Five Ways to Wow an Editor

So recently I've been branching out and writing for several new publications, which got me thinking about what I could do to solidify those relationships and gain more assignments. Here's what's worked for me in the past:

1. Beat deadlines. Whenever possible, I try to let editors know that I'm on top of my game by turning in assignments a few days early. No eleventh hour emails from me.
2. Think like an editor. I try to think of other possible treatments for my articles - would a sidebar or chart make a nice companion to the main story? Or maybe a list of related websites or stats?
3. Ask what they need and offer ideas. If I work to keep writing for the editor, I'll turn in the story and ask if they could use articles on other topics. If I don't have time or it doesn't interest me, I'll refer someone else (but be careful to only refer reliable writers or this could backfire).
4. Keep research organized. Just in case they ask for it, don't delete those emails or notes. And be prepared to offer up contact info for sources in case they want to follow-up or get photos.
5. Take criticism graciously. I've had editors ask for rewrites with less than 24 hours notice and, while it's certainly inconvenient, every time I've delivered on short notice, I've always gained future assignments from them.

What has worked for you? Leave a comment and let me know!

How Delta (Nearly) Ruined My Trip

Warning: if you don’t like rants, then don’t read this entry…

It started out like any other cross-country flight, but somehow I could sense that things would go awry. I was flying home after visiting my parents (one of whom has been sick for awhile), so the last thing I needed was airplane drama. I told the flight attendants repeatedly that I was worried about making my connection and perhaps it wasn’t logical for me to sit in the far back of the aircraft with only 35 minutes until my next flight. They assured me I had plenty of time. Then we sat on the tarmac for awhile. And sat some more…

I called Delta’s customer service number to ask if my connecting flight was delayed. A very nice customer service rep named “Albert” told me it was running late and that in the event that I was unable to make my connection (the last flight of the evening, natch), Delta would make accommodations for the night. I thanked him and waited to deboard. We sat for an hour and eighteen minutes (the woman behind me timed it), so by the time I got off the plane, my flight to Boston had departed. I half thought about calling a friend from college to beg a spot on her futon, but the other passengers kept reassuring me that “Delta will take care of you” and “I’m sure they’ll put you up in a nice hotel.”

The person at my gate pointed me down a long hallway to get re-ticketed. The person at that desk had already gone home for the night (of course), but a nice janitor assured me that “Delta will take care of you” and lead me to the ticket counter, which turned out to be in the opposite direction. Well, unfortunately, Delta did NOT take care of me. They booked me on the 7am flight the following morning, and when I had the audacity to ask about overnight accommodations, they all but laughed in my face.

“But Albert said…” I stammered in disbelief.

Another customer service rep named “Lawrence” (no one in customer service has a last name so that no one can be held accountable for anything) told me it wasn’t the airline’s fault and therefore, they wouldn’t be making any hotel accommodations. Not for me, and not for the women who was seven months pregnant. We’d just have to tough it out in JFK airport for the night. He didn’t know, and didn’t want to discuss, "Albert" at Delta’s headquarters. Nor would he answer the question, "would you want your daughter to sleep here?"

I for one did not feel safe as a young, single woman sleeping in an abandoned airport terminal. (In fact, my family used to show up freakishly early for flights and I’d had nightmares about being that crazy homeless family wandering the airport; this was pre 9/11 of course.) So I thought, “I guess I better call my friend from college to beg a spot on her futon.” Seventy five dollars and an hour and a half later, I arrived on her doorstep sans deodorant, toothpaste or even a change of clothes, courtesy of luggage restrictions. She was a good sport about the last minute visit on a worknight and insisted that I sleep on her bed (for about two hours, then I had to go back to the airport).

My cab driver made fun of me for wasting money going to Manhattan. But I figured, “I have a futon, food and a friend downtown and if I stay at the airport, it’s dirty floors and, if I’m lucky, a stale bag of Sun Chips for dinner (all of the shops were closed and I didn’t have single bills for the vending machines).” You can guess which one seemed more appealing.

Hours of travel: twenty-two
Hours of sleep: two
Reconnecting with a friend during an impromptu sleepover: priceless

Still, I want my seventy-five bucks (and my beauty sleep) back!

Happy One Hundred!

This post marks The Urban Muse's one hundredth entry. I'd bake a cake, but I'd too darn tired (more on that later), so I'd just like to say thank you. My boyfriend doesn't read this blog (he bravely admitted he prefers ESPN - typical guy thing to say!), my coworkers don't read this blog (probably for the best), but YOU do. And I'm hugely appreciative of that.

