Q&A for Writers, Editors and Publishers - Thoughts from Your
Peers on Life and Work, Part One
Part One
Answers to questions about the writing life - and work - from
your peers - almost entirely unedited but for formatting and
[corrections].
Yes, editors commit errors too, especially when communicating
via the quick and dirty method we lovingly call e-mail.
-- Question # One - Editors, how do you find writers? --
Tudor Hampton, associate editor, McGraw-Hill's Engineering
News-Record www.enr.com -
"Strange as it may sound, it is very difficult for us to find
freelancers who clearly understand what readers are looking for
in a publication. For us, it is important to find writers who
understand the difference between writing news-driven rather
than marketing-driven copy.
Our publication is a 129-year-old, weekly trade magazine with a
paid circulation, a rarity, and many freelancers are accustomed
to writing for "controlled" circulation trade publications,
which typically have a more relaxed editorial ethic and
generally serve advertisers more than readers.
Page One
That said, we look to find quality news-savvy stringers who are
not heavily involved with competitive publications. The
challenge herein lies in a freelancer's ability and quickness to
become familiar enough with our readers, the tone of our work,
and respond accordingly.
Journalistic associations can be a good source for locating
quality freelancers, but generally speaking, I have found good
people through mere luck as well as trial and error."
Tiffany Owens, managing editor Corporate Logo magazine
www.corporatelogo.com -
"My favorite resource for finding writers and freelancers are
personal recommendations, whether it be someone I've worked with
in the past and know to be a strong contributor, or referrals
from industry peers whose work I respect."
Dana Cassell, editor, Cassell Network www.writers-editors.com -
"Because we have our own Network of Writers
(www.writers-editors.com), I would go there first to find a
writer -- either by posting a notice on the Member Bulletin
Board, or doing a search of our Writer Data Bank, or looking in
our Guide to CNW Writers.
If none of these located a writer or editor who could do exactly
what I needed, then I would likely do a search on Google for the
subject or skill (copywriter, brochures, direct mail,
ghostwriter) and something like "freelance writer" -- searching
for those writers who have their own websites.
In the past, I posted jobs to the better-known general and
larger writer-specific job sites, but received too many
responses, most of which were not at all what I was looking for.
So I've learned to more tightly target and control my searches
for freelancers."
Page Two
Jenny Kasza, editor, NASPA Technical Support
http://www.naspa.com/tsyellow.htm -
"In general they are IT magazines and sometimes the Internet. I
find great writers by attending shows and conferences and asking
people to write.
Sometimes, writers just find me via the Web or they were a
previous member of NaSPA and now want to get involved with it
again by writing.
Our sales staff also points me to people who may be able to
write, as they talk with people in the IT industry, too."
Anonymous -
"My situation is unique to associations: our audience and our
contributors are mostly members. I use very few freelancers.
Freelancers contact me from time to time, and, depending on how
they present themselves and how qualified they look, I may
follow up. But most of my articles come directly or indirectly
from our members.
I'm a publications staff of one--I do all the planning and
production myself. I do use an outside proofing service called
Editorial Services based in Washington DC.
I keep my job because it suits my needs and provides me with
security--I'm confident they would have trouble finding someone
else who could do this or who would want to! (I work very hard.)"
Dennis Bridges, publisher/editor ComputerBits magazine
http://www.computerbits.com -
Page Three
"I get the majority of articles via an email with the editorial
calendar to authors who have previously written for Computer
Bits. New authors find us either via word of mouth or on the
Internet and contact me with their proposals."
-- Question # Two - What are your favorite life and work
resources? --
Lori Widmer, freelance editor, writer and former editor of Risk
& Insurance magazine http://www.geocities.com/loriwidmer -
"Getaways--This one's weird. I like to go to Ontario, to my
parents' fishing camp, and sit by the river with my journal or
just sit and read a book.
Oh, and I fish. Nothing soothes the nerves and brings you back
down into the earth better than connecting with it on a personal
level. Of course, that's only because I like to catch bass and
would use any excuse to fish.
Communities--I like participating in either email writing groups
or local ones, though I've not had much time until now for
either. I also plan to join the Chamber of Commerce and schmooze
that way.
"Books--The Well-Fed Writer, Harbrace College Handbook, AP Style
Guide, The Synonym Finder (better than Roget's Thesaurus, I
think).
Web sites--About.com's freelance [writer] group,
creativemoonlighter.com, mediabistro.com, journalismjobs.com (do
we see a pattern here?), Salon.com, NYTimes.com, prnmedia.com,
businesswire.com, writerswrite.com"
C. Hope Clark, editor, FundsforWriters
http://www.fundsforwriters.com -
Page Four
"Mine is a constant effort at seeking new sources.
