If a laptop computer is the most essential tool for an aspiring writer, the second most important (and perhaps most overlooked) piece of equipment is a good camera--not just any camera, a decent camera.
I bought a basic Samsung camera upon starting out, but its resolution (7.2 megapixels) is a bit short of the requirements of some magazines. For a little bit extra, upcomers can buy a camera that can take high resolution pictures that publications will accept.
As I've learned, many publications have professional photographers, but for lots of stories (especially travel stories) publications want (and sometimes require) pictures. Furthermore, for lots of stories, magazines may not require pictures, but they will certainly accept pictures if they're of high enough quality.
For some stories that I've had accepted, the pictures that I've submitted are just a bit under the quality expected.
Perhaps most importantly, if you're into freelancing for the long haul, a good camera will eventually pay for itself. That's because publications pay extra for pictures. It's often not a lot, but over time, it can pay for the camera.
One thing to consider as well as taking a photography class, as did my fellow writer, Ned. There are particular skills involved in taking pictures of foods and portrait-type pictures for people you interview that would better guarantee your pictures are accepted by a publication.
2008年12月22日星期一
2008年12月18日星期四
On Keeping Things Simple
I've stressed again and again that the best way to pitch stories is to keep things as simple as possible. As yet more proof of this (and of my inability to fully accept my own advice), I had the following interaction with a local travel editor.
First, I sent an email with a two sentence introduction, three paragraph-long pitches.
Nothing.
15 days later, I sent a follow-up:
"I wanted to check in to see if you've had a chance to check out the pitches I sent on recommendation. Also, I just returned from a trip to Tianjin to explore the famed snacks doable as a day trip from Beijing."
Two minutes later I received a response:
Hi Thomas, I am into the Tianjin piece as a weekender column. 300 words.
It's that simple.
First, I sent an email with a two sentence introduction, three paragraph-long pitches.
Nothing.
15 days later, I sent a follow-up:
"I wanted to check in to see if you've had a chance to check out the pitches I sent on recommendation. Also, I just returned from a trip to Tianjin to explore the famed snacks doable as a day trip from Beijing."
Two minutes later I received a response:
Hi Thomas, I am into the Tianjin piece as a weekender column. 300 words.
It's that simple.
2008年12月11日星期四
When the Unexpected Happens
As I wrote earlier, big-britches pitches (where you pitch a story idea and write it after it's accepted by an editor) are great because you don't have to waste your time writing an article that doesn't get published, which can very well happen if you write an article first and try to pitch it as-is.
Well, I should have written "you shouldn't have to waste your time."
Last week I was busy writing up a trio of articles on the environment for Urbane, an English-language art and design magazine based in Beijing. Getting three articles pitches accepted is great, and I set out in earnest to put words where my mouth was. On the day of the deadline--as I was furiously researching and writing away to get the articles in before the deadline--a response to someone I was interviewing popped up in my mailbox with unexpected news.
"Did you see this?" Below was a link:
http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2008/11/28/Au-Revoir-Urbane-for-now
From the words in the link, I sensed this was not a good sign. As I discovered, the magazine had been cancelled by its publisher. But my articles!?
It took several hours before I could get in touch with the editor, who was probably snowed under with the consequences of having his magazine cancelled. As I've said before, editors are not so good at keeping in touch, even when they should, as when the articles they've commissioned have been cancelled.
Needless to say, it was not a fun experience, but it did teach me what happens to freelancers in such a situation:
1. The editor may try to help you find an alternative outlet for your article. In this case, the editor said that he would do his best to place any articles in a Beijing magazine from the same company.
2. Failing that, the magazine would pay a "kill fee," in this case worth a third of what they would have paid for the articles.
I sent along two of the articles that I thought would be appropriate for the other publication, and held on to one to see if I could get it published elsewhere. A kill fee is better than nothing, but even better is getting it published elsewhere. Not only does that pay more, you actually get another clip and people read your article.
Well, I should have written "you shouldn't have to waste your time."
Last week I was busy writing up a trio of articles on the environment for Urbane, an English-language art and design magazine based in Beijing. Getting three articles pitches accepted is great, and I set out in earnest to put words where my mouth was. On the day of the deadline--as I was furiously researching and writing away to get the articles in before the deadline--a response to someone I was interviewing popped up in my mailbox with unexpected news.
"Did you see this?" Below was a link:
http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2008/11/28/Au-Revoir-Urbane-for-now
From the words in the link, I sensed this was not a good sign. As I discovered, the magazine had been cancelled by its publisher. But my articles!?
It took several hours before I could get in touch with the editor, who was probably snowed under with the consequences of having his magazine cancelled. As I've said before, editors are not so good at keeping in touch, even when they should, as when the articles they've commissioned have been cancelled.
Needless to say, it was not a fun experience, but it did teach me what happens to freelancers in such a situation:
1. The editor may try to help you find an alternative outlet for your article. In this case, the editor said that he would do his best to place any articles in a Beijing magazine from the same company.
2. Failing that, the magazine would pay a "kill fee," in this case worth a third of what they would have paid for the articles.
I sent along two of the articles that I thought would be appropriate for the other publication, and held on to one to see if I could get it published elsewhere. A kill fee is better than nothing, but even better is getting it published elsewhere. Not only does that pay more, you actually get another clip and people read your article.
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