5 Q's with Beth Gottfried

Beth Gottfried is one busy girl. Between writing for several sites including Jewlicious and Bostonist while holding down a day job, Beth and her husband launched a new pop culture site called Amaldo.com. And did I mention she co-authored a book about The Apprentice a few years ago? Read on to learn more...

Urban Muse: How did you get started as a professional blogger?
Beth: Saying it was not the plan sounds cliche I realize, but it's the truth. It was never my intention to be a blogger. I started out working an office job a few years back and finding myself bored and with plenty of time on my hands (ed. note: amen!). I was at that point in my professional corporate career (which everyone has) that I realized I didn't constantly need to be stimulated by my office job and could be more creative with how I chose to spend the time I had where I wasn't responding to work needs. I found an ad on Craig's List for an entertainment writer for a great site: www.the-trades.com and started reviewing films and reality TV. I lucked out with the site and its visibility. Great supportive, responsive people there and a wonderful platform to just write whatever I wanted and more importantly be appreciated.

UM: It sounds like you're juggling a lot of different projects, as many writers do. How do you manage your time and prevent burn-out?
B: Who says I'm not burned out ;) Yes, I juggle a lot of projects. I recently started a new site. It's my first major project with full ownership. Having written online for other sites (SuicideGirls (I just read that Daily Show correspondent Rob Cordrry writes for them now), Bostonist, Valleywag (part of Gawker), The-Trades, PopMatters, The Blogging Times, Jewcy, and now Jewlicious) I'm taking my years of experience and applying it to my own baby: www.amaldo.com. Actually it's the brainchild of my very loving and patient husband. I work on it during the off lunch hour and after my day job. The site is a witty take on pop culture (film, tv, music, tech, sports) in video and blog format. It's a definite learning curve, but I've learned so much about site design, style sheets, marketing, and how to find time to write when you're not doing all of the above. Most of all, I've adapted to being more of a "process" person than a "product" person. This has been the major transition.

UM: I'm always interested in how writers collaborate when they're co-writing a book. How did you find Anthony and what did your collaboration look like?
B: I didn't find Anthony. He found me - at least indirectly. This is actually a funny story too. I was contacted by someone at Penguin Books who read my weekly recap for The Apprentice: Season 1 online for www.the-trades.com and she wanted to know if I had taped episodes of the book because they were putting together a book on the show and needed it for the co-author. By the end of the conversation, I was that co-author. I never met Anthony. Penguin compiled the book themselves with my social commentary and Anthony's business insights on the show. You can still find the Amazon link online too.

UM: Where do you do most of your writing?
B: I write from home mostly. It's where I concentrate best. I can't do noise when I'm writing though so I'm greatly limited in my options. I love to go to a coffee shop and download music and pretend that I'm writing. For some reason when I lived in Cambridge, I used to get a lot of work done at Toscannini's on Main Street. I could actually concentrate there too which is quite the anomaly.

UM: In your professional opinion, why has The Apprentice endured six seasons while other reality shows fizzle out after only a season or two?
B: I stopped watching and reviewing sometime around the third or fourth season. I have no idea why people still watch. I co-authored a book on the show and can't even watch Donald Trump anymore. But look at people that watch Survivor. That show has been on longer and still has a mad following. I guess there's no accounting for bad taste in reality TV (ed. note: ouch!). Wait, was that an oxymoron?

Thanks, Beth. Be sure to check back next Wednesday for more interviews with the Muse.

Short and Sweet

So I’m visiting my parents outside of Seattle, and I finished up some front of book pieces (FOBs) during downtime at the airport. Each one has a maximum of 250 words, so it’s been quite an exercise in word economy. I figured out how to pack the most punch with the least words by using these techniques.

1. Avoid transitions with a chart or list. If I were writing this in narrative form, I'd probably use phrases like "another way to..." and "you can also..." A list makes these phrases unnecessary. If you're comparing two or more things (brands of lipstick, types of writing, etc.) , a chart can work.
2. Minimize modifiers. Even articles like “an” and “the” aren’t always necessary. A stronger verb often replaces an adverb. And adjectives like “gorgeous” and “fantastic” are fine for blog posts but unneeded in shorter pieces.
3. Beware prepositions. I originally wrote “watch out for,” but “beware” is more concise. When I reread my first draft, I realized that I was wasting a lot of space with pesky little prepositions like "on top of" and "during this period," so those were the first to go.
4. Use the second person (if appropriate). Since my FOBs (and this blog post) are instructive, the implied "you" stands in for the subject.
5. Shorten subtitles. I didn't think of this when I was contacting authors for sources, but long wordy titles are a huge waste of space. I axed anything after the colon, so that When in Rome: 1001 ways to make the most of your first college study abroad experience would read When in Rome (I totally made that one up, don't search for it on Amazon). Sorry, authors!

