TRAVEL WRITING Stephen11 asked this question on 11/7/2000: I am looking for advice. I have been to over 1,100 places in the Washington DC metro area by public transportation and I am thinking about trying to publish my information and make it into a book. I would like to know what is the best way to go through this task. My dream would be to publish a book which would list the 1,100 things which I have done in the Washington DC area by public transportation. I would like it to be something simple and something people would like to read. My only problem is I don't know where to go from here. What can you suggest to me. Thank you Stephen11 David Taylor gave this response on 11/7/2000: First, I think you have an excellent idea for a book about one of the world's most touristed cities. Second, there's no way of knowing it's a good idea until you complete step one of writing a book proposal: market research. In other words, is there a need for this book? To answer that question you must ferret out all similar books in print. If there are none like yours, you're in great shape. If there are similar ones (and there probably will be), you need to study them for how you can make yours different--adding value that the others don't have. The next step is to write a formal book proposal. There are several acceptable formats. I like the one for non-fiction books recommended by Writer's Digest books. After you've written your proposal, you need to shop it around. There are two theories here: 1. Get an agent and let him/her work their publishing contacts. 2. Send it to the acquisitions editor at publishing houses that do this kind of book. TRAVEL WRITING sleepistheenemy asked this question on 7/7/2000: Traveling and writing are my passions. I have always longed to find a way to merge them and know that there IS a way! I just don't know it! Can you help me with some tips on how to get started? Also, are there any books, webpages, etc. that you can refer me too? Thanks for your help! David Taylor gave this response on 7/12/2000: Hello, KIA: First, congrats on a courageous decision to follow your heart and not listen to all the naysayers who, I'm sure, have been trying to knock down your dream and tell you that you can't. They're just jealous, of course. Second, there's absolutely no reason you can't merge your two passions. Many have before you. All it takes is ambition, perseverance and an average facility for words. Here are what I believe to be the three keys to success (besides traveling!): (1) Target a travel publication and submit to it. Collect samples of all the travel magazines (and non-travel magazines that publish travel features). Select one, two or three that you think you have a shot at getting published in by virtue of your level (unpublished freelancer) and the topics you are expert enough on. When you've done that, DEVOUR the publication. Get inside the head of the editor. Know exactly what he/she wants in a travel feature: slant, voice, paragraphing, destination, number of words, use of quotations, descriptive level of the language--everything. Then go write an article based upon your analysis of what this editor wants. Your goal is to produce a manuscript that the editor doesn't have to touch in order to get it ready for publication in his/her pub. A book from the Writers Digest people, The Writers Market, is the most comprehensive listing of all magazines in America. There are plenty of zines to work for besides the newsstand slicks. (2) Learn the ropes. Freelancing is a profession, and like any profession it has its skills and codes of conduct, from how to submit a query to SASEs, publication rights to simultaneous submissions. What I'm saying is, they don't let brain surgeons in the operating room until they've learned their craft. Same is true of editors: we don't let you in our magazine until you know the trade and are dependable and honest (that last one is more important than you might think). I highly suggest the books and home-study courses from Writers Digest books. Their web site: http://www.writersdigest.com/ (3) Read the greats. And not just the ones who've done books. The best travel writers today are writing in magazines like Conde Nast Traveler, Travel and Leisure, Islands, Natl. Geo Traveler. Digest them. Finally, we all have to start somewhere. The only difference between a published writer and an unpublished writer is that one has given up. You may find these online resources valuable. The URL for the American Society of Travel Writers web http://www.satw.org/ But you would also find valuable some of the other many writers groups with sites on the web: http://www.freelancesuccess.com/resources/writersorgs.shtml TRAVEL WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 6/16/2000: Would it be detrimental to write travel articles out of Japan, mainly on culture and natural elements there. Or is there little interest in Japan (specifically) in U.S and Australian magazines. David Taylor gave this response on 6/18/2000: I like this question. It gives me a chance to say two things I believe strongly: 1. A good article (solid, interesting info slanted toward a specific audience and publication, decently written) will always find a home. It's my experience that editors are starved for good freelance stories. They save us production time and usually a lot of expenses. The only problem: most freelancers (98%) don't take the time to study a publication closely and smartly, and thus send in something that, albeit a good idea, that isn't executed specifically for that magazine. The point: If you do your job as a freelancer--which is to target your writing for an audience and publication--you should be able to sell what you write about Japan. 2. Interest: Again, it's my experience that we are always interested in the unique, the fresh and the well-written. If you have something unique to say from your own fresh observations and perceptions, then there will be interest in it. There are no new topics, only new writers. All of Shakespeare's themes are hackneyed--revenge, ambition, unrequited love--but the perceptions and writing aren't. Now, how do you do it? 1. Read. To offer something fresh, you have to know what's already been said and how it's been said. Target 10 or 15 publications in the field you expect to write, read them voraciously. Mimic the article you like, then move beyond them to your own stuff. 2. Target. Buy a copy of The Writer's Market 2000 (www.writersdigest.com) and find the pubs most likely to be receptive to your article. Shape your writing accordingly. 3. Don't give up. The only difference a published writer and an unpublished writer is that one has given up. Take rejetion slips, thrown them in the furnance of your writing to put steel in your prose. MAGAZINE WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 6/12/2000: I will be aupairing in Germany for one year while I save money for a backpacking excursion. I plan to write a bi-weekly column while there about my experiences as an American girl in Germany and as an Aupair. Does anyone have any suggestions where I should submit queries? My intention is to publish the column on my own website and at the same time publish it in various magazines and newspapers. David Taylor gave this response on 6/16/2000: Since you posted this to the general travel writing question board, I'd like to take a shot at it. Salivan's advice to buy the Writer's Market 2000 is excellent. That book, 95% updated each year, will open a world of freelance opportunity to you. Go for it. However, don't look just in the Travel Magazine section of Writer's Market. I think a possibly even more fruitful area would be the teen market: as an au pair, you are probably a teen or in your early 20s at most. Teen zines publish a lot of PEs or personal experience, 1st person stories. You have a unique slant: how is a teen's life in Germany different than in America? How does American culture influence German teens? How are German teens' attitudes toward sex, parents, education, dating, etc. different than their American counterparts? What elements of the German teen scene would American teens be fascinated to hear about? Finally, I don't think print will be the most productive medium for you. Take a camera with you, a computer and a scanner. Upload pictures (lots of 'em) along with your stories to the web. And especially since you will have the ability to upload daily and weekly, this sort of project should find a home on a teen-related web site. Also, make it interactive as possible: allow teens to ask you questions, suggest places for you to go and write about/photograph, conduct interactive interviews, set up chat groups, etc. Remember, newspapers superceded magazines because they were daily, radio superceded newspapers because of the human voice, TV superceded radio because of the moving image, and the internet is superceding TV because of interactivity. Explore and exploit that facility. All best, David TRAVEL WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 6/7/2000: If I wanted to get started writing travel pieces, what would be some good magazines to submit to? I live in a large city, so I suspect the newspaper would be relatively closed to a newbie. Are there any small travel publications which are open to writers with little experience in the area? David Taylor gave this response on 6/9/2000: Good magazines to submit to? The top travel zines in America--Conde Nast, Travel&Leisure, Natl. Geo. Trav, Island--use only the top freelancers who have a brand name in travel writing. As you move down the food chain, the pay gets lower, the standards get lower, but the barrier to entry also gets lower. A book called "The Writer's Market" (Writers Digest Books) lists all the magazines that take travel writing, their requirements, pay, and attitude toward beginning freelancers. Actually, your local newspapers would be a good place to get started, unless you're in NYC, LAX or the like. Is it difficult to ge your articles even looked at? Kind of the same answer. At the big slicks, over the transom (unsolicited mss.) are either given an automatic rejection or passed off to a junior editor to read quickly. Down the magazine food chain, more of that is handled by senior editors, and more attention is given to unsolicited mss. Check out The Society of American Travel Writers: http://www.satw.org/ But you would also find valuable some of the other many writers groups with sites on the web: http://www.freelancesuccess.com/resources/writersorgs.shtml. Also check out the books and magazines available at the Writers Digest site: www.writersdigest.com. Good luck, let me know if I can do anything else. David Taylor TRAVEL WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 6/5/2000: A while back you helped me understand the difference between a press tour and a FAM trip. I submitted a story idea to a newspaper. The editor wants the story--but, he says he cannot pay if it was a FAM trip or press trip. I'd like to write it for free. What do you think? David Taylor gave this response on 6/5/2000: Hmmmm . . . a bit sticky. First, I've never heard of a similar policy (not paying a freelancer because he or she was on a fam/press trip). I suspect it is peculiar to this editor. I don't know the editor and my policy is always to assume the best about someone until proven otherwise. So, for now you can assume that the editor truly has an ethical concern here. On the other hand, it could be about his wanting to save money and take advantage of a first-time freelancer. That would be the cynical view, and I'd hold off on that, giving the editor the benefit of the doubt for the time being. Next step: ask the editor for some further explanation as to why having participated on a FAM/press trip (which did not involve his newspaper) disqualifies you for pay. There's another contradiction at work here: one the one hand, he considers your worthy enough--untainted enough despite the "contamination" of being on a fam trip--to publish as a feature. So why aren't those same words ethical enough/quality enough to be paid for? I don't get it, but I'd be open to his explanation. The only thing I can think of that might be going on is that the editor is running your story as a puff piece or "advertorial"--in which case you wouldn't be paid by the editorial dept., you'd be paid by the advertising dept. On the whole, I think writing for free is a bad precedent to set for yourself. This is a business. A serious business. You want to be taken as a serious writer, one whose craft is legtimate, whose skills are manifest, and who has every right to be expect to be paid for application of those skills and the time you take to craft something for publication. Frankly, if a freelancer ever sends me a query and offers to write for free, I automatically reject it without reading anything else. It's a clear signal he/she isn't a pro yet. On the other hand, you have to start somewhere. And a clip IS a clip. No one else has to know (or should want to know or even has a right to know) how much you were paid. Your call. Gather some more explanation from the editor about this policy, then go with the thing what you're most comfortable with. But ask yourself this: if you give this piece to him for free, what can you expect to be paid for the next one? I'll be anxious to hear what you find out and how this comes out. David Taylor TRAVEL WRITING rmnt asked this question on 6/1/2000: I am planning to work and backpack my way around the world and was wondering if it is possible to get a magazine or newspaper to provide some sort of sponsorship in return for a type of daily dairy I could send each day via email or something. A sort of daily column you could say. Is your ability to write really important? Or could I just write a journal and have one of the writers working for the particular newspaper or magazine to adjust my entry? Any advice on how to approach companies on this and to make my writing successful would be much appreciated. Thank you. Kind regards Aafke Remant David Taylor gave this response on 6/2/2000: Interesting question. There have been very famous examples of this sort of field reporting in the travel writing genre, beginning in England in the 19th century. Today, you see it most often on the web, where the correspondents send daily updates from the field via wireless modems, satellites, digital cameras and the like. So there is one part of your answer: your best