Freelancing in China often means living hand-to-mouth, so writers should be on the look out for ways to make a little extra money in ways that are more career-helpful than the ever-tempting English-teaching route. Peter Hessler got his start by working as a clipper, clipping relevant stories out of newspapers and filing them for reference. Clipping is now obsolete, but freelancers should also keep their eyes open for other opportunities at publications.
Although clipping's now in the grave, one opportunity is still available: copy-editing duty. I recently got a phone call from an editor I often work with looking for help with copy-editing duty. Pay wasn't great: 100 RMB an hour--half what I could get for teaching English. Yet the job has a huge benefit over teaching English: it's useful experience to get to know the style usage of the magazine, improve copy-editing skills, and to get to know the people at the magazine better.
It should be easiest to get copy-editing duty with editors that you've written for previously, but don't just wait for editors to call you. Send an email asking if they use outside copy-editors and say that you're interested in signing up if they do. It won't automatically make you the next Peter Hessler, but it will be helpful to your career--and it just might mean one less week of living hand-to-mouth.
2009年6月4日星期四
Blogging Tip: Know Your HTML
Blogging and posting stories online can be a great way to for freelancers to establish themselves, and knowing a good resource for basic internet language can be a great help. Writers aren't programmers, after all, but posting smartly is not hard. A great resource for writers can be found at:
http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_elements.asp
The magazine that I've blogged for on a consistent basis has often required a basic knowledge of HTML or other online editing languages, but no training was provided. Yet an twenty minutes on the website above--or even just the ten seconds it takes to bookmark it--should be enough to put you on track.
A couple of skills to look out for:
-Creating links
-Inserting and resizing pictures
-Creating block quotes
-Putting in extra line breaks
http://www.w3schools.com/html/html_elements.asp
The magazine that I've blogged for on a consistent basis has often required a basic knowledge of HTML or other online editing languages, but no training was provided. Yet an twenty minutes on the website above--or even just the ten seconds it takes to bookmark it--should be enough to put you on track.
A couple of skills to look out for:
-Creating links
-Inserting and resizing pictures
-Creating block quotes
-Putting in extra line breaks
2009年5月28日星期四
Two Easy Steps to Creating a Title for Chinese News
It's often not the responsibility of freelancers to come up with titles for the stories they write, but a catchy, clever title can be a good way to garner attention. And with China as a focus, there are two easy steps that just about any successful title follows.
Step 1: Take any well-known Chinese cultural object or recent historical event.
Examples:
The Great Wall
The Cultural Revolution
The Little Red Book
The East is Red
The Red Guard
The Great Leap Forward
(Arguably) The Hundred Flowers Movement
The One-Child Policy
Step 2: Twist the object or event from Step 1 into a pun related to your article.
Follow these two steps, and voila! You have the magic of "The Great Firewall of China" or "The Green Leap Forward." China has such a well-known culture full of brazen names, many of which come pre-loaded with kitsch value, making writing from China that much easier than writing from Cambodia. Just how many puns can you get out of Angkor Wat and Pol Pot?
Step 1: Take any well-known Chinese cultural object or recent historical event.
Examples:
The Great Wall
The Cultural Revolution
The Little Red Book
The East is Red
The Red Guard
The Great Leap Forward
(Arguably) The Hundred Flowers Movement
The One-Child Policy
Step 2: Twist the object or event from Step 1 into a pun related to your article.
Follow these two steps, and voila! You have the magic of "The Great Firewall of China" or "The Green Leap Forward." China has such a well-known culture full of brazen names, many of which come pre-loaded with kitsch value, making writing from China that much easier than writing from Cambodia. Just how many puns can you get out of Angkor Wat and Pol Pot?
2009年5月21日星期四
How a Freelancer Should Spend Time in the Airport
As I sit here in the Dubai Airport, waiting for my connecting flight back to China, I'm reminded of one of the best ways a freelancer can spend an hour in the airport: leafing through magazines in the bookstore.
Half of freelancing is pitching, whether you like it or not. A decent part of pitching is figuring out whom to pitch to. This can be even more difficult if you're living abroad and have little access to English-language publications.
Thus, every chance I have to revisit the English-language world, in the form of airport bookstores, I take a notepad and go through the magazine section. I scope the magazines to find out what their scope is--is it travel? Academic? Business? I look for what sorts of columns they run--do they run short news-type briefs? In-depth investigations? And most importantly, I look for the editors' email addresses, making sure to jot down their names carefully.
It's a useful way for a freelancer to spend an hour, and it believe it or not, in our digital age, it can actually be faster to look this information up the old paper way.
Half of freelancing is pitching, whether you like it or not. A decent part of pitching is figuring out whom to pitch to. This can be even more difficult if you're living abroad and have little access to English-language publications.
Thus, every chance I have to revisit the English-language world, in the form of airport bookstores, I take a notepad and go through the magazine section. I scope the magazines to find out what their scope is--is it travel? Academic? Business? I look for what sorts of columns they run--do they run short news-type briefs? In-depth investigations? And most importantly, I look for the editors' email addresses, making sure to jot down their names carefully.
It's a useful way for a freelancer to spend an hour, and it believe it or not, in our digital age, it can actually be faster to look this information up the old paper way.
2009年5月14日星期四
Secret Tips: Write-offs
Completing this year's tax return, I ran into a great tip for freelancers: the magic of the write-off.
Freelancers need to file tax returns just like business do. Yet freelancers are allowed to make write-offs just like businesses do.