I have few I rely on all the time since I like to keep my work
fresh and innovative. I believe in professional lists online
from which I glean a massive amount of information. It's like
tapping into experts via a daily digest mode.
I love state [of the] art commission/council websites. They are
chocked full of new announcements, competitions, grants, as well
as instructional ideas and meetings for writers and artists.
These groups are underutilized in my opinion."
Teresa Acosta, editor & publisher, The Romance Rag
www.romancerag.com -
"Writer's Market Online; About Romance, Gila."
-- Question # Three - What style manuals do you use and
recommend and why? --
Tiffany Owens -
"I've only used AP style in my various positions -- seems the
most easily accessible and widely used of all."
Jenny Kasza -
"I consult with my AP Stylebook."
Dana Cassell -
"I prefer the AP Stylebook because it is easier to use. I also
frequently refer to "One Word, Two Words, Hyphenated?" By Mary
Louise Gilman."
Page Five
Tudor Hampton -
"Regarding style, we should let the academics debate the rules.
In the professional world, good style is something not found in
any manual, although every writer should own a worn-out copy of
Strunk and White's The Elements of Style.
Mechanically speaking, writers should be familiar with all
mainstream styles but not get too hung up on them. Telling a
good story is paramount."
Lori Widmer -
"AP Style Guide--absolute must for some of the publications I
write for.
Also, a good grammar and sentence-structure primer is essential.
I use the Harbrace College Handbook. It answers those nagging
questions about where my commas should be.
I would recommend that every writer have a working knowledge (or
the appropriate manual sitting on his/her desk) of both AP and
Chicago styles.
Depending on the industry you write for, you should also have
the APA style or the AMA style down pat, as well. I don't, but
that's next on my list."
Teresa Acosta -
"Chicago Manual of Style; The Elements of Style (Strunk and
White); The Elements of Editing (Arthur Plotnik)."
Page Six
-- Question # Four - How do you deal with the stress of your
kind of work in particular? --
Jenny Kasza -
"How do I deal with stress? Editing can be stressful, as there
is always a deadline. To alleviate stress, I try to take a lunch
break where I just sit in the car, read a book, or get out and
walk."
Dana Cassell -
"I think the stress of impending deadlines stimulates both the
creative side of the brain and the drive to get at it. Without
the stress of those deadlines, I don't think we would get nearly
as much accomplished, so it's not necessarily a bad thing."
Lori Widmer -
"By being in constant motion. If I'm idle, then I notice the
stress.
Oddly, if I'm busy, it calms me down. I finish one project while
farming out for two or three others. I keep in contact with my
contacts in my part of the industry.
For instance, yesterday a fellow freelancer let me know that a
former boss of mine had offered her a story she's not able to
do. I sent him a quick email "Hey, how are you--need anything?"
and scored an easy assignment.
It's putting your name (and sometimes your face) in front of
potential customers that keeps the "happy stress" going and
wards off the "bad stress"."
Page Seven
C. Hope Clark -
"I control my schedule. I rarely get stressed in relation to my
work because I love it so much.
The biggest stress I face is when I can't deliver a product
(i.e., newsletter) to my membership on time. That's happened
only twice in 3 1/2 years with a weekly newsletter. Other than
that, my stress is limited."
Teresa Acosta -
"Take short breaks, preferably outside and try to stretch and
drink water every hour."
-- Question # Five - What are your favorite time savers? --
Tudor Hampton -
""Just Ask" is my mantra. If you have a question and don't know
the answer, reliable resources are more likely to help you
before you can do it on your own.
Technology can waste a lot of time, too. In my experience, it's
faster, not but easier, to make a phone call than to write an
email. And without question, people are more important than the
Internet."
Jenny Kasza -
"Don't be afraid to delegate to people. When people ask if you
need help with anything, say yes, and give them a project to do."
Page Eight
Lori Widmer -
"Email! My gawd, it's changed my life. Folks who would normally
avoid the phone usually respond much faster to an email (if
they're going to respond at all, that is).
Also, I've made templates of my own personal invoice so I only
need to pop in the info and not reinvent the wheel each time I
send out my invoices.
I'm also a list-maker. I have my Outlook calendar littered with
notes telling me what I should work on for that day if I want to
remain on schedule."
Dana Cassell -
"I have several utility software programs that save time with
copying, pasting in frequently used text and passwords, filing,
remembering, and backing up -- such as ClipMate, TypeItIn,
Second Copy -- all of which I would not like to be without."
C. Hope Clark -
"Skipping house work, skipping cooking dinner, and never
watching television. My work is from home, and that's where I
gather my free time.
I also exercise every morning which makes the rest of my day
feel better and makes me more efficient."
Look for Part Two Here at GoArticles.