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Topic: Newbie here (in every sense of the word)
| Author | Message |
| looper73 | Posted – 5/6/2008 1:39:01 PM | show profile | email poster Hi all. I'm starting out here a bit late in the game: I'm 35 and just got my Bachelors in English in 2006. My work background is mostly customer service/clerical (I was going to college PT and worked a lot of temp gigs). Besides a couple of concert/music reviews for my college paper back in the 90s (my first stint at college), I don't have much in the way of a portfolio. I managed to get a job as a proofreader last year, for a small magazine publisher in KY (I'm originally from CT, but came out here for school), but I was laid off a few months later, due to lack of work. I'm thinking of moving back to CT, where the tri-state market is a zillion times bigger than Louisville...but I'm not sure what to do with myself. I'm a decent writer, but I don't have the confidence or skills for ad work. I would love another job as a proofreader/copyeditor, but my 5 months of experience isn't going to break down any doors. I know I'm going to have to start from the bottom, but is there any advice you guys can give me on direction, gaining experience or just getting my foot in the door? Or should I just give up and start a career at Wal-mart? :( |
| sofisays | Posted – 5/7/2008 3:36:47 PM | show profile You didn't go to back to school, to work at Wal-Mart. Keep your chin up! And WRITE & PITCH!!! |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 5/7/2008 4:04:48 PM | show profile It sounds like you know what you want -- that's a large part of the battle. Now you just face the same task as most entry-level people: you just have to keep knocking on the doors until one opens. Good luck. |
| cali1296 | Posted – 5/7/2008 4:19:42 PM | show profile You can try freelancing in order to get some clips and go from there. Contact your local magazines and papers and see if they have any freelancing opportunities, come up with some ideas for stories and pitch them to the editors. Sometimes sites such as craigslist post freelance writing and editing jobs (paid and unpaid) and that would be a good place to start for a beginner who doesn't have many contacts. Once you get some clips under your belt, maybe you can start looking for a job as a reporter or copy editor at a local daily or weekly paper. There would be more opportunities in Connecticut, but also more competition... |
| rhino writer | Posted – 5/7/2008 6:42:26 PM | show profile And you can proofread and copyedit as a freelancer, too. Book publishers always use people off-site. Trade pays the least and has the most people wanting in, so try academic or business publishing for a better rate. Use the experience you have (references never hurt), and you can offer to take a proofreading or copyediting test, too. Maybe freelancing isn't what you want to do long-term, but it can bring in some money and experience for the time being. |
| Tedwrites | Posted – 5/8/2008 8:46:20 PM | show profile I would just like to say that your very unique situation of 'starting from scratch at 35" is an article that a few people might like to read. Figure out what publications cater to fresh starts, etc. and pitch there. I think it's great and inspirational that you did this and when you are 55 editing a magazine you'll think 35 was young. |