shot on landing this kind of assignment is, IMHO, from a web property. A second part of the answer: which web property? What you're doing is adventurous, so I'd start with the web sites focused on off-beat, adventure travel for the young audience--in their 20s. You'll need to do some research as to which web sites fit that profile. The next step would be for you to study the writing found on the target web sites and make sure what you do fits their content slant and especially their voice and attitude. Having a "tude" is very much a part of writing for the web today. How to make your writing successful? Read the greats. In your case, I'd highly recommend Tim Cahill for his powers of observation and his humor and his distinctive voice when it comes to adventure travel. Nothing sells better than humor. Also try Randy Wayne White. Is your ability to write really important? Another interesting question. There is an inverse correlation between the power of the content and the need for good writing. Even if I was semi-literate (and some think I am) I could sell the story of my secret torrid affair with Hillary Clinton in the Lincoln bedroom. If I had THE secret to becoming a millionaire or if I had discovered THE secret of immortality, no editor would care about my grammar. Short of those kinds of topics or having a last name like Faulkner, Cheever, Bellow, Wolfe or Twain--yes, you must be a good writer. BTW, Shakespeare spelled his name 9 different ways during his lifetime and John Keats was dyslexic. So don't get hung up on the trivial parts of writing. The important aspects of style are: • authenticity • honesty • specificity • directness Like dribbling in basketball, grammar is a part of writing but not the most important part or the one that requires the most knowledge, power or skill, nor the one that gets the most applause, nor the one that wins games. Best of luck, David MAGAZINE WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 5/24/2000: When I agreed to write a filler for a national magazine, we discussed a by-line. Although the page my work will appear on usually doesn't have by-lines given, he assured me (because I asked) I would get one. The article is finally getting to see print after nearly a year. Should I mention the by-line or not? David Taylor gave this response on 5/25/2000: Unless it's a long sidebar, usually for fillers, boxes and the like, writers get a tagline, not a byline. A tagline, if it appears, is usually at the end of the sidebar, flush with right margin, and set off by an e/m dash and in italics: Texttext texttext texttext texttext texttext texttext texttext texttext texttext texttext tex texttext. texttext texttext texttext texttext te texttext texttext texttext texttext texttext tex -Your name here Should you mention the byline/tagline to your editor? I wouldn't. It might come off as vain and amateurish--pros usually think in terms of pay and prestige of the publication, and have long gotten past the thrill of seeing their name in print. At least that's what you're supposed to pretend. Also, you don't really need it. It IS your publised work, whether or not it has a byline/tagline. When you use the published filler as a clip, you will send it in along with other materials that will be clearly identified as yours. Besides, having a byline/tagline on it does not change the piece's length, its purpose (filler) or its quality. IMHO--drop it. When you get paid, thank the editor for taking good care of you, then hit him/her with a hot idea for another filler or even feature. David TRAVEL WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 5/24/2000: Good morning, I'd like to know the difference between a FAM tour and a press tour. I've been published several times, but have just taken my first press tour. A friend said I took a FAM tour. What's the difference? David Taylor gave this response on 5/24/2000: What's the difference betweeen "fam tour" and "press tour"? Not much in my experience. Fam tour is the term heard most often from PR agencies trying to promote their travel-services clients, and it is short for familiarization. Press tour is the more traditional term. It is heard outside the travel industry and commercial promotions game, for example when the Army arranges a press tour of its frontline positions in Saudi Arabia, or a press tour of a new battleship or White House wing. Be careful of any agreements you sign before going on a fam tour. Some agencies want you to guarantee them positive editorial at a certain length, within a certain time frame. At our magazine, we do not accept fam tours to a destination we plan to write about. David TRAVEL WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 5/3/2000: Is it difficult to get published... and is it difficult to ge your articles even looked at. I have been traveling for a living for 25 years.. but i pretty much thought that the best articles were done by those who could do their own photography.. Is that true? thanks sks David Taylor gave this response on 5/4/2000: Is it difficult to get published? Depends on the magazine. The top travel zines in America--Conde Nast, Travel&Leisure, Natl. Geo. Trav, Island--use only the top freelancers who have a brand name in travel writing. As you move down the food chain, the pay gets lower, the standards get lower, but the barrier to entry also gets lower. A book called "The Writer's Market" (Writers Digest Books) lists all the magazines that take travel writing, their requirements, pay, and attitude toward beginning freelancers. Is it difficult to ge your articles even looked at? Kind of the same answer. At the big slicks, over the transom (unsolicited mss.) are either given an automatic rejection or passed off to a junior editor to read quickly. Down the magazine food chain, more of that is handled by senior editors, and more attention is given to unsolicited mss. I have been traveling for a living for 25 years.. but i pretty much thought that the best articles were done by those who could do their own photography.. Is that true? No, just the opposite is true at the big slicks. Further down the food chain you'll find some writer/photographers. But there's so much stock photography out there that if you ms. is good, the images can be found to support it. Check out the American Society of Travel Writers web site and the Writers Digest book. David Taylor JOURNALISM skinnypunx@..., a user from 4anything.com, asked this question on 9/14/2000: I am praying that you can help me. I am new to journalism. For a class I am taking, they are asking me to come up with a headline for the article. # 1 "Hed: 1 line of 45 counts and a 1-line, 60 count deck." # 2 "Hed: 2 lines of 24 counts, and a 2 line deck with 36 counts each line." OK. Here are my questions: WHAT IS A COUNT? Is that a word? AND WHAT IS A "DECK?" Can you give me examples to help me out?? I would be so appreciative! Thanks so much! David Taylor gave this response on 9/15/2000: Careful, these things can differ from workplace to workplace. But generally, a count includes: • all letters • all spaces • all punctuation Example: Clinton to Gore: Go For It! is a 28 count (two spaces after colon) A deck goes beneath the main hed and, in newspaper journalism, summarizes the story. It also teases sometimes. Ex: Vice President severes ties with mentor and declares himself a free man. Here are some URLs for you RL: http://www.cais.com/makulow/vlj.html "Journalism is arranged alphabetically in ten (10) Sections... [and] lists compilations and collections rather than separate links whenever possible." URL: http://www.moorhead.msus.edu/~gunarat/ijr/ A comprehensive site including information on journalism listservs and usenet groups as well as writing and editing help. URL: http://www.arcade.uiowa.edu/gw/journalism/ A massive site of journalism and communication sources arranged by subject. Webster's New World Dictionary of Media and Communications (Knight Reference P 87 .W45 1996) covers jargon, technical terms, and slang in marketing, journalism, advertising, graphic arts, and printing. Taft, William H. Encyclopedia of twentieth-century journalists New York : Garland, 1986. Kent, Ruth Kimball, The language of journalism: a glossary of print-communications terms, 1st ed. 1971. BUTLER REFERENCE R030.7 K413 LEGAL ISSUES lauramaery asked this question on 5/8/2000: I have a publisher whose lawyers have asked me to get PERMISSION to take screen shots from Web sites to accompany site reviews. I recoil at this request, but am not sure whether I am on solid legal ground. Do you know what the state of the law is on whether a screen shot is the legal equivalent of a photograph? And if you know of no precedent, can you tell me whether your publications would seek permission before publishing a screen shot? If you don't have a policy, then this is my question: Would you seek permission from, say, a restaurant you were reviewing before publishing either the review or a photo of the front of the restaurant? I am certain that in asking permission, I will be asked by the people I'm reviewing to send them the text of my review. If they consider it unfavorable, I am betting that permission will be denied. Arrrggghhh...my tummy hurts! --LauraMaery Gold lmg@writerspost.com David Taylor gave this response on 5/9/2000: Laura: First, we review web sites in our magazines (Rodale's Scuba Diving and New Diver) and on our web site (www.scubadiving.com) and we do not ask permission to print a screen shot to accompany a review. There is a"fair use" provision of copyright law that allows you to quote up to a certain number of words in a review without permission, to show a picture of a book's cover, etc. We have assumed that this is also the case with web-related publications. Hope we're right. But we have good lawyers (one firm that specializes just in copyright issues) so I feel confident we are OK. Here is what one web site says about fair use and the internet: http://builder.com/Business/Law/ss15a.html. Second, although you can ask permission to use a screen shot in a review, and although the site being reviewed can ask to see pre-publication copy, you are under no obligation to do so. If they want to give permission, fine; but there is no connection between giving that permission and having the right to see pre-publication copy, which is a dangerous habit to get into. You might wish to do a little research on the web about the ability to publish a screen shot of a web site you're reviewing. David MAGAZINE WRITING regina386 asked this question on 1/26/2001: Dear David Taylor: I'm seeking advice on how to present ideas to leading magazines in possibly creating an advice column on the subject of spirituality. I actually an a Expert on the AskMe website. I'm always scanning leading magazines to determine what type of advice is being given and in what areas. I think there is more to life than fashion, sex and relationships. One reason for starting a column on spirituality is because I'm interest in how others perceive themselves from a spiritual standpoint. Thanks for your help. I apologize if you receive this twice but I didn't include my name it is Regina. And my expert name is Regina386. David Taylor gave this response on 10/14/2001: Regina-- Spirituality is a hot topic in women's mags right now, and is growing. Spirituality is almost an entire division by itself at the company where I work: Rodale Press. We've got two magazines that use that kind of stuff: Organic Style and Prevention. A column: Without a solid freelance track record with excellent clips, you're not going to get a regular column. You first need to establish stellar credentials with features before an editor would consider you for an expert column. You may have these, I don't know. Features: If you haven't published widely in the area of spiritiuality, I would encourage to begin here. Getting published as a freelancer is an art in itself, and I'd be happy to give you some help gettting started. Books: After you've got the cred, you're ready for a book. Perhaps the first one is a collection of your feature articles, so be sure to keep book rights on any contract you sign. Let me know if you want to pursue this further. David Taylor MAGAZINE WRITING regina386 asked this follow-up question on 10/14/2001: Dear David: Thanks for getting back to me. Since the time that I posed my question regarding pulbishing I have had a essay published in the National Woman Writers Association monthly publication, and I was just contact by a Metaphysical paper in North Carolina that they are interested in publishing one of my articles in there January issue. So things are looking up. However, I have a manuscript that is ready for publication and I'm now looking around for a possible publisher. The manuscript is metaphically based and consist of short stories, letters and essays that I have written regarding my own personal spiritual journey. I would like to communicate with you further regarding writing and freelance work. I have contacted a number of magazine, and as you mentioned if you are not already established in the trade they are not interested. My question is how do you get that establishment if major magazine's are not willing to give you a chance. Just a little venting on my part. What is Rodale Press??? Anyway, my time schedule doesn't permit the time I would like to spend on the ASKME.com website, therefore, you may contact me at my email address: reginaph_d@hotmail.com if you like. Looking forward to discussing the publishing and writing endeavors in more detail when your time permits. Regina David Taylor gave this response on 10/15/2001: Regina--Congrats on your byline in the Women Writers Group. Sorry 'bout the other rejections. Afraid that's part of the process, however. To answer your specific questions: • How do you get into the big-time mags? Answer: Slowly, carefully. It usually takes 2-3 years, depending on how hard you work, whom you know, your field of expertise. Here's how I used to have my students do it and it's still what I tell the many freelancers who contact this magazine: 1. Get a Writer's Market book. Use it to make a list of target magazines. Prioritize the list from easiest for you to get published in to the most difficult. Start with the easiest and as you have success, work your way to your dreams. 