Write-offs are used to calculate total profits. The more costs that go into working, the lower total profits are and the lower taxes are.
Write-offs are any sorts of costs related to working: a laptop, phone costs for interviews, transportation, lodging (important for travel writers), and any parts of the home used exclusively for work. Therefore, any writer should keep a folder with receipts and records of costs related to writing. It's a small investment in time that you'll be thankful for come April.
Freelancers need to file tax returns just like business do. Yet freelancers are allowed to make write-offs just like businesses do.
Write-offs are used to calculate total profits. The more costs that go into working, the lower total profits are and the lower taxes are.
Write-offs are any sorts of costs related to working: a laptop, phone costs for interviews, transportation, lodging (important for travel writers), and any parts of the home used exclusively for work. Therefore, any writer should keep a folder with receipts and records of costs related to writing. It's a small investment in time that you'll be thankful for come April.
2009年5月7日星期四
Freelancer Must: Record-keeping
I've written that getting paid on time can be one of the biggest problems of freelancing. The longer I'm freelancing, the more I'm learning that there's a problem more basic than getting paid on time: getting paid at all.
As a freelancer, you get the freedom to be your own boss; as a freelancer, you get the annoying responsibilities that go along with being your own boss. One of the biggest responsibilities is tracking whether you've been paid--and whether you've been paid enough.
Lots of complications of the writing process can make tracking payment harder than you'd expect. Many publications don't provide invoices for payments; those that do often provide vague invoices that don't clearly lay out which articles the payments are for. This can be tricky if you've written lots of articles for a single magazine. Add to this the fact that payment is often delayed until the next pay day after publication--and the fact that articles are sometimes shelved and published later than originally planned--and tracking becomes a big hassle.
As if things couldn't get more complicated, bank records often don't include names of the money sender, so you may have to rely on dates on numbers to figure out where the payments are from. Finally, exact per-word figures can be different from the word counts on articles that you send in, since editors sometimes calculate from the words printed rather than words sent in.
Therefore, I've discovered a simple solution:
Start keeping a Word document where you make a note every time you send in a final draft to an editor, recording:
-The date sent and approximate date to be published
-Number of words
-Subject matter and publication name
As I've discovered, the more I write, the more I'm responsible to track, meaning Jay-Z was right: mo' money, mo' problems.
As a freelancer, you get the freedom to be your own boss; as a freelancer, you get the annoying responsibilities that go along with being your own boss. One of the biggest responsibilities is tracking whether you've been paid--and whether you've been paid enough.
Lots of complications of the writing process can make tracking payment harder than you'd expect. Many publications don't provide invoices for payments; those that do often provide vague invoices that don't clearly lay out which articles the payments are for. This can be tricky if you've written lots of articles for a single magazine. Add to this the fact that payment is often delayed until the next pay day after publication--and the fact that articles are sometimes shelved and published later than originally planned--and tracking becomes a big hassle.
As if things couldn't get more complicated, bank records often don't include names of the money sender, so you may have to rely on dates on numbers to figure out where the payments are from. Finally, exact per-word figures can be different from the word counts on articles that you send in, since editors sometimes calculate from the words printed rather than words sent in.
Therefore, I've discovered a simple solution:
Start keeping a Word document where you make a note every time you send in a final draft to an editor, recording:
-The date sent and approximate date to be published
-Number of words
-Subject matter and publication name
As I've discovered, the more I write, the more I'm responsible to track, meaning Jay-Z was right: mo' money, mo' problems.
2009年4月28日星期二
A New Record Response Time
Back in January, I blogged about a new personal record for the amount of time between sending a pitch and receiving a response just to give a picture of how hopeless pitching can seem. The record at that time was nearly four months.
This March 22nd, I received a letter from the LA Times travel section:
The date on my original message?
July, 25, 2008
That's right, nearly 8 months had passed between my original pitch and the response. I never said pitching was all roses.
This March 22nd, I received a letter from the LA Times travel section:
Thank you for your submission to the LA Times Travel section. After consideration, we’re going to have to pass on your story.
We receive many more submissions than we have space to print so competition for every column inch is fierce. We also generally try to leave about five years between major destination pieces, except on the oft-visited places, which we do more often.
If you’d like a look at our guidelines, please go to latimes.com/travelguidelines.
Again, thanks for thinking of us and all good wishes,
C--------
travel editor
The date on my original message?
July, 25, 2008
That's right, nearly 8 months had passed between my original pitch and the response. I never said pitching was all roses.
2009年4月22日星期三
To Blog or not to Blog
The recent interview series talked about whether blogging was helpful to getting established freelance or whether it was a liability. That article underlined the dangers of blogging; but my recent experience illuminates the positive side of blogging.
The signature of all of my emails includes a link to my blog, which friends and others access at times, especially when first meeting me. Recently, that practice paid off when an editor that I had worked with before saw the article I had written about China's fabled "Mobilephone Stone." The editor said he thought it would be a good addition to one of their light, humorous first-person columns. After a couple rounds of revision, the article made it's way to be published. It's a great day when the pitches come to you instead of from you--a big turnaround from my earliest days where I would spend hours upon hours simply drafting and sending pitches.
The signature of all of my emails includes a link to my blog, which friends and others access at times, especially when first meeting me. Recently, that practice paid off when an editor that I had worked with before saw the article I had written about China's fabled "Mobilephone Stone." The editor said he thought it would be a good addition to one of their light, humorous first-person columns. After a couple rounds of revision, the article made it's way to be published. It's a great day when the pitches come to you instead of from you--a big turnaround from my earliest days where I would spend hours upon hours simply drafting and sending pitches.
