Freelance Hivemind: We Are Not Amused

I've started doing some articles for submission to the broadsheets around here, I'm trying to avoid music, more feature style articles.

I guess since it's a while since I finished college I'm keen to just refresh on the basics of cold calling features editors. What are the golden rules here? As I say I'm sure this was drummed into me in college but I forget alot of it.

I mailed one of my completed articles to the features eds of 4 broadsheets here. I got two replies, one said "not appropriate for our paper, no real local angle, not enough real life stories", I sort of disagreed but didn't expect that paper to publish anyway, tho now I wonder if the fact that my story just can't really have a local angle will go against me, or is it just the paper in question.

The other reply said "I found this very interesting, can you tell a little more about your background, and show me some other samples of your work". So I did this, no response yet. But why would they want to know my background, is the article not the important thing?

I haven't recieved any reply from the other two. Not a bad start I thought though, at least things are happening, even two replies isn't bad and one of them was potentially positive.

But I'm just wondering about the best way to handle this kind of thing, is just coming up with ideas and churning out as many articles as I can, then sending them off, a viable route to success/money?

What about the days where you want to work but can't think of an idea and end up scouring the news sites?

I am really keen to make a go of this, I want to leave my current job, but I think it would be stupid until I have succeeded a little.

I know there are lots of good freelancers and smart people here, what do you think?

Anyway I don't really have any expertise here but might as well chip in just to keep the thread alive. Do be on the lookout for features editors giving you the knockback on unsolicited copy and then nicking your ideas!

Maybe best to mail them (or talk to them if poss) and them send a CV with some of your previous stuff (music stuff and anything non-music you did for college paper or whatever) if they show interest?

"Accumulate well-placed acquaintances. Turn nothing down.
-- Pete W (petershepherdwatt...), July 26th, 2006."

I am really worried about this yes. So it does happen!

One time, I told a print broker "I'm sorry, I'm buried under other deadlines." Never heard from her again.

What about the days where you want to work but can't think of an idea and end up scouring the news sites?

Your subconscious is steeping new ideas while you scour. Alternately, call it a day after a few unproductive hours and do something concrete, like laundry.

maybe you need to cut down on the starch?

Any advice with the Guardian? Is living here going to hamper me beyond having to make calls to Britain for the odd quote?

Just some of the pieces I've written are more like what the Guardian would print than the Irish papers, I fear.

;p

Maybe it's best to stick to Irish papers since they can be relied upon to not be very up to date on new and interesting things.

Is there any decent resource that gives info about who does what job in the papers, all in one place?

I've been just calling the newspapers and asking, which is fine, but it would be easier to just have a website or something.

just sending in the odd article here and there means you could end up being overlooked. pitching up with a stream of quality ideas and trying to cultivate some kind of relationship with commissioning editors is by far the best idea.

i know it's a truism, but don't give up or be disheartened. the best resource a freelance feature-writer can have is IDEAS.

x-post: er, two-step approach to success here involves 1) ringing up the paper in question and saying: "hello, what's the name and direct line of your features editor?" and 2) ringing them. rocket science, eh? o yeh: don't just rely on e-mail. always make a follow-up call.

perhaps a combination of the two approaches is best.

i'm going to try and keep in contact with the two eds who replied, particularly the one who asked for other examples of my work, and see how that goes.

need to zoom to work now. will look back in here later. but yes, all yr approaches here seem sound.

panic!

Well done, by the way.

I basically said in my email "yes I'm keen to make those changes and can do it for tomorrow at midday" then made my suggestions for what my idea of those changes was, he was quite general, so I said what I specifically planned to include and asked if this was what he wanted.

No reply, it was about an hour and a half ago, so I guess just keep going with my interpretation of what he asked for? Presuming he might not be rooted to the office seat on a Bank Holiday Monday.

http://technology.guardian.co.uk/

Next step: Ro does an invoice to GNL (and no you don't get extra £££s for the front page stuff). Should get btwn £225-£300.

I'm getting my first proper artwork for proper CD released soon. So far it's going pretty well but deadline is imminent and still loads of things to sort out. And I'm too scared to ask them how much they're going to pay me (or I'm going to have to pay them if it all goes tits up). Hoping it will lead to more tho.

I don't envy the life of the livestock show photographer. They sell a web-resolution image one time and suddenly everybody has it, including people who haven't paid for it and people who want to use it for print even though it's not big enough. Still puts me in a tough spot between the photographer and the advertiser.

Can we talk about the Paycheck Protection Program? I got email from my bank this morning that included this:

On Tuesday, March 31, 2020, the Treasury Department issued much-anticipated guidance for the Paycheck Protection Program, which starting this week will provide up to $350 billion in fully forgivable loans to help small businesses maintain payrolls during the coronavirus pandemic.

Small businesses and sole proprietorships—generally, those with 500 or fewer employees—may apply for PPP loans with their bank starting on Friday, April 3; independent contractors and self-employed workers can apply starting April 10. PPP loans will be fully forgiven when used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent and utilities, with at least three quarters of the forgiven amount being used for payroll; forgiveness is based on employers maintaining headcount or quickly rehiring and maintaining salary levels.

The phrase "fully forgivable loan" is throwing me. If I wind up qualifying and use the money under their constraints, does that mean it becomes just a free-money grant? I think I read on the Treasury website that I'd have to apply for loan forgiveness and that it's not automatic. But still, this sounds like a lifeline for me (independent contractor).

moving from the 'working from home' thread

I've worked from home for almost 19 years. I expect it to all come crashing down around my ears any day now.

― Miami weisse (WmC), Thursday, March 12, 2020 8:14 AM (two years ago)

lol it kinda did. My client held on through the end of '21 before shuttering, and I billed another client $310 in '22. My tax guy says I can claim to be self employed and claim a loss for four years before I have to start calling myself a bartender instead of a graphic designer and quit claiming internet/phone/WFMU donations as business expenses.