Chapter 50
Interview with Arunima Joshua + pitch calls + job opps
Dear gentle reader,
I reached a half century! It feels like quite the achievement (I am at the stage in my life where I am celebrating any kind of win).
Work has been keeping me busy along with bouts of imposter syndrome that have me wondering if I am a good writer. I feel like I’ve spent the last month just reworking articles (sometimes more than once). It’s quite a kick in the gut, I must say.
But, I am reminding myself that this is temporary.
How has your month been (besides the incessant rain if you’re in the south of India)? Do share any writing/ other wins…I do get a thrill reading them.
This month’s newsletter has an interview with a writer/ editor and someone I’ve known exclusively on social media (and yet, we have a good connection). She has shared tips on how to become a better writer. In addition, there are pitch calls and job opps.
Ready? Let’s begin.
THE INTERVIEW
Arunima Joshua is a Bombay-based freelance editor, journalist, writer and at-times, reluctant publicist. You can view her writing here. She has been writing on-and off since she was in college, and has bylines in Mint Lounge, VICE, IndiaTimes, Rolling Stone, BOOM FactCheck, and more. For the last 14 months she’s been the weekend editor at splainer.in — editing the Saturday edition called the Advisory. It’s an edition of all things delightful — including Culture, Travel, what to Eat, Read, Buy, Watch and Listen.
She offered to share some of her writing wisdom here.
10 tips for writers:
Have a ritual
I think having a ritual is very important to have a clear mind and let thoughts flow into words when writing. Especially when you’re starting a new draft or even editing — clarity of mind really helps. My pre-writing ritual consists of listening to music while journalling, then reading for at least 20 minutes and skincare. After this I settle down with a cup of tea or coffee and begin making a to-do list in my notebook and before getting to the writing.
The journalling and reading help. The journalling firstly to filter out random streams of consciousness thoughts so you’re left with a focussed way of thinking and the reading to shuffle out the brain for inspiration and align it to a creative mindset.
Also — my rituals and process involve having a clear-cut morning routine and a winding down night-time routine.
Map it out
For a new story I prefer mapping out an outline in my notebook and only then proceeding to type out anything in the doc. This helps to organise your thoughts or pitch into a concise step-by-step approach for tackling the actual writing.
Stay relaxed and have fun with it
Some of the things I remember for writing ‘big’ stories are to not let the enormity of the task get to you. A podcaster and fellow writer once told me: “It doesn’t need to be perfect, it just needs to exist.” And, that’s been one of the pieces of advice that have really stayed with me over the years.
If it’s overwhelming — remember that your love for the medium is bigger than your anxieties.
Use social media
One of the aspects of freelancing I really enjoy are networking and pitching to editors.
I use social media to track movements in media, keep track of new publications, editor changes and of course, trends in culture and music that I like to write about.
Write a compelling pitch
As for freelance writing — pitching is a key aspect. I focus on writing a very compelling pitch so that I at least get a reply declining it with reason mentioned even if it’s not accepted.
My definition of a perfect pitch
According to me a ‘perfect pitch’ is about 150-300 words and mentions what the story and its hypothesis is and why it needs to be written. What will be the sources and editorial approach you will use to establish your hypothesis?
The way I see it you’re presenting a hypothesis to the editor and saying I will use these tools and methods to prove it or disprove it. The tools and methods being the interviews you will conduct, research you will do and the sources you cite.
Other things I like to mention are why is this story relevant to the cultural discourse, what’s new and different now?
What else can you mention in a pitch?
Also you can mention why you’re the right person to write this — however you don’t need to make it personal unless it’s relevant to the subject for eg. If you're writing about dying practices in a community it makes sense to mention you’re a member of said community to establish that you would represent the community correctly without appropriation.
It’s best to go in without assuming your hypothesis is correct. For eg. if you’re talking about the earlier mentioned dying practice — perhaps your research and interviews will lead you to young revivers of the practice which promises a robust tomorrow.