2009年4月12日星期日
Freelance Ethics
One of the biggest dangers of being a freelancer is that you're on your own for ethics. Without an editor to work closely with, freelancers' articles may not be properly vetted. Furthermore, without a stable mentor, freelancers don't have an opportunity to get schooled in the basics or in the policies of particular outlets.
With that in mind, it's imperative to research general guidelines for responsible writing. It's also a great idea to ask outlets for copies of their guidelines when articles are accepted.
One set of guidelines that an editor mentor sent to me contained many basics of stringer ethics. Most of them are pretty obvious--fact check, report on an mistakes uncovered after print--but some methods are not as obvious. The best hint I gleaned from the guidelines discussed how to properly fact check stories with sources:
That is, it's best to check the facts and quotes directly with the subject, rather than to send along the entire story, which can be tempting since it's the easiest way to do it. I, however, I had never thought of this problem before. Great advice to follow.
With that in mind, it's imperative to research general guidelines for responsible writing. It's also a great idea to ask outlets for copies of their guidelines when articles are accepted.
One set of guidelines that an editor mentor sent to me contained many basics of stringer ethics. Most of them are pretty obvious--fact check, report on an mistakes uncovered after print--but some methods are not as obvious. The best hint I gleaned from the guidelines discussed how to properly fact check stories with sources:
"Some sources may ask to see a copy of the story or column before it’s printed. The best way to handle this request is to read facts and quotes back to the subject. NEVER e-mail someone a copy of a story you’re written before it’s published. E-mails can be posted immediately on-line and could be constituted as a published story and expose the paper to potential legal action if the story contains libelous material."
That is, it's best to check the facts and quotes directly with the subject, rather than to send along the entire story, which can be tempting since it's the easiest way to do it. I, however, I had never thought of this problem before. Great advice to follow.
2009年4月5日星期日
Experience Interview Series
Interview, Part IV
On China Challenges and Final Advice
This is a part of a series of interviews on freelancing 101 with Ned, a fellow PiA fellow who has held freelancing and stable jobs on the mainland and now works for a business magazine based in Hong Kong.
-----
Thomas: What are some challenges unique to freelancing in China?
Ned: Companies in China tend to be very VERY hesitant to speak to journalists....individuals seem happy to speak to you.
But "no" does not always mean no.
T: What do you mean? if they say no you try to rework it?
N: Ask again. Emphasize why this could be good for them.
T: That works? I've never done that.
N: Haha, yes, you'd be surprised! I don't mean be pushy, but you can be coaxing.
T: Any other advice, suggestion, inspiration for newbies?
N: My final advice is go with your gut, never give up - you can always get the story somehow - think outside the box, be adventurous.
On China Challenges and Final Advice
This is a part of a series of interviews on freelancing 101 with Ned, a fellow PiA fellow who has held freelancing and stable jobs on the mainland and now works for a business magazine based in Hong Kong.
-----
Thomas: What are some challenges unique to freelancing in China?
Ned: Companies in China tend to be very VERY hesitant to speak to journalists....individuals seem happy to speak to you.
But "no" does not always mean no.
T: What do you mean? if they say no you try to rework it?
N: Ask again. Emphasize why this could be good for them.
T: That works? I've never done that.
N: Haha, yes, you'd be surprised! I don't mean be pushy, but you can be coaxing.
T: Any other advice, suggestion, inspiration for newbies?
N: My final advice is go with your gut, never give up - you can always get the story somehow - think outside the box, be adventurous.
2009年3月29日星期日
Experience Interview Series
Interview, Part III
On Blogging and Getting Burned
This is a part of a series of interviews on freelancing 101 with Ned, a fellow PiA fellow who has held freelancing and stable jobs on the mainland and now works for a business magazine based in Hong Kong.
-----
Thomas: How about setting up a website with clips, etc. as a reference to give with pitches?
Ned: Never done it, but i like freelancers who do. Then people can find you.
T: Would you recommend blogging to make a name, to get self-established?
N: Hmm, it can be dangerous...you need to do it very well if you want to be successful. Be very careful of errors, of saying something that is invalid. ALWAYS fact check yourself
Stating your opinion is OK (but be aware that this could hurt job prospects depending on where you want to go, whom you want to work for, etc.). A blog is you and you are the only one accountable.
T: How about if it's not news or opinion oriented?
N: I guess that could be good. As long as its not racy, your sex life, etc. I think its good.
I just recommend anyone blogging to be weary of writing something that could be misconstrued as a statement on an issue. Someone once wrote (on a blog ironically) that the internet is a big, dark place and you just don't know who is out there. Everyone has a different risk appetite, you just need to know yours.
T: Any examples of getting burned by the net?
N: At one of my old jobs someone blogged about having an interview with us the next day (saying he was surprised he got this interview, didn't really want it but was going anyway), we saw it, and he made a complete fool of himself. It was rather stupid,
because he was a good candidate on paper.
T: So was the interview still held?
N: Yes, we let him wallow and at the end said, "Thank you for coming in--you have a very interesting blog!"
On Blogging and Getting Burned
This is a part of a series of interviews on freelancing 101 with Ned, a fellow PiA fellow who has held freelancing and stable jobs on the mainland and now works for a business magazine based in Hong Kong.
