What’s on the iPod: Cherry Bomb by John Mellancamp
What I’m reading: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larsen
Great day yesterday. I managed one small project, got an article roughed in, and started lining up interviews for the newly-scored article. And despite my fears, the government agency I had to talk to wrote back immediately and is lining up an expert as we speak.
Today I’m off to play with Devon and Jenn. But let’s chew on a few things before I get down to the “business” of having fun:
The question keeps appearing – if you don’t find good work on the job boards and you don’t work for a content mill, where do you find work? That last part of the sentence – where do you find work – is the key to what’s going wrong. You’re not finding work through any of those methods. You’re letting work find you. And honey, it’s bad work. Just look at those rates! Egad.
So now it’s time for you to find work. Today, let’s target magazines. Start with an idea. Here’s one – are reversible mortgages a good idea ever? There. Not so hard. I usually start with a question like that. In fact, that idea came from one of those gawd-awful commercials trying to convince people to give up their home equity for a monthly cash payment. Ideas are indeed everywhere.
Next, figure out who wants that idea. I’d say this one appeals to the over-fifty crowd, those close to retirement or in retirement. So I’d say your magazines catering to middle class or better retirees would be a good place to start.
Now it’s time to dig a little deeper into your question. What other questions does that question bring up? For me, I think I’d want to know:
– Who needs this?
– What are the dangers?
– What are the specific situations in which this might work?
– Are there benefits and if so, what are they?
– What happens in a typical reverse mortgage situation?
So who’s going to answer those questions? Easy – go to ProfNet.com and look for some experts. Or you could see who’s already talked about this just by reading other articles on reverse mortgages. And you should look around and see just what’s being said on that topic. That’s your preliminary research, and it doesn’t have to be extensive. Just read enough to get a grasp on what the real issues are – this could change your questions as well as your approach.
Now write your query. In it, put that one item that jumped out at you when you first researched. Maybe it’s a fact – how many people are using this, how many bankruptcies resulted from it, how questionable the sale of these mortgages are, whatever. Set up the query just as you set up the idea for yourself. Mention possible interview sources, then ask for the sale.
Next week, let’s find corporate clients, shall we?
Writers – where do you find your magazine clients?
Hi Lori:
I specialize in ghostwriting so my approach is a bit different. I go to the busy executive-broker, insurance company, wellness experts, other health care organizations.
I pitch them having their voices heard in their industry magazines. On my website, under Writing Services, I say "Your Name-Your Message."
One of my clients landed a featured article on wellness every other month. I have been ghostwriting for her for over a year. It's one of my favorite assignments. She is very innovative & passionate, but has a hard time expressing that in writing. It's a match made in heaven.
Enjoy your day, Ladies-jealous!
I either start with the idea or the publication.
If I have an idea, I let it percolate, ask the questions, take notes, research the publications to which it's suited, write the query and send it off.
I have to take notes because, if I don't, I get a response back and don't remember the details of what I was going to do sometimes.
If I start with a publication that I really like or think I'd be a good fit for, I look at back issues, see what they haven't covered that I think would fit, form the query and off we go.
In all cases, it takes research and homework. The well-paid work isn't going to fall in your lap, most of the time. You have to put some hustle in your bustle and convince them they can't live without you.
Your fee should more than cover the time spent researching, in addition to the time spent writing.
With the story I'm working on, I started with a simple idea and talked to a few people, then they recommended people to talk to, and the idea kept growing. I think it's time to separate my ideas for different publications. Would I be too ballsy to pitch to a big publication with only small publication clips to show them? All they can do is say no, right? 😉
Have a great weekend!
I tend to work along both Lori and Devon's lines when developing article ideas. But I also make a list of different pubs I can tailor it to. I take the same basic idea (like Lori's "Are reverse mortgages a good idea") and think of ways to alter it for different markets. I could frame it for a trade by suggesting questions financial planners should ask clients that might benefit from a reverse mortgage, or who think they want one. For a consumer market targeting seniors I'd pitch a story on real people living with reverse mortgages – do they have any regrets? For a consumer market for a younger/middle aged audience, I'd pose it as: How to help you parents decide if a reverse mortgage is good for them. Then I rank the possible markets my things like their stated pay rate, frequency of publication, and what percent of their content comes from freelancers (which is one of the most helpful facts Writer's Market includes in its listings).
BTW, turns out that reverse mortgages aren't always good, and I don't mean financially. A friend's elderly neighbor has a reverse mortgage on a small, run-down house. Literally, the gutter was hanging off the front of the house. My friend told the neighbor she better have her carpenter son repair the gutter or the entire length of gutter could fall off in a heavy rain. The neighbor said, "Oh, he won't fix anything around here since he found out I have a reverse mortgage. If he can't make money off it, he won't lift a finger." My friend got her ladder out and fixed the gutter herself.
BTW Lori – I started reading Devil in the White City last weekend. I'm around page 150 now (for me that's a LOT of reading in a week). But what's it say about me that I'm more riveted by the Holmes sections than the Burnham chapters?
Me too, Paula. I think it's fantastic the way he's setting this entire book up. Great work by Larsen, if you ask me.
I love it, Cathy. And yes, for corporate clients, that's exactly how I'd do it. Go to the source. Show them how they're not going to be able to live without you.
Oh Devon, I've done that once or twice – enough to remember to keep notes from now on! Totally agree on all points.
Go for it, Ashley! Just do your homework – know that magazine's audience, focus, and needs before writing the query. You can do it.
I love hearing the different methods everyone takes toward their magazine article approach. My head is swimming with ideas now. Thanks ladies!