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Topic: Are you a female writer who wants to slim down?
| Author | Message |
| sharonliao | Posted – 5/26/2006 11:03:21 AM | show profile I'm looking for new candidates for Shape magazine's 2007 Weight Loss Diary writer. The column is really the gig of a lifetime. We set you up with your own personal trainer, nutritionist and therapist/coach (to discuss emotional eating issues). For a year, you?ll chronicle your weight loss journey in a monthly first-person one-page article. For more information, go to http://www.shape.com/weightlossdiary/2 Requisites: You should be a woman in her 20?s or 30?s who needs to lose at least 25 pounds (more is absolutely fine). You should also be prepared to be totally honest with yourself ? and all of SHAPE's millions of readers. (Yes, you?re going to have to share your age and weight and maybe about that time you ate that entire cheesecake while crying over a Lifetime movie.) You should also live within driving distance to a metropolitan city. What it entails: Meeting with a personal trainer once a week, and a nutritionist and therapist on a regular basis. You?ll also have to work out on your own and follow a nutritionist?s eating plan. (No half-heartedness here ? you?ve GOT to be committed to losing the pounds!) You?ll also have to write a column about your weight loss experience ? plus attend a photo shoot and get your weight, body fat and blood pressure/cholesterol checked ? once a month. You don?t have to be a professional writer, but writing experience is preferred. How to apply: Please e-mail a full-length picture of yourself, your height, weight, age, martial/family status and occupation ? as well as a writing sample and a one-page description of your struggle with your weight and how you put on the pounds ? to sliao@shape.com. You MUST attach a picture to be considered. No phone calls please. Thanks so much for your help! Sharon Liao Senior Associate Editor SHAPE magazine One Park Ave., 10th FL New York, NY 10016 sliao@shape.com |
| Lotus665 | Posted – 5/26/2006 2:32:55 PM | show profile When you need someone in her 40s or 50s who needs to lose that last ten pounds, please post again! good luck, it does sound like a fun gig for the right person. |
| clairezulkey | Posted – 5/26/2006 4:21:19 PM | show profile | email poster ha! I was a finalist for that gig a few years ago. Probably worked out for the best since I lost 45 pounds without having to bare my soul to the world! ------ Editor of MBToolBox |
| Upward Bound | Posted – 5/26/2006 6:36:22 PM | show profile So, does the gig pay or is all the support your "pay"? (Not that that isn't valuable in itself...) |
| vubber | Posted – 5/26/2006 7:37:58 PM | show profile I second that Does Shape provide the $ for the personal trainer, nutritionist, and therapist? |
| Lotus665 | Posted – 5/27/2006 11:39:36 AM | show profile Congratulations, Claire! just thought I'd mention that it is really cool you lost that much weight on your own. The story idea sounds really interesting, but let's be real here: whatever the guinea pig experiences, since most people can't afford the help of a personal trainer and nutritionist, it's not going to be that applicable to real people. Whereas, something like Weight Watchers is something anyone can do and you can tailor it to your life and body type. It costs something like $10-15 a week, only. Full disclosure: I'm a WW veteran but nobody's paying me to say this. I'm working on that last ten pounds now....but I am not keeping a diary of it, because it would say boring things like "resisted a cookie at a party." "caved in and ate extra pasta." "Lost 1.2 lbs. this week." Not exactly fascinating fare.... |
| westsidestory | Posted – 5/27/2006 5:12:47 PM | show profile but writing for free? Excuse me, yes, Sharon, are you talking about UNPAID editorial work here? Inquiring minds want to know. |
| newyorker | Posted – 5/30/2006 11:02:10 PM | show profile I would assume the payment comes in the form of paying for the nutritionist and personal trainer. |
| belinda | Posted – 5/30/2006 11:21:57 PM | show profile This ad has appeared elsewhere, stating that the writer gets paid for the column in addition to getting the trainer, nutritionist, therapist, etc. |
| ProducerChick | Posted – 5/31/2006 12:36:46 AM | show profile | email poster PIZZA Sounds cool. I'm gonna go buy a copy of Shape and a pizza at Ralph's.... Does this gig start next January? hmmm..... |
| clairezulkey | Posted – 5/31/2006 12:52:19 PM | show profile | email poster Thanks, Lotus! (although on my own would not totally be accurate. I couldn't have done it without a therapist and a nutritionist.) Which I think the Shape gals get actually--I just didn't have to write about it or get my pic taken! If anybody is interested in learning more about this, Courtney Rubin wrote a book about her experiences as the first weight loss columnist 'victim' for the magazine. ------ Editor of MBToolBox |
| advicesisterA | Posted – 5/31/2006 3:43:53 PM | show profile I'm just wondering why you're not interested in women in their 40's--they read SHAPE too, and probably need just as much or more support and information than the young chicasl |
| invisawritergirl | Posted – 5/31/2006 6:39:56 PM | show profile I'm not Sharon, but I do know for sure that this is a PAID gig. |
| invisawritergirl | Posted – 5/31/2006 6:40:35 PM | show profile I should say, at least it was for the past two years. |
| amyward | Posted – 6/4/2006 1:46:18 AM | show profile claire - you were a finalist previously. Were they looking for people with extensive health and fitness writing clips? |
| clairezulkey | Posted – 6/4/2006 11:12:21 PM | show profile | email poster Amy--I don't believe so, because I certainly didn't have any. I think it can't hurt but moreso having a strong voice and being able to write about oneself seemed important. A good gig for essayists, for example. ------ Editor of MBToolBox |
| behkey | Posted – 6/5/2006 6:13:02 AM | show profile | email poster Weight Loss Stories I am a post-bariatric patient who has lost 140lbs. I would like to lose maybe another 20-30+ and then have cosmetic surgery to remove excess skin. No amount of exercise can remove the skin. This is a huge problem that many folks who have the surgery do not consider prior to surgery. I also have varicose veins on my legs that need to be dealt with - all as a result of being overweight. I am considered to be a "poster child" for the procedure as I have kept weight off for two years now. If you are interested in chatting further, let me know. I am an excellent writer - tv background - but have written tons of copy for commercials, news stories. Sincerely, behkey |
| Upward Bound | Posted – 6/5/2006 10:19:18 AM | show profile Congratulations behkey! I know it's hard to do! I just wanted to give you a heads up that Sharon doesn't seem to be keeping up with this thread. If you want to apply, I think you'll have to e-mail her directly, per her post. |
| coastalwriter | Posted – 6/18/2006 2:22:37 AM | show profile Does anybody know if Sharon Liao is still with Shape? She isn't on the May 2006 masthead and I heard that Lauren Wiener was taking over the position... |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 6/18/2006 5:17:59 PM | show profile I've written for Shape. It's really about the demographics the magazine goes after. --I'm just wondering why you're not interested in women in their 40's--they read SHAPE too, and probably need just as much or more support and information than the young chicasl-- |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 6/18/2006 5:19:36 PM | show profile I am sure the gig pays at least $2 a word, and they pick up the tab for the nutritionist and physical therapist. |
| invisawritergirl | Posted – 6/18/2006 11:57:00 PM | show profile You get a trainer, a nutritionist and a counselor (not a PT). They don't pay the columnist by the word in this case -- they pay a flat monthly rate. |
| sharonliao | Posted – 6/22/2006 11:32:32 AM | show profile No longer looking for candidates! UPDATE: I am no longer accepting applications for 2007 Weight Loss Diary candidates. Thanks everyone who sent me an application! Best, Sharon Liao Senior Associate Editor SHAPE magazine |