-----
Thomas: How about setting up a website with clips, etc. as a reference to give with pitches?
Ned: Never done it, but i like freelancers who do. Then people can find you.
T: Would you recommend blogging to make a name, to get self-established?
N: Hmm, it can be dangerous...you need to do it very well if you want to be successful. Be very careful of errors, of saying something that is invalid. ALWAYS fact check yourself
Stating your opinion is OK (but be aware that this could hurt job prospects depending on where you want to go, whom you want to work for, etc.). A blog is you and you are the only one accountable.
T: How about if it's not news or opinion oriented?
N: I guess that could be good. As long as its not racy, your sex life, etc. I think its good.
I just recommend anyone blogging to be weary of writing something that could be misconstrued as a statement on an issue. Someone once wrote (on a blog ironically) that the internet is a big, dark place and you just don't know who is out there. Everyone has a different risk appetite, you just need to know yours.
T: Any examples of getting burned by the net?
N: At one of my old jobs someone blogged about having an interview with us the next day (saying he was surprised he got this interview, didn't really want it but was going anyway), we saw it, and he made a complete fool of himself. It was rather stupid,
because he was a good candidate on paper.
T: So was the interview still held?
N: Yes, we let him wallow and at the end said, "Thank you for coming in--you have a very interesting blog!"
2009年3月22日星期日
Experience Interview Series
Interview, Part II
On Necessary Skills and Pitching 101
This is a part of a series of interviews on freelancing 101 with Ned, a fellow PiA fellow who has held freelancing and stable jobs on the mainland and now works for a business magazine based in Hong Kong.
-----
Thomas: What are some skills that people starting out might lack?
Ned: What the "right" question to ask in an interview is, how to write an article that "hooks" the reader, what is a good lead, what facts are more important than others (i.e., creating the hierarchy of a story)...they lack experience so that when they write an article it shows a breadth (and lengthy) knowledge on the topic.
A lot is experience based; you can only be taught so much. Others you need to learn on the ground. But you need a critical editor. Be willing to take harsh constructive criticism to improve
T: What recommendations would you have for anyone looking to get into freelancing?
N: Learn the basics first...buy a book on AP style or take an intro to journalism class. Find an editor who is willing to work with you to improve. Make sure your research skills are up to snuff...you will need to research far more than you think!
T: What's the best way to pitch an article?
N: Email editors directly...try not to go through a web portal, find their email somehow.
T: How to find their emails?
N: Google, look at old speeches they may have given, check conferences...a lot of times if an editor has presented in a class at a university or at a conference, they will have presentations with emails available somewhere online. Sometimes you luck out and can find a whole CV.
T: For beginners, would you recommend emailing whole stories or pitches?
N: Email pitches. A pitch that is structured...grab them with an idea, give a solid one or two sentence lead, then say how many words you're ready to do, inquire about rates (do NOT demand a rate if you are just starting out), mention some possible sources you could speak to whom would be applicable to the article. Also mention any relevant experience you may have. Send your CV.
On Necessary Skills and Pitching 101
This is a part of a series of interviews on freelancing 101 with Ned, a fellow PiA fellow who has held freelancing and stable jobs on the mainland and now works for a business magazine based in Hong Kong.
-----
Thomas: What are some skills that people starting out might lack?
Ned: What the "right" question to ask in an interview is, how to write an article that "hooks" the reader, what is a good lead, what facts are more important than others (i.e., creating the hierarchy of a story)...they lack experience so that when they write an article it shows a breadth (and lengthy) knowledge on the topic.
A lot is experience based; you can only be taught so much. Others you need to learn on the ground. But you need a critical editor. Be willing to take harsh constructive criticism to improve
T: What recommendations would you have for anyone looking to get into freelancing?
N: Learn the basics first...buy a book on AP style or take an intro to journalism class. Find an editor who is willing to work with you to improve. Make sure your research skills are up to snuff...you will need to research far more than you think!
T: What's the best way to pitch an article?
N: Email editors directly...try not to go through a web portal, find their email somehow.
T: How to find their emails?
N: Google, look at old speeches they may have given, check conferences...a lot of times if an editor has presented in a class at a university or at a conference, they will have presentations with emails available somewhere online. Sometimes you luck out and can find a whole CV.
T: For beginners, would you recommend emailing whole stories or pitches?
N: Email pitches. A pitch that is structured...grab them with an idea, give a solid one or two sentence lead, then say how many words you're ready to do, inquire about rates (do NOT demand a rate if you are just starting out), mention some possible sources you could speak to whom would be applicable to the article. Also mention any relevant experience you may have. Send your CV.
2009年3月15日星期日
Experience Interview Series
Interview, Part I
On Freelancing versus Stable Jobs and Finding a Niche
I interviewed Ned, a fellow PiA fellow who played a big part in convincing me that freelancing was a viable option by answering my non-stop, star-struck questions when we first met in Bangkok. He has held freelancing and stable jobs on the mainland and now works for a business magazine based in Hong Kong.
I asked Ned about his experiences and his advice for fellow freelancers and, in the process, found advice that corroborates mine and points points in new directions.
-----
Thomas: What's the biggest difference between freelancing and holding a stable writing job? Which do you prefer?
Ned: OK, first freelancing: its advantages include full flexibility, being your own boss, no accountability to anyone but yourself.
