Dear writers,
Didn’t August just disappear like Flash? It lasted all of five seconds!
After a few rough months, I finally had a good one and I am grateful. In a rare occurrence, of the six pitches I sent out, five got approved. It’s quite the high, let me tell you. It’s boosted my self confidence and that automatically meant I started sending out more pitches. Strike while its hot, right?
I can’t believe I’ve written 40 of these newsletters…it feels like I just started out. The idea of doing a newsletter came to me because it seemed like an easy way to answer people’s queries about freelancing. I should’ve known better! The queries don’t stop and there are just so many! But, it’s been an enjoyable experience though I do plan on taking a break next year.
To reiterate, I have closed yearly subscriptions to IAW (I am unable to change that on Substack). If interested, I can offer one month, or three months.
Want to subscribe? Email itsallwrite@outlook.in or reply here.
The paid version of the newsletter has an interview with Sumeet Keswani of Travel & Leisure India, pitch calls I’ve arranged according to rates, a successful pitch of mine, information on grants, jobs, and a brief pocket guide.
The free version of the newsletter is below. I’ve shared a different pocket guide (it’s been shared before too), some reading material, an IAW brag, and miscellaneous information.
Ready, let’s begin.
POCKET GUIDE
HOW TO SAY NO:
Documentary photographer Mikli Feria Jorge curated a PSA highlighting some key sentences to add or subtract from your vocabulary. She rightly calls them her ‘friendly yet firm-about-my-boundaries’ replies (marked in bold).
If a request comes in at the close of the day: “I can get to that in the morning!” If a request comes in after you’ve clocked out for the day: (Nothing. Reply to it in the morning. Don’t even look at your phone.) Ditto for weekends – get to it on Monday.
You can also use an auto-responder: “Hi! Thanks for emailing. Just wanted to let you know I got it. Please give me 1-2 days on Mondays to Fridays to respond. Thanks!”
Instead of ‘Sure, no problem!’ when it is, indeed, a problem: “I can have this done in (time PLUS PADDING – if you submit early, great. But if life happens and you submit late, it's not late)’ OR “The earliest I can get this done is xxx. Does this work for you?”
For multiple requests, one on top of the other from the same person all due at the same time and you're drowning: “Okay, so right now I’m doing x, y, z, a, b, c. How would you like to prioritize?”
If a client says what you did isn’t what they asked for when it is, indeed, what they asked for: screenshot the original request or reply to it. “Hi! I’ve done x, y, z like we discussed earlier. Would you like me to edit it to (new request)? I can get that done by (time)!”
“What’s your rate?” “My rate is x.” (No explanations or any extra info needed here).
If your rate is out of their budget, and ONLY if you want to work with them: “No problem, we can work with (budget). For (budget), we can do x, y, and z (cut the deliverables), so that you can still (reach one of their goals) by (date)!”
MISCELLANY
Proposal: Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is offering grants to boost reporting on renewable energy in India. They are looking to support 10 in-depth stories that explore entrepreneurship by RE developers and innovative RE applications apart from an addition to the energy grid. More details, here.
Job: Paper Planes is looking for a writer with 2 to 3 years of editorial experience, ideally with magazines and publications. This person would be passionate about quality storytelling, able to write excellent copy and have a knack for research. They would be interested in the design of objects, cities and architecture, and have a keen eye for good design, illustrations and other visuals. (No design experience required). Email edit@joinpaperplanes.com
Job: Citizen Matters has openings for a reporter (in Chennai), Associate Editor (in Bengaluru) and Engagement Associate (in Mumbai). Details, here.
IAW BRAG
I am so proud of this one!
Subscriber Aisiri Amin says, “I had come across the Rukhmabhai Fellowship by 101Reporters through your newsletter. I applied and won. My stories were recently published. Just wanted to thank you for the role you played in it.”
Her work is here.
A freelance journalist recently tweeted something that I think makes for a great idea. I am looking to interview people who can share how they found ideas/ inspiration the weird/random stories they’ve published. The more bizarre, the better.
Before ending, here’s a thread with some useful advice.
Another reminder: please add this email id to your inbox, so the newsletter doesn’t go into spam.
Until next time,
Adios,
Joanna