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Posted in Freelance, Magazine, Writing, Writing Advice & Exercises, Young Adult

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To Write for Free or Not

Posted on July 13, 2011 by | Leave a comment

As a working writer, it’s hard to work for free. I get it. But some times it’s good to write for free and some times it’s terrible. How do you know when it’s right to write for free? Here’s been my experience:

When I first was starting out as a magazine writer, I had no published clips so I wrote for a small and now defunct women’s online zine. From there, I gained confidence and started pitching more, and actually getting paid gigs. So for a novice writer, free gigs can help.

One of the best non-paying gigs ever? My first travel piece for VegNews magazine. Why? It helped me land my full-time job! When a spot opened up for an editor, in my cover letter, I mentioned in the very first line that I wrote for them before and loved the magazine. My bosses liked that I already knew the writing style of the magazine. Now, not every free gig would lead to your dream job, but it just might.

But there are definitely some unpaid writing jobs that are NOT worth it.
What to look out for:

  • Content farms that ask you to write for a percentage of ad revenue. They just want content, you want a clip. In my opinion, it’s better to write for free for a publication you admire.
  • Beware of bizarre Craigslist ads. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
  • Any publication or website that has bad writing. Write for quality publications and websites. It will pay off as you build your portfolio. Quality is better than quantity.

What has your experience been writing for free?

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Posted in Magazine, Writing, Writing Advice & Exercises

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A Reader’s Writing Questions

Posted on June 8, 2011 by | Leave a comment

Recently a reader, Marlee Rubel, contacted me with some questions. Since I receive similar questions from readers, I thought I’d share my answers on my blog instead. Thanks Marlee for reading and asking some great questions! I’m always open to questions. Feel free to email me.

Q: I’m interested in writing for a living (or at least a part-of-a-living). I currently have an editorial internship at a publishing company, and spend a great deal of my time working on my vegan blog when I’m not in the office or at school. I was wondering if you had any suggestions or advice for someone who is looking to eventually write for a magazine such as VegNews.

A: My best advice is if you want to write for magazines, read magazines, love magazines, and figure out what you love about them. One of my favorite magazines is New York magazine. They have great feature articles and a great back of the book (I heart you, Approval Matrix!). As a working freelance writer and a full-time editor, I live and breathe magazines. I started as an editorial assistant at Rangefinder magazine and worked my way up to features editor so having an editorial internship is great. I was 28 at the time and I knew that the best way to learn was from the ground up. I had no qualms about being older than the editors above me. I learned from them and they learned from my crazy organizational skills. My second best piece of advice — do what you love. I have a passion for animals, writing, and magazines. VegNews is a perfect fit for me.

Q: As someone who is already in the industry, would you advise getting a graduate degree in writing/publishing?

A: Ah, I hear this question a lot. I pursued a masters degree in dramatic writing from NYU because at the time they offered a fifth year program so I figured why not get a MFA in one year. That being said, I don’t think everyone needs a graduate degree in writing. This is what it will do for you. It will give you time to write. You will meet greet professors and fantastic fellow writers. There are certainly amazing writers who never even majored in writing and there are writers who have a fabulous degree. Grad school costs a lot of money, but if you have the desire and the financial means, go for it. Just don’t graduate expecting that the writing life is easier.

Q: Or would you suggest just focusing on producing and submitting writing instead of going to school?

A: I think it depends on what type of writer you are. Do you need structure, discipline, and classes? Then going to school is a good option. The toughest part of being a writer is the writing part. People ask me how exactly I produce writing. Here is my simple trick. I give myself deadlines. I write it down on my calendar when I’m going to write, then I do it.

Q: What would you differently, and what would you keep exactly the same if you could do it all over?