2. Remember that 90% of all mail in America is sent to the wrong address. We get so many good ideas and stories in our office, but they're just not the ones we use. The writer has not studied our individual title closely enough. Lesson to you: There's rarely anything generic in magazine publishing. You have to write a specific article, at a specfic length and slant, for a specific magazine and editor. 3. Remember: The only difference between an unsuccessful writer and a successful writer is that one has given up. • What should you do with your book manuscript? Two options: 1. Send it to an agent (they're listed in back of Writers Market. 2. Divide it up into magazine articles and try to sell them. I recommend #2. Later, David LEGAL ISSUES TServic asked this question on 1/16/2001: I am researching material for my first book. This is my first venture into the writing world. My vocation is not even close to this project. I am a complete novice. I want to write a book on a person who lived over a hundred years ago. He was somewhat of a character and from what I've been able to come up on him, the information make a great story and maybe even a better movie. My problem is this. Even though he was written about several times and was in the public eye for several years there is very little information about his personal life. After 6 months of part time research I am feeling like there may not be enough on his personal life to fill in a good book or movie. I have been unable to even come up with any present day relatives. The answer to my problem would be to fill in areas of his personal life with fiction. Can this be done? Are there any disclaimers that would have to be mentioned about the accuracy of the life events? Would any long lost relatives be able to cause a problem on any of the fictional events? I'm sure many books and movies drift back and forth between truth and fiction, but I'm a little unsure how to proceed without knowing the legal implacations. Thanks for your help Bill David Taylor gave this response on 1/19/2001: Bill-- Yes, there are indeed legal implications--severe ones. Let me try to help you sort them out. You have essentially two options: historical fiction; historical biography (non-fiction). 1. Historical fiction. So long as you have at the beginning of the book the usual disclaimer--"This is a work of fiction. Any similarity to real people, events or places is purely coincidental"--you should be OK. All the names must be changed. In this case, you would be using the real person's life and times as the BASIS of the fictional work. You are correct--this is done quite often. 2. Historical biography (non-fiction). Here you must be as accurate and truthful as possible, to the extent that you (and your publisher) could defend your work against an accusation of libel in a court of law. The key is truth--so long as what you write is true, any libel suit against you will always fail in an American court. Hope that helps. Let me know if there's anything else you need. David Taylor NON-FICTION BOOKS Anonymous asked this question on 12/2/2000: I actually am having trouble writing a exert for my book of the lives of Queens and Kings of England. Its going to be a non-fiction ebook about the lives of the Queens & Kings of England. Small articles on each queen and king. All I have so far is - "The Queens and Kings of England have fasnicating lives to their deaths." It isn't much or good but my mind has gone blank. Help? David Taylor gave this response on 12/3/2000: Hi, Anon: I sympathize with you. Writing jacket cover and blurbs is an art in and of itself. I have a friend at Random House who pretty much does it all day long. Besides having a knack for it, he also has to read the book in order to come up with those four or five sentences that capture the book's essence as well as teases the reader. On jacket covers, you usually find two types of excerpts: the short ones on the front and back covers, then the long ones on the front cover flaps. Besides e-mailing me the book (be sure to zip it!), my best suggestion for you would be to study the jacket blurbs of books in this genre, especially from publishers who have done this sort of thing (ebook). What facts are they using, how are they teasing, how long are they, etc. Good luck with your project. Despite Stephen King's recent failure, I believe that ebooks have a bright future, and Mr. King was just ahead of his time. THE WRITING LIFE Julie asked this question on 11/4/2000: I'm writing this with my tail between my legs. But I also wanted to get back in touch with you. I quit my job and am working as a freelance writer now. I am making a living writing for high-tech companies and working on my own stuff - as well as getting back into magazine work - on the side. SO far it has been pretty lucrative (the high-tech stuff). I was also hired to write a holiday story for Voicestream's magagazine. (Goes entirely to their customer base.) Of course, after completing it they changed the pub date to January, so the story got killed. Still waiting to see if they send me the entire invoice, or only give me a 25% kill fee. That's frusturating when they commission a piece & then kill it. Anyway, can you possibly forgive me for be such a flake and never getting back to you months ago? Julie David Taylor gave this response on 11/4/2000: Hi, Julie! Get that tail from between your legs, girl! Sounds to me like you're busy making a living crafting words and that's the idea, isn't it? You know, our paths through life (and I hate these kinds of metaphors) are not always blazed and paved for us to cruise down like some Autobahn, hair flapping in the breeze. They're more often twisty, turny, lumpy, bumpy, vine-choked and inchoate. Sometimes you got to get out your machete and just keep on hacking your way to SOMEWHERE. I'm here for you. Why? Cus I was once on that road and someone helped me and I vowed that I would repay the favor. Maybe you will,too. Let me know anything I can do. My best friend (and former student) just became executive editor at Men's Health and I'm pretty sure I can get your ms. a fair reading. He owes me, big time. Later, David MAGAZINE WRITING marymhamilton65 asked this question on 10/11/2000: I am almost finished with a non-fiction story/ environmental piece which contains lots of information on commercial fishing, storms at sea and much more. I think the timing is right after the success of THE PERFECT STORM, THE ANGRY SEA, and IN THE HEART OF THE SEA. Can you recommend any freelance editors with this kind of a background in the northeast? I would like to have a close working relationship with that person so I would prefer someone to whom I could travel, if needed. Thank you. David Taylor gave this response on 10/11/2000: Keith Phillips Senior Editor Rodale's Scuba Diving Magazine 6600 Abercorn St., Suite 208 Savannah, GA 31405 tel: 912.351.6234 email: kphillips@scubadiving.com fax: 912-351.0735 NON-FICTION BOOKS Anonymous asked this question on 8/15/2000: I am trying to write a book about my early childhood. I suffered greatly as a child unspeakable acts of abuse. I want to write it more to open the eyes of our government and its officials and how little punishment is given to persons who abuse, physically, mentally and sexually. A person gets more time stealing a coke, than scaring a child for life. I need a co-writer or someone to help me articulate the abuse and the damage it has caused. Please only Serious reply!! Thanks, Lena David Taylor gave this response on 8/15/2000: Hi, Lena: I think you are actually proposing two books and need to choose which one to write first. Book #1: a personal memoir in the vein of Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," which brings home the unspeakable horror of such abuse by taking readers on a hellish ride through it themselves. These books raise the consciousness of readers, sensitize them to understand the great damage that can occur, and generates a sense of outrage. The reader can then use the experience of reading the book to vote, voice opinions, and personally interact with other victims in a more effective, enlightened way. Book#2: a social study of the status of child abuse in our culture, the rate at which it happens vs. the reporting of it and, more importantly, a documentation of what happens to the victimizer and the victim in the judicial system. Both kinds of books are substantial undertakings. I wonder if you can also start smaller with a series of articles in magazines and newspapers that can help you begin the research and writing that will be necessary. Having a co-writer is feasible for Book #1, but let me introduce you to some cold realities: personal books about the abuse the author suffered have been done quite a bit lately, often by celebrity type people. Any potential publisher would want to know how your story is different and what it would add to the corpus of work already done in this area. There are also other outlets for the concern, anger and even rage that I bet you feel: activisim in your local community about the legal issues and even volunteer work with the victims of abuse. Working in these areas would also provide a wealth of perspective and experience on which to draw when writing about this topic. David Taylor SCHOOL WRITING olive00 asked this question on 8/5/2000: Hi, I have to write these two essay, but I am lack of ideas, Can you give me some ideas ? 1. "I want to be an honest man and a good writer"--James Baldwin(Quoted in The Art of the Personal Essay). A drive toward condour typifies the personal essay and other non-fiction forms. Agree or disagree. 2. The forms of literary non-fictions allow the writer to "circle around [a]particular autobiographical piece, squeezing all possible meaning out of it" (The art of the Personal Essay). Agree or disagree. Thanks a lot. David Taylor gave this response on 8/7/2000: Hi, Olive: Before I can say too much I need to know in what context you're working: an essay exam? high school or college? a research paper? what length requirements have you been given? what sources are you to draw upon? In terms of general information: • In agree/disagree questions, it's usually pretty clear what your position should be. In both questions, it is obviously "agree." What you do next is to provide separate, distinct reasons why you agree. Each reason should be supported by references to the texts that you've been reading and studying in your course. • the keys words in #1 are "drive toward candor." First, make sure you know the word candor--it is a synonym for truthfulness, straightforwardness, and the opposite of lying, evasiveness. Be sure to look up the word and its many meanings. • "drive toward" means a "search for" or a movement toward". What Baldwin meant was that the primary reason for writing the personal essay was to search for truth. • in #2, you are to explore how the various forms of literary non-fiction would allow you to take a single autobiographical topic (the death of a parent) and to explore it from different angles: as a drama, as cause/effect, as comparison/contrast etc. In this answer, you could outline four or five different personal essays you could write on a single topic, each essay using a different format. I'm leaving the country tomorrow, but I'll try to check email. Will return to U.S. on Friday night. David SCHOOL WRITING olive00 asked this question on 7/25/2000: Hi, Have you read the original article from outside magazine about Chris Mc Candless? Have you also read Jon Krakauer's book: "Into the Wild" I have to do a research papper about this book. What's your opinion about Chris Mc Candless? Are your opinion have been changed after reading the book, Why? Also, What's the best way to organize my essay? Thanks David Taylor gave this response on 7/25/2000: Hi, Olive: Yes, I have read both. To me, Krakauer's article and book are about the same thing that fuels all of Krakauer's adventures and writing: the search for the connection between nature and ourselves. It is not a connection that gives itself up easily: men and women often die in search of that connection. To find it, you must journey to the raw heart of nature and give yourself to its mercies. You must accept nature on nature's terms--at the top of Mount Everest, in an abandoned school bus in Alaska--and not human terms. You must abandon the artificiality of human-creations and thrust yourself naked (spiritually, not physically) into the fierce, inner sanctum of nature that is found only at the earth's last wild places. To me, Krakauer's Chris McCandless was a hero in the same manner that Don Quixote is a hero. We even have the word "quixotic" which means foolishly impractical in the pursuit of ideals. Certainly you can say McCandless was foolish: he went into the Alaskan wilderness totally unprepared. But he was pursuing an ideal: to be one with nature, to know the truth about himself through the mirror of nature. Krakauer's McCandless was nothing short of a modern Don Quixote. If I were you, I would write a paper that compares McCandless to Don Quixote and tells why they are similar. David SCHOOL WRITING olive00 asked this follow-up question on 8/4/2000: Hi, I am wondering to know the significance of this quote in relation of the rest of the work, it's taken from chapter 14 "Into the Wild" We know that Krakauer in his "Into the Wild," begins each chapter by giving one or two quotes from hightlighted passages or other book that McCandless read. This quote is preceded before the chapter whose title : The stikine ice cap, in which Krakauer describes in detail his own adventure in climbing the Devil's thumb. Quote: "I grew up exuberant in body but with a nervy, craving mind. It was wanting something more, something tangible. It sought for reality intensely, always as it were not there... But you see at once what I do. I climb." -----John Menlove Edwards, "Letter from man" Can you help me to explain it clearly? Thanks, anyway David Taylor gave this response on 8/5/2000: Yeah, I love that quote. It's certainly true about writers: I think they are born and that they either follow their destiny to become writers or else alcoholics--often both. I think Jon was using the quote to describe both himself and McCandless: driven by an "edgy mind" to find a reality beyond normal reality, to find a truth beyond what we usually see, to find an experience beyond what is available in the 9:00 to 5:00 life. What Jon, McCandless and Edwards have in common is that their search for "something more" followed the same path: up a mountain, into wilderness, into survival of