How would you approach FOBs?

Five MORE Ways to Promote Your Blog

Some of your remember the post Five Ways to Promote Your Blog. Well, those were good to start, but I've been thinking of the other strategies bloggers use to drive traffic, and voila, this post was born. Enjoy!

1. Start a meme. I used to think memes were the blog equivalent to chain emails (which I outgrew around the time I outgrew skorts, circa 1998), but it's actually a smart strategy to build reciprocal links. Create one that is appropriate to your niche and start spreading the word. Everyone experiences blog block from time to time, so a meme can jumpstart a blogger's creativity, too.

2. Take it offline. Bloggers usually think in terms of internet marketing, but don't underestimate other avenues. If I'm at a networking event for writers or marketers, I'll mention my blog and ask if others are blogging. I decided not to include the blog on my business card (my website is more professional so I want that to be an editor or client's first impression), but you certainly could.

3. Join a blog carnival. These collections of blog posts are a great way to attract new readers who might not know about your blog. Here's an example, and here's where to find more.

4. Post interviews. Interviewing influential people in your niche is a great way to up your reader appeal and give exposure to others in your field. Not only will you be more google-able, but you may earn a link on your interviewee's website or blog, too.

5. Do something different. Come up with an unusual gimmick and others will come out of curiosity. Jeremy David created a stir a few weeks ago by asking successful writers to teach him how to write. He may not have gotten their unconditional support, but sure he got site traffic! Maybe you'll start a contest like Kristen King did or post video of your cat tap dancing on a pizza box (if only I had that video digitally - it's hilarious!).

As always, feel free to add your marketing or blogging ideas below.

Freelancing = Easy?

I was mildly offended when I read "Seven Easy Steps to a Freelance Life" from MSN Careers. Not only is most of the advice common sense ("nurture your network"? obviously!), but it makes it sound insultingly like an infomercial: "Are you seeking the flexibility and autonomy of freelancing?"

Well, of course, but what about the rejection? What about the Ramen noodles? Anyone who's done it, including those who do it on the side, know that freelancing also requires, oh I don't know... talent, perhaps? A grasp of grammar and spelling? A flair for language? A thick skin? Well, here's a little tip that is conspicuously missing from this article but I'm sure many of you veterans have already caught on...

Build long-term relationships with your editors and clients. It will save you from writing lengthy query letters, trolling Craig's List daily and praying that some editor returns your email. I still do that stuff of course. But the bulk of my assignments come from editors who already know my writing and know that I can deliver.

A few days ago I said I was taking a breather, but I've gotten offered several cool assignments from editors I've worked with in the past and who am I to turn down money I don't have to query for? One of the assignments even fell into my lap after I emailed her with a billing question (technically that assignment I couldn't do, but it was cool to be asked). That's what I call easy!

5 Q's with Kara Jesella and Marisa Meltzer

I admit it. I wasn’t exactly on the cutting edge of cool in the eighties and nineties. I wasn’t even allowed to watch Saved By the Bell, so I definitely did not get to read Sassy (sadly). But Kara Jesella and Marisa Meltzer did. Inspired by their shared loved of Sassy, the two wrote a book called How Sassy Changed My Life, which was just released yesterday. I'm pretty impressed by what these ladies uncovered and how they put it into context with Third Wave Feminism, so dust off your Caboodle and read on…

Urban Muse: Could you give us a little sneak peek at what readers can expect to learn about Sassy and the teen magazine movement?
Kara and Marisa: How Sassy Changed My Life is a book about the rise and fall of a teen magazine that was unlike any teen magazine that came before—or since. We talk about how the magazine came to be and why it was so important—because it brought teen girls what they weren’t being brought in other places, like independent culture, a version of feminism that was especially for them, and advice on sex. We also talk about what was going on behind-the-scenes at the magazine and why it couldn’t last.

