A warm hello to everyone who subscribed and made me feel a little better about doing this newsletter. Special hugs to people battling the terrible air pollution in Delhi. And Kartik Aaryan, shame on you.
This is the first time I’ve tried something like this so, be kind with your criticism.
If I had a crisp colourful 100 Rs note for everyone who has sought me out on social media to ask questions about freelancing, I wouldn’t actually need to freelance.
“I want to become a freelancer, how should I start?”
“Can you share the editor’s contact for XYZ publication?”
“I have this idea, where should I pitch it?”
“I like to travel. Can I become a travel writer?”
Dear writer, this newsletter aims to answer some, if not all, of those questions. I will attempt to do it in the nicest way possible but, if it’s the end of the month and I haven’t received my freelance payments, expect some hard truths. I don’t intend to spoon-feed you.
This fortnightly newsletter will contain calls for pitches, short interviews and useful advice from other writers/ freelancers/ authors, links to good articles (yes, some will be mine!), writing tips and miscellaneous stuff. I want it to be informative and fun.
Let’s begin.
STRAIGHT TALK
I am kicking off the first edition with an interview. Julie Sam is an assistant editor at Go-Getter, the in-flight magazine of Go Air. Go-Getter pays Rs 3,000 for stories around 600-1,200 words; Rs 3/ word for stories below 600 words. Payment happens at the end of the month. I’ve worked with Julie on a couple of stories and she is a good editor – rarely changes copy (provided it’s clean), gives stories a good display and ensures payments are on time.
I got her to talk about the pitching process and mistakes writers make when emailing her.
What should writers keep in mind before sending a letter of introduction?
Always follow the 5Ws, and share links/pdfs to your articles. Given the tight deadlines, editors won't dedicate more than two minutes to your email introduction. Stick to the basics and make an impact.
What should writers include in a pitch/brief?
You need to sell your pitch to your editor. It has to be concise. Talk about what makes your story unique, and what is it that you are looking to include. A headline convinces me that you've given this story some thought. But, refrain from sending 500 word pitches. It helps if you have gone through the publication you're pitching for - look up last month’s edition so you know the kind of stories I expect.
What are the mistakes writers make when emailing you?
I feel most writers don't read try to understand the directive of a certain publication. If I am looking for experiences/personal accounts in a city (eg: sampling a Bohri thaal in Mumbai), I don’t want a pitch on 5 experiences to try out in Mumbai. Don’t try and copy-paste briefs if it hasn't worked for publication A, at least tweak it first. Don't pitch the same travel experiences to different publications because we can find out – always try and sell different angles to editors.
What would make you turn down a pitch?
A run-of-the-mill story that I’d find it on the internet. Give me something beyond the information out there. I need to feel/experience/learn something new from a story every time I read it.
Your advice to new writers?
Please do your homework before sending a pitch; ask for sample content plans. Editors are always happy to share a plan
Email Julie on julie@spentamultimedia.com.
HAVE IDEAS? GO PITCH!
VICE Life is looking for sex, love, and relationships writers. Check out the submission guidelines. Contact amyrose.spiegel@vice.com
IJNET accepts stories and unique perspectives on the media. Check out pitching details.
Business Insider wants personal essays about life insurance — why did you get it/ when did you get it/ why would you recommend it? Rates: $200/essay, about 750-850 words. Email shallett @businessinsider.com
The Sampler accepts features, interviews and essays about new music. Pitch sam.mackay@soundandmusic.org
One of my favourites, the Helter Skelter Anthology of New Writing, is accepting submissions for Volume 7. The theme is identity and the last day for entries is January 5. Check this link for more details.
NEED A JOB?
Deutsche Welle’s Delhi bureau is looking for a second broadcast correspondent. Reach out on nimisha.jaiswal@dw.com & sonia.phalnikar@dw.com
The Free Press Journal is looking to add people to its online desk in Mumbai. Beats: Sports, News, Business, Viral news. Experience: Fresher to 5 years. Skills: correct language, speed and accuracy, knowledge of beat, conversant with social media. They are also looking for a social media executive with fresh ideas who can increase follower count and help grow the site’s traffic. Salary: Industry Standards. Send you cover letter and CV to nirmalya.dutta23@gmail.com.
Newslaundry is looking for Videos editors. Requirements: basic editing skills, knowledge of Premiere Pro and FCP; bonus if you know After Effects. Send your CVs to contact@newslaundry.com and mention Video Editor in the subject.
If you can do Augmented Reality in books, get in touch with @svwebwork on Twitter.
Hotstar is looking for a social designer – mid/senior level mostly from a social media agency. Requirements: aware of social and digital trends, social assets and specs, has a good eye for aesthetics, well versed with design and software knowledge and motion design, watches / well versed with content. Email debanjan@hotstar.com. They are also seeking a full time writer for their Mumbai office. Email venkat@hotstar.com
Pratham Books in Bengaluru is looking for a Social Media Manager and a Senior Brand Manager. To apply for Senior Brand Manager: ow.ly/1tmL50wZxyX; for Social Media Manager: ow.ly/ovs950wZxDx
MISCELLANY
Follow Rituparna Chatterjee’s #sisterhood thread on Twitter to find job opportunities or mentors. Send her some love, and job opportunities too, for all the wonderful work she has been doing.
Read Mithila Phadke’s delicious piece on Diwali sweets, published in Serious Eats (<-- a great publication for food writers). Mithila’s writing features personal anecdotes and memories coupled with useful information and good, structural prose. Link
Apply to the English department at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. They are accepting applications for their M.A. program and offer a fully funded two-year Master’s degree with an emphasis on literature and social justice. Read more.
Apply to the Conde Nast Traveller Food Writing Awards. They’re looking for food writing that conveys curiosity, wonder, intellect and research around food-related topics, published between 1 Jan 2019 to 31 October. And, the shortlisted candidates will get to attend a Food Writer’s Retreat. (I was on the shortlist last year and it’s a really prestigious place to be). The deadline is November 12.
Sponsor a therapy session. On her birthday, freelance journalist Divya Kandukuri asked for a unique birthday gift, sponsoring therapy sessions at Blue Dawn, a support system and facilitator of accessible mental health services for the Bahujan community. Look for the sponsor sessions’ form on The Blue Dawn.
Access a collection of historical and contemporary sources in the arts, humanities and social sciences from and about South Asia or South Asia Open Archives (SAOA). These are available on JSTOR, at saoa.crl.edu.
Thank you for staying with me thus far. I will end with some advice I tell everyone who sneaks into my DMs: if you want to be a writer, you have to write.
As always, do write in with suggestions, criticism, hate mail, memes, or dog videos. I welcome and entertain them all.
Adiós.