Dear writers,
Welcome to chapter 4 of your friendly neighbourhood freelancing newsletter.
I was quite certain that I wouldn’t send out this edition, because of personal health issues, and the fact that our country is burning to the ground. I don’t want to dwell too much on politics but I have to say something. Indians, be kinder and more supportive to your fellow countrymen and don’t let prejudice and hatred influence your thoughts and actions. Educate yourself and your family on the CAA and NRC, counter the misinformation being spread on social media and Whatsapp groups, and go out and protest/make your voice heard. We have to take a stand before our internet gets cut off and before our voices get drowned out. We need to band together if we have any hope of restoring some semblance of normalcy in our country. (If you don’t want to go out on the streets and protest, like our privileged ministers and celebrities, here’s a great primer on how to give up your privilege.)
Now, let’s talk work. I hope you are all sending out pitches and getting your stories published. The end of the year means most editors are swamped with ideas, and work, so make sure your email stands out in their inbox. Pro tip: send in neat, precise story pitches (leave the rambling treatise to the columnists and newspaper editors). Think of typical year-ender stories – recapping what happened this year, trends in the coming year, party planning, festive pieces, Christmas food traditions, New Year resolutions, etc – they may be clichéd but, they are published every year.
This week’s edition is short: there’s an interview (a new market), calls for pitches, and job opportunities.
Let’s begin.
STRAIGHT TALK
My interview in this edition is with Riddhi Doshi, the editor of LuxeBook. The luxury B2BB magazine was once BlackBook, and they publish stories on food, travel, hospitality, and other industries. Every story needs to have a business/ industry angle to it. LB pays Rs 5 per word (print), Rs 1,500 flat rate for online; payment is within a month.
PS: Riddhi was a colleague of mine at Hindustan Times and is a talented storyteller and investigative journalist. She’s a good editor – gives reasonable deadlines, makes minimal changes to copy, and is always happy to discuss ideas and work on briefs.
What is your advice to a writer pitching you for the first time?
Please read the magazine and the website before pitching. Study what kind of stories the magazine publishes and pitch accordingly. Ensure that there are no typos or grammatical errors in the email – that’s a big turn off.
What makes for a strong letter of introduction?
Keep it short and name the publications you have written for. If you have a specialty, talk about it. There is absolutely no need to mention how much you love LuxeBook!
When it comes to LuxeBook, what makes for the ideal pitch?
We are mainly a business of luxury magazine and are a mix of B2B and B2C. Our stories are on trends, people, and debates on the Indian luxury market. For eg: we won’t just list restaurants offering Keto-friendly dishes but also try to understand the reason behind the rise in the number of outlets doing so, by talking to chefs, owners, consumers and outside experts. Besides, we will also explore the future of the trend and the do’s and don’ts of serving a Keto menu.
It’s important to keep in mind that our readers are from the luxury business.
Our interviews also focus on business of Indian luxury. We will talk to a luxury automobile company’s head about the brand’s five-year plan, growth trajectory, challenges, his/her definition of luxury, and not about his favourite restaurant or brand.
What are the mistakes most writers make when emailing you?
Most ask if I have a story idea that they can work on. I expect my writers to be good journalists and pitch their own ideas.
What would make you turn down a pitch?
A one-line pitch. I want to know the details – the angle you wish to explore and why. As mentioned earlier, bad and careless writing is a big turn off.
The traits of freelancers you enjoy working with?
The ability to write clearly, punctuality, and journalistic rigour. A robust story structure is very important and so are quotes from relevant people (don’t quote a small-time, commercial photographer in a photography or art story).
Lastly, please be open to reworking your story. Most editors don’t have a personal vendetta against writers and won’t make them rewrite stories without a reason. Frequent back and forth can be avoided if the pitch is detailed. Don’t hesitate to ask questions to understand what an editor expects. It saves everyone’s time.
And finally, please send pictures in one consolidated link with detailed captions.
Email riddhi.doshi@mediascope.co.in
HAVE AN IDEA? GO PITCH
Have an original fiction? Submit it to Oprah Mag’s Sunday Shorts section. Email Leigh at lhaber@hearst.com or Michelle at mhart@hearst.com
O.School wants writers who can want to write about: sex, sex-ed, sexual wellness, and sex in the news/pop culture. Email gina@o.school
Women/Non Binary writers, HuffPo wants to hear about struggling with an emotional load at Christmas. And, smart and original opinion pieces on news/life/culture issues relevant to this time of year. Email lucy.pasha-robinson@huffpost.com
MetroUK wants opinion pitches that are topical, but the more personal, the better. They are also looking for pitches for their series, Love, Or Something Like It, which covers everything from mating, dating and procreating, to lust and loss. Email james.besanvalle@metro.co.uk
Believer Mag is seeking pitches for literary non-fic comics about the future. Think personal narratives, more science-y/climate/tech stuff. Email kristen@believermag.com
Input Mag is looking for stories at the intersection of tech and culture. Email mark.yarm@team.inputmag.com
Science writers, pitch Medium publication One Zero your stories about the ways the world is rapidly changing and how we’re using science to adapt to the strange new future we have in store. Email yasmin@medium.com
Science writers, Wired UK accepts pitches on politics, science, culture, security, business and a bunch of other sections – stories about change — and the people who are altering the world for better or worse. (Guidelines here) Email mattr@wired.co.uk
Toward Freedom publishes journalism and analysis which offers a progressive perspective on world events. They pay $150 for reported stories and $500 for investigative pieces. (Read submission guidelines). Email editor@towardfreedom.com
NEED A JOB?
A Whitefield startup is looking for interns in: Digital Marketing, Copywriting. It is paid, for three months, and there’s a job offer upon completion. Email shubhit@yurrayglobal.com
A Lower Parel-based company is seeking copywriters and designers for a digital agency in Mumbai. Email roshni.dadabhoy@digitas.com
The Economist Group is looking for a digital and print ad sales manager to manage ad sales revenue in the North and South Regions on India. Experience: 3 to 4 years in media/ solution sales, with a minimum of 2 years in digital media Sales. Email RohanS@zirca.in
VdoVideo is looking for an animation and motion graphics editor. Experience: one year in design/ art direction/advertising; strong passion for visual storytelling using computer graphics and animation; expertise in After Effects and Photoshop. Email ranjan@vdovideo.in
MISCELLANY
Help save a bookstore from going extinct. If in Bangalore, go to Goobes Book Republic in Church Street and buy from its Extinction Rebellion Sale, with books starting from Rs 25.
Learn Mandarin at Anantika Mehra’s Mandarin language introductory workshop: on Jan 18, at Doolally in Andheri, Mumbai. The fee is Rs 1,000 (with either beer or fries included).
Attend a talk on the history of its culinary traditions, Finding Lost Recipes, by Shubra Chatterji. This will be followed by a discussion with author Saee Koranne-Khandekar and culinary consultant Tara Deshpande. The event is this Thursday at Dr JJ Modi Memorial Hall, Fort, Mumbai. To register, call 8879253893
Apply for the Sahapedia EXPLORE Fellowship, a collaborative project, in English, to encourage fresh research on tangible heritage across select cities and towns in India. They are seeking fellows in Goa and Prayagraj. Selected candidates will be granted an award of ₹70,000 (Rs 63,000 after taxes). Deadline is December 18. Visit here to know more.
Christmas season is my favourite time of the year. There are gifts and good food, carol singing and midnight Mass, meeting friends and family and going for dances! It is also the season of gifting and giving. Here’s a list of places/people/organisations where you can donate your time/effort/money and make someone’s life better.
On behalf of the extended Lobo clan, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas, and a happy festive season!
Cheers!