At some point in our lives, most of us are bitten by the ‘writing bug’. Each of us has a story to tell but only some of us get around to doing it. Here are a few tips to translate your thoughts into words and see them in print.
Focus on Your Strength:
First, decide what to write. Some are good at fiction, some at poetry and others at narrative writing. Do what comes naturally to you. There are a talented few who can handle any genre at ease. But when we start to write, it is better to focus on our strength. Whatever you do effortlessly is your strength. Start with your strength, be it humor, travel writing, fiction, non-fiction essays or reviews. Once you are confident, move on to other genres if you so wish.
Study the Market:
Read through all available newspapers and magazines for a month or so. You should be able to make out which publications accept freelance contributions. If regular columns have the same byline, the column would have been commissioned. You cannot contribute to such a column, even though you feel that your ideas or points of view or presentation would be better than what the author has presented. All major newspapers have supplementary pages that provide light reading. These pages provide ample opportunities for freelancers.
Of the available space for freelancers, you have to observe which space would suit you the best. For example, if you feel that you can write on health issues for a particular publication and if that publication already has a column by a doctor, then you do not stand a chance there. So, you have to consider all the factors - choose a publication that accepts freelance articles in genres that you are good at writing.
Study the Content:
After you have decided on the newspaper and/or magazines to which you can contribute, study the content. For example, if there is an article about gender issues, observe the number of people whose opinions have been included, does it have expert opinions, etc. Only with creative writing you can write all that you want to. For writing features, it is better to adhere to the norms of the publication. Then you stand a better chance of seeing your name in print.
Observe the word count. Most magazines and newspapers publish articles that have a word count ranging between 800 and 1200 words. This may vary depending on the publications. If you send an article that goes beyond the world limit, the final paragraphs may be omitted, giving an abrupt ending to your article. Some publications do not like to spend time on editing and hence may reject them. Observe the language and style and ensure that your article conforms to both.
Pitching your Article:
Once you have decided on the publications to contribute to, find out the names of the editors. It helps to ask for and address people by name. It is always a good idea to find out from the editor if he/she would be interested in the article that you intend to write. You can pitch your story brief through phone, email, or letter. Only very few editors get back so it is your responsibility to follow it up after a few days, if you are pitching via mails. Sometimes you need to be assertive and persuasive while pitching through phone. Also, you can pitch for two or three articles at a time so as to save your as well as the editor’s time.
Pitfalls:
We tend to show off our vocabulary. While it is essential to have a good vocabulary, when you write, bear in mind that you are writing for a vast audience and keep your language simple. Use the local dialect/lingo wherever applicable. This is true especially in fiction and while writing in the vernacular. Even when it comes to the English language, each region has a dialect and has a structure that has been influenced by the vernacular. You might be from Assam. But if your character is from Karnataka, she has to speak the language spoken by the people of Karnataka. To start with, write what you know already and that which does not require extensive research.
Packaging:
Once you are through with your article, go through it as many times as possible. Check for errors in structure and syntax. As mentioned earlier, some magazines that do not have a large copy desk will reject an article, if they feel that it needs a lot of editing. Wherever you can, provide pictures that are relevant to your article. Editors value you more when you send a write-up that is ready-for-print.
Never send a hand-written article. It would be a clear give away that you are a novice. If you are sending hard copies of your articles, print only on one side of the paper. Do not forget to number the pages. It may sound a little absurd. But it is essential. In your covering letter/email, address the editor by name. Provide your contact details at the beginning or end of your article as well.
Follow-up:
If your article gets rejected, there is no harm in finding out the reason. You can correct yourself the next time you send. And when your article does get published, it is good to send a note thanking the editor for publishing your piece. Find out how long usually a publication takes to pay for an article. If you do not receive your payment in that duration, you can contact them and diplomatically ask them.
Happy writing!
Editor's note: Most articles submitted to Chillibreeze go through a selection process. Only 30 percent of submitted articles are accepted for publication on the Chillibreeze.com featured article list. All accepted articles are edited and proofread for glaring errors of punctuation and grammar. Sentence structure is changed in certain cases and sometimes, entire sections are rewritten. If you notice any errors that have slipped through the cracks, do let us know! (Email us at info at chillibreeze dot com).
Chillibreeze's disclaimer: This is a contributed article and was published on Chillibreeze in April, 2011. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the views of Chillibreeze as a company. Chillibreeze has a strict anti-plagiarism policy. Please contact us to report any copyright issues related to this article. The relevance of the facts and figures cited (if any) could change after a period of time.
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—About our writer:
Jency Samuel, is an engineer by default and a writer / journalist by design. Based in Chennai, she has been writing and editing for over ten years as a freelancer. She has written non-fiction books and course content among others. She is adept at writing business / corporate profiles, copy, scripts for documentaries / corporate films, narrative essays / books. Her creative output includes stories, humorous articles and poems.
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