themselves when in the raw heart of nature. Many of us are embarked on the same journey to find truth--about ourselves, about reality, about God, about love, about society, about life and death. We take different paths to find the same thing. Some search through words, some through clay, some through paint and music, some by climbing mountains. Its the same quest, different gear. LEGAL ISSUES Anonymous asked this question on 7/25/2000: Last September I got a call from a national magazine wanting my story. They gave me 200 words. I submitted it and they paid me $250. In the contract it said that I could not publish the piece again until it appeared in their publ. first. trouble is, there was a problem when they tried to confirm information. the piece has still not appreared. So, do I sill have to wait for them to publish the piece? I know this may sound like a stupid question but when one doesn't know--one doesn't.... David Taylor gave this response on 7/25/2000: You need to determine if they have killed the piece (decided they don't want it) or if they still have plans to run it, with revisions or whatever. If they've killed it, you are free to do what you want with it. If they are still exercising their option to run (holding it for future publication), you have to wait until they do so as stipulated in the contract you signed. Some contracts put a time limit by which a piece must have appeared. If it hasn't appeared by that date, you contract with them is terminated and you are free to market it elsewhere as a first rights story. BTW: No such thing as a stupid question. David TRAVEL WRITING pmitch149 asked this question on 7/19/2000: I would liek to get in touch with Bill Bryson, travel writer. How do I get an email contact? David Taylor gave this response on 7/21/2000: You will likely have to go through the staff at Outside magazine or through his book publicist. To contact his book publicist, get his latest novel, call the publisher and tell them you are press and need to talk to Bryson's publicist. That should do it. Good luck. MAGAZINE WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 7/19/2000: what are the non-fiction writer's restrictions in using real names of people in a disparaging way? How far can you go legally? Can you change the names and be safe? Public figures seem to be fair game but how about government agencies and their employees? David Taylor gave this response on 7/19/2000: You have just touched upon one of the most complex issues that a journalist has to face. It's also an area where you can't afford to make mistakes. You are exactly right that public figures are treated differently as well as public officials. But the differences can be fine. Luckily there is a guidebook for you and all of us: it is the Libel Manual portion of The Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual. And if you want it, you got to pay for it. You can order it from the AP's web site. Accept no substitutes: http://www.ap.org/pages/order.html David THE BUSINESS OF WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 6/26/2000: I got the go ahead from an editor. We spent 20 minutes on the phone but I forgot to ask, when she asked me to make sure the subject of my article sends her 6 of the houses she makes, who pays the postage? Can you tell me if the editor does, or me? I asked the subject and she agreed to send them, so how do I do this. Hope you can help. David Taylor gave this response on 6/27/2000: Since the editor specifically asked to see these houses, normally the editor would pick up the postage. But they would be handled as part of your freelance invoice once your story is accepted. That's when you send in an invoice for your creative fee and expenses. Questions: 1. Is the editor paying your expenses? 2. If so, what is the limit? 3. What will be the cost of sending in these six houses and will that put you over your limit? If the editor is paying your freelance expenses, then a simple e-mail should suffice: "Dear Editor, I checked with my subject about the cost of sending the six houses you requested. The postage will be $XX for UPS/FedEx/Airborne/USMail/Etc. delivery. If this is fine with you, I'll simply add the postage to my expense report." Avoid phoning again. Most editors, especially me, hate the phone. David MAGAZINE WRITING Anonymous asked this follow-up question on 6/27/2000: What does it mean when an editor, who is wanting a rewrite, tells you to soften it? I just don't know. David Taylor gave this response on 6/27/2000: "Soften it." Tell me the magazine, the article type, and provide some text from the article (just cut and paste into one of these reply windows). If I had to guess without knowing the above, I'd say it probably has some hyperbole in it. David GETTING STARTED Anonymous asked this question on 6/22/2000: I'm a thirty-something mother of two young boys, co-owner of a business with my husband, and recent college grad (B.A. in English). After pondering my career options, I've decided to write. For a while, I considered writing fiction, but feel I'm more in my element as a non-fiction writer. I'm a former editor of several magazines and KNOW I do not want to be an editor again. My question: How do I get started in the non-fiction market? I would like to write articles that deal with important social issues, but I'm not a certified expert in sociology, you know what I mean? I'm also considering compiling an anthology of essays about a specific social issue--I know of a few people that would probably be very willing to contribute--how do I go about approaching them? Should I be trying to get an agent or publisher? What kind of payment can these contributors of essays expect? Also, what is the best way to get into article writing for magazines? I have a book that contains many publishers, but I feel so intimidated because I'm not a "professional" writer yet. Any help you can give me would be deeply appreciated. David Taylor gave this response on 6/24/2000: Hi, Anon: I'd love to answer your question and to be a part of this exciting change in your life. Thanks for including me. First, congrats on making a decision to follow your true desires for a rewarding writing career. It takes courage to do so. Your statements make me believe that you will find what you're looking for--success as a freelancer. After teaching college writing for 15 years--fiction and non-fiction, one of the truisms I developed but usually kept to myself is this: Most writers are born that way. It usually comes out in statements like, "All I've really enjoyed is writing." They can deny that and be frustrated. Or they can admit it and start getting the experience they need. So a second congrats--you've finally admitted what you are: a writer. Although you've probably been told to get a "real" job and that your dreams of a writer career are "too fanciful," nothing could be further from the truth. Writers, especially non-fiction and for the web, are in great demand right now, and the proliferation of the web and e-mail will continue that trend, not shorten it. Now for the practical advice: 1.<> For better or for worse, we live in the Information Age and our need for fiction continues to dwindle. For every fiction book published there are over 300 non-fiction books. The ratio is even higher for magazine journalism. And the internet is an information medium. 2. <> The same way every beginning freelancer without clips gets started: you get clips however you can and work your way up the ladder of magazines in your field until you're writing for the best zines and best editors. At first there will be rejection slips and low pay, but over a period of 1 to 3 years your career should grow until you are making one-third to one-half of your present salary as a freelancer. At that point, go full time with full confidence. But you must be willing to pay your dues as a freelancer, to learn the basics of the type of writing you want to specialize in, then you have to start low and gradually build your clips (bylines) from better and better magazines, newspapers, etc. 3. <> You've just made one of the important decisions you'll be faced with: to be a generalist or a specialist. Also, it is common that journalistic specialists NOT have field-specific academic degrees or training. As a journalist, you will be judged by the quality of your research, your reporting, and your writing abilities--not your academic degrees. 4. <> Hard one for me to answer, not knowing you professionally. If your former position as an editor gave you contacts in the book world, you could do a book proposal on your own with credibility. Otherwise, I think you need to build credibility in this field as a freelancer before approaching an agent or a publisher. Agents usually do not represent the magazine work of their clients and don't represent any clients without a solid track record of publications. And book publishers who are contacted directly by writers need to see your bona fides also. 5. <> Buy the book Writer's Market 2000 from Writer's Digest books (www.writersdigest.com), identify the magazines you have the best chance of publishing a specific article in, buy back issues of that magazine, study them closely, submit your materials so that they fit into that magazine exactly. Do that many times. Collect many rejections slips and immediately put them back into the furnace of your writing. Get many stories in the mail to many editors (but not the same story to many editors) and never lift your head to second guess your decison to be a freelancer. Questions to you: • Are there writing opportunities at your present job? • Besides social issues, what other areas do you see yourself working in? Don't discount any professional experience you've had. It makes you an expert almost automatically. Let's make this just the start of a dialogue. To give the best answer, I have to know you and have input from you. Best wishes, David Taylor SCHOOL WRITING kajolo asked this question on 6/20/2000: What does it mean to write an article for a science journal in the active voice? David Taylor gave this response on 6/21/2000: It means something quite unusual, for the style of most scientific journals is intentionally the passive voice. First some definitions: Active voice: the agent of the action is clearly identified. Example: "The research chemist found that heavy elements were the most unstable of all tested." The subject/agent is the research chemist. The verb/action is the act of finding. The object (the thing being acted upon) follows the verb (heavy elements). Passive voice: Reverses the structure found in the active voice: The object comes before the verb. The agent follows the verb in a "by" clause or is understood. Example: Heavy elements were found by the research chemist to be the most unstable of all. Or: Heavy elements were found to be the most unstable of all. Reason why the passive voice is used extensively in scientific writing: To hide the agent (subject) of the action. If the scientific method has been followed correctly, the agent (subject) who performed the experiment is unimportant. The results should be independent of the agent or experimenter. Some clear and short examples for memory: John hit the ball. (active voice) The ball was hit by John. (passive voice) The ball was hit. (passive voice, understood agent) David Taylor MAGAZINE WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 6/19/2000: I found a great quote in a woman's magazine. Should I give credit to the mag. and the person they quoted too? David Taylor gave this response on 6/19/2000: Three answers to your question: 1. If you're writing professionally for publication, no. You should get your own quotes. Quotes from secondary sources are not permissable, except in a few rare and special instances. 2. If you're writing for college, yes. This is the sort of thing that often passes for "research" in a college writing courses, although some profs do not allow consumer magazines to be used as sources. 3. Whenever you use a quotation, it should always be sourced not only to the speaker, but the speaker's identification or qualifications to provide authority and context. Not giving credit to the magazine where the quote was found would be a clear example of plagiarism. NON-FICTION BOOKS Anonymous asked this question on 6/16/2000: I have enough material for a book. Is writing the first few chapters then looking for an agent the best way to go, or should I write the whole book?? Also, how much does an agent get? Where can I find one? David Taylor gave this response on 6/18/2000: I think you should do both: 1. Write the first two or three chapters, send them to an agent with an outline for the rest. 2. Continuing writing the rest of the book as you continue to look for an agent. • How much does an agent get? Varies from 0% to 15% or even big deals where an agent is on a retainer and gets royalities in addition to commission. The most important thing for you is now to get your first book published. Where can you find agents? Look in the back of The Writer's Market 2000 (www.writersdigest.com) and tons of them on the web. Read the descriptions closely to find one you near you, someone willing to work with someone at your level, and someone with some experience in your field (medical, diet, self-help, biogaphies, etc.). A question you didn't ask but implied: Do you need an agent? No. What you need is a great idea well executed that finds an unfilled niche. One of the crucial elements of any book proposal (which you should send to relevant publishers) is the "Market Study" portion. In it, you detail what other works are extant in this field and how yours will be different. Without demonstrable knowledge of the major works in your field and without a different slant for yours, the proposal is dead in the water, regardless of whether you send it to an agent or directly to the publisher. So, you don't have to have an agent. But is one recommended? Yes. They have contacts at the publisher and want to help you make your book saleable as possible. An honest one will be honest with you about your book's merits and shortcomings. Listen closely. Like a personal lawyer in a divorce case, they fight for your best interests in contract negotiations. But at the first-book level, the contract will be pretty standard and not much to negotiate about. BTW, after you get your first book published, agents will knock on your door. David MAGAZINE WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 6/16/2000: Dear David Taylor, Can you use fiction in nonfiction writing? The reason I ask, is because my teacher told me that my writing is too dry and I should spice it up? David Taylor gave this response on 6/18/2000: Fasciantion question. Used to be the answer was a resounding NO!, until a book was published in 1969 called Armies of the Night by Norman Mailer. It signaled the birth of "New Journalism" which blended a non-fiction event/story with a heavy reliance on fictional techniques and some fictionalization. Other practioners were Tom Wolfe, Hunter Thompson and some more. The answer for you is: You can use fiction techniques, but you shouldn't fictionalize (make things up) when writing non-fiction. Fictional techinques: 1. Dialogue. By arranging real quotations in the manner of fiction writers, you can better create the sense of immediacy. 