Allow the story to take on its own course — and let the facts speak for themselves.
Another last thing I like a pitch to establish is tone of voice which will differ from publication to publication.
If you’re looking for side gigs?
I use social media and my network to keep a track of openings and hirings for freelance content projects and gigs.
Mostly Instagram and Twitter. Over the years I’ve built my social media network to consist of 80% of professionals from the music and media industry so I’m tapped into what’s going on in both.
This takes some dedication and a few years and the acceptance that social media is not a space I log on to check up on friends but more a place to check for job openings, trends I can report on, who needs a content writer or publicist (I also take on side gigs as a PR professional), who can I pitch to and connect with more professionals in the same industry.
When I log onto Instagram I know I’m in work mode and it’s not a leisure activity.
Stay in touch
Another thing that has helped me over the years is staying in touch with everyone over the years. I’m still in touch with my earliest editors from my college internship days and people I met once at a music festival. And cultivating these relationships for guidance and of course if they would ever want to work with me again.
Show don’t tell
A cliche for writers — but so true!
Don’t tell me why xyz is amazing — illustrate how xyz is brave, amazing, one-of-a-kind etc.
I use a lot of this in my personal writing as well— which I usually post to Instagram where I employ all five senses. Writing that is tactile, sensory, visual, aural and where you can taste the words and smell the sentiment — I try my best to engage with words in that sense — to cook up something yummy and with cadence.
PITCH CALLS
Insider is looking for US vs. non-US story ideas (ex: I’m a Brit who visited Texas for the first time) and essays about moving from expats/those who experienced a major culture shock. DM Emily
- Rate: starts at $220 for 600 wordsBusiness Insider is looking for essays from millennials or Gen Zers who rely on their parents for financial support. Whether it’s sharing streaming services login, being on their phone plan, living with them, etc.
- Email: cpreti@insider.com
- Rate: $220@PolyesterZine is seeking pitches on current internet culture and pop culture. Details, here.
- Email me - gina.tonic@polyesterzine.com
- Rate: £65 for 1000 words.CONE Mag is looking for writers who cover street style and design.
- Email: jess@conemagazine.com
- Rate: $200-400 for 1,000-2,000 wordsLate Nighter is accepting pitches about late-night trends, memorable moments in late-night history, profiles/interviews with the people shaping today’s late night landscape.
- Rate: $50-75 (for short, news-type) stories to $500+ for longform features.
- Email jennifer@latenighter.comVery Well Mind is looking for young millennials/gen z writers in the lifestyle, mental health, and wellness space.
- Email: melanie.curry@verywell.com w/ 2 clips + intro bio!
- Rate: $200/$250 per articleThe Kitchn is looking for pitches about reported TikTok trends, viral food movements people won’t stop talking about, and recipes that are blowing up on social media.
- Rate: starts at $250
- Email: paulina@thekitchn.comGroove Volt’s first print edition will be out in Sept! Send pitches for reported features, cultural commentary, fashion x music, music trends and more.
- Email: abid.haque@groovevolt.com
- Rate: ranges from $75 - $500Wanderlust Magazine is in the search of travel writers with an expertise in Qatar pleas - especially those interested in those who have visited within the last two years - for a potential upcoming project.
- Email: rhodri.andrews@wanderlustmagazine.comWestland is inviting submissions to the IF anthology of new writing from India. Writers of #SpeculativeFiction, send in your entries for science fiction, horror, magical realism etc. Submission details, here.
- Rate: Rs12000 (short story), Rs25,000 (novelette)The Revelator is seeking pitches from experienced journalists for freelance stories covering environmental issues and authoritarian regimes globally. Submission details, here.
- Rate: $300-$500Material Queer is looking for long-form in-depth writing or short videos about queer culture…stuff mainstream queer press won’t cover, so no Bridgerton or Dr Who. Queer folk only.
- Rate: Starts at £750
- Email: hello@damiankerlin.comThe Information is looking for freelance pitches.
