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Topic: Breaking into new writing fields
| Author | Message |
| peyton | Posted – 1/25/2008 12:35:13 PM | show profile so far i've been published, and by some big names, only for articles concerning politics and religion. now i'd like to expand my writing into new areas very different than what i have written about in the past. but how do i break into, say, fashion writing (just an example) when i don't have any clips to show i can do that? do you send clips that have nothing to do with the particular area when you are picthing to a new contact? how do i massage the language in my pitch to make it sound like they should hire me even though i've never written about such-and-such topic before? thoughts very much appreciated. |
| HisGirlFriday | Posted – 1/25/2008 1:27:33 PM | show profile One way to do it would be to do a few stories that combine your expertise (politics and religion) - but with a slant on your new subject. Say, how do fashion trends impact politcial races, that kind of thing. At the same time, I think a good writer can break into new fields. I got a gig writing about a subject I had no real expertise in by just saying something to the effect of: I've written about a huge variety of complex topics, ranging from international trade to animal husbandry _ I can get up to speed on XYZ for you with no problems. |
| peyton | Posted – 1/26/2008 7:27:24 PM | show profile thanks! that was helpful. |
| Metro Writer | Posted – 1/27/2008 9:24:01 PM | show profile Using the example you gave, you could pitch an article on the fashion challenges female politicians have (e.g., they can't wear sleeveless tops unless their upper arms are tight and youthful) or how some women clergy dress fashionably so that women congregants feel comfortable with them. |
