freelance writing - FishbowlNY

Land $1.25 Per Word at the Freelancer-Friendly Audubon

Mona Zhang — Thu, 16 May 2013 14:58:16 +0000

Environmentally savvy freelancers can snag bylines at one of the oldest continuously published mags in the country: Audubon. The pub gets 90 percent of its content from freelancers, and editors are very open to working with new writers.

The advocacy magazine promotes the mission of saving birds, wildlife and habitat and serves as the flagship publication of the National Audubon Society, one of the oldest environmental groups in the country. Audubon is the only pure nature magazine on the market, but it aspires to the reach and commercial success of National Geographic, while still maintaining its commitment to the thought-provoking, long-form type journalism of The Atlantic and The New Yorker.

For more details on how to score a byline, read How To Pitch: Audubon.
The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Write a Feature on Fabulous New York Homes for Dwell

Guest — Tue, 07 May 2013 13:32:52 +0000

Still going strong after 13 years, Dwell sets itself apart from other design magazines by providing insights on modern design and architecture that are as fresh as they are practical . “We don’t want people to create an artificial idea of how they live in their home,” said editor-in-chief Amanda Dameron. “We tell the owners to clean their house as if they’re having a good friend over. Don’t go buying pricey flowers!”

Dameron says that even though her team receives more than enough pitches, one of the best ways to distinguish your submission is to get behind a camera. ”We put a lot of resources behind how we tell our stories visually. So when we’re reviewing initial ideas, having good pics always helps.”

Get contact info, pitch suggestions and more at How To Pitch: Dwell.

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

– Nick Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Head Up North for a Byline in Yankee

Donya Blaze — Thu, 02 May 2013 12:26:07 +0000

Put out by one of the few independent publishing companies left in the country, Yankee aims to provide fresh and heartfelt accounts of life in the six New England states. ”Our mission has always been New England. Is it about place? Is it about people interacting with place? That’s the first thing we ask and it’s the filter for everything — does it say something about New England?” said editor Mel Allen.

Allen says the bi-monthly publication is more than open to pitches from freelancers. ”There is nothing that gives me more pleasure than finding new writers,” Allen said. “It’s the most fun part of the editor’s job.” He also stressed that his staff appreciates material that strays from the conventional. “Come in with a topic that will surprise us.”

Get all the details and editors’ contact info in How To Pitch: Yankee.

– Nicholas Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Editors at Latina Are Hungry for Pitches

Mona Zhang — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:07:57 +0000

Editors at Latina love getting thoughtful pitches. The mag has a small staff and relies on outside contributors for a whopping 80 percent of its content. Although the pub often assigns articles out to freelancers, executive editor Damarys Ocaña says she would “love to get really informed, specific pitches… that would make my life a lot easier.”

Ocaña is always looking for great writers who know Latin culture and are familiar with the publication. But do the writers, themselves, have to be Latin? “No, definitely not,” said Ocaña. “We have plenty of freelancers who aren’t.”

For more info, read How To Pitch: Latina.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

6 Tips for Landing Repeat Writing Assignments

Mona Zhang — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:25:29 +0000

As Sara Horowitz, founder of the Freelancers Union, once said, “One of the challenges for all freelancers, though, is it can be feast or famine.” Sometimes you could be raking in the assignments; at others, editors could be strangely silent when you want to hear from them the most.

In the latest Mediabistro feature, magazine veterans give tips on how to foster your relationships with editors to keep the assignments, and the paychecks, rolling in.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Land $2 a Word at Prevention

Mona Zhang — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 17:12:04 +0000

Prevention is known for being on the cutting edge of breakthrough science and alternative and complementary medicine, and its commitment to quality reporting is known as the Prevention Pledge: “The reader can count on the recommendations that they find in the magazine to be checked very, very thoroughly for accuracy,” said executive editor Siobhan O’Connor.

No sections are closed to freelance pitches at this health-minded pub, and those writers with a knack for translating science into accessible prose are good candidates for the mag. Even if your pitch doesn’t get the green light, you may be on your way to landing assignments from the editors. Plus, the pay isn’t shabby either.

For more info, read How To Pitch: Prevention.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Archaeology Wants Writers with ‘Excellent Reporting, but Terrific Storytelling’

Guest — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:56:21 +0000

After 65 years of circulation, Archaeology continues to provide the world with coverage of the latest developments in the field. Editor-in-chief Claudia Valentino told Mediabistro that the bimonthly publication takes pride in featuring content that combines thorough research with a writing style that stirs the imagination. ”We really, really try to focus both on excellent reporting, but terrific storytelling. Those two have to be present in every piece,” she explained.

“[Freelancers] won’t just be judged on the idea; they’ll be judged on the quality of the pitch,” said Valentino. “It’s possible that we might say, ‘Well, you know, that piece isn’t such a great idea for us, for various reasons that this person can’t know, but look at the quality of the pitch. Maybe we should think of them for something else.’”

With a kill rate of only 25 percent and pay rate of $1/word, Archaeology could reap lots of healthy bylines for writers. Get all the details in How To Pitch: Archaeology.

– Nicholas Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Land Up to $2 Per Word at Bicycling

Guest — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 12:23:11 +0000

Bicycling, the world’s largest cycling magazine, is looking for writers who can cover the hobby from new and fresh perspectives. “There has to be a bigger story besides the fact that you rode someplace cool,” said senior editor Emily Furia.

Bicycling tries to appeal to the biking community as whole, as opposed to other cycling publications that focus on specific subcultures. And, with half of the content in the mag provided by freelancers, these editors are more than willing to take on new scribes who lack experience or whose ideas need polishing. “In the case of freelance pitches, we will typically work with the writer to refine the story angle and format,” said Furia.