UM: I'd love to hear how two collaborated during the writing and editing process... How did you two blend your voices?
K & M: We had worked together as writer and editor before we started writing the book—Marisa wrote some stories for Kara when she was an editor at Teen Vogue—and so we were used to collaborating. And we already knew we had the same sensibility. Our approach to writing the book was to spend a lot of time at our favorite tea shop, where we would talk through all of the ideas and the structure for whatever part of the book we were working on. Then we would divide up the work—who would write what—and once we were each done with a draft, we'd begin emailing it back and forth to one another, editing each other's copy until we were both happy with the result. By the end of the book we were no longer sure who had originally written what.

UM: What's the most surprising thing you discovered while you were researching the book?
K & M: There were so many surprising things that it was hard to say. But we realized over and over again that Sassy was even more groundbreaking than we had even realized initially. Marisa and I almost fell off our chairs when we went back through old issues of Seventeen magazine from the same time that Sassy debuted and realized how unbelievably retro it sounded. There were all kinds of articles on how to decorate your first apartment with your new husband. This was in a magazine aimed at teenagers! It all made a little more sense when we found out that the editor-in-chief of Seventeen was a sixty-something-year-old ex-nun (ed. note: I'm still shocked about that one).

UM: You both have written for some pretty impressive publications. Any tips on querying and building relationships with editors?
K & M: Patience is always something important, since the length of time between pitching an editor and getting the piece published can sometimes be lengthy. Having original ideas is also pretty key, but I think it's also really important not to force them. When you stumble upon a really great story, it never feels forced.

UM: Aside from Sassy, what is your favorite pop culture reference from the Sassy years (1988-1994)?
K & M: So many! We're both pretty obsessed with that era. There's riot grrrl, glitter makeup, tiaras and mary janes, The Secret History, Juliana Hatfield, Beverly Hills, 90210, the Sub Pop Singles Club. Our editor's assistant was saying that she and a friend were going over the book's index and both started cracking up at the very mention of Caboodles. She sent Marisa an email and was like, "I looooved my Caboodle. It was pink." It made me laugh.

Thank you both! Order your very own copy of How Sassy Changed My Life here.

Meme: What's Your Favorite Type of Writing?

Latoya over at Writer's Brew tagged me for the meme "What's your favorite type of writing?" a while back. Here goes...

I consider myself a chameleon because I'll write about almost anything and everything that strikes my fancy, but I've really developed a knack and a passion for writing about business and careers. It all began when I started freelancing for Young Money during college. Something just clicked. I love interviewing people about their internships or business plans because I can see the excitement in their eyes, hear it in their voice and its infectious. Capturing that entrepreneurial spirit on paper is a lot of fun.*

Plus, it's like I'm getting paid to attend a one-on-one business seminar, because I've learned so much about what companies pay their interns the most (or not at all), when to solicit help from an independent consultant and how to manage a budget using nifty little tools like Buxfer and BillMonk. I've noticed a major disconnect between what colleges and career services tells students and what actually happens in the "Real World," so I'm more than happy to share my experiences as a recent grad in the workforce. I enjoy the personal essay-meets-what-not-to-do-at-the-office sub-genre immensely.

And while we're on the topic, I'd like to point out that career writer and Yahoo! Finance columnist Penelope Trunk is running a series all week long about being a freelance writer. She gives some good general advice with her signature Brazen Careerist slant, so check out today's post on "How to be a Freelancer Without Starving."

And now I'd like to tag Brian at The Writer Spot and April at These Words.

*I also tried dating an entrepreneur (not one of my interview subjects, of course) and, sadly, that's not quite as fun.

Waiting to Exhale...

Here's what I've been working on:
Donate from Your Desktop
Curtain Rises on Blue Spruce Theatre
Confessions of a (former) Online Dater*
How I Found My Dream Apartment**

And here's what I'm currently working on:
One career article for Works by Nicole Williams
One fashion article for a friend
Two feature-length entrepreneur profiles for Experience, Inc.
Two more articles for 100 Hats
Three front of book pieces for U.25 magazine
Shopping around two personal essays and finishing two more

Oh, yeah, and did I mention that I have a week left at my marketing job so I'm tying up loose ends and traveling across country to visit the 'rents before I start my copywriting job in two weeks. I think it's time to take a little break from querying before I drive myself completely insane. Fellow writers, please remember to come up for air every once in a while. It's for your own good!


