Dear writers,
How are you?
I hope your October is going better than mine! I feel like I have been in a daze all through September, and hoping to snap out of it this month. But, enough about me. How has your month been? Any writing goals you want to share? Reach out.
As you know, I have conducted two sessions of The Pitch Club: Guide to Pitching, Guide to Food writing. I am now getting ready for a third session. As part of my Ask Jo sessions, I receive the most queries from people who are just stepping into the freelance world and need guidance. It got me thinking about doing a session on ‘Introduction to Freelance Writing’ where I talk about how to get started, how to write a good pitch, where to source contacts, and attempt to demystify the A-Z of the freelance world. If interested, say aye?
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.
This edition features an interview with Arré + feedback from people who have written for them + pitch calls + a reading guide + jobs board + more.
The free version has a peek into the pocket guide, some job links, and a reading guide.
Ready? Let’s begin.
POCKET GUIDE
“What you read is as important as what you write” and other writing tips from Margaret Atwood.
Writer Shivani Shah shares tips on how to write about yourself.
I saw this on twitter and found it useful: freelancers sharing/busting commonly held beliefs about the freelance life. Click to read.
READ
This nostalgic piece on Duke’s soft drinks by Hrishikesh Singh.
West Bengal’s ‘tiger widow’s fighting to protect the endangered Sundari mangrove tree.
The environmental catastrophe linked to donating clothes.
This beautiful essay about trying to make things fit and about passing briefly through beautiful places.
JOBS BOARD
Wildlife SOS is hiring – eight openings including content writer, social media manager and more. Details, here. Email careers@wildlifesos.org
Times Foodie is looking for a video content producer. Email thefoodie@timesgroup.com
Prison Aid + Action Research (PAAR) is urgently looking for Freelance Content Writer (legal). Candidates should have legal background in terms of educational qualifications or should have background legal writing/editing/reporting. Email sayantan.ghosh@paar.org.in
Maed in India (podcast) wants a production intern. The stipend will be a minimum of Rs.10k-15k. email contact@maed.in
News18.com is looking for an ambitious reporter to cover the interplay between politics and policy. The successful candidate must have exceptional editorial judgment and demonstrated versatility, preferably in a top-notch digital news team Email Aman.Sharma@nw18.com
A helpful and constantly updated jobs thread.
MISCELLANY
AWARD: Did you publish a story (in the last year) on the impact of COVID-19 on labour migration, or migrant care workers? Enter your work for the 2021 Global Media Competition on Labour Migration. Deadline: 15 October. Apply, here.
RESOURCE: The Internet Freedom Foundation announces Digital Patrakar Defense Clinic, a weekly pro bono legal clinic for journalists in India offering direct 1:1 consultation with expert lawyers. Pro bono. Fill this form.
CONTRIBUTE: G5A Foundation invites writers to submit text-based stories for ‘the things we carry’, an oral storytelling podcast in Marathi, Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, or English. More details, here.
Before ending, do you have any suggestions on what I could add/ change in the newsletter? I would appreciate any feedback.
Some advice:
Another reminder: please add this email id to your inbox, so the newsletter doesn’t go into spam.
Until next time,
Adios,
Joanna