2. Characterization. By exploring your subjects and trying to give them breath and life as the fiction writer does (telling habits, dress, peculiar speech patterns) you can make them more alive on the page. 3. Plotting. You can structure your writing so that a conflict is established (between ideas, between authorities, etc.) and then rises to a peak, then is resolved. As you can tell, it's easy to look at the many other elements of fiction (figurative language, scene setting, etc.) and find a reasonable collorary in non-fiction. Indeed, that's what todya's best non-fiction writers are doing. Try Outside magazine. They are some of the best at it, and the magazine is readily available on newsstands. Another idea: post some of your writing that needs spice, according to your teacher, and get comments on it from us. David Taylor MAGAZINE WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 6/9/2000: An editor called me --three days after I mailed my query--and said she was interested in my idea but needed more information. We spoke for a few minutes then she said she'd get back to me. How long a time is reasonable for me to wait to hear from her before I pitch other magazines? David Taylor gave this response on 6/9/2000: I'd say that time is less of a consideration right now than making sure that the line of communication stays open so that you know what her final decision is: to give you an assignment or not. I suggest writing a follow-up email or making a followup phone call, both of which are acceptable since the editor has called you. Simply ask if she has had a chance to make a decision yet on your proposal and say that you are excited about possibly working for her and that you are looking forward to her response. Since an editor has taken the time to call you, she was more than likely interested and has the obligation to follow up on her phone call to you and her interest. If you have no response in 3 business days, consider it a negative response and move on. And never take rejections personally and do not shut the door on this editor or any others in the future. You do not know what may be happening in that person's office or at her property that prevented her from following up in the manner she would've liked to. Business is business. Always be open to it. David Taylor LEGAL ISSUES WordDancer asked this question on 6/10/2000: David, I will wait the three days as you suggested. But. Have you ever had the feeling when talking with an editor that that person may have called to fish for information? This happened with the editor I mentioned in my last question to you. She asked an awful lot of questions, yet never said anything about giving me the assignment, right then and there. Said she'd get back to me. Am I paranoid? Thank you for your time and effort on my behalf Mae David Taylor gave this response on 6/10/2000: Hi, Mae: Are you being paranoid that the editor may steal your idea? More than likely. At only the lowest level of publications does anything like that ever take place. It's hard to imagine that anyone with such an obvious lack of ethics could make it to the middle and upper levels. If you want to send me the editor's name and publication in a private email (dtaylor@scubadiving.com) I'll tell you what I know on a specific basis. I'd say that the editor was doing her job by probing your idea for a possible fit in her lineup. She was trying to get to the meat of the story and find an angle on it that would work for her readership. That's my guess, and it is certainly what I do, especially if the query letter was tempting but lacked detail. It's possible your query letter could have been stronger. If you want to email me that, I'll critique it, too. Writing a good query is an art by itself: not too much or too little, not too aggressive or shy, not too gimmicky or plain. The best way to get a handle on what would be a good query letter for a specific pub is to devour that pub: its style, subject range, slants, voice, attitude toward readers, etc. That'll put you in the editor's mind and that's where the deal is closed. Later, David MAGAZINE WRITING dremery asked this question on 9/22/2000: I have written my first feature article for a national magazine and got a call from the editor that said the article was in the consideration pile. What do the odds look like for this, and is there anyway to increase the odds of them buying it? David Taylor gave this response on 9/23/2000: Odds--I don't know. Would depend on the magazne and how many freelance over-the-transom features they buy per year. Improving the odds--Yes, you can: By not being a pest to the editor. Give here 4 to 6 weeks, then a short note asking about the story's status. If there's still no response, forget about it and send the ms. elsewhere. If the editor initiated the call to you, then you should be hopeful. If you called the editor and was told it's in the pile, don't hold your breath. David MAGAZINE WRITING janetchien asked this question on 6/17/2000: Do you have the circulation figure of Harper's Bazaar in 1999? David Taylor gave this response on 6/18/2000: Harper's Bazaar is a member of the Audit Bureau of Publications, a non-profit company that provides verification and analysis of the circulation of member publications. It is the largest and most reputable circulation auditing service. According to ABC, Harper's total analyzed paid circulation for the six-month period ending December 1999 was: 733,545 ABC audits paid and unpaid circulation. All of Harper's circulation came under the paid category. This information is available at ABC's web site: www.accessabc.com David CAREERS IN WRITING ari_pelo asked this question on 6/14/2000: I have to a career project for school and I chose journalism. I have a couple of questions, here goes: -what edycation is needed to pursue this career? -the cost in terms of books, living expenses, tuition and time -the prerequisites for the courses I must take, from as far back as high school -what is involved in doing the job -entrance/exit pay scale -what the job prospects currently are -what are the benefits and drawbacks of journalism? Could you tell me also why you chose journalism as your career? thanks!!! David Taylor gave this response on 6/15/2000: What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a journalist? *What is the most rewarding and most difficult aspect of your career? Why did I choose it? Advantages/Greatest Rewards: Reveling in words. Seeing their effects on others. Making a positive difference in their lives. Feeling the rewards of being a professional. Fulfilling one of the most ancient roles in any culture: scribe for the tribe. Disadvantages/Greatest Difficulty: The growing disrespect generated by the shameless pandering of some mass media. Encountering the cynicism generated by the above. * What organization am I involved in and what is my position? Executive Editor, Rodale Inc. *What would I recommend for future journalists to do that might help them to prosper? At the high school level, the answer is easy: • take the most difficult English track your school has to offer, • commit to a personal reading enrichment program that includes a good newspaper, news magazine, popular fiction, great works, history and biography, • write something everyday without thought to style or grammar or anything but just hearing your inner voice and capturing the free flow of thought on paper or screen. Write as fast as you can without stopping for 15 minutes. Everyday. • Seek out pro bono internships at area newspapers and magazines or any type. Do ANYTHING to be there with professionals. • Don't just write for your school newspaper or year book. Become the editor of both. • Don't go to J-School. Go to the best liberal arts college you can get into. *What traits does it take to succeed in the field of journalism? An unstoppable, unquenchable desire to discover the truth and tell others about it, no matter what. *What do I do when I get writer's block? Professional writers don't get the emotional type. They've learned to prepare properly, to control their writing environment and have developed tricks that allow them to plough through rough patches. *What influenced me and when did you become interested in becoming a journalist? I believe writers are born that way and technique is taught or gained through trail and error. Regardless, if you're going to write, nothing stops you. Not even the idiosyncratic advice from people like me. 1. What is the name of my company? The print magazines I edit are (1) Rodale's Scuba Diving, (2) New Diver, and (3) The Travel Agent's Guide to Selling Snorkeling and Scuba Diving. Our web sites are www.scubadiving.com and www.newdiver.com. Our e-mail newsletter is Depth-Finder, and it's home page is www.depth-finder.com. Our parent corporation is Rodale Inc., publisher of healthy, active living titles including Prevention, Men's Health, Backpacker, Runner's World, Bicycling, Mountain Biking, Scuba Diving, Fitness Swimmer, Organic Gardening and a line of book titles including Doctor's Book of Home Remedies and Dr. Shapiro's Guide to Weight Loss. 2. What is the address? Magazine address is 6600 Abercorn St., Suite 208, Savannah, GA 31405, and corporate address is Rodale Inc., 33 E. Minor St., Emmaus, PA. 3. Are there any colleges that specialize in my career area? I think the best preparation for a career in writing is a liberal arts school that allows you to have multiple internships in real work situtations. 4. What is my weekly salary? Yearly? Hourly wage? A magazine called Folio: publishes annual salary averages for all magazine positions by circulation size and geographic location. That would be more helpfulto you. 5. Do I have any benefits? If so, what? Rodale, Inc., was voted one of America's Top 100 companies to work for in 2000 by Fortune magazine. We have terrific benefits--major medical, dental, vision, child care, retirement, paid vacations, educational and fitness funding. 6. Are there any special skills needed to get along with yuor employer? Co-workers? Respect and courtesy at all times, in all situations. Never dwell on the negative. Always assume the best about others, until proven otherwise. Focus only on those things in the workplace that make a positive difference. The rest is a waste of time and energy. 7. Are there any related occuaptions? Related to magazine editing? Ultimately, success is about marketing. And that is being done more and more via the Internet. Computer skills--Quark, Adobe Photoshop, Filemaker Pro, Excel, scripting in html, Perl, cgi, php, etc.--are become mainstream skills for today's editors. Also, research skills, especially statistical research. Let me know if you need anything else. David Taylor WRITING FOR THE WEB cowboydj asked this question on 6/2/2000: I am just out of my second semester of grad school in Counseling, and have decided to pursue a writing career instead. I am particularly intersted in content editing/New Media and other jobs that involve writing/editing/researching and the Internet. Though I am a very talented writer and have a BA in journalism, I have few clips or references left from the days when I was actively freelancing. Can you give me some direction on how I can best prepare and market myself for these positions? It's frustrating knowing that I have the talent and experience needed to do these jobs well, but lack the resume credits to convince employers to give me a chance. Any thoughts? Thanks for you help... cowboydj David Taylor gave this response on 6/3/2000: cowboydj: This is a fascinating question in that it calls into question the role of the freelancer in the New Age of web journalism. I've never had the chance to sit down and think through this question and have enjoyed doing so. The experience has helped me see some key differences between freelancers for the print world and for the web. Here are some that struck me as important, in no particular order: 1. The most successful web writers have honed in on the key differences between writing for print and writing for the web. Web prose must be: • highly scannable (broken into self-sufficient chunks demarked by clear and purposeful heds and subheds, or other graphical elements); • seeded with hyperlinks throughout (the web reader knows that not everything needed is in one place and values the writing that branches him out into the web to explore and deepen his knowledge); • objectified (language that is boiled down, simple, without hyperbole, straightforward); • the best discussions of this are found on Jacob Nielson's web site, www.useit.com. 2. Web freelancing doesn't just mean articles. Thinking back on the successful web freelancers we've employed at scubadiving.com and newdiver.com, these freelancers have offered us programming, not just a one-shot article. We have Bill Toomey's daily Sherman's Lagoon cartoon, Dive Safety Tip of the Day, Weekly Quiz, a week's worth of coverage of a new freedive record in Cabo San Lucas. Yes, there are some web sites that still use a print model: Salon, Slate, etc. But mostly what I'm seeing is programming models, not one-shots of content. 3. The best web freelancers do their own html, Java, cgi scripts, digital images and the rest. They offer a package, not just ASCII text. 4. Finally, web freelancers are highly specialized. The internet has broken down all the walls--political, national, social, economkic--and people are coalescing around tribes: their special interests. Some are short term (buying a car) and some are long term (a hobby like scuba diving). But I think it will be difficult to find enough work without having one or more specialities. Specific advice to you: 1. Work on turning your professional expertise (graduate work will qualify you as a credentialed professional) into your freelance speciality. 