*Appeared in the April issue of Being Single magazine. They don't have much of an online presence, so I had some fun in InDesign and created a different page layout. Why? Because I can.
**Not so much a fan of this layout. Where did that lime green accent wall come from? Certainly not my dream apartment!

Now that's just rude!

A few months ago when I was searching for a new job, I applied to write development materials for a certain non-profit. I never got so much as a form letter rejection or email, but today I got a fundraising solicitation letter from them. I'm not a wealthy philanthropist, so I'm assuming they got my information off my cover letter, mistaking the words "I would be honored to join your staff and support your vital mission" for "I would be honored to donate $200 and support your vital mission."

Yeah, right! I'm a writer, so I donate my talents (time permitting), not my money (what money?). That's like a magazine sending me a letter saying "we regret that your query was not a fit for our publication, but as a consolation prize we'd like to offer you a two-year subscription to Sleazeballs Weekly for the low bargain price of $XX." Some writers claim this has actually happened to them, so you never know...

Writing on Spec: Yay or Nay?

Recently I got an email in response to one of my queries saying, "I'd love to take a look at this article on spec. Thanks." Not exactly a rejection but not what every writer dreams of hearing either. Despite the fact that most professional writers would scoff at writing on spec, I'm tempted to do it.

Here's why: if the editor was completely disinterested in the topic then she wouldn't have asked to read the article. If I can gather enough information 0n what style guide they use and the preferred word count, there's no reason I couldn't write up the article over the next few weeks (the topic is familiar to me and doesn't require much research) and wow the editor, potentially leading to other (non-speculative) assignments. Worst case scenario she doesn't like the article and I sell it elsewhere.

For those who are perhaps unfamiliar with this concept, here are a few other posts to get you up to speed on the topic:

Golden Pencil: Writing On Spec
Inkthinker: Did I Misunderstand What a Query Letter Is?
Quinn Creative: Should You Write On Spec?

What do you think?

Writers Who Inspire Me

I've blogged about my friend and mentor Rachel Solar and now you can read about our friendship in Writers Weekly. (Btw, she has a very cool blog about the intersection of life and baseball.) Rachel and I meet for dinner regularly, but I'm also lucky to have online writer role models who set an awesome example. In addition to all of my 5 Q's writers, these three gals in particular prove that women writers rock:

Beth Morrissey is an all-around awesome girl, but I especially admire her gutsiness for moving across the Pond to Ireland. She's tipped me off to some great writing gigs, too.

Jenny Rough is a former lawyer (like Rachel) who reinvented herself as a freelance writer. How cool is that?

Kristen King is a very busy girl but still finds time to help out writers of all levels. Her Query Challenge has given me a major kick in the rear to get out there and get querying!

Who inspires you?

5 Q's with Tracy McArdle

I attended a book reading a few months back for Tracy McArdle's latest novel, Real Women Eat Beef. I loved her clever dialogue and sarcastic sense of humor so much that I literally devoured Real Women and her debut novel, Confessions of a Nervous Shiksa. In her "other life," Tracy is a VP at Arnold Worldwide, so I was really interested in how publishing and advertising coexist in her world. Read on...

Urban Muse: Could you tell us about how you came up with the clever little narrative devices that open both of your novels?
Tracy: Well, for Shiksa, I was working as a Hollywood publicist at the time, and I actually had those call sheets (ed. note: list of phone calls for the uninitiated) – every day. Some of the messages that open the chapters are actual messages I received, and I thought it was a quick way to introduce the reader to the daily absurd struggles of the main character. For Real Women, I needed to get all the exposition with Jill’s previous life out of the way in an entertaining way, and the wedding announcement was something that came to me after reading the NewYork Times wedding pages – you know, the sports section for chicks. I didn’t want to waste pages detailing what had happened up to that point,and I didn’t want the dialogue to ring false with excessive expository detail.

UM: Both also draw situations and sayings from your work in marketing, PR and advertising. Has the same been true in reverse: that your fiction writing impacts your day job?
T: Sure – you tend to view things – meetings, conversations, assignments, in a more narrative, literary way. You notice traits and idiosyncrasies of your colleagues, too. Of course, you’re always on the lookout for a good piece of dialogue. You also tend to write better presentations and memos and even emails – I’ve found that words matter to me, in every context of my life, and it makes my work more enjoyable.