- Rate: $1 a word
- Email: abe@theinformation.comI News has a new assistant features editor who is seeking pitches across features and lifestyle.
- Email: maybelle.morgan@inews.co.ukThe Times and Sunday Times’ money pages are looking for pitches for finance stories.
- Email: holly.mead@the-times.co.uk@theipaper is looking for some first-person or 'what the experts say' stories on any of the following topics - Summer holidays, menopause, Pensions, Parents waiting for nursery places/child benefit, tips for kids/no-fly holidays, Covid summer wave.
- Email alex.dakers@inews.co.ukWired business desk wants pitches.
- Rate: $500 for shorter, bloggier posts. $800 for 1,000-1,200-word reported stories.
- Email: markyarm@gmail.com
JOBS
Asianet News Network Pvt.Ltd is hiring a digital content writer (sports).
Minimum 2 years' experience. Email webcareers@asianetnews.in.Mid-Day is hiring a Social Media Manager, News Desk Chief Sub Editor, Digital Sub-Editor Entertainment, and Digital Sub-Editor Features in Mumbai. Email reshma.krishnan@mid-day.com | gautam.yadav@mid-day.com. Details, here.
Hindustan Times is looking for a writer for its Trending vertical. Location: Delhi/Mumbai/Bengaluru/Kolkata/Chennai. Details, here. Email shylaja.varma@htdigital.in
A portfolio manager is looking to onboard freelance editors with 8 to 10 years of experience in editing English language teaching content. Candidates with a background in higher education publishing and an understanding of the NEP/UGC curricular framework for English will be given preference. Email shramana.purkayastha@cambridge.org
Free Press Journal is hiring a new Assistant Editor in Mumbai. Details, here.
Times of India (Digital) is seeking a senior sub-editor/senior digital content producer (English) to join their team in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
4-6 years of experience. Email Jayesh Keshav at jkeshavnp@gmail.com.India Today Digital (Trending desk) is seeking applicants. Email CVs to: raya.ghosh@aajtak.com. Details, here.
Find more job opps, here.
MISCELLANY
SEEKING SOURCES: Saina Qaisar is seeking experts and couples who can comment on ‘How important is dating your partner?’ for a BBC radio show. Sania.qaisar@bbc.co.uk
SEEKING SOURCES: Do you identify as South Asian and have bought a lab grown diamond? Or do you have strong thoughts against them? Juggernaut wants to talk to you! Email ayesha@thejuggernaut.com.
AWARD: Entry is now open for Thomson Foundation’s 2024 Young Journalist of the Year. Submission details, here. Deadline: August 9
SEEKING CLIENTS: PR Studio is a boutique publication relations agency dedicated to hospitality brands. Their clients include Coco Shambhala and Jehan Numa Hotels and Jehan Numa Wilderness. They are looking to add more clients to their roster. If interested, reach out to pradnya.whitecrowpr@gmail.com. (Note: I have worked with both founders, both women, and they are dedicated, hardworking and forward-thinking).
FELLOWSHIP: Apply for the Rappler #FactsMatter Journalism Fellowship 2024, which will run from September 2, 2024 to January 3, 2025. Deadline: August 4. Grant: $5000. More details, here.
CALL FOR PARTICIPANTS: Queer Utopias: Imagining Futures without Borders 28–29 November 2024 Athens, Greece is inviting papers from participants. Details, here. Deadline: September 16
SUBMISSIONS: The Deodar-BLF 2024 prize is open for submissions. This year is dedicated to the short story. Deadline: Aug 15. Details, here.
If you enjoyed this newsletter, do share it with your friends and subscribe to stay updated.
If you have any queries, feedback, comments, or want to share your freelancing wins, email me: itsallwrite@outlook.in
Cheers,
Joanna
Joanna you are a great writer 🌸
Very nice Joanna, I enjoy your newsletter and the various opportunities. Thank you