… and how to put them right! Advice and opportunities for new, aspiring and upcoming journalists and writers of non-fiction
Several days have passed … the debate has rumbled on – a lot of it on Twitter, under the hashtag #libertiespress. A tweet from writer David Gaughran gave me pause to reconsider my earlier post on this subject. And it was such a good, succinct point, that I’ve since been pulled the other way a …
The news that an Irish publisher has begun to charge 100 Euro for any unagented submission of a manuscript for potential publication has been met with anger among some writers and writing groups. Writer Susan Tomaselli, editor of Gorse Journal, suggested it was “taking the piss“. A Twitter exchange initiated by Author Oisin McGann revealed …
In Desperation (Part I), I wrote the following, which I make no apologies for repeating, this time with emphasis: “Freelance writer” tells the editor you’re available for work. “Available for work” tells the editor you’re desperate for work. It’s no good being desperate, because editors can sniff out desperation a mile off, and …
Bloglovin’ are looking for contributors. Here, they say they’re after a ‘wave of talented food writers/curators’ willing to contribute ‘1-2 articles per week [unpaid]’ Here, more recently, they’re looking for a ‘wave of talented home decor writers/curators’ willing to contribute ‘1-2 articles per week [unpaid]’. Having secured $7m investment a couple of years ago, I …
“Don’t take it to heart.” “It’s them – not you.” “It’s nothing personal.” Share news of a rejection of your work to a friend or loved one and I’ll bet they’ll respond with one of the above – or a variation of. They’re just saying what is expected of them, and being nice. You know …
Last time, in Mistake No. 109, I wrote about travel writing, and how it shouldn’t be treated as holiday writing. This time, I want to write about restaurant reviewing, and how it shouldn’t be treated as eating-out writing. For that’s the first key mistake I see when I read restaurant reviews by my students: a …
I call travel writing holiday writing when it is an account of the writer’s holiday, written as if to a friend or member of the family, in the style you might adopt for the back of a postcard. ‘Having a lovely time’ writing. Editors rarely want holiday writing. Editors want travel writing. They want adventure, …
There is a phrase that religious publishers and editors dread: ‘The Lord told me to write this.’ Can you feel yourself preparing to tiptoe out of the room? Even worse is the statement, ‘God told me you would publish this’. Why would anyone say such a thing? It implies that to reject the writer would …
I’ve read all the inspirational quotes. I know the will to persevere is the difference between success and failure. I know that the difference between a writer and a published writer is that the published writer carried on. I know that aspiring writers expect writing advisors and experts to say “Never give up” – and, …
Periodically, I get frustrated at greedy and unnecessary clauses in contracts – particularly in relation to writing competitions. All copyright-grabbing terms and conditions get my goat, but every now and then, one comes along which gets my whole herd. Step forward Vogue UK’s Talent Contest 2016, which is seeking out journalists under 25 “with an …
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