Tag Archives: writer

advice, resources, social networking

Tweet Tweet Twitter

twitter_logo_header

Do you use twitter? If not, it might be worth looking into. I resisted at first, but have found that in some ways it is better for networking than facebook. (Although I must admit to liking facebook more.) On twitter you can find professionals that you might not normally have access to and link up with them. Plus, you can get the word out to a large number of people about what you are up to in your writing career.

That said, be nice too. It is considered “polite” to mix self-promotion with helpful advice, quotes and other fun stuff. And if someone follows you, it is always a good idea to thank them for it. Personally, I have my privacy settings on so that I have to accept someone who wants to follow me, but do what you are comfortable with.

The learning curve on twitter is a bit more steep than facebook in my opinion, but there is a help page that really does the job. Start there for the skinny on things such as finding people, following and direct messages. You don’t have to dive in and start tweeting away, but not having this social marketing site in your toolbag means you are one step behind as a writer. It’s worth a shot.

(And look me up! I’m catherinetully on twitter. Tell me you are a FZ reader so I know who you are…)

advice

How To Write A Press Release

pen-and-paperIf you’ve never written a press release before, it may be something you want to consider investigating. Press releases are sent out by companies, businesses and individuals to announce something to the public. There is a format that they follow, and a few tips and tricks for knowing how to write one that an editor won’t toss in the waste paper basket.

Take a look at PublicityInsider.com for some good information on how to format your press release. One of the main things to remember is that the editor doesn’t have to print your information. Just like a query, you need to develop some type of news hook so that it is interesting and topical enough to run in their publication. Think like a writer–that part should come easy!

Another key piece of info to keep in mind is that you should include “boilerplate information”. This is background information that should not change from release to release. If it is a person, it may be a bio. For a company, it may include a bit of history. For more good information about the press release and what to include, take a look here.

Writing press releases can be a great way to pick up some extra cash–if you know what you are doing. Why not read up on it and see if you can do one for yourself–just for practice!

advice

Deadline Help

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Did you ever feel like Mr. Ant in the picture here? Like you have the goodies, but they are awfully hard to carry? For a writer, there is nothing quite like the pressure of a deadline. In this business, it is typically feast or famine, so you are either jammed with work–or doing nothing. Keeping your cool under the pressure-cooker of deadline hell can be a challenge, but organization and a few other tricks can save you from insanity.

It’s my current situation that inspired me to take a moment to write this post. I have three large projects, all due in about a week. I also have workers in my home doing everything from drywall to replacing windows. Yesterday, I got a call from an editor with a project that she wanted done in a couple of hours. It just so happens that my electric was off for the day and the battery on my laptop was really low. I took it anyway and managed to complete it just in time.

The house has been chaotic, but mapping out a plan has been my saving grace. I came up with a schedule and built in extra time because I knew it was going to be a little rough. Headphones can help drown out the noise. An extra pot of coffee in the afternoon helps get me over the hump. Most importantly, I have been going to bed earlier so that I’m alert and awake for the morning.

The most important thing in terms of preparing yourself to meet a tight deadline is to know your weaknesses. Mine is lack of sleep. All the hammering and other noise pales in comparison to the fog in my own head if I’m tired. Since I am aware of this, I try to make sure that I wind down earlier and use coffee as my crutch when I feel the bottom dropping out.

So what is your thing? Whatever it is that prevents you from operating at your best will become your worst enemy when a deadline is looming. Take a moment to name it–and then you can address it so it doesn’t beat you up. It may not get your piece written for you–but it will help you get the job done!

resources

Search Engines

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Since knowledge is power, learn more about search engines here. This page will give you a really good idea of how an internet search works. Since search engines are used for research all the time, it is kind of interesting to know more about what is going on when you type in a query. Also, it’s helpful to understand how pages are ranked–especially when it comes to your own website.

advice

What You Can Learn From The News

news

Do you know what a reporter can do better than just about anybody else? Slant stuff. News reporters are masters at this technique, and writers can learn a great deal from them. After all–the slant a reporter gives something can be the perfect example of how to craft a good query. You really need that “angle”.

Think about it. Reporters dig deep and look for “the story“. Take the inauguration for example. The coverage didn’t stop with Obama. There were some other great stories out there that had real appeal. Pieces that focused on people traveling for hundreds of miles to get D.C. so they could see the new President get sworn in. Interviews with those who have been involved with the struggle for civil rights for years. You see? There are 20 facets to every story, and the news media knows how to pan for that gold.

So next time you watch the news, do so with the discerning eye of a writer. See how they slant each story and think about what you can do to hone that skill to your advantage. The most interesting query is often the one that gets the assignment. Learn how to make yours a standout.