A: Great question! This is the biggest life lesson I’ve learned — if I could go back to my 23-year-old self, I would tell her that getting rejected isn’t the end of the world. I stopped writing for a period of time because a YA manuscript I wrote was rejected after being a semi-finalist at the Delacorte Press contest. I cried. Then a manager in Los Angeles read it and told me my manuscript was terrible and that I’d never be able to sell it. And I listened to her. That was my mistake. That same exact “terrible” manuscript helped me land the best YA literary agent in the world (deserved hyperbole). I was too young to realize that not everyone is going to love my work and I was too precious with my words to ever self-edit. As an editor now, it is so much easier to look at my own work with a critical eye. You have to be able to self-critique and edit. Listen to your editor. They are usually right.

What would I keep the same if I could do it all over? I would keep my passion and love for stories. I’ve loved hearing stories since I was a kid and I had those books that came with records that would “read” stories to me. I’ve loved magazines since my first subscriptions to Seventeen, YM, and Sassy. I’ve loved YA since Sweet Valley High and The Babysitters Club. The reason I love This American Life (besides the delightfully charming Ira Glass) is the fact they tell amazing stories. Ditto on The Moth (seriously, check out their podcasts. I once cried while stuck in horrible 405 traffic in LA while listening to a gay solider tell his beautiful story). To be a writer, you’ve got to love the art of storytelling whatever genre you’re writing in.

Got more writing life questions? Post in the comments please!

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Posted in Magazine, Writing, Writing Advice & Exercises, Young Adult

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How I Landed My Dream Job

Posted on March 21, 2011 by | 13 Comments

I’ve worked at nonprofits, as a teacher (briefly), and producing legal newsletters. But it wasn’t until I thought about what I really wanted that I landed my dream job as an associate editor at VegNews magazine. I wanted to share this story because I know how hard it is do what we really want to do. It’s much easier to settle. Settle for a paycheck. Settle for a job we don’t mind, but don’t love.

I moved to LA to be with my then-fiancé, now husband from NYC. I hated LA at first. But it kicked my butt. I got a high-paying job at an education nonprofit, but I was miserable. After I quit, I didn’t know where to look next but one thing I did know was that I wasn’t going to work any more where I was unhappy. So I made a list of my dream jobs. When I was a kid, I wanted to be the editor-in-chief of People magazine. I made my mom a magazine for Mother’s Day when I was little. I loved reading magazines. So I enrolled in some basic magazine writing classes and started pitching. I found an editorial assistant position at a trade photography magazine, Rangefinder, and learned magazines from the ground up. Then we moved again. Brendan landed his dream job at Lucasfilms and I was once again confronted with what did I want to do. I freelanced and took the time to expand my portfolio. Then my dream job opened up. As soon as I saw the job listing on Craigslist for an associate editor at VegNews, I ran home and typed up a cover letter and sent my resume. I got an interview, then was asked to write up some ideas. I spent my entire weekend working on them. I had my friend Rita edit my work. I knew that every word mattered. When you’re applying for an editor position, it doesn’t look great when you don’t even edit your own work. So after a third interview, I landed the job. I love it. It’s hard work but every day I’m challenged, I’m writing, and I help put together a fantastic magazine.

I didn’t get here easily. I’m still writing and freelancing while balancing a full-time job. But I couldn’t ask for anything better.

I spent quite a few years post-college working at places that didn’t fulfill me. I had doubts. I dealt with rejections, and definitely made mistakes. The pinnacle moment for me happened when I was jobless, lonely, and new to LA. Brendan was on the WGA writers’ strike. We had no income, two cars, and were planning a wedding. I went out for a walk. I was frustrated. Then I saw an entire unopened package of paper sitting on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked up the ream of a paper. I saw it as a sign. I had to get back to writing. No matter what. A month later, I got my first magazine job and sold a pitch to Every Day with Rachael Ray.

It’s hard to be a writer. Some times it can be lonely. It takes discipline. I’ve cried over rejections and wanted to quit. But I hung in there. And so should you. Whatever your dream job is, work towards it and take it one step at a time. You can do it.

UPDATE (3/22/11): I’ve been so amazed how much this post has really struck a chord with people. I’ve gotten so many positive responses. So thank you for reading. I hope what I’ve said sticks with you and that you will continue to pursue your dreams no matter what.

