Passionate Blog

More advice for freelance writers

CONTRIBUTIONS to Press Gazette are continuing with a report on how to build a specialism as a freelance writer.

Our blog at Freelance Writing Tips is also picking up readers. Do get in touch if you have any questions. [Carol]

Passionate advice in Press Gazette and Writers' News

AS Linda is far too modest to mention this, allow me to draw your attention to her advice in Press Gazette this week about sourcing and writing women's weekly magazine stories.

Apparently, she tells us, it's all down to the gift of the gab and attempting to "charm the birds out of the trees."

Now I'd like to say something witty about doing as she "says," rather than "does" but as she talked me into joining her in the company, I can't really can I?

There's another dose of advice for freelance journalists in this week's Writers' News courtesy of Alex Gazzola. That's off the back of a forthcoming book. Watch this space for more details, if Linda can get her head through the door. At least she has had the good grace to acknowledge how unrecognisable she is from that picture. [Carol]

Freelance writing tips blog begins

Craig McGinty is a Manchester-based blogger, journalist and absolute star.

Recently, he has been working with Linda on her You've Got Your Hands Full blog. Now the two of them have joined forces in a new online resource for freelance writers.

Freelancewritingtips.com will be updated regularly to include realistic advice on how to succeed as a freelance writer. It will also help promote Linda's book on freelance writing which is due for publication in August 2007.

How not to do PR

There are so many things that hack journalists off about PR people, that you could be forgiven for thinking we can never do anything right. But if you follow a few simple rules then hopefully you won't go too far wrong. Here's an extract from an article available through our website which gives a taste of how not to do things. These are mainly based on press release "etiquette" if you like as it seems such a bug bear. We are well aware there is much more to PR than press releases. They are all real-life examples of what some misguided saps PR people have got up to in the past:

• Don't phone up a Sunday paper to ask:  "Which day do your health pages come out?" It makes you look stupid.

(Incidentally, Sunday papers generally look for exclusives and won't simply publish your release three days after dailies have carried it)

• Don't send a release unless you have a good idea what kind of features/news the publication carries. You have to be prepared to actually read recent copies if you want to get it right.
• Don't try to be the journalist's best mate on the phone. They are usually busy and haven't got time for that.
• Don't send out completely untargeted press releases – are you sure that Mobile Phone Weekly is really the place for your news of your new training course? (‘It could be’ isn’t good enough!)
• Don't pester with repeat phone calls saying "are you going to use it?" One phone call asking this question is one too many – if the story is good enough, it will get in.
• Don't ask the journalist to dig out a piece they did ages ago to photocopy and send it to you. It's a really annoying and time consuming job and ensures they won't use anything else you send them in case they’re asked to do the same again.
• Don't expect to take up loads of the journalist's time during a face to face meeting unless you honestly think your product or service could provide them with a significant story.
• If you are inviting the press to some sort of launch, be a bit generous and tell them what's on offer. It's a sad fact (but true) that journalists do respond to invites (more after work these days) if there is decent food and a couple of drinks on offer. It won't guarantee you coverage but you’ll be remembered.
• If you are inviting the media to a ‘photocall’ or local event and they tell you they hope to come along, don’t ring up and moan when they don’t – guess what - they have other stuff to do!
• Don’t ever complain that the media ‘isn’t getting behind’ your product/service – that is not their job – that’s to report the news. [Katie]

Not close so no cigar

We are often contacted for advice on how to find a career in PR or journalism, not to mention how to become a writer.

This section will include advice in response to frequently asked questions.

It will also include our favourite examples of the letters and emails we are sent asking for work.

Often these highly educated people haven’t even bothered to find out our names or they’ve left another PR company’s name on the letter. Even worse they’ve called me Sir or spelled my name wrong.

Call me old fashioned but I think the first is lazy, the second is daft, the third is plain stupid and the fourth is just downright baffling.

Anyway, here’s the first. I particularly loved it for its use of the sort of language I haven’t seen favoured by anyone much since one Hyacinth Bucket.
Not to mention the lack of a spell check.

Dear Sir/ Madam,

Having heard of your company, I have attached my Curriculum Vitae for your perusal.

I am an enthusiastic and professional graduate with copious drive and ambition
to succeed in my chosen career. Having recently started gaining experience gained within a major public institution.

I feel that I have a lot to offer in the realms of enthusiam and creativity, and being at the start of my career makes it very easy for me to blend in with a new company and their ways of working without preconceptions.

I am contactable on XXXX XXXX at all times and look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards