AMOM: Day 16: Go Bio Hunting

There are possibly several dozens of writers who specialize in the same issues that you do. Once I made it clear what that I worked on women’s and cultural issues, and broke some stories on the same, you won’t believe how many (very successful) writers wrote to me and said, “Hey, wanna do lunch?”

I shared contacts and sources with some, ideas with others, editor and publication details with almost all, but mostly we just talked as colleagues, and people in the same industry. It’s nice to talk about writing with people who “get” what do you do and why you do it.

Most of the time, these people came to me looking for a friend, not a contact. Indeed, most of them are more successful than I. It’s not about mooching information, it’s simply about interacting with people in the same industry so that you can learn, share experiences, and grow together.

But since this is indeed, a marketing tip, take a look at the bios of writers who’re working in the same field as you. What magazines have they written for? Do they have very specific specialties or do they cover multiple issues? Would the publications they write for be accepting of your ideas?

AMOM: Day 15: The Dream Project

In all your marketing, never forget those dream projects that have low selling potential. I may be off, but at least in my own career, the projects I care deeply about usually are the hardest sell. Which is why you’ll often see me in editorial meetings pushing and pushing and pushing for those stories.

These editors usually give me an A for effort, an A+ for irritation levels, and give me other work anyway (I am a good writer, after all). But they do remember what I’m really passionate about. And once in a while, they’ll write to me and say, “Hey, this is not a promise and I may be totally off, but send me that idea you’ve been blabbering about and I’ll forward it to this guy I met last night who might be interested. They might like to do this sort of thing.”

I’ve had this happen several times. And sometimes, it sells. Sometimes it leads to another contact. And sometimes, despite having no stories published on those topics, a whole bunch of editors see me as an expert on those topics and call me when they need some quick background information for in-house stories.

Will this lead to more work? Who knows. Does it make me a likeable and approachable writer who editors know will be dedicated and thorough with her work? Absolutely.

My point? (I always have one.) It’s that talking about things you’re passionate about, even when you know they won’t sell, is a really good idea because one, writing isn’t just about making money, and two, because it does lead to opportunities when people see what makes you tick. And sometimes you get the best of both worlds—your dream stories get you a sale.

What’s the one project you’d work on if you didn’t have to worry about money or time? Talk to people about that today.

AMOM: Day 14: Get on the Phone

Ready for a tough one today? Pick up a magazine you’ve wanted to write for but have never pitched. Spend some time looking through it and come up with three ideas for it.

Now write those ideas on a piece of paper on one line each. No more than that. These are your five-second pitches.

Okay, now the hard part. Look through the masthead, find the name of an editor who seems nice and approachable, look up the phone number and…

Call!

Do it. Call and ask who you can pitch stories to. If they ask who you specifically want to talk to, you name the nice editor, get connected and say, “Hi, I’m a freelance writer, and was wondering if you’re open to pitches.” If they ask you what you want, you basically say the same thing and ask for a name. If the editor actually gets on the phone and says, “Hit me,” (it happens), you hit her with those five-second pitches.

If you’re getting nowhere, ask if there might be a convenient time to drop by with your portfolio to discuss freelancing opportunities.

And if that still leads nowhere and you end up getting the phone slammed on your face, hey, you’re still the writer with the balls to call a hotshot editor.

AMOM: Day 13: Revive Old Contacts

In continuation of yesterday’s assignment, today it’s time for you to get in touch with old contacts. Remember that marketing manager you worked with in your old job? The communications consultant you once had lunch with? That editor who came to stay in the hotel where you worked as a receptionist? Call them. Ask if they might need a writer.

AMOM: Day 12: Tell People What You Do

When writers are asked what they do for a living, most admit that they stammer or say, “Oh, I write” or something to that effect.

See, I don’t get that. I don’t understand why a writer would have a problem saying he or she is a writer any more than a dentist would have a problem saying he or she is a dentist.

Oh, but writing is a creative thing, you say. Well, trust me, my dentist can get very creative in the ways he chooses to deliver pain. Or “but they’ll ask me what I write.” And so you tell them. “I write on mental health for the local newspaper” or “I write press releases for a few web-based companies” or “I write articles for work-at-home moms.”

Or, some writers fear, they’ll be asked who they write for. Well, what’s the big deal? “I write for the local paper,” or “I write for a number of publications, most are local magazines for parents,” or “I write for National Geographic.” It doesn’t matter. The only person who attaches judgment to what or who you write for, is usually yourself.

Oh, but then, some insecure writer will argue, people usually ask me how much money I make. How rude!

Well, personally, I don’t find it rude at all. It’s genuine interest. When I meet people, most are intrigued that they’re talking to an actual (gasp!) full-time writer, and want to know how I do it. Do you make enough? Do you make a lot? How did you get started? Are you on assignment right now? Do they pay your travel expenses? Can I get in on it?

And most of the times, I answer happily. I’m not insecure about what I do or how much I make, so yes, I tell them that at times I’ve made more than they do in six months, and at others, I’ve wondered if I could continue to afford food. I tell them about my clients, and I tell them funny stories about having received double payment and having to return a check I could most definitely have used. I tell them about the times I’ve gone “on assignment” without an actual assignment, faked my way through it, and received recognition for those stories. I tell them about the stories that never sold, how I tend to become a hermit, how it’s such a weird but amazing lifestyle.

And maybe it’s just me, but I’ve never received judgment or been asked to take the neighbor’s dog for a walk, or been looked down upon for working “from home.” As far as my neighbors, family, and friends are concerned, I have the coolest job on the planet, regardless of what I make.

I think it’s about attitude. It’s about being happy talking about what you do, letting that passion show, and giving people an idea of what you’re about. Instead, some writers get offended by that “how much do you make” question (which even lawyers, doctors, and engineers get, by the way), and lose such great opportunites to get to know people.

And does this have anything to do with marketing?

It does. Because these are the same people who will later e-mail you some terrific story ideas (and maybe even some horribly overdone and bad ones), it’s the same people who’ll say, you know, since you’re interested in mental health, I should tell you about this thing they do in South India that I’ve heard about. They’ll recommend you when someone in their marketing department needs a writer, and they’ll call you when they see your byline in their favorite magazine.

It’s the same people, who because they know what you do and what you’re about, will happily connect you to friends and family who wouldn’t be willing to talk to just about any writer and journalist, but would be happy to share their story with you.

And it’s the same people who, when having moved to another city, will offer you a bed and free food, “because there’s this great project here that I think you’d love, but your editors probably won’t buy it unless you come here and talk to the actual people involved.”

Tell people what you do. That’s your assignment for today.

AMOM: Day 11: Expand those Sidebars and Fillers

A simple assignment today. Go through all the sidebars and fillers you’ve written, and try to come up with angles for full-fledged pieces from them.

Two ways to go about this:

1. What else could these sidebars have been placed with? What feature articles would warrant sidebars or fillers that you’ve already written?

2. Could these sidebars and fillers be expanded into features? What would you need to add? What different angle would you need to take?