What’s on the iPod: Alleluia by Rufus Wainwright
Finally over that cold that grabbed hold of me last week. It was a strangely short-lived one – three days and vanished. There are remnants of it, but not the usual symptoms of stuffiness, sore throat, aching, etc. I was feeling better by Wednesday. I like that – a cold that doesn’t stick around.
I’m still a bit short of projects, though I managed an article assignment with a long deadline. So yesterday, armed with the latest Writer’s Market, I headed to Burger King, where I ate my veggie burger and scanned the book for some new markets.
Let me just say this now and get it over with. I have no idea who was overseeing the final publication of this year’s book, but if I made that many editing mistakes, I’d not be working. Ridiculous amounts of mistakes. Normally, one or two in a book that size is acceptable, but not four in the same paragraph. And this from a writerly publication. There were a few that could have been cleared up with Spell Check. Others – like sentences that ended mid-sentence or listings that had a subhead and then a “.” – screamed either amateur in charge or someone asleep at the keyboard. When I saw a listing for a market I knew was defunct (for three years now), I began questioning the validity of other markets. And for this I paid $31.50.
But I did locate some markets worth courting, so it’s not a total waste of money. I now have a list of a dozen select markets and notes on how I plan to approach them. Some will get LOIs, others will get queries. It’s been great having the extra time in which to do this type of planning. Instead of cursing the lack of work, I’m thankful for the time to seek a new direction.
In fact, the time off has allowed me to revamp my website, review my marketing, and find new potential clients and work. Here are some places I’m looking:
Twitter and LinkedIn. I’ve had success in the past with both, so I’ll toss in the occasional “I’m available for work” update.
Magazines. Magazines are not my primary source of income, but they’re great supplements to it.
Current clients. I’ve started asking for referrals. Asking people I’ve already pleased is a great way to get a good referral.
Press releases. As I receive them, I look for story ideas. What better source than through people already armed with experts?
Wanna-be clients. Make that clients I “wanna be” working for. There are a few who have been on my short list. I’m reaching out this week and convincing them they can’t live without me.
Where do you look for work? How long has it been since you expanded into a new area?
17 responses to “Turning Over Rocks”
It really gets my back up when I see a published book with so many errors that wouldn't even be in my finished MS (or TS) (or WPS), especially, as you say, from an organisation that should know better. I may not bother buying it now, it will only upset me. I wonder if they put more effort into the online stuff? But like you (again), I like a book that I can hold and feel and take to the coffee shop and browse if I want to. Glad that you found some markets in there.
Let me compare the online against it, Diane. I have both.
I'm so glad to hear you say you'd rather hold the book. Proves my point that print books will never go out of style. 🙂
Like Diane, I prefer the book version of Writer's Market – although I've been told the online version is more up to date (not sure if this is the case, but it would make sense I guess). Funny you should write this post today – after three years of not purchasing an issue (mainly because I'd sometimes find contact information out of date and certain publications missing from their listings altogether), I've decided to make a purchase to help me seek out some new markets. Seems that you were still able to find it beneficial and I certainly trust your judgment. Thanks for sharing.
It's still useful, Kim. I'm just distracted by the number of mistakes. You'll see.
I got mine on Amazon. It was a full $18.50 cheaper than in the book store. Free shipping, too.
I'm headed toward the bookstore today, so I'm planning on picking up a copy for the first time in a few years. (I think my most recent is older than Kimberly's!) Count me among the hard-copy users, though I'm sure I'll double-check against the online info.
At the risk of jinxing myself, work mostly found me this year. (In stark contrast to 2009.) Nonetheless, the holiday period is a good time to throw some additional lines in the water, including the LOIs that I need to experiment with 🙂
I stopped using Writer's Market a few years ago, because I found it disappointing. (Not all the typos. Those are frustrating but I can overlook them if the content is useful.) I'm disappointed with how out-dated many of the records are and how many great markets are missing. I noticed in my 2006 edition that many of the markets they do include tend to have a generic email listed rather than the email of a specific person.
Much as I value print books, I prefer to get market info online because it tends to be more current. I usually do my own research to find under-the-radar publications that pay well (a combination of networking, reading the daily emails from Gorkana.com, trolling MediaBistro.com, and following the forums and weekly emails I get through FreelanceSuccess.com). It's more work, but it tends to yield publications that haven't been inundated with queries from other WM readers.