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Posted in Freelance, Magazine, Writing, Writing Advice & Exercises

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Why Every Writer Needs an Editor

Posted on March 2, 2011 by | 2 Comments

Now that I’m an editor at one of my favorite magazines, VegNews, I’m more acutely aware of why every writer needs an editor. As funny and as witty as we are as writers, we make mistakes. We get too insular. We forget that not everyone understands every single thing we write down.

As a freelancer writer, I strive to turn in the best version of an article to my editor. But I’m still going to miss something. A better quote, transitions, even content that a reader needs. When an editor asks for minor or extensive edits, I make myself available and I take my ego out of the equation because the truth is the editor wants your writing to be the best it can be for publication. Heck, he or she isn’t getting my byline, but they want their magazine to be awesome.

I say this because maybe you’re not a magazine writer. You think, how does this even apply to me? It applies to writers because you need someone else to read your work. Whether it’s a screenplay, a sketch, an outline, five pages of a nonfiction novel, you need someone you trust to say hey, this doesn’t make any sense. Or this is what I’m getting.

You need that outside perspective. One of my best working relationships has been with my literary agent, Michelle Andelman. She is brilliant. She tells me when things are working (and she glows about them when they do) and she’s honest when something is dragging my writing down—whether it’s a character, story line, or sections of prose. Every note she gives me is like a little gold nugget.

So, my friends, find your editor. Shower your editor with kindness. And above all else, listen to them.

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Posted in Magazine, Writing, Writing Advice & Exercises

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Introduction to Magazine Writing

Posted on January 24, 2011 by | 6 Comments

Quite a few people email me about how to break into magazine writing or how to get published in a magazine. So instead of answering each email individually, I thought it was better to write a blog post and let everyone share in the information. And if you’ve written for magazines, please add your comments below! As a magazine editor and writer, here are my best tips for breaking through to magazines.

How I broke in. I started by taking an online class through the Woodhull Institute and then Mediabistro.com. I knew nothing so I spent money learning from instructors who had actually written for major national publications. After my first online class with Kristin Kemp, I sold my very first article to Bust magazine about young women becoming nuns. Learn from people who know more than you.

What I’ve learned. It’s a tough business but I love it. I’ve loved magazines since my first issue of Sassy, YM, and Seventeen arrived in my mailbox. So love it first because the passion for the written word in a glossy format will get you through the not-so-great times like when an editor never gets back to you, your pitch gets rejected, or every word of yours is rewritten.

Subscribe to your favorite magazines. How can you ever expect to write for the magazines you like if you never read them? So pick out a few you absolutely love and subscribe to them. My current subscriptions: VegNews, Real Simple, Bust, New York, Entertainment Weekly, Time, and Every Day with Rachael Ray. I’ve written for three of those publications. If you can’t subscribe, go to your local library and sit down with some issues.

Networking. Editors work with writers they trust and know. Introduce yourself over email with a GREAT pitch. Ask your friends if they know of any editors they can introduce you to over email. Go to a Mediabistro Media Party and meet editors. Get on LinkedIn and connect with editors.

Read at least 3 back issues and take notes. Editors LOVE it when you know their publication. Like how they write their headlines. What’s featured on their cover. Do they write snarky like Esquire or have a more service-orientated focus like Real Simple? Sit down with past issues and take as many notes as you can about the words they use, the types of articles they feature, and who is their average reader. I can’t stress this enough. Nothing is more annoying than a pitch that is clearly not a fit for the magazine.

Bounce your pitches off other people. Don’t live in a bubble that your writing is perfect. Talk to other writers. Even try to write your pitch in a sentence and tell a friend about it. Get ideas from friends you trust. Every idea can be improved or tweaked. When I pitch ideas as a staff editor, my fellow editors always give me new angles to the story I’ve pitched. P.S. Are you wondering what a pitch is? It’s a few paragraphs of the story you want to sell.