2. Learn the basic web programming tools. 3. Spend time finding web sites that fit what you have to offer. 4. Become an expert here on Askme.com in your field. 5. Join one of the free career bulletin boards like monster.com. 6. Remember that the most powerful writing is the most authoritative. You have a remarkable opportunity to combine two of your loves and strengths: communication and psychology. I wish you the very best. David Taylor TRAVEL WRITING skinnydipper asked this question on 5/12/2000: When I was an editor for several travel publications, we used two PR firms for story ideas, press invitations and the like. One of them was Travel Publicity Leads / Scott American. It deals only with the travel industry. The other one I cannot remember, although I do know it dealt with other industries in addition to travel. Do you know of any firms editors may contact -- preferably online -- where an editor or writer outlines their story needs, and receives press kits or invitations? Thank you very much for your assistance! David Taylor gave this response on 5/16/2000: Tough question since you represent clothes-optional publications, or did you want leads for all sorts of resorts? Besides Jamacia, the only other clothes-optional resort I know of in the Caribbean is on Bonaire at Sorobon beach. The Bonaire web site is www.infobonaire.com. For general Caribbean and Pacific resorts, we most often get press trips and press releases from the PR agency that handles that account; we also get quite a few from the island's Ministry of Tourism or equivalent. You need a database of islands and the PR agencies/Mministries of Tourism that represent them. We have our own but, unfortunately for your needs, it is proprietary. How can you build one? Go to the web and search on the individual destination, looking especially for its Ministry of Tourism. Send your queries there first (be sure to include the names of the publications you represent and their circulation). Ask to be put on their mailing list for press releases and press junkets. Alsol ask if they can provide a stateside PR agency contact. Don't forget to end with a list of your relevant credits in good publications, and offer to send sample articles. Luck. David TRAVEL WRITING skinnydipper asked this follow-up question on 5/17/2000: David: Perhaps I didn't clarify the question enough, as this wasn't exactly the answer I hoped to receive. Although I do represent clothing-optional publications, I also represent one for general travel, another for SOHO readers, and another for a local directory. My question was that I'm looking for a firm/agency that handles inquiries *other* than the travel industry, and not directly from a PR agency, per se. 2-3 years ago, I worked with a firm that was a middle-man between writers and PR firms; I submitted my story needs, the middle-man passed it along to the PR firms, and those that were interested contacted us with their press kits, invitations, and so forth. I cannot remember the name of this firm, and thought perhaps you might have an idea of who they were, or had a suggestion on someone like this to contact. If you do, please let me know. Thank you for your previous response! Lynne David Taylor gave this response on 5/18/2000: Sorry. My only contacts along those lines are dive-industry specific. Did you pose this query to any of the other xperts here? Have you contacted the American Society of Travel Writers (or is it Travel Writers Association of America?)? MAGAZINE WRITING giulia76 asked this question on 5/11/2000: Hi, I have just been asked to do an interview of a music personality for a website. I have absolutely no experience with interviews, and I must come up with a line of questioning in two days. Do you have any pointers on how to conduct a great interview? Please help. Thanks, Giulia David Taylor gave this response on 5/11/2000: Happy to help. I've done a few celeb interviews, including the late Jacques Cousteau, Gene Hackman, Jimmy Johnson and Jake "The Body" Fienstien. A few dos and don'ts I've learned: 1. Do not under any circumstances act like a fan or let on that you are impressed by their celeb status. They hate that. Act cool and professional--all you're doing is a job. Treat them as you would a local politician you're interviewing: "Good day. So nice to meet you. Thanks for taking the time to sit down and talk . . . etc." Act NORMAL. 2. Prepare: Research. You absolutely cannot read enough, listen enough or watch enough about them. Their own works, other interviews, critical reviews, biographies, all their artistic output, etc. etc. The better prepared you are, the better you will come off as a professional interviewer,a nd the better job you will do, and the more likely you'll be asked to do it again. 3. Prepare: Your questions. Ahead of time and then don't look at them again until the end of the interview. Seriously. The biggest mistake you can make is to let a series of pre-fab questions prevent you from engaging in genuine give and take with your subject. Listen and respond as if you are simply having a conversation with someone interesting. And if you don't find them interesting, if you can't at least in your mind during the 1 hour period of the interview, make them the most fascinating person on earth, then you are in the wrong job. You HAVE to. At the end of the interview, just take a moment to review your notes and questions to see if there's anything else you need to touch upon. Don't be afraid of the pause when you do that. Don't be afraid of any pause. They're actually much shorter than you think and gives you both a chance to reflect and move ahead with confidence. 4. Prepare: Know your readers. That's right. You can't prepare good questions unless you are into the minds of your readers, your audience, and know the kind of questions they would most want to hear the answers to. You are their proxy in that interview. You must be their mouth and brains and smile. Know your readers inside out and represent them honestly and you can't go wrong. 5. Start light. Know some recent facts about your subject and start with just light questions: "You just finished a project with Greg Allman--how did it turn out?" "I hear you just returned from Hawaii--do any scuba diving or hula dancing?" 6. Climb the pyramid. I try to keep in mind a triangle/pyramid: starting light and ascending to the meaty questions readers most want to know the answer to and may even be a bit uncomfortable or challenging, then winding down to some closing chit-chat. 7. Observe time limits. Make it clear at the outset you know that this person has set aside only 45 minutes for the talk and you promise to get them out on time. Then when time is up, find a place to say, "Thank you again for chatting. I know the readers of XYZ magazine are going to enjoy hearing this conversation." Shake hands and get gone. Don't linger. Don't ask for autographs. 8. Take notes AND use a tape recorder. Place recorder in an unobstrusive place and simply say, when you ready to begin, "OK, I'm going to start recording now, if you don't mind." Don't make a big deal out of it. 9. Make eye contact, listen intently and respond appropriately. Don't continually look down at your notes or the tape recorder or your list of questions. Not making eye contact makes it seem like your more interested in your lap than in them. And celebs are used to commanding complete attention. Most will accept nothing less. 10. Enjoy. Interviews are a rare treat to really get to know the real person behind the persona. This is a privledge. Recognize that, respect it, and enjoy it. David Taylor Exec. Ed. RSD MAGAZINE WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 5/1/2000: I'm a 25 year old car enthusiast living near Houston Tx. I would love to work writing articles for automobile magazines. i'm college educated and i think i have a great knack for writing. but, i'm not formerly educated in writing or journalism (i have a business degree). how could i break into this industry doing what i want to do? would going back to school and getting a journalism degree be the only way? pls advise. also, what are some good tips i should know about magazine writing? are there any good books out there? pls let me know. thanks. David Taylor gave this response on 5/2/2000: Hi, Anon: Some good news for you: You've spent a lot of time and energy developing an expertise in a speciality, and the trend in today's magazine market (online and offline) is more and more toward vertical markets, or niche titles, and away from the big, general interest magazine. Even more, these vertical titles (focused on a narrow interest) are often for the enthusiast market. I make my living writing and editing for one such market: recreational scuba divers. I bet there are just as many old car enthusiasts with just as much passion. So--you've got expertise, you've got intelligence, you've got average to above average language skills (which is all it takes to be a working pro). You've got everything you need to be a successful writer except one thing: Craftmanship. This simply means the nuts and bolts. How to take an engine apart and put it back together. Except in this case the engine is the article and your marketing of it. My advice: Do not waste your time going back to school. Most professors (I was one for 15 years) have never made a living doing anything other than talking pedantically to 18 year olds. They are usually pretty clueless about the real world. Instead: Consult the pros. I like the Writers Digest people. Their home study courses are taught by working professionals, successful ones. The focus of the non-fiction feature writing course is to create a marketable manuscript. Their support materials (including their how-to books) are unparalleled. And the price is right. (My only gripe with the Writers Digest folks is that they don't pay their instructors enough). Final word of advice: Turn your enthusiasm into a living. But be prepared to have a different attitude toward your subject matter once it becomes your livelihood. I won't say anymore about that. You'll see what I mean. Good luck. Stay in touch. Let me know anything I can do to help. David Taylor Executive Editor CAREERS IN WRITING liss_r_21 asked this question on 5/1/2000: Hi! I'm back again. I forgot to put some questions on last time. So, if you wouldn't mind, would you answer these questions? Thanks. 1. What is the name of your company? 2. What is the address? 3. Are there any colleges that specialize in your career area? 4. If you don't mind me asking, what is your weekly salary? Yearly? Hourly wage? 5. Do you have any benefits? If so, what? 6. Are there any special skills needed to get along with yuor employer? Co-workers? 7. Are there any related occuaptions? Thanks a lot!!!! David Taylor gave this response on 5/1/2000: Happy to help: 1. What is the name of your company? The print magazines I edit are (1) Rodale's Scuba Diving, (2) New Diver, and (3) The Travel Agent's Guide to Selling Snorkeling and Scuba Diving. Our web sites are www.scubadiving.com and www.newdiver.com. Our e-mail newsletter is Depth-Finder, and it's home page is www.depth-finder.com. Our parent corporation is Rodale Inc., publisher of healthy, active living titles including Prevention, Men's Health, Backpacker, Runner's World, Bicycling, Mountain Biking, Scuba Diving, Fitness Swimmer, Organic Gardening and a line of book titles including Doctor's Book of Home Remedies and Dr. Shapiro's Guide to Weight Loss. 2. What is the address? Magazine address is 6600 Abercorn St., Suite 208, Savannah, GA 31405, and corporate address is Rodale Inc., 33 E. Minor St., Emmaus, PA. 3. Are there any colleges that specialize in your career area? I think the best preparation for a career in writing is a liberal arts school that allows you to have multiple internships in real work situtations. 4. If you don't mind me asking, what is your weekly salary? Yearly? Hourly wage? A magazine called Folio: publishes annual salary averages for all magazine positions by circulation size and geographic location. That would be more helpful to you. 5. Do you have any benefits? If so, what? Rodale, Inc., was voted one of America's Top 100 companies to work for in 2000 by Fortune magazine. We have terrific benefits. 6. Are there any special skills needed to get along with yuor employer? Co-workers? Respect and courtesy at all times, in all situations. Never dwell on the negative. Always assume the best about others, until proven otherwise. Focus only on those things in the workplace that make a positive difference. The rest is a waste of time and energy. 7. Are there any related occuaptions? Related to magazine editing? Ultimately, success is about marketing. And that is being done more and more via the Internet. Computer skills--Quark, Adobe Photoshop, Filemaker Pro, Excel, scripting in html, Perl, cgi, php, etc.