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Seamus123
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S
Seamus123
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I do have a personal blog/website that my careers advisor recommended I set up. How would you think this could help me? Thanks a lot.
Mike - I can't help with your career aspirations ... but I can give you some feedback on your blog ... I liked it a lot 
It was very interesting to read - and easy to read quite a lot of. I read quite a lot of the posts covering the time from you getting your degree result (grats on the 2:1 by the way) through your moving home from Aberystwyth.
I got a real feeling for your emotions as your friends moved away and I particularly liked the description in one entry about no longer living by the sea, no longer having a castle at the end of the street and no longer being able to look out of the window watching the dolphins in the sea at sunset. That entry really painted a picture in my mind.
The only advice that I can give - is to cast the net wide. Consider any opportunity to write - are there any of those freebie local newspapers around your way? Do your local papers have letters pages - that might be another way to showcase your skills? Local football team have a fanzine - I see you like football so that might work.
Congratulations on your achievements so far - be patient but tenacious, I am sure that your future will be bright.
It was very interesting to read - and easy to read quite a lot of. I read quite a lot of the posts covering the time from you getting your degree result (grats on the 2:1 by the way) through your moving home from Aberystwyth.
I got a real feeling for your emotions as your friends moved away and I particularly liked the description in one entry about no longer living by the sea, no longer having a castle at the end of the street and no longer being able to look out of the window watching the dolphins in the sea at sunset. That entry really painted a picture in my mind.
The only advice that I can give - is to cast the net wide. Consider any opportunity to write - are there any of those freebie local newspapers around your way? Do your local papers have letters pages - that might be another way to showcase your skills? Local football team have a fanzine - I see you like football so that might work.
Congratulations on your achievements so far - be patient but tenacious, I am sure that your future will be bright.
DrHappy
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2006
- Posts
- 752
For what it's worth, here are my suggestions:
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Do an internet search of: freelance journalist home page
Take a peek at what some other journalists are doing. Look up the home pages of other journalist that you admire.
Show confident examples of your writing capabilities on your webpage. Write up a review or give insightful commentary on a subject which you know. Give people a reason to look at your webpage. Add new interesting examples of your writing on a regular basis. I'm sure that you have unique insights on subjects that few can provide. Blog entries about Who Loves Raymond make me want to close my browser.
State up front that you are a freelance journalist and have your contact information easily available.
For Pete's sake, remove the words presumptuous and unrealistic ambitions of being a journalist who doesn't have to sit at a desk all day.!
This page should represent you as being a confident, capable, and ambitions freelance journalist.
===========
Do an internet search of: freelance journalist home page
Take a peek at what some other journalists are doing. Look up the home pages of other journalist that you admire.
Show confident examples of your writing capabilities on your webpage. Write up a review or give insightful commentary on a subject which you know. Give people a reason to look at your webpage. Add new interesting examples of your writing on a regular basis. I'm sure that you have unique insights on subjects that few can provide. Blog entries about Who Loves Raymond make me want to close my browser.
State up front that you are a freelance journalist and have your contact information easily available.
For Pete's sake, remove the words presumptuous and unrealistic ambitions of being a journalist who doesn't have to sit at a desk all day.!
This page should represent you as being a confident, capable, and ambitions freelance journalist.
M's girl
Leaving
- Joined
- Jun 22, 2005
- Posts
- 7,156
Second that.
I have read some in your blog. Write more articles like The Ballancing Act, as if you are already in such a job. Make the manufacturers (when they stumble upon your writings - and marketing departments do scan the internet to see what's written about their companies' products!) wish you had written it for them already. And yes, like the wise doctor said: show confidence... a lot!
You are good at what you do - the writing stuff, right? Show them and tell them!
Good luck!
I have read some in your blog. Write more articles like The Ballancing Act, as if you are already in such a job. Make the manufacturers (when they stumble upon your writings - and marketing departments do scan the internet to see what's written about their companies' products!) wish you had written it for them already. And yes, like the wise doctor said: show confidence... a lot!
You are good at what you do - the writing stuff, right? Show them and tell them!
Good luck!
Handprints
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2007
- Posts
- 547
Most newspapers/magazines - especially UK ones - are pretty meritocratic. If you can deliver a story that knocks someone else's off a page, they'll take it and pay you. Local papers won't pay much, magazines are highly variable. Remember that anyone who pays well is already the cream of freelance submissions. It's not a bad idea to target local papers with circs of less than 50K or mags with circs of less than 10K until you feel you're hitting your stride.
Remember, editors don't really want to know what your plans/ambitions/potential talents are... They just want good, fresh copy that meets a need.
Hit them with real copy - not ideas for copy or questions about how to write for them - and you'll get better responses. Just make sure you know the style and interests of the publications you target well: they're already printing what they want to print and probably won't want anything you think they ought to want but haven't printed in the past...
Best of luck,
H
Remember, editors don't really want to know what your plans/ambitions/potential talents are... They just want good, fresh copy that meets a need.
Hit them with real copy - not ideas for copy or questions about how to write for them - and you'll get better responses. Just make sure you know the style and interests of the publications you target well: they're already printing what they want to print and probably won't want anything you think they ought to want but haven't printed in the past...
Best of luck,
H
Ravin the Poet
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2004
- Posts
- 934
Magazines are your way to go. I am 22 in English and Creative Writing so Iam right where you are in the writing thing. Pick up a copy of the Writers Market. We have it here in Canada. Not sure about UK, but they should have it there. Basically start sending things to magazines, but learn how to properly send a letter to them and how to ask questions. A lot of magazines don't have time to answer questions. They don't pay amazing amounts of money, but if you are going this for a large sum, you would be sending out more then 5 a week.
culloden
Literotica Guru
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2006
- Posts
- 715
I've been both an editor and a freelance writer. Being a good writer is only the first step. There are many good writers who regularly ask, "Want fries with that?"
Network. Get to know editors who buy what you're selling. Fill their needs, make their lives easier. That's how to get regular work. If you're good, you'll be noticed.
Network. Get to know editors who buy what you're selling. Fill their needs, make their lives easier. That's how to get regular work. If you're good, you'll be noticed.
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