Freelancing disadvantages: lacks regular pay which can force one to do other work, lacks health care, lacks a safety net of a steady job, there are also a lot of unforeseen expenses (transport, coffees for interviewees, supplies)
Stable writing job advantages - steady income, healthcare and safety net, comraderie with office mates, an editor whom you have rapport with and who will (hopefully) stand up for you when you anger people. Oh, and free (bad) office coffee.
Stable writing job disadvantages - expectation of certain # of words per day/week/month, could be a worse quality of life, have to deal with office politics, lose control over what you write. In the end, I prefer a stable writing job.
T: Should people look for niches? How?
N: Yes, people should look for niches. Figure out what you like, what is your passion - like Whoopi Goldberg said in Sister Act "If the first thing you think of in the morning is singing, than you're meant to be a singer, girl." That applies to writers, if the first thing you think of in the morning is environmental policy, architecture, pro baseball...then thats what you should write about. If you have a passion for something, can show an editor that, then you can succeed in that field.
On Freelancing versus Stable Jobs and Finding a Niche
I interviewed Ned, a fellow PiA fellow who played a big part in convincing me that freelancing was a viable option by answering my non-stop, star-struck questions when we first met in Bangkok. He has held freelancing and stable jobs on the mainland and now works for a business magazine based in Hong Kong.
I asked Ned about his experiences and his advice for fellow freelancers and, in the process, found advice that corroborates mine and points points in new directions.
-----
Thomas: What's the biggest difference between freelancing and holding a stable writing job? Which do you prefer?
Ned: OK, first freelancing: its advantages include full flexibility, being your own boss, no accountability to anyone but yourself.
Freelancing disadvantages: lacks regular pay which can force one to do other work, lacks health care, lacks a safety net of a steady job, there are also a lot of unforeseen expenses (transport, coffees for interviewees, supplies)
Stable writing job advantages - steady income, healthcare and safety net, comraderie with office mates, an editor whom you have rapport with and who will (hopefully) stand up for you when you anger people. Oh, and free (bad) office coffee.
Stable writing job disadvantages - expectation of certain # of words per day/week/month, could be a worse quality of life, have to deal with office politics, lose control over what you write. In the end, I prefer a stable writing job.
T: Should people look for niches? How?
N: Yes, people should look for niches. Figure out what you like, what is your passion - like Whoopi Goldberg said in Sister Act "If the first thing you think of in the morning is singing, than you're meant to be a singer, girl." That applies to writers, if the first thing you think of in the morning is environmental policy, architecture, pro baseball...then thats what you should write about. If you have a passion for something, can show an editor that, then you can succeed in that field.
2009年3月7日星期六
On Interviewing in China
China is not a country where people are experienced with dealing with the media. This can make my life harder and more hilarious at the same time, as happened with an email response to an interview request I sent about Beijing's recent Silk Street counterfeiting lawsuit:
The letter is illuminating about the fact that expectations for interviews have a long way to go in China, making talking to people and getting local opinions more difficult. It's surprising to think that anyone would think that they would get compensation for brief comments, even if it appears in "papery edition."
I believe it's important to represent local opinions, and not just those of China-watchers and foreigners living in China--but doing so does mean extra work and occasionally giving a short course on Media 101.
Dear thomas
thanks for your letter.
what you have talked about is really interesting,but i have to make sure the following questions:
1.the case you have pointed is the lawsuit of "the intellecture property dispute with beijing xiushui street" ?pls confirm
2.what is the detais about your magazine?do you publish it in electronic edition or papery edition or both of them?if you publish it in papery magazine,what is the amount of publishing per month or per week?
3.if i give you the comments about the case,what will i or my law firm get?
best regards
******
BEIJING *** LAW FIRM
The letter is illuminating about the fact that expectations for interviews have a long way to go in China, making talking to people and getting local opinions more difficult. It's surprising to think that anyone would think that they would get compensation for brief comments, even if it appears in "papery edition."
I believe it's important to represent local opinions, and not just those of China-watchers and foreigners living in China--but doing so does mean extra work and occasionally giving a short course on Media 101.
2009年3月1日星期日
On Knowing the Language
Part II
Is knowing the local language beneficial to doing freelance abroad?
----
To put it simply, no.
Or, to put it more precisely, knowing the local language is not always as beneficial as I thought it would be. A problem I ran into yesterday is illustrative of the problems of knowing the local language.
I was at the Jin Tai coal market near my home in Beijing, researching an article for the China Daily. I was reporting on the replacement of coal heaters in the capital's historic hutongs in favor of electric heaters. The benefits are obvious: removing coal pollution from the center of the city and ridding the hassle of having to tend to the heaters.
At the Jin Tai market, I wanted to find out whether the initiative had affected sales. Yet before I could get past a couple questions, the two clerks I was interviewing steered the conversation to foreigners' perceptions of China as a backward nation. "You guys have coal in your country too!" the middle-aged woman, dressed in a simple, functional winter coat, countered.
"Of course we do," I said. I hadn't implied otherwise. Nor had I suggested anything negative about China, coal, hutongs, puppy dogs or daisies.
"Foreigners," she said, turning to the soft-spoken older man sitting behind the counter, "come here and look at how poor everything is, but they have coal too. Just last week there was a foreigner from--where were they from? Italy?"
"Sure, we have coal too," I said, trying to be as diplomatic as possible. "What we don't have in my hometown is anything with as much culture and history as these hutongs."
My praise was sincere--I really like hutongs--but it was also a necessary part of the elaborate game of praise and flattery in China.
