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Topic: Alaskan with the freelance blues
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| Author | Message |
| amanda | Posted – 6/16/2005 5:08:07 PM | show profile | email poster So, I'm a writer living in Anchorage Alaska. I've got tons of long-form narrative journalism clips, an MFA from Iowa, and some big publications (though a little old, but still Harper's, the NYT Sunday Mag) under my belt. I left my full time weekly paper gig here because I thought that getting freelance gigs, though challenging, wouldn't be that big a deal. So I've pitched about 14 mags in the last two months with some, what I consider interesting, Alaskana stories. And only one ''we might possibly get back to you.'' Is this the norm? Do you really have to live in NYC to make it in this game? Should I try MB's Freelance Marketplace thing? It just looks so full and confusing. Any thoughts? |
| activeverb | Posted – 6/16/2005 5:21:17 PM | show profile The problem may not be where you live -- but rather than you are specifically pitching Alaskan stories. I have freelanced from Los Angeles and a little town in the midwest with equal success. However the stories I write have nothing to do with where I am based. << |
| monicamarie4 | Posted – 6/16/2005 6:35:34 PM | show profile I tend to agree with activeverb I don't think it matters where you live -- just pitch things magazines want. One thing that came to my mind after reading your post was this: (Perhaps, though, it's one of the ideas you have out there already). Years ago, I remember seeing an Oprah episode in which tons of handsome Alaskan men swarmed down on Chicago to find dates. Seemed at that time there were not as many single women in Alaska as there were men. So, if it's still true, why not sell a story to a woman's magazine. By any chance, has there been an influx of out of state women in your area who are now swooping up the guys? Just a thought. Don't give up. It just takes one story and you are off and running. |
| lenagrove | Posted – 6/16/2005 6:39:03 PM | show profile If you have an idea they want, they don't care where you live. Trust me--I live somewhere very unsexy! I'm sure it would help if I could take editors out to lunch in NYC, but when I have an idea they want, they don't care where I am. Keep working on it. And props to you for the MFA from Iowa. My husband has an MFA (not from Iowa) so I know what a big deal that is. |
| Jen480 | Posted – 6/16/2005 8:06:58 PM | show profile In the past several months alone I've read quite a few stories having to do w/ the Artic/Alaska, the melting ice caps, native animals going extinct do to the changing climate, inuits having to change their diets, etc. etc. & to be quite frank, it's starting to become a tired topic. I'm not sure what angle your pitch is, but if it's something similar to what I just said, you might consider a topic that's not so saturated. |
| amanda | Posted – 6/16/2005 9:06:28 PM | show profile Thanks all Thanks for responding. It isn't so much that I think I'm living in an uneventful places. Actually, one of the reasons I moved here was because of the great stories. I just thought others would think so too. Thanks Monica. I thought about the women coming to AK story. Yes, there are lots of women, particularly from NY, coming here. They won't quite admit it's to land a man, but they are young, and single, and wear nice shoes. Jen: I'm sick of the arctic melting stuff too. For one, the real melting is taking place about 1,000 miles, and a world away from me. Secondly, here in Anchorage at least, we dig it. Longer summers would definately help up here. Thanks to all. |
| jmm | Posted – 6/16/2005 11:04:47 PM | show profile If you have some exlusive feature you can get on arctic drilling, that issue is coming up again in the budget. Congress is putting it in the budget, instead of the Energy Bill so it can't get filibustered. if you get your timing right, and include the budget fight, maybe your angle from up there will be perfect. |
| roxannekkb | Posted – 6/17/2005 11:47:13 AM | show profile Just to echo what others have said, no, you do not have to live in NY to successfully freelance. I live 3,000 miles away, and can count the number of editors that I have actually met on the fingers of one hand. I have been working with some for several years who I've never even spoken to, just emailed. I have only written one article for a local pub, and that just happened recently. Otherwise, my writing has nothing at all to do with where I want to live. The key is to pitch stories that match the pub, and as long as you can get the interviews and info that you need, you can freelance from Mars. Living in Alaska should not matter. ------ www.nabeepchen.com |
| EZWriter1 | Posted – 6/17/2005 12:43:53 PM | show profile It's not where you live, it's the story to be written I think you'll be fine Amanda. I live in NYC and my being here has rarely ever helped in the worl'd o' freelance other than a last minute call on occasion from an editor who is deserate for help, who can send material to me via messenger and who (I'm guessing here) doesn't want to deal with time zones... Alaska is a specific topic and so, perhaps, that locale may limit how far you may toss your query net...Query acceptance tends to be about the story, not locale. With your clips to date and Iowa, you'll be fine...assuming your keyboard doesn't freeze. Good luck! |
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