Get all the details and editors’ contact info in How To Pitch: Bicycling.

– Nicholas Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Write for the LGBT Community at Instinct

Guest — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:37:02 +0000

Instinct, the bimonthly magazine for gay and bi-sexual men, is always on the hunt for quality content from freelance writers.

Editor-in-chief Jeff Katz told Mediabistro that he appreciates writing that has a casual but personal voice. “Our tone is approachable and fun. We want to say the things you’d hope your best friend would tell you, so we’re also a little bit sassy, sometimes a little provocative,” he added, “but we’re honest.”

Katz is also looking for stories that pertain to issues facing the LGBT community. “As gay rights change and people are getting married and adopting children, we want to continue to reflect those stories. In the upcoming issue, we’re doing a piece on finances to discuss how marriage laws play into power of attorney,” he said. “I don’t think that’s a story that would’ve been done 10 years ago, but it’s a nice change.”

The best part? 30 percent of all pitches are accepted. For more, read How to Pitch Instinct [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

– Nicholas Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Journos with Strong Research Skills Wanted at Cure

Guest — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:02:08 +0000

With almost half of its content provided by freelancers, Cure is accepting all pitches related to the research and treatment of cancer. The magazine is published quarterly and distributed freely to cancer patients and healthcare professionals.

So, what makes a successful pitch for Cure? Editors say they look for ideas based on emerging research, commentary on current practices, or personal experience. Featured freelancers have also written about topics that are relevant to readers throughout the country, such as coping with the treatment process or advice on finding the appropriate doctor.

For more, read How to Pitch: Cure [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

– Nicholas Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Land $2 Per Word and Up at Inc.

Guest — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 10:00:04 +0000

Inc., a monthly publication targeting the entrepreneurial community, is currently accepting pitches for all sections. ”We are a magazine about people who are incredibly passionate and have the will to start a business from scratch,” managing editor Alexandra Brez told Mediabistro.

And, before you fire off a pitch with a generic business angle, keep in mind that the pub goes to great lengths to set itself apart from competitors such as Fast Company or Forbes. ”We are different because of our sophistication, as well as our connection to and interest in our community of entrepreneurs,” Brez said. “We are a very likable brand. People are proud to be featured by us.”

Get more details on pitching guidelines, plus contact info for all editors in How to Pitch: Inc. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

– Nicholas Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

How to Make Your Writing Clips Stand Out

Guest — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 11:36:24 +0000

Nothing says more about your ability as a journalist than the content of your clips. The published articles you submit to perspective employers can make or break your chances, and simply deciding which material to include can be a daunting challenge in itself. Fortunately, there are certain techniques that will help your writing portfolio stand out from the crowd.

Christy Karras, a veteran freelancer who has written for Time, Forbes Asia, and The New York Times told Mediabistro that she tends to choose stories she believes show off her writing and editing skills.

“That could be a deeply analytic magazine feature on the finances of a major city-state that shows my ability to digest complex information and write about it in an engaging way, it could be a news story on a crackdown in the Gulf that shows an editor how well sourced I am in an environment that might not be very friendly to journalists, or it could be a feature profile that I think displays some narrative chops,” she said. “It just depends on the message I’d like to get to the individual editor.”

For more, read 6 Tips for Submitting Freelance Writing Clips [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

– Nicholas Braun

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Fly Your Byline to a Global Audience

Mona Zhang — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:00:55 +0000

Tyler Brûlé, founder of Monocle, first got the idea for his global pub from observing consumers at airports. “It was frequently Wallpaper* and The Economist. I decided to merge elements of the two but refine the package,” the journo/entrepreneur/publisher told Mediabistro.

Although the pub’s staffers are likely to be seen reading The Financial Times and The International Herald Tribune, editor Andrew Tuck says Monocle has its own definition of what’s newsworthy. “We think that a lot of news organizations, especially [those committed to] daily or weekly news, tend to run around in a herd,” he said.

Monocle also strives to take care of its writers. “If a writer goes on a story for us, they will have a water-tight itinerary, they will travel with a reasonable airline, and they have my mobile number and know that if they want to give me a ring at midnight if anything has gone wrong, that’s what I’m here for,” said Tuck.

Got an idea that’s perfect for the pub? Read more in How To Pitch: Monocle. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Score Up to $2 Per Word at the New Redbook

Mona Zhang — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:37:25 +0000

The 110-year-old Redbook is getting more than just a redesign. “I think it’s better to call it a complete re-imagination of the brand or a total brand reset,” said editor-in-chief Jill Herzig. “There are redesigns and there are redesigns, and this one not only changed how the magazine looks, but how it’s focused.”

With the change in focus comes new opportunity for freelancers. The women’s glossy is beefing up its fashion and beauty coverage, so editors are on the lookout for new writers who can cover those topics. The sections that cover personal finance, health and entertaining are also ripe for pitching, and the whole book is sprinkled with intimate personal essays.

Get more info at How To Pitch: Redbook. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

15 Online Pubs to Pitch Your Personal Essay

Mona Zhang — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 13:37:15 +0000

The first, second and third installments of our popular series, Personal Essay Markets highlighted 45 pitchable pubs for first-person stories. Today, we bring you online outlets for the final piece.

E-zines that highlight everything from food and culture to environmental news are taking pitches, so check out the requirements for some inspiration. Who knows? Maybe you can make some extra cash by turning an I-can’t-believe-that-happened-t0-me experience into an essay.

For more, read Personal Essay Markets, Part IV. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.