The conversation meandered around the various famous historic courtyard homes in the area and where I could go find the most beautiful ones. The whole time I made sure to continue my praise. After I felt it was safe to return, I brought the conversation back to the future of the market and the new initiative. The woman retained a bit of her suspicion and the man behind the counter seemed particularly reticent in front of the woman, but I did get the answers, more or less, for what I had come for.
In the end, knowing the local language can only help me so much. I may be able to read the People's Daily as expertly as the comrade next door, but any attempts to visit places and interview people will be marked by my status as a foreigner. Chinese people are almost neurotically tuned to perceive others as thinking China is a poor, backwards place. Thus, my actions tend to be perceived in terms of pointing out China's poverty. And this obstacle means learning Chinese just isn't quite as useful I thought it might be.
Is knowing the local language beneficial to doing freelance abroad?
----
To put it simply, no.
Or, to put it more precisely, knowing the local language is not always as beneficial as I thought it would be. A problem I ran into yesterday is illustrative of the problems of knowing the local language.
I was at the Jin Tai coal market near my home in Beijing, researching an article for the China Daily. I was reporting on the replacement of coal heaters in the capital's historic hutongs in favor of electric heaters. The benefits are obvious: removing coal pollution from the center of the city and ridding the hassle of having to tend to the heaters.
At the Jin Tai market, I wanted to find out whether the initiative had affected sales. Yet before I could get past a couple questions, the two clerks I was interviewing steered the conversation to foreigners' perceptions of China as a backward nation. "You guys have coal in your country too!" the middle-aged woman, dressed in a simple, functional winter coat, countered.
"Of course we do," I said. I hadn't implied otherwise. Nor had I suggested anything negative about China, coal, hutongs, puppy dogs or daisies.
"Foreigners," she said, turning to the soft-spoken older man sitting behind the counter, "come here and look at how poor everything is, but they have coal too. Just last week there was a foreigner from--where were they from? Italy?"
"Sure, we have coal too," I said, trying to be as diplomatic as possible. "What we don't have in my hometown is anything with as much culture and history as these hutongs."
My praise was sincere--I really like hutongs--but it was also a necessary part of the elaborate game of praise and flattery in China.
The conversation meandered around the various famous historic courtyard homes in the area and where I could go find the most beautiful ones. The whole time I made sure to continue my praise. After I felt it was safe to return, I brought the conversation back to the future of the market and the new initiative. The woman retained a bit of her suspicion and the man behind the counter seemed particularly reticent in front of the woman, but I did get the answers, more or less, for what I had come for.
In the end, knowing the local language can only help me so much. I may be able to read the People's Daily as expertly as the comrade next door, but any attempts to visit places and interview people will be marked by my status as a foreigner. Chinese people are almost neurotically tuned to perceive others as thinking China is a poor, backwards place. Thus, my actions tend to be perceived in terms of pointing out China's poverty. And this obstacle means learning Chinese just isn't quite as useful I thought it might be.
2009年2月20日星期五
On Knowing the Language
Part I
Is knowing the local language beneficial to doing freelance abroad?
----
To put it simply, yes.
One of the greatest benefits knowing Chinese has given to me is the ability to read local newspapers. Whatever the state of veracity of newspapers here may be, there are still undeniably important news reported in papers that Western outlets are unaware. Furthermore, the state of media here and the issue of how things are presented here is a story in and of itself.
By learning Chinese, you are putting yourself in a position of advantage over many professionals. In my (albeit limited) dealings with reporters sent from major news outlets, I've been saddened to learn how limited their Chinese is. Most are sent based on their experience in journalism and not for their Chinese language ability. Most are trying to learn Chinese, but (1) they have very little time to devote to it, and so progress slowly and (2) are sent to China for a temporary basis, perhaps only several years, so they don't have as much incentive to learn the language, since they know they're moving on. Plus, Chinese has such a reputation for being so incredibly difficult that many, I believe, are dissuaded from throwing themselves into the effort.
From what I've gathered, most big-timers hire assistants to keep an eye on local newspapers for interesting stories. This, however, can leave room for error, as there can be a difference between the news that locals find interesting and the news that foreigners are interested in.
This given, perhaps the single most useful thing an aspiring writer could do in university is ditch the journalism classes and head for language classes. Furthermore, a great way to get an in abroad is to offer your services for one of these assistant positions, although pay is not on a big league status, and it requires some convincing on your part that you are competent in the language and that you are actually willing to do such entry-level work.
In my freelancing, reading local newspapers has both inspired and informed background for many a story. It may seem a bit like playing second fiddle, but this sort of work is serving a vital function. And it's all due to the fact that I know the language.
Is knowing the local language beneficial to doing freelance abroad?
----
To put it simply, yes.
One of the greatest benefits knowing Chinese has given to me is the ability to read local newspapers. Whatever the state of veracity of newspapers here may be, there are still undeniably important news reported in papers that Western outlets are unaware. Furthermore, the state of media here and the issue of how things are presented here is a story in and of itself.
By learning Chinese, you are putting yourself in a position of advantage over many professionals. In my (albeit limited) dealings with reporters sent from major news outlets, I've been saddened to learn how limited their Chinese is. Most are sent based on their experience in journalism and not for their Chinese language ability. Most are trying to learn Chinese, but (1) they have very little time to devote to it, and so progress slowly and (2) are sent to China for a temporary basis, perhaps only several years, so they don't have as much incentive to learn the language, since they know they're moving on. Plus, Chinese has such a reputation for being so incredibly difficult that many, I believe, are dissuaded from throwing themselves into the effort.