Intern at a magazine. Boy, I wish I did this while I lived in New York City and went to NYU. I instead figured it out and started as an editorial assistant at 28. If I could go back and do it all over again, I would intern at my favorite mags and try to get a byline anywhere. VegNews has a fantastic internship program opened to anyone interested (you don’t have to be in college to apply). The application/interview process is very selective but it’s a great way to get your foot in the door.

One last misconception that I want to clear up. Magazine writing, while short and exciting, is not any easier than screenwriting, novels, playwriting, or fiction. It’s hard work, my friends. Try writing a short, pithy paragraph in 50 words. Tough. Rejection is constant. And everyone will tell you that magazines are a dead format. So write for magazines because you love it. You live for it. The passion will get you much farther.

If you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them in the comments section. Thanks! Happy magazine reading!

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Posted in Magazine, Writing, Writing Advice & Exercises

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Help Your Overweight Pet Lose Weight

Posted on August 16, 2010 by | Leave a comment

On newsstands now is my latest article, “Vital Signs: Pets” for the September/October 2010 issue of Natural Health magazine.

One of the important topics I covered in the article was obese pets. It’s a huge (pun intended) problem in the United States with an estimated 89 million U.S. dogs and cats overweight or obese. Even my own adorable yellow Lab weighed a whopping 118 pounds when my husband and I first adopted him 6 months ago. I spoke to Edward Moser, V.D.M., consulting veterinary nutritionist to Wellness Brand Pet Food, who suggested counting calories of your dog or cat daily meals and treats.

I’m proud to say that I’ve been using the following tips (even counting Buddy’s calories) and he’s lost 15 pounds since the end of January.

Other helpful hints:
1) Mix in fruits and vegetables to your pet’s meals like green beans, puréed pumpkin, carrots, or tomatoes fills up your pet without adding calories. “A fruit or vegetable high in fiber and water content are perfect treats,” adds Moser.
2) Sprinkle kelp powder or dried kelp flakes on their food, which can aid in the slimming process since kelp has a normalizing effect on the thyroid gland, which regulates metabolism.
3) Break up meals into several feedings to keep your pet’s metabolism running all day long. “With multiple meals, your pet utilizes the nutrition all through the day instead of big ups and downs with one large meal,” comments Moser.
4) Toys like the SlimCat or Kibble Nibble, which dispense food when pushed, get your chubby companion to exercise while eating their food slowly.
5) Use a dog food calculator (www.goldendoodles.com, click on care & feeding, then dog food calculator) to input your dog’s age and current weight to find out their resting energy requirements (RER), which are the number of calories your dog should be consuming. Compare the RER amount to the calories your dog is actually eating in a day. Reduce your canine’s calorie intake by one percent of their current body weight for them to lose weight.
For felines, females should weigh 10-11 pounds, and a male around 11-13 pounds. To figure out their RER, you can use a simple math equation that Moser shared. RER (kcal /d) = [13.6 x optimal body weight in pounds] + 70. For example, if you have a 15-pound cat and want to get their weight down to 12 pounds, you would feed them 233 kcal a day.

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At-Home Beauty Treatments Inspired by Cocktails

Posted on July 20, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Save a little cash while treating yourself to a spa treatment inspired by your favorite happy hour cocktails. My recent article for the August 2010 issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray gives you 3 refreshingly simple treatments to keep you looking your best: a chocolate martini mask, a pina colada hand & foot treatment, and a sangria shine hair treatment. Check it out on newsstands now!

Click here for a PDF of the article.

Enjoy your own happy hour!

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Keep Your BBQ Grill Clean

Posted on May 22, 2010 by | Leave a comment

Just before Memorial Day, most people fire up the grill for some great BBQs (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, the list goes on). A few months ago I interviewed Doug Halo, a top griller and organizer of the National Capital Barbecue Battle (June 26–27), about how to keep your BBQ grill clean and in top shape for all your summer parties. Doug is an expert and his tips are simple and helpful.

The article is now on the newsstands in the June/July 2010 issue of Every Day with Rachael Ray on pg. 48. Get the article as a PDF for your best BBQ grill tips here!

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Posted in Foodie, Magazine, Writing

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