UM: At the book reading I attended, you talked about how hard it was to find a publisher. Any insights or experiences you could share about that process?
T: Get a good agent who believes in you – and come up with a list of targeted editors / publishers together. If you don’t have an agent,find out who the editors are at the houses where you think your book might belong. Here’s a tip: agents and editors are almost always mentioned in the acknowledgements up front. And of course, network,network, network. Talent and luck help, but like anything in life, it’s who you know (or who you find) that sometimes makes the difference. Don’t be afraid to ask people to recommend agents or editors – you have nothing to lose.

UM: You also talked about the importance of only including details and scenes that advance the plot. How can a writer distinguish between a scene or description that they themselves really love and one that their readers will enjoy (I struggle with this constantly)?
T: Oh god, remember this is the toughest thing to do as a writer. Ask yourself one question: What does this scene do to advance a) the story or b) the reader’s understanding of the character or c) the character’s journey. Be careful with b), because that’s a broad field. Above all, if three readers you trust tell you it feels superfluous, (did they get antsy and wish, “Get on with it!” as they were reading?) swallow your pride and listen to them. The clichés are true: Less is more. I promise. And finally, if your editor wants to cut it, she or he is usually right. Remember, they sell books – you don’t!

UM: And now for the fun question. Since Real Women Eat Beef has a lot of juicy food descriptions, what is your perfect meal?
T: Depends on my mood, but the Italian in me loves a nice, gooey eggplant parmesan! Waffles with butter, fruit and real Vermont maple syrup is a great breakfast (or huevos rancheros, a toss up) and lunch is a tuna melta toasted roll - with fries, of course!

Thanks, Tracy. I'm craving a Belgian waffle right now! Come back next Wednesday to hear from the authors of How Sassy Changed My Life.

E-tiquette for Bloggers?

I just read this NY Times article about the new proposed code of conduct for bloggers. I guess I'm super-lucky because all of my readers know how to play nice and I've never gotten nasty comments (but lots of nice ones, thank you, kind readers!). However, I've seen other bloggers get blasted by rude anonymous commenters, so I can certainly understand the need for something like this. What do you think?

Magazine Mania

Conventional wisdom (and common sense) says that you should read the magazine before you query the editor. But at about $5 a pop, that can be a challenge for financially strapped writers like yours truly. Here are few ways I’ve gotten around this:

Subscribe. If it’s a magazine I want to read every month, I’ll find a cheap subscription online and pay about $12 for the year instead of $4 or $5 per issue. I have a separate business account for expenses like this so it doesn’t come out of my food-and-shoes fund (whether the IRS considers my Cosmo subscription a “business expense” is another story). If you’re really shameless, you can order a couple trial issues and then cancel before they bill your credit card. Not that I would endorse such a shady practice… or would I?

Keep your eyes open. Every time I go to the gym, the doctor or the hair salon, I’m constantly on the lookout for new and unusual publications. When I find one, I flip through to see what they cover and jot down their web address and the editors’ names for future research. When I clean out my magazine stash, I bring the old issues to the gym so that others can enjoy them (have you ever noticed how the gym and doctors’ waiting area have issues of Redbook from five years ago? Nobody cares when the magazine came out, they just want a quick read). I also sometimes exchange old magazines with friends.

Do your research for free. Nowadays lots of magazines have online archives, so you can read the articles for free (although I like seeing how the magazine is laid out, because it gives me a better sense of who the readers are and what they like). You can also browse back issues at your local library. If your library gives free access to Lexis Nexis or another newspaper and magazine database, you may even be able to browse from home.

If you must pay newsstand prices… I’m über-cheap, so I only do this under one of two conditions. If I get Extra Bucks from CVS, I’ll sometimes treat myself to a magazine (or use my card to earn more Extra Bucks). If I’m ordering from Amazon.com and just need to a few more dollars to earn free shipping, I’ll add a single issue of In Style or one of the other single magazines they carry so I can get my $25 order without going too much over the minimum (a mathematical impossibility under most other circumstances). Now my only problem is finding the time to read all the magazines I’d like to query! What’s your secret?

Trusting the Universe

I quit my full-time job yesterday around 9:02 a.m. Ever the pragmatist, my mom asked if it was smart to resign before I had a concrete job offer. I said that I would rather be writing and would find a way to make it work. In typical fatherly fashion, my dad said, "you gotta do what you gotta do." So I did: I trusted in my survival (and self-marketing) skills and took a leap of faith. Then I got an offer for a full-time copywriting position* around 1:02 p.m. This (and the invention of low-fat Doritos) proves that the universe is inherently good.