From what I've gathered, most big-timers hire assistants to keep an eye on local newspapers for interesting stories. This, however, can leave room for error, as there can be a difference between the news that locals find interesting and the news that foreigners are interested in.
This given, perhaps the single most useful thing an aspiring writer could do in university is ditch the journalism classes and head for language classes. Furthermore, a great way to get an in abroad is to offer your services for one of these assistant positions, although pay is not on a big league status, and it requires some convincing on your part that you are competent in the language and that you are actually willing to do such entry-level work.
In my freelancing, reading local newspapers has both inspired and informed background for many a story. It may seem a bit like playing second fiddle, but this sort of work is serving a vital function. And it's all due to the fact that I know the language.
2009年1月31日星期六
The right attitude for pitches
A good friend of mine is terribly slow at replying to his emails. He explained to me, once, how he agonized over the best way to respond to emails. In the end, his neuroticism creates beautiful, wonderful emails that I enjoy and crack up over every time I receive one. The downside, however, is that they are few and far between.
As I seem to discover time and time again. It's exactly the opposite of this approach to emails that tends to play well to editors.
My friend's patient crafting leads to beautiful emails, but it takes time--both to craft and to read. And these are two drawbacks that make it the wrong approach to take with pitching.
Pitching, it seems, should be done in a casual, brief manner. It shouldn't be sloppy, but pitches are more about high numbers and being brief than about being comprehensive or well-crafted.
Also important for the right freelancing attitude seems to be a sort of nonchalance that is the exact counterbalance to my friend's neuroticism. Editors often don't reply; don't worry about it, just send out another email. The right attitude involves not taking things personally.
As I seem to discover time and time again. It's exactly the opposite of this approach to emails that tends to play well to editors.
My friend's patient crafting leads to beautiful emails, but it takes time--both to craft and to read. And these are two drawbacks that make it the wrong approach to take with pitching.
Pitching, it seems, should be done in a casual, brief manner. It shouldn't be sloppy, but pitches are more about high numbers and being brief than about being comprehensive or well-crafted.
Also important for the right freelancing attitude seems to be a sort of nonchalance that is the exact counterbalance to my friend's neuroticism. Editors often don't reply; don't worry about it, just send out another email. The right attitude involves not taking things personally.
The Difference Between Freelancing and Holding a Stable Job
What's the difference between freelancing and holding a stable job?
When you have a stable job, payment continues during your time off.
This is a lesson I've learned first hand as my extended Chinese New Year vacation winds to a close. Last year, when I was a teacher at a high school, I earned the exact same amount of money whether on vacation or working. In fact, I received a bonus when Spring Festival came around.
This year, however, I've seen my bank account dwindle as I travel around the country. Whoever said freelance was a stable line of work?
There is a bright side, though. Freelance can be done anytime, anywhere. I have been able to pick an odd article during my travels to help tide things over. Also, as soon as I can find the time to stop, rest, and get a stable internet connection, I can send out pitches inspired by my travels. Plus, there's always the late-cashed deposit! Or perhaps I should start pressing people I meet for the tradition money-filled hongbao given at Chinese New Year. Freelancers, after all, have to be multi-talented.
When you have a stable job, payment continues during your time off.
This is a lesson I've learned first hand as my extended Chinese New Year vacation winds to a close. Last year, when I was a teacher at a high school, I earned the exact same amount of money whether on vacation or working. In fact, I received a bonus when Spring Festival came around.
This year, however, I've seen my bank account dwindle as I travel around the country. Whoever said freelance was a stable line of work?
There is a bright side, though. Freelance can be done anytime, anywhere. I have been able to pick an odd article during my travels to help tide things over. Also, as soon as I can find the time to stop, rest, and get a stable internet connection, I can send out pitches inspired by my travels. Plus, there's always the late-cashed deposit! Or perhaps I should start pressing people I meet for the tradition money-filled hongbao given at Chinese New Year. Freelancers, after all, have to be multi-talented.
2009年1月17日星期六
A New Personal Record in Pitches
I recently received an email from a name I didn't recognize. The letter sitting in my Gmail read:
C------ to me
show details Jan 16 (2 days ago)
Reply
Dear Thomas,
Thank you for your query. However, this is not a fit for our needs at this time. I appreciate your thinking of us.
Kind regards,
C---- ----
Executive Editor
Entrepreneur Magazine
www.entrepreneur.com
A pretty run of the mill rejection letter. What stood out was what I discovered when I scrolled up to find out what I had sent and why my memory was so spotty.
The next message up was an auto reply to my original message:
I will be out of the office until Thursday, Sept. 25. I'll respond to your message as soon as possible once I return.
And the date on my message sitting atop the thread of messages? September 24th.
That's right: nearly 4 months had passed between my original response and the rejection letter. I've said over and over that editors are busy, but this sets a new record.
C------ to me
show details Jan 16 (2 days ago)
Reply
Dear Thomas,
Thank you for your query. However, this is not a fit for our needs at this time. I appreciate your thinking of us.
Kind regards,
C---- ----
Executive Editor
Entrepreneur Magazine
www.entrepreneur.com
A pretty run of the mill rejection letter. What stood out was what I discovered when I scrolled up to find out what I had sent and why my memory was so spotty.
The next message up was an auto reply to my original message:
I will be out of the office until Thursday, Sept. 25. I'll respond to your message as soon as possible once I return.