--are become mainstream skills for today's editors. Also, research skills, especially statistical research. Good luck. Another great source: the people at Writer's Digest: their books, magazines and web site. The real thing from working pros. All best, David Taylor MAGAZINE WRITING Amanda@... asked this question on 4/28/2000: I am in the uk and have an interview in a fe days for a Promotions Co-ordinator at a newspaper can anyone give me some information on the job and how to get on at the interview.Any help would be wmost apreciated David Taylor gave this response on 4/28/2000: Hi, Amanda--the specific duties of a promotions manager can vary widely from place to place, from arranging sales meetings, to coordianting reprints, to overseeing ad production (design, layout, printing), to organizing special promotional events with the property's main advertisers. I highly recommend: contact the newspaper before your interview and ask for a job description. They should have one or at least be able to give you one verbally. If they can't, what does that say about their ability to define your job duties in order to measure your success or failure--or something inbetween. Once you've got the job description, brainstorm, research by looking at the promotional work being done in competing newspapers, then be prepared to offer some exciting ideas/enhancements or at least be able to speak to your expertise in each area. Good luck. Be yourself. Don't put on a show. Know the dress code for that office. Don't underdress, try not to overdress. When I interview the key things I look for are: Someone who listens and understands before speaking. Someone with good social skills (I'll be working with him/her up to 60 hours a week!) Someone with a well-rounded education--I can teach the technical stuff. Someone with ambitions and plans to get there. My favorite interview question: What do you see yourself do in 10 years? I notice you have some typing/spelling errors, and I know this is just the internet. But it is a red flag for me. Be sure that whatever self-prepared documents you take in are 100% error free. David Taylor JOURNALISM stacilayne asked this question on 4/28/2000: Do you know how one goes about getting press credentials? I've just started writing movie reviews for Cinescape (prior to that I did book reviews for them) and they told me they could hire me as a stringer if I had press creds. I could also go to film screenings (they aren't particularly interested in after-the-fact reviews). I didn't want to seem stupid, so I refrained from asking the editor how... so I'll be stupid here! Care to educate me? :-) Also, it is possible to make a living doing reviews, or is it just another coin in the freelancing kitty? Staci Wilson http://www.staciwilson.com David Taylor gave this response on 4/28/2000: Hi, Staci: Press credentials, fortunately or unfortunately, are easier to get than a driver's license or gun license. Of course, you can order them over the internet these days: http://www.ifpo.net/pressclassic.html Don't let the the name, International Freelance Photographers Organization, fool you. They'll be happy to sell you what you need for $60US. The more traditional way to get press credentials is through the newspaper where you work, who get creds through that particular city's public information, usually a part of the mayor's office. Freelancers such as yourself can apply for creds through that office, too, but you'll need clips more than likely. In case you live in NYC, here's their web site for ordering press credentials online: http://www.ci.nyc.ny.us/html/nypd/html/dcpi/presscred.html Can you making a living writing reviews? George Bernard Shaw did. But then, he was George Bernard Shaw. My advice--after doing it myself and helping my students do it--is this: You are ready to go full-time freelance once you are making no less than one-third of your present income via freelance assignments. Hope that helps. David Taylor www.scubadiving.com CAREERS IN WRITING liss_r_21 asked this question on 4/21/2000: 1.) What do you do on your job? 2.) To do your job, which school subjects do you use the most? 3.) To do your job, which skills do you use the most? 4.) What kind of education/ special training did you need for your job? 5.) What tools/ equipment do you use on your job? 6.) What is your workplace like- are you indoors or outside; quiet or noisy area; in a laboratory or office? 7.) Will your kind of job still be needed by the time I graduate from college, 2008? 8.) Can you give me any advice on what I should study to help me prepare for a job like yours someday? 9.) What do you like most about your job? 10.) If you could change things, what would you change about your job? 11.) If you don't mind, what is your salary per year? 12.) How long did it take you to get where you are in your career? David Taylor gave this response on 4/22/2000: 1.) What do you do on your job? As the executive editor I'm responsible for the conception, planning, design and production of all editorial products: two print magazines, one travel agent guidebook, subscription premiums, programming on our two web sites and an e-mail newsletter. 2.) To do your job, which school subjects do you use the most? From high school: touch typing, history, English, biology. From college: all liberal arts courses, statistics, research. 3.) To do your job, which skills do you use the most? Written language skills, literary interpretation, accounting, computer programming, organization, people management, design, research. 4.) What kind of education/ special training did you need for your job? The best education for my job is a solid grounding in the liberal arts. 5.) What tools/ equipment do you use on your job? Mac computers, Quark software, html programming, cgi, Perl, Abobe Photoshop, Excel speadsheets and database 6.) What is your workplace like- are you indoors or outside; quiet or noisy area; in a laboratory or office? Large office with 25 people, 30 computers, 30 phones, two faxes, 5 printers, FedEx powership and lots of coffee. 7.) Will your kind of job still be needed by the time I graduate from college, 2008? The internet is the future of publishing. Be able to write for it and understand how to publish on i.t 8.) Can you give me any advice on what I should study to help me prepare for a job like yours someday? Formal education is overrated. Curiosity is more important as is a program of self education through reading and real world experience. Start now trying to get internships at magazines and newspapers and ad agencies. Learn to work on a staff, be on time, be organized, be dependable, be committed. 9.) What do you like most about your job? Creating stuff that people want to read, to use and to pay for. 10.) If you could change things, what would you change about your job? Budget more money for increased staff and increased pay for them. 11.) If you don't mind, what is your salary per year? The salary info that would be of most use to you is published annually in a magazine called Folio: 12.) How long did it take you to get where you are in your career? 15 years (not including undergrad and graduate schools) Good luck. The fact that you're doing this sort of thing at your age (high school?) bodes well for you. Writing professionally is one of those careers that take a while before you really feel like you're getting somewhere. But that doesn't matter to people who are committed to it. Don't hesitate to post follow up questions. David CAREERS IN WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 4/16/2000: I am one year out of undergrad and have been working in the financial services industry since graduation. But I hate it and am looking for a major career change. All I've ever consistently enjoyed has been writing. But, strangely enough, I've never been huge on writing for school newspapers and magazines and that sort of thing. I would like to break into a career in journalism or publishing or editing but I don't know how well received I'd be with so little experience. What would be the best way for me to get a foot in? I am very confident about my writing abilities but I have nothing to show for it (aside from dozens and dozens of poems I've written and a few short stories). Also, if you happen to have any indepth knowledge about travel writing, I'd love to hear about it! Thanks! David Taylor gave this response on 4/17/2000: First, congrats on making a decision to follow your true desires for a rewarding career. One of your statements makes me believe that you will find what you're looking for--a job where writing pays you a living. After teaching college writing for 15 years--fiction and non-fiction, one of the truisms I developed but usually kept to myself is this: Most writers are born that way. It usually comes out in statements like, "All I've really enjoyed is writing." They can deny that and be frustrated. Or they can admit it and start getting the training and experience they need. So a second congrats--you've finally admitted what you are: a writer. Although you've probably been told to get a "real" job and that your dreams of a writer career are "too fanciful," nothing could be further from the truth. Writers are in great demand right now, and the proliferation of the web and e-mail will continue that trend, not shorten it. Now for the practical advice: 1. Forget going back for a second degree. Higher education is highly over-rated. 2. What you need is practical training and a few clips. 3. Be prepared for the following scenario: • you have to learn the basics of the type of writing you want to specialize in, • then you have to start low and gradually build your clips (bylines) from better and better magazines, newspapers, etc. • Around the time you are making about one-third of your present salary from freelance work, you'll be in a position to seek full-time employment in writing or go freelance full time. Questions to you: • Are there writing opportunities at your present company? • Besides travel writing, what other areas do you see yourself working in? Don't discount your professional experience in the financial industry. I can show you five jobs in NYC open right now for editors/writers in the financial services. Let's make this just the start of a dialogue. To give the best answer, I have to know you and have input from you. But tell yourself this: you will probably HAVE TO be a writer. You can make a very good living at it. Don't limit yourself right now. Explore many types of writing. Best wishes, David Taylor CAREERS IN WRITING Anonymous asked this follow-up question on 4/18/2000: David, I would like to thank you, truly, for your advice. You are the first person, in a long time, that has not made me feel like a career in writing is silly. I have memories of loving writing since before the third grade and it is wonderfully encouraging to think that my greatest passion in life is not completely useless wrt building an enjoyable career. Here's a follow up question for you. I currently work in corp. finance which places unruly demands on all of my time. I'd love to start somewhere, anywhere, when it comes to breaking into journalism but I, literally, never see the light of day. I am uncertain about making a move from my current job simply because it is pretty secure and it more than pays my bills. I wouldn't mind taking a leap if I thought I would be able to maintain some financial security. So the quesiton is, with no formal writing experience, is there a way, aside from attempting to freelance, that I can write and put food in my fridge? And, if freelancing is, in your opinion, my best option right now, can you give me an idea of how I'd go about writing my first freelance article. Do I choose to write about something I'm interested in and find a paper/magazine that will take it or do I find the paper/magazine first and then think of something that I think they may be interested in hearing about? Do you think a magazine (travel magazine) might accept an article about a personal travel (ie. backpacking) experience of mine? (I know that was long winded) I don't mean to bombard you with questions...I just want to find the best route to bliss (in my case, writing professionally)...Thanks a gazillion for your help! -Lue David Taylor gave this response on 4/19/2000: Hi, Lue--Your follow up response again shows what's really in your heart. And your admission that you've been belittled in the past for wanting a perfectly reasonable and attainable and respectable career as a working pro writer is sad and maddening. I'm sorry you've had to endure that, but it's part of the myth that surrounds writers and the writing profession. But like most of the popular knowledge about sharks, it is almost totally false. Time crunch--No easy answers here. Heard of J.K. Rowling of the Harry Potter series? She was a mother of three living on welfare and wrote while breastfeeding her babies, on subways on the way to work, after the kiddies were asleep and she was exhausted. When I was teaching, I used to get up at 4:00 AM, make coffee, rub my eyes, turn on the computer and make myself type SOMETHING for an hour every morning. Lue--there is always time for the things you really want to do, for the things you HAVE to do. Where to start: I highly recommend the professional writing courses offered by the Writer's Digest School. Writer's Digest is a magazine for professional writers and their home study courses are thorough, taught by professionals, and result in the submission of a professional ms. to a magazine you have targeted. Get a copy of the magazine. Take the non-fiction feature writing course and the fiction course. Make sure you're happy with your teacher and that he/she responds to your submissions quickly, thoroughly and critically. To answer your strategy question: at your stage (starting out) you need to target a magazine first, study it, really get inside the head of the editor, then write something that fits the line up. Regarding your idea of a personal experience travel piece--that's usually the first idea beginning travel writers have (it's natural) but there is very little market for such pieces unless your last name is Theroux. If I were you-- • Sign up for a freelance non-fiction feature course with Writer's Digest. • Ask for a teacher with some experience in writing or editing for financial publications • Work through the course (in the mornings before work, on your lunch break, at night instead of watching TV--any time you have 30 minutes) everyday. • Use your expertise and current position to give you credentials (important in non-fiction) to back up an article for a financial magazine. I think that's your best shot. But go with your gut. That's where the truth is. David Taylor CAREERS IN WRITING Cepia05@... asked this question on 4/13/2000: My name is Crystal and I am doing a journalism project for one of my classes. I chose the topic "What it takes to become a journalist". I am asking reporters and editors all over the nation to help me by answering a few questions. So if you could help me out a little, that would be great. Thanks! *What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a journalist? *What is the most difficult aspect of your career? *What organization are you involved in and what is your position? *What is the most rewarding part of being a journalist? *What would you recommend for future journalists to do that might help them to prosper in journalism? *What traits does it take to succeed in the field of journalism? *What do you do when you get writer's block? *What influenced you and when did you become interested in becoming a journalist? Well, thanks again! ~Crystal Leigh David Taylor gave this response on 4/18/2000: *What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a journalist? *What is