*Admittedly, I had a hunch because I'd been on some interviews, but, as mom pointed out, it could have been a disaster.

Addicted to "The Apprentice"

Yes, it's kind of pathetic how much I enjoy Trump's reality TV show. For the record, I tuned into the first season and never found the will power turn it off. Here's an excerpt from a cultural criticism essay I wrote for a graduate journalism class during Season 2 (aptly titled "Trumping the Competition"):

"What drives my obsession? Is it Trump's clever business advice, cheesy fanfares, and oh-so-classy comb-over? Is it the novelty of watching women with Harvard MBAs cat-fight as if they're on The Jerry Springer Show? Or the irony of seeing men in Dolce & Gabbana suits selling ice cream or planning a bridal show?

It doesn’t take a business degree to understand why a reality show about office politics is a hit. The Apprentice appeals to our deep, dark desire to live vicariously through these young, attractive entrepreneurs. It satisfies our competitive drive and fulfills our fantasies of moving from prisoner of the cubicle to prince of Trump Tower. If thirty-something cigar salesman Bill Rancic can become Trump's apprentice, then why not us?"

Why not us indeed. So, why do I bring this up now? Aside from the fact that I'm a little disappointed about Tim, the cute Ivy Leaguer with the million dollar tutoring business, getting the axe this week, there is logic to this tangent. I'm working on a series of entrepreneur profiles and I mentioned to my editor that I'd like to interview one of the candidates from a previous season. Then I happened to be talking to a publicist and asked about her other clients. Turns out her firm also handles press for the Trump Organization and several Apprentice winners. Score! Tune in next week for more on my reality TV obsession... Ok, not really, but possibly an interview update.

5 Q's with Lindsey Pollak

Lindsey Pollak and her marketing team at HarperCollins did several smart things to promote her new book, Getting from College to Career: 90 Things to Do Before You Join the Real World, which is due out next week (I got a sneak peek and it’s the kind of book I wish I’d had when I was a senior in college but probably would have been too stubbornly self-sufficient to read). First (book authors, take note), the publication date is right before graduation, when college seniors start to enter panic-mode. Second, Lindsey joined Facebook and added yours truly as a friend. She knows her audience, and she knows that they use Facebook. Genius! And third, they sent galleys to people like me so we could blog/talk about it. See, I told you she was smart! Here’s her take on the writing world.

Urban Muse: Could you tell us a little bit about your transition from business development to writing?
Lindsey: In college, I had an unpaid internship with a nonprofit women’s business development organization, and I loved it. That led me to get a master’s degree in women’s studies, where I wrote a thesis on women in business. After graduate school, I sought out any job that somehow related to women’s business issues. Working Woman magazine had just launched a website division, WorkingWoman.com, so I cold-called and got an interview. I interviewed with a few different departments and it turned out I “clicked” best with the VP of business development, and she offered me a job. My first title was “Manager of Business Development, Content” and my job involved securing articles written for businesswomen using the website. So, the job was somewhat related to writing.

When WorkingWoman.com went bust (as most dot-coms did!), I started asking for freelance work from some of my former clients—mostly women’s business organizations and women-owned businesses. I wrote marketing materials, newsletter articles, white papers—whatever they needed. I also worked part-time as Director of Special Projects for the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), where I launched and managed the organization’s e-newsletter and other projects. In May 2005, I left the part-time job to be 100% self-employed. I love it.

UM: I saw on your website that you had a piece in Marie Claire last year. Any advice on querying women's magazines?
L: That was very exciting—definitely a dream come true to publish a piece in Marie Claire! The article came about through networking; I never wrote a query letter. I had a contact who was an editorial assistant at Marie Claire, and she recommended me to the associate editor who met with me, read some of my clippings and assigned the piece.

Most of my freelance article writing has come through networking. I attend a lot of events and ask for referrals from other writers I work with. I try to build relationships with editors so they will think of me when they need a writer on career issues.

My best pieces of advice to other freelancers about querying women’s magazines:

· Build relationships with editors (especially young editors at the beginning of their careers, who are still building their Rolodexes) through organizations such as Mediabistro.com, Ed2010, American Society of Journalists and Authors and New York Women in Communications. These organizations have frequent meetings and conferences.
· Read all the magazines you’d like to write for. It’s very important to know the sections that use freelancers (Mediabistro’s “How to Pitch” guides and their classes are great for this info), the names of editors, the word counts, the overall tone and style of each magazine and how they differ from each other. I subscribe to about 25 magazines!
· I also recommend a great book called Six-Figure Freelancing by Kelly James-Enger.