And the date on my message sitting atop the thread of messages? September 24th.
That's right: nearly 4 months had passed between my original response and the rejection letter. I've said over and over that editors are busy, but this sets a new record.
2009年1月14日星期三
Is this the time for freelancing?
Is this the time to get into freelancing? According to nearly everyone I've talked to on the inside, the answer is simple: no.
Newspapers have long been on the decline as people are reading less and getting more and more information from the internet. Newspapers and magazines, according to many, are taking less and less freelance, cutting jobs, and generally reducing size and operations.
To add to the problem, the recent financial crisis has added to the hardship of the news industry. According to my elder sister, a former writer for the Associated Press, the decline of the auto industry, a large source of advertising revenue, has hit newspapers hard. Similarly, the popularity of Craigslist has undercut classifieds, another source of revenue.
The effect seems to have reached even publications that I've written for in China. The editor for That's PRD (Pearl River Delta) informed me recently that he was no longer able to accept freelance travel pieces, which means one less outlet for my travel stories.
The outlook is not entirely bad news, though. Websites have been growing, so that anyone looking to freelance should look to place articles with travel websites or other websites with specialized focuses. For example, after a series of my environment articles fell along with the demise of a local art & design magazine, a friend recommended that I try placing them at treehugger.com.
In my experience, websites pay less that paper publications, but opportunities are more plentiful.
In the words of an editor who gave me advice back when I was getting started:
"On the upside: [energy and talent] can take you a long ways. Reporters who pound away and don't take no for an answer almost always do well. But here's the deal and [your sister] will back me on this: you gotta love doing it. it's gotta be a total blast, or it probably won't work, or at least, you won't be very happy."
Newspapers have long been on the decline as people are reading less and getting more and more information from the internet. Newspapers and magazines, according to many, are taking less and less freelance, cutting jobs, and generally reducing size and operations.
To add to the problem, the recent financial crisis has added to the hardship of the news industry. According to my elder sister, a former writer for the Associated Press, the decline of the auto industry, a large source of advertising revenue, has hit newspapers hard. Similarly, the popularity of Craigslist has undercut classifieds, another source of revenue.
The effect seems to have reached even publications that I've written for in China. The editor for That's PRD (Pearl River Delta) informed me recently that he was no longer able to accept freelance travel pieces, which means one less outlet for my travel stories.
The outlook is not entirely bad news, though. Websites have been growing, so that anyone looking to freelance should look to place articles with travel websites or other websites with specialized focuses. For example, after a series of my environment articles fell along with the demise of a local art & design magazine, a friend recommended that I try placing them at treehugger.com.
In my experience, websites pay less that paper publications, but opportunities are more plentiful.
In the words of an editor who gave me advice back when I was getting started:
"On the upside: [energy and talent] can take you a long ways. Reporters who pound away and don't take no for an answer almost always do well. But here's the deal and [your sister] will back me on this: you gotta love doing it. it's gotta be a total blast, or it probably won't work, or at least, you won't be very happy."
2009年1月1日星期四
Tips for Pitching Articles
Anticipating what publications will accept is a big part of freelancing, and accomplishing this is no simple task. There are, however, a few tips that I've picked up that make the task a touch easier.
-Look for themes: For travel stories especially, look for themes that you could center stories around. A trip to a certain country could focus on its colonial history, beaches, ski resorts, etc. An article pitched with a specific focus comes off as more professional than a travel such-and-such locale.
-Anticipate holidays and festivals: Many publications produce issues related to various holidays or events--everything from New Year's to the local anniversary of a city's founding. These are great opportunities to contribute content to a publication, but the trick is that you have to anticipate the holidays and be able to get a related story on track well in advance of the actual holiday. For this, try focusing on preparation work or events that are in the preparation stage.
-Check out the columns a specific publication has: Magazines virtually always have a number of regular columns that are great targets for pitches. A Hong Kong-based magazine might have a 400-word news/event feature, for example. To pitch to a specific column (e.g., "This would be a great fit for the Kooky Hong Kong News of the Week column") is a great help.
-Research who writes the columns: To go along with the above, make sure to check through the magazine's past issues to see if the column has a regular, employed contributor from the magazine. If so, they're almost certainly not hungering for freelance contributions. Some publications take freelance work cover to cover, but most only take freelance for certain types of columns.
-Look for themes: For travel stories especially, look for themes that you could center stories around. A trip to a certain country could focus on its colonial history, beaches, ski resorts, etc. An article pitched with a specific focus comes off as more professional than a travel such-and-such locale.
-Anticipate holidays and festivals: Many publications produce issues related to various holidays or events--everything from New Year's to the local anniversary of a city's founding. These are great opportunities to contribute content to a publication, but the trick is that you have to anticipate the holidays and be able to get a related story on track well in advance of the actual holiday. For this, try focusing on preparation work or events that are in the preparation stage.
-Check out the columns a specific publication has: Magazines virtually always have a number of regular columns that are great targets for pitches. A Hong Kong-based magazine might have a 400-word news/event feature, for example. To pitch to a specific column (e.g., "This would be a great fit for the Kooky Hong Kong News of the Week column") is a great help.
-Research who writes the columns: To go along with the above, make sure to check through the magazine's past issues to see if the column has a regular, employed contributor from the magazine. If so, they're almost certainly not hungering for freelance contributions. Some publications take freelance work cover to cover, but most only take freelance for certain types of columns.
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