the most rewarding and most difficult aspect of your career? Advantages/Greatest Rewards: Reveling in words. Seeing their effects on others. Making a positive difference in their lives. Feeling the rewards of being a professional. Fulfilling one of the most ancient roles in any culture: scribe for the tribe. Disadvantages/Greatest Difficulty: The growing disrespect generated by the shameless pandering of some mass media. Encountering the cynicism generated by the above. * What organization are you involved in and what is your position? Executive Editor, Rodale Inc. *What would you recommend for future journalists to do that might help them to prosper? At the high school level, the answer is easy: • take the most difficult English track your school has to offer, • commit to a personal reading enrichment program that includes a good newspaper, news magazine, popular fiction, great works, history and biography, • write something everyday without thought to style or grammar or anything but just hearing your inner voice and capturing the free flow of thought on paper or screen. Write as fast as you can without stopping for 15 minutes. Everyday. • Seek out pro bono internships at area newspapers and magazines or any type. Do ANYTHING to be there with professionals. • Don't just write for your school newspaper or year book. Become the editor of both. • Don't go to J-School. Go to the best liberal arts college you can get into. *What traits does it take to succeed in the field of journalism? An unstoppable, unquenchable desire to discover the truth and tell others about it, no matter what. *What do you do when you get writer's block? Professional writers don't get the emotional type. They've learned to prepare properly, to control their writing environment and have developed tricks that allow them to plough through rough patches. *What influenced you and when did you become interested in becoming a journalist? I believe writers are born that way and technique is taught or gained through trail and error. Regardless, if you're going to write, nothing stops you. Not even the idiosyncratic advice from people like me. All best, David Taylor MAGAZINE WRITING markcoughlan_2000 asked this question on 4/11/2000: What is meant by the term "economy of style"? David Taylor gave this response on 4/18/2000: Hi, Mark: My take--saying things in as few words as possible. Two of the best lists with tips for doing so are available in George Orwell's essay "Politics and the English Language" (available on the web) and E.B. White's tiny book "The Elements of Style" (also available on the web). Good luck. Well, let's edit that to just: Luck! David Taylor SCHOOL WRITING gibran66 asked this question on 12/1/2001: Hi can u pls edit the following paragraph Lennie always liked to play with soft things, first he played with the mouse and accidentally killed him, and then he borrowed a puppy from the slim and also killed the puppy, when he was playing with it. In the mean time his boos son, Curly wife came and told him that he can talk with her, and she wouldn't tell any one, while they were talking, Curly wife offered Lennie to touch her hairs. The hairs were very soft and Lennie began to play with them. Curly wife told him to not to do that, but he did not stop and a s result of that she screamed and accidentally Lennie killed her, and ran away and hide in a bush where George told him to hide. George found him near the bush, and told him to turn around and started to talk about their dream plan, while he was talking with Lennie he took out his gun and shot at Lennie, because if he wont kill Lennie curly would kill him. When slim comes to know that George fired at Lennie he said " Never You mind. A guy got to some times" (117). Lennie had a symbolism with the puppy that he borrowed from slim. The puppy was helpless like Lennie , it can be easily hurt because it does not know how to protect itself. Lennie wants to love the puppy, literally to pieces, but he does not really know how to take care of it, so its life is out of his power. This is similar to Leeny's relationship with George. The two have been on the run before. George knows that Lenny can sometimes be too rough, and that he does not know the capacity of his own strength, but George does not know how to teach Lenny to handle his strength. He tells Lennie repeatedly, as we see in the beginning that he should NOT pick up small animals and put them in his pocket, he knows instantly that the animal will have a broken neck because that is what always. David Taylor gave this response on 12/2/2001: Sure: Lennie always liked to play with soft things. First he played with the mouse and accidentally killed it, and then he borrowed a puppy from Slim and also killed the puppy when he was playing with it. In the meantime, Curly's wife came and told him that he can talk with her, and she wouldn't tell any one while they were talking. Curly wife offered Lennie to touch her hares. The hares were very soft and Lennie began to play with them. Curly wife told him to not to do that, but he did not stop and a as result she screamed and accidentally Lennie killed her. Lenny ran away and hid in a bush where George told him to hide. George found him near the bush, and told him to turn around. Georage started to talk about their dream plan. While he was talking with Lennie he took out his gun and shot Lennie. George knew that if he didn't kill Lennie, Curly would. When Slim finds out that George killed Lennie, Curly said, " Never You mind. A guy got to some times" (117). The puppy was symbolic of Lennie. The puppy was helpless like Lennie , it could be easily hurt because it does not know how to protect itself. Lennie wants to love the puppy literally to pieces, but he does not really know how to take care of it, so its life is out of his power. This is similar to Leeny's relationship with George. George controls Lenny's life. The two have been on the run before. George knows that Lenny can sometimes be too rough, and that he does not know the capacity of his own strength, but George does not know how to teach Lenny to handle his strength. He tells Lennie repeatedly, as we see in the beginning that he should NOT pick up small animals and put them in his pocket, he knows instantly that the animal will have a broken neck because that is what always. SCHOOL WRITING habkwestions asked this question on 10/28/2001: Hi, are you an expert in outlining? If you are, can you give me some help on outlining a book? I have to do a book report, but don't know how to make an outline of it. See, this isn't an ordinary book. It's a diary. Are you familiar with "Zlata's Diary"? It's similar to "Anne Frank's Diary". In each entry, she mentions small, insignificant, irrevelent events about how she went to a friend's birthday party, a window broke in a room in her house, or she went to her piano recital, or the electricity went on and off, or her best friend came and slept over, and the list goes on and on. This 10 or 11 year old girl doesn't know anything about politics, why there's a war going on, who's fighting, etc. How do I make an outline on this diary? If it was just a regular story, it would be easy to make an outline. I'm sorry, I'm just pouring all this stuff to you, but I had to get it off my chest. My teacher suggested (he wasn't very clear) that I should take all the small events, and condense them into smaller...."parts". That suggestion didn't really help. Could you please help me? I'd appreciate this so much. By they way, I'm sorry this was so long. Thank you! David Taylor gave this response on 10/28/2001: Hi, HabK: Sounds like chronological is the way to go. What is the time period covered by the diary: one year, two years? Then you have to consider that the diary probably also reveals a growing sense of: • danger • awareness of the war • deprivation • etc. Once you have those themes identified, you're ready to go: Zlata's Diary I. Year One A. January 1. Week One: All seems normal to Zlata. goes about normal activities such as soccor, dolls, etc. 2. Week Two: She sees the first soldier and wonders what is going on. 3. Week Three: A broken windon indicates violence in the street, and she wonders about . . . 4. Week Four: B. February 1. Week One: How does that sound? David SCHOOL WRITING IdentityLess asked this question on 10/19/2001: Hello experts, this is my essay I wrote in class, which was graded, but I didn't get the grade I expected. So I'm writing a revision. I need a little on developing more good logical ideas for my body paragraph (i.e effects on how world hunger is big issue). For thesis statement, in the intro paragraph, does it make blend in and flow with the rest of the paragraph. Is it a good enough thesis for the overall essay? In addition, for my solution and conclusion paragraphs, I need a little more idea. How should I expand more on it? Any other help is greatly appreciated as well. Thank you for your time. ************************** WORLD HUNGER World-hunger, a worldwide problem in which many are dying from starvation, is an issue plaguing our society. Currently, there are estimated to be hundreds of thousands of people dying from hunger-related problems every day. Of those, the Business Wire reports that "about 34,000" of those who died are children. "Another 34,00 will die today."(1) Unfortunately, food shortages, careless food wasting, and poor economic systems in other countries are aggravating this problem. There are many starvation issues prevailing, yet while many solutions are suggested, like conserving food & conserving, for example, few are taken seriously. In many parts of the world, especially in poorly-developed countries such as Ethiopia, hunger-related problems are present. With their poorly-developed agriculture and economic systems, providing sufficient amounts of food can be difficult. Sometimes their government doesn't have the right technology to transport food for them. In America, our government provides support for our citizens with welfare and homeless missions. However, many other countries don't have that type of aid from their government. That leaves many people starving and hungry. The food supply is produced at a relatively slow pace. According Essay on the Principles of Population by Thomas R. Malthus, "It has been estimated that the human half the rate of food production"(1). What this could possibly mean is that there could soon be a food shortage, possibly wiping out mankind existence soon. This is why we need to utilize our food wisely. In addition, there are some people who will just waste food without giving it much consideration. For example, in wealthy countries where food are virtually everywhere, they don't think twice of what will be affected when they throw food away. Also, there are those who will buy an ample supply of food, only to realize that they have wasted much of it. Therefore, it is always best to buy only what you need. Fortunately, we can offer solutions to remedy the world hunger problem. One thing many of us can do is to save food. We can cut down on excessive food, such as candy, soda, and junk food. Not only will that save money and make us healthier, but can also save the food supply because food won't be wasted quickly. You can even help out by volunteering your time to feed the hungry -- going to homeless shelters, donating food to homeless people, or even starting your own volunteering organization. There are also support organizations nationwide, where you can donate food for those who are in need. Every food donation and every positive contribution is one step closer to end this problem. Without proper action being taken, the hunger problem could lead to world starvation, poverty, sickness and, ultimately, death. No matter how small our contribution to alleviate the hunger problem, it is always one step closer to ending this tragedy. We must take the initiative and do so. Most importantly, we must not take what we have for granted, especially when it comes to food in this matter. It is our hope, our life and theirs. David Taylor gave this response on 10/20/2001: You've got a lot of good stuff in your essay. You just need to organize it more logically. Here's what I suggest that you do: 1. Rewrite your intro paragraph. It should have a narrow purpose: to define the problem and state the thesis. First, the problem. I think it'd be most effective if you started with the quote about the number of children dying every day. Then say, "And how can anyone deny that this is not only a problem, but a tragic one?" Then comes your thesis: It seems to me you are saying that, although the causes of world hunger are many, there are solutions if we all get together and implement them. Then come your boby paragraphs on causes: Paragraph: Cause #1 of world hunger. State it in first sentence, then explain it and possible give a reference. Paragraph: Cause #2 of world hunger. Paragraph: Cause #3 of world hunger. Then come your body paragraphs on solutions: Paragraph: Solution #1 Etc. Etc. In the first sentence of each body paragraph, don't be afraid to give signposts and to echo your thesis: "The first major cause of world hunger is ...." etc. Good luck. Rewrite it and send me your revision to look at. David SCHOOL WRITING Anonymous asked this question on 10/20/2001: I want write concept essay so I list few topics and I am not sure if it is write as concep could you please help me to tell which is concept topic Domestic Violence Immigration Circumcition Antropy vs Order and their Effect on the Human Race Abortion. thanks David Taylor gave this response on 10/20/2001: They all look like feasible concepts to me. Pick the one you know the most about. For example, domestic violence. Introduction: Domestic violence is a serious problem in American society (give some statistics here). The fact that this problem has been going on for a long time and is getting worse. That suggests two things: the causes of domestic violence are complex and their solutions are difficult (that's your thesis statement). Body para #1: The first major cause of domestic violence is . . . Body para #2: The second major cause of domestic violence is . . . Body para #3: The third major cause of domestic violence is . . . And what can we as a society do? Body para #4: The first major solution for domestic violence is . . . etc. In conclusion, domestic violence will never go away. It will only get worse unless we take serious action now. Good luck.