The writing business is hard to break into. Everywhere you look someone is writing something and hoping to get published. Because of the abundance of writers, the market has become tight and selective. Potential customers, employers, editors, and publishers, want to know what you have done in the past. Have you ever been published?
If you are just getting started as a writer this can be discouraging. Try as you might you can not get that first article, short story, or poem, published. However, there are ways to get around it.
In every community small newspapers exists. These publishers operate on a slim budget and cannot afford the staff to cover everything that's newsworthy. Although they cannot pay you, they will often accept contributions and give you a byline. After a few submissions your name may become well known to the community. You could be given assignments, film for pictures, and a token salary ($25. - $75.) per story. This will be similar to a contractor fee. Still, you have become a writer who earns money for his/her work.
What type of articles or stories are these newspapers looking for? Most want feature stories about local people, doing interesting things. For instance, imagine your neighbor Jack Smith makes the best apple cider you ever tasted. He worked on his recipe for years and now he has perfected it. He shares this delectable drink with friends, family, and neighbors. So why not write an article about him?
Remember, in the newspaper business you get the “who, what, why, when, how, “ words covered in the first few paragraphs.
Start with the subject matter, “Jack Smith, of 4070 Queen St. has long loved New England apple cider. After seven years of trial and error, he has finally mastered the elusive cinnamony recipe. Although Indiana has its share of apple cider, there is nothing to compare with Smith’s recipe.” In this first paragraph, you have answered all the important questions. Who? Jack Smith. Where? 4070 Queen St. What? Apple cider.
When? Currently or finally. Why? Because Jack loves apple cider. How? By trial and error.
Mention the subject again as a reminder in the middle of the article, “Smith became interested in the apple cider recipe in 1998 while visiting an aunt in New England. It was his first taste of the unique concoction.
When he returned home to Indiana, he could not find anything that compared with that perfect blend of apples and cinnamon.”
End your article with the same subject. Imagine tying it up into a package. “If you have a hankering for apple cider, drop by and visit Jack Smith. He always has a cup of his
special recipe on ice for a thirsty neighbor.”
Your subject matter is the apple cider that Jack Smith makes. You admire him because in this one thing he excels. As a writer, you are going to tell the community about Jack Smith and what he does best.
This is a true feature story, newspapers never get enough of them, and readers love reading about people in their community doing creative projects.
Newspapers are also interested in school projects such as sports, special events, and the band. If you attend these sort of functions with your children, interview people for the newspaper and snap several pictures to go with the story. After all, pictures are worth a thousand words.
Imagine you finished your feature story and you have your pictures. Create a package with a manila envelope or file folder. You are now ready to approach the newspaper editor.
When do you go? Who do you see? Do you call ahead for an appointment? What do you say?
A community newspaper normally comes out once a week. Visit the newspaper office the day after the newspaper comes out. Ask to see the editor, Introduce yourself . Offer him/her your hand. Use a strong handclasp. This gives the impression of self-confidence. State your business and don’t talk too much. “I have written a feature story and I wondered if your paper would be interested in publishing it?” Show respect for his/her position. Hand the article over. Remain silent as he/she reads it. You can actually talk yourself out of a sale (even a contribution). You probably won’t be asked to sit down at this stage. You story has to hold it’s own.
You impress the editor with your bold, respectful, approach. If you are a decent writer he/she is thinking that you know what you're doing. He/she may offer you a certain amount of money for the article, ask you how much you want for it, or inform you that the publication does not buy articles from freelancers. He/she may mention the rights connected with using the story. Newspapers normally require only one time rights. They seldom run reprints.
If the editor accepts your article, you will soon see your byline in your local newspaper. As will your family and friends. This brings you a lot of respect from community leaders, politicians, banks, businessmen, and such. No one knows whether you are getting paid or not, nor do they care. They think you are employed by the newspaper. Sometimes you even get fan mail. The more fan mail or hate mail you get, the more the newspaper values you. Any response at all serves as evidence that your articles affect people, and this helps sell papers.
The week after your story comes out in the community paper, visit another community newspaper near your home and bring along a copy of the newspaper, with your story and byline in it. Meet the editor and ask if he/she would be interested in running your story in their newspaper. Chances are they will. Do the same the following week with another newspaper, and soon you will have your name all over the place.
Soon, you can query a magazine publisher with an impressive resume. You are now a freelance, special feature reporter for three or more newspapers.
In time you will move on to small national newspapers or magazines. Then query regional magazines, and larger, daily newspapers. You are on your way, and every time you publish an article, you add another notch to your belt. Other benefits include a press pass, the opportunity to write a weekly column, potential assignments, and invitations to the country clubs to interview an icon of your community.
The stories you contribute will amount to free advertising for your skills as a writer. These community papers will be happy to run the press release for your new book once it's published. The more you write, the more times you get your name out, the more press power you have.
Although newspapers can’t pay much money, they can help your career take off.