That is frustrating, Susan. If I'm buying the book for updated information, I'm expecting to see FULL info, including a preferred contact email. I'm with you 100 percent on that point.
This is the first one I've bought since 2004, Jake. I got by just fine with the online version and with simply typing in "editorial guidelines" into Google.
I have been using Writer's Market more recently and I'm also disappointed with the number of markets missing.
I make do with a copy that's a few years old. I got it free from a library that buys a new one every year. What I usually do is go through my copy at home to identify markets, and then check the up-to-date one at the library to make sure there's no new info for those markets.
I've heard good things about FLX. Anybody have an opinion about how that compares to Writer's Market?
My WM is from 2005. Glad to hear yours was older than mine, Lori. Maybe next year I'll spring for a copy.
I used to buy the new WM every other year, but with so many guidelines available online these days, I've put off buying a replacement.
I do much the same as Susan and ferret out markets on my own. The only downside I've found doing it this way is not having any idea how much the market pays. I've wound up getting enthusiastic replies to me LOIs only to learn they don't pay well. Any tips on finding out how much someone pays before wasting my time on the LOI, Susan?
With LinkedIn, now and then I'll mention I'm available for more work, but one friend uses her status update to list everything she's currently working on. It seems to be working for her – she's always busy – but if I were an editor and saw she was juggling four feature articles and a cover story I'd assume she was too busy for more assignments. To each her own…
Lori, you asked how long it's been since we've expanded to new areas: last week. A new crafting blog (started by someone with pretty strong credits) wanted writers. The starting pay isn't great, but for a new blog it's not that bad, so I thought I'd give them a try. It's fun, and my first project is something I was going to make anyway. (Yes, in the end I will end up being paid for making a Christmas gift for a family member.)
That said, I'm still actively seeking more $1+/word markets, because I totally need a raise!
I'd like to hear more about FLX too, Claire. Thanks for bringing it up. And I like your suggestion of finding a library copy to browse.
You're one year away, Paula. 🙂 And you ask a good question – how to know what the market pays. Sometimes you can find that info on their website, but more often it's hidden. I look first at "About Us" sections – sometimes they'll bury guidelines in there, complete with payment terms.
Not sure how to get it out of them beyond just asking. Anyone?
Love, love Rufus Wainwright's Hallelujah. Can listen to that a bunch of times in a row. So beautiful — and not many songs touch me because of my deafness (I memorized the words and can follow along with my hearing aid).
Lori, I admire you for being able to keep your blog updated on a regular basis. My blog is pitiful… but mind you, it's been around since 2000. I've been too busy (thankfully) to update it and I just don't work after hours or on weekends unless it's for a client.
Ooh, I hear a secret chord. Gotta run! 🙂 Enough being off topic.
I had the same thought about last year's WM. Honestly, for a book that's going out to a readership of writers, WHAT are they thinking? Sure, it still has useful info, but the poor editing zaps its credibility.
I'm just building my freelance writing business, so I've been experimenting with the types of work I want to do. Right now I have a steady stream of work for a few local publications, but recently I picked up a PR project and talked with a potential client this week about some corporate work.
I've found that PR work isn't for me right now. I'm completing the project because I said I would, but it makes me feel uncomfortable to work on the PR side of the business in the same market I work in as a journalist. Once I finish the project, I plan to let my client know that I appreciate the opportunity, but in the future, I prefer to work with them as a journalist, not as a contractor. I'm kind of old-school that way, I guess, but I don't like muddying the waters.
I'm excited about the corporate work, though. Hopefully it will pay well and be steady.
Meryl, you can go off topic here any time you like, girl. 🙂
Stacey, sometimes I get the same sense from projects. I've all but sworn off ghostwriting, though I did have one good experience with it. Sometimes, you have to try more than one project (and client) to make sure you're judging it correctly. And sometimes you just know. 🙂
That note about Rufus was the first thing that caught my eye. I absolutely love that song, especially his version – my favorite. I can listen to it on repeat over & over. I guess I'm going to have to fire up iTunes. 😉
Becky, I think Leonard Cohen even said that song is now Rufus's song, for no one does it better.
Now if we could just get Louden Wainwright to record Carrickfergus. If you watch Boardwalk Empire, you heard the song and you're searching for it on YouTube (it's there).
Know what's funny? I first heard it on Shrek. Yup. Had to seek it out & hear the whole thing after that.
Really? Shrek? That's funny!
I think I heard it on Gilmore Girls.