UM: What is the most important message you want readers to take away from Getting from College to Career?
L: The most important lesson is that action yields results. Take action on behalf of your career! I encourage readers to do at least one thing every day related to their job search and career planning. The more action you take—from conducting informational interviews, to attending networking events, to reading industry publications, to preparing for interviews, to revamping your resume, to reaching out to alumni, etc., etc., the more likely you are to land a great job. The worst thing you can do is to sit in your bedroom and hope for the best. Take action!

UM: You've carved out your niche in writing about careers for young women. How important is it for writers to specialize?
L: I think it’s very important for writers to have a niche. It’s fine to take on assignments related to other topics, but I think it’s crucial to develop an expertise and be the “go-to” person on a certain topic. It’s been very helpful to me to have such a clear niche as a writer. I do work in other areas, but I get many client referrals, repeat business and freelance article requests because of my specialty in women’s career issues. I’ve found that most clients and magazines feel more confident hiring you when you have a recognized area of expertise.

UM: And now the fun question... please describe your perfect cupcake.
L: For me, it’s all about the frosting. My perfect cupcake is a vanilla cake with a mountain fluffy, sugary, not-too-buttery vanilla frosting. Top it off with rainbow sprinkles and I’m in heaven.

Thanks, Lindsey. Check out College to Career and check back next week, when I interview marketing maven and two-time novelist Tracy McArdle.

Four Tools Every Writer Can Use

When I find a really great website or blog, I believe in sharing the wealth. Karma, baby! Here are a few that I use on a semi-regular basis:

1. Google. I know what you're thinking - how very 1999 of me. But I'll let you in a little secret that will make Google your best friend in 2007 and beyond. Whenever I read an article that I really like, I google the writer's name (ok, probably won't work with, say, Susan Johnston, but try something less generic) to see what other websites or magazines the author has written for. Sometimes I don't find anything, but other times I've hit a gold-mine of obscure ezines and indie magazines. Try it!

2. MediaBistro. Whenever I'm in need of inspiration or procrastination, I go to MB and it has never let me down. From media gossip to job leads to features on "how to pitch," MB has everything I need (and probably a few juicy tidbits about certain editors that I don't really need but are still fun to read).

3. Amazon. In terms of finding expert sources, Profnet hasn't really worked for me (by which I mean that despite my best efforts I've never found a source on there). I picked up this other trick from a fellow writer and it has served me well. Using the search and sort feature in Amazon, I look for a book that addresses my article topic and is coming out in three-six months (sort according to publication date), then I contact the author. Sources who have a new book coming out are useful because a) they want to sell books so they're delighted to talk to anyone who can get them free publicity and b) editors want timely sources. Voila!

4. WritersMarket. I've had the print edition for several months and it's so massive, that I haven't even gotten around to registering for the online version. But I'm sure it will be even more fabulous and helpful than its ink and paper cousin. Note to self: join the 21st century and get online Writer's Market.

This muse needs her beauty sleep, but I hope you enjoy these four tools and maybe even leave of your own in the comment section (you know you want to...)

Farewell to FWJ? April Fools!

Deb at Freelance Writing Jobs wrote a very heartfelt post about how she was done posting jobs for other writers. For a moment, I felt a sense of loss but also understanding that it's a huge undertaking for one person. Then I read the fine print... Good one, Deb!

I couldn't possibly find the time to do what she does, but I do want to share a writing opportunity I had blogged about earlier. Here's an update from Kathryn at Imagining Ourselves (part of the International Museum of Women in San Fransisco):

I wanted to notify you of a new opportunity for artists and writers. We are currently looking for content for our new exhibit theme: Image and Identity. In this theme, we wish to explore the role that physical appearance plays in our identity. We want to reach out to young women to amplify their voices, talk about issues such as beauty, body image, sexuality, and individuality. Do we identify ourselves with a particular group or culture? Do we categorize people based on their physical appearance? Can fashion be used to make statements about what we believe in? These are just some of the questions we will be exploring. Deadline is May 15, 2007. Click here for more info.

Not sure about the pay, but it sounds like a unique collaborative opportunity (and let's be honest, while most of us insist we won't write for free, we've all been known to do a little pro bono here and there if the cause or topic appeals to us).