Judith's Blog

Feature ideas: It's all in the timing

FOR a freelance writer, ideas can make or break a career. As markets and budgets shrink and competition increases, it’s more crucial than ever to make your ideas stand out from the crowd. Linda Jones shows you how.

So you want to write for your favourite magazine and you are brimming with ideas – you’re a little disappointed that most of them – or something similar at least – has been covered already – but it’s still worth a shot, right?

Wrong. If you spot a piece in a target publication that bears any resemblance to the germ of an idea you have been slaving over – but too nervous to send – for days or even weeks then you need to change direction immediately.

Coping with rejection: Editors are people too

By Linda Jones

HOW scared are you of editors?

Does the thought of picking up a phone to suggest an idea for a magazine feature fill you with dread? Do you break out in a cold sweat as you open an email with the all-important “yes” or “no” to your pitch?

If you're are nodding in agreement to either of these questions, then to put it unkindly, you need to get a grip! Or, to put it much less bluntly – don’t worry, editors are human too.

Book review: The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World

By Heather Sutherland

THIS is a book written by Linda Jones ex journalist, freelance writer, blogger at You've got your hands full, Judith's Room member and all round fabulous lady who has helped me out a lot with starting freelance writing.

Her book arrived today and I have been racing through it.  Verdict?  It's flippin' brilliant.  You know all those questions you have about how to write a pitch, should you write the article first or not, how do you find out how to email it to, should you call them afterwards, how soon etc etc? She answers them all and so much more.  

Twitter - a fabulous way to connect with authors

By Josie

ONE of the reasons I love Twitter is the way you can connect to the most unlikely people - including authors. I've been tweeting with Jackie Collins - I'm not writing erotic novels but I do find it funny that she's on Twitter as her books certainly played quite a part in my formative years *cough*.

So last night I tweeted her (she's @jackiejcollins) the following questions: how many pages do you write a day when you're working on a book, and do you always draw on real life experience?

Here's what she had to say:

'10-15 handwritten pages'
'yes unless you're writing a fantasy novel' (I'm presuming by fantasy she meant Lord of the Rings type fantasy, not - er- erotic fantasy).

So there you have it. 10 to 15 handwritten pages a day... not sure how much that translates to in typed pages but it sounds perfectly doable... doesn't it?

Do you have any tips from published novelists? If so, share them below!

Ten blindingly obvious things I learned in my first year as an author

Linda Jones shares some harsh realities of a book deal with a small publisher.

1. A book launch may be more hassle than it’s worth This time last year, I was feeling pretty pleased with myself. My first book, the modestly titled Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World had just been published. Holding some initial copies in my quivering hands, I’d felt a rush of pride. Now here I was, preparing for my very own book launch. Then one by one, more than half the confirmed guests dropped out. My heart sank. Even though local paper reports and reviews followed and those lovely guests who did come along were overwhelmingly positive, I was disappointed. In hindsight I can see my expectations were unrealistic. But I hated feeling like Billy no-mates.

"Throw mud against a wall" Fran Sandham on publicising your book

FRAN Sandham walked across Africa solo from the Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean at Zanzibar.

His groundbreaking journey is told with great humour in Traversa, which has been met with critical acclaim.

Interviews with The Liverpool Echo and The Argus in Brighton have already been published, as well as reviews in the likes of New Statesman, Metro and Travel Africa, among others.

Further regional and specialist media column inches are in the pipeline.

He's also been interviewed by Radio Four's Excess Baggage and has now turned his attention to gaining national newspaper coverage by pitching freelance articles.

Approaching an agent: Fifteen tips from an insider

IF you have ever wanted to see inside the mind of an agent, especially when they are checking out your synopsis and chapter samples, then head over to Andrew Lownie's website.

He offers 15 common sense tips on how to approach an agent.

There's also a wealth of advice in various other articles.  

'Books should enlighten and educate' June Austin on self-publishing

SELF PUBLISHED writer June Austin says the days when 'vanity publishing' was the norm are long gone. Here, she argues why battling against the frustrations of working with commercial publishers, needn't be the only route to success as an author. Her book Genesis of Man was first published in 2006.

THE book buying public cares little how the books they read were published, only that they are interesting, well written and affordable. It is only those within the publishing industry who seem to have a problem with self publishing.

The reasons they give are usually that such books are: * Nothing more than "vanity press" * Badly written with little if any editing * Difficult to market as the author has to do everything themselves with no outside help * Self publishing companies will publish anyone who can afford to pay I aim to dispel all of these myths and maybe some more.

'Seven sins' of writing fiction

JUDGES in a competition for aspiring romance writers took the time to provide entrants with guidance on what just doesn't cut it when it comes to impressing with your literary skills.

Although their points were aimed at a particular genre, their advice is excellent whatever your chosen type of fiction.

See what they felt were the seven sins of writing fiction here.

Picture by Pecanpieguy on Flickr

What sins are you guilty of in your writing?

And you can brush up on your fiction writing skills with a wealth of resources available through Judith's Room here.

 

Real life, real profit? Selling stories to women's weekly magazines

By Linda Jones

DID you know a top notch story in a women’s weekly magazine or tabloid ‘real life’ section could bring you thousands of pounds? Perhaps you did – and maybe you fancy a piece of the action.

But beware. As well as being one of the most lucrative areas of freelance journalism, unsurprisingly, because of the high stakes, it’s also one of the most daunting and competitive – and not one to be entered into lightly.

These publications include inspirational and heartwarming tales about everyday people who have battled through adversity. But of course they also feature hard-hitting stories peppered with tragedy, crime, sex or violence.

Your job is to find them and make them compelling…and it’s easier said than done.