Tag Archives: magazines

5 Simple Tips for Networking as a Writer

Posted on October 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

 

I’m a shy person by nature. There’s a reason why I write—I like to express myself through words/hide behind words. But here’s the thing, if you want to be a working writer, you have to come out of your shell. I’d go to readings, networking events, and conferences and basically psych myself out of talking to anyone. My husband, Brendan Hay, a TV writer, pitches often to a room of strangers, goes to conventions and chats it up with comic book editors, and is never shy about talking to anyone.

What Brendan has taught me is how to approach people, make connections, and never be afraid to tell someone that you like their work. In the beginning, when I would wuss out talking to an editor, let’s say, Brendan would always nudge me forward. And you know what? The more I chatted, the easier it became to do that dreaded thing that made my palms sweat—network. It’s so important as a writer, if you want to get your work out there, to be able to network. So as one reformed shy person, here are my tips for getting out there.

1. Read bios and acknowledgement pages. If you’re at a book festival, read the bio of the author or editor that you’d love to talk to and find something to discuss. If they mention that they went to XYZ college and you did too, talk about that. If I buy a book of an author that I might chat with, I always read their acknowledgements page. Often, we’ll have something in common. You just need talking points. You don’t need to know everyone they know.

2. When attending a networking event, aim to give out your business card and get business cards from people you want to follow up with. At a publishing conference for magazine industry folks, I target certain editors I want to talk to because I like their publication and want to write for them. Even just saying, “I love XYZ magazine and I’d be interested in pitching you.” Yes, I admit some times I’m a little nervous saying this, but it’s a direct way of saying I’d like to contact you.

3. Don’t share every detail of your life. I’ve been at events where inevitably there is one writer who is talking about every personal detail about themselves. And often, pushing everyone to read and buy their book. Don’t be this person. Don’t hold court. And don’t share intimate details with someone you just met.

4. Tell a writer that you admire their work. At the very least, they’ll smile and thank you (and really what a nice compliment). Some times, if you drum up a good conversation, you might even get your favorite writer’s email to contact them.

5. Network online. I follow writers, editors, literary agents, publishing houses, and magazines that I love on Twitter and I engage with them. I’ve even met editors after a good Twitter exchange. It’s so important as a writer that your social media persona is a good reflection of who you are. You’ll never know who you can connect with from an online “meeting.”

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For Writers—5 Simple Rules for Pitching an Editor

Posted on March 6, 2012 by | 1 Comment

As a writer and editor, I’ve been on both sides of pitching. I’ve made mistakes and I’ve seen other writers make mistakes too. Hey, we’re human, after all. From an editor’s point of view, I’d like to share some tips so that you don’t make the same mistakes I’ve made.

1. Read the magazine before pitching. At least 3 issues. One mistake I’ll never make again is that I pitched an editor at Body & Soul (now called Whole Living) without ever picking up an issue off the newsstand and READING it. The editor wrote back and told me that my pitch was too evergreen. In editor speak, that means it’s not timely, trendy, or interesting. I never pitch without reading the magazine. Ever. Read the cover lines, the table of contents, read every article. Pick up back issues, which you can find at your local library. How do they write? What do they write about? What is interesting to their audience?

2. Don’t pitch over Facebook or Twitter. A few people have contacted me over Facebook and I kindly direct them to my work email and our website (both of which are readily available pieces of information). I never contact an editor of Facebook to pitch. I’ve had conversations with editors I know but I never cold pitch an editor through social media. Contact them via their work email.

3. After a month, move on. I try my best, when someone pitches me, to get back to them in a timely manner (2 weeks) and let them know if I’m interested or not. As a freelance writer, I’d give the editor I pitched 2-3 weeks with a story idea, then I moved on. I check in first before I move on. Something like, “Dear xx, I’d love to know if you’re still interested in X idea before I pitch the idea elsewhere.” If you don’t get a response, don’t hound the editor, just move on with the pitch.

4. Develop & research your pitch. Nothing thrills me more than someone who has written a good pitch with a beginning, middle, and end. One to two sentences is not a pitch. A full paragraph with a fleshed-out idea and supporting examples is fantastic. Remember the rule of threes. For a story idea on vegan doughnut shops, find 3 stores across the US that are doing this. Not 1, not 2, but 3. Something isn’t a trend until there are at least 3 instances of it happening.

5. Have faith. In pure numbers, a magazine like VegNews is published 6 times a year. That means there are 6 food features a year and only 6 ideas that I’ll need. Unfortunately, I can’t take every single one. But keep pitching, have faith, execute numbers 1-4, and you’ll get there.

Source: google.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

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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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How I Landed My Dream Job

Posted on March 21, 2011 by | 15 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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