Category: Magazine and Freelance

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Guest Posts Magazine and Freelance

A helpful tool for bloggers – SEO, Marketing, Content Creation Tools

Guest posts

Online tools are providing tons of help to bloggers in every aspect. Starting from research, creativity, content creation, proofreading and SEO marketing, you have plenty of tools indexed on the web to help you become a successful blogger. Starting a new blog has become religiously important, thanks to the advancement in technology and the launch of online tools. This post will tell you about some of the most important and helpful tools for bloggers!

Helpful Tools for bloggers to try in 2021

Out of hundreds of online blogging tools listed on the web, we have handpicked the most effective ones:

HubSpot – Blog Topic Generator 

The most important thing in blogging is you have to provide your visitors with informative and interesting content. This can only happen if you have fresh and authentic ideas. This blog topic generator is a famous tool that can help you find multiple topics related to your niche. You have to provide the noun or the keyword against which you are targeting your blog. Getting unique and interesting ideas is very easy with this helpful tool.

Google Docs – Blog writing tool

When it comes to writing content, you must subscribe with the best tool which can provide you options and features for beautifying the text. You must know that if the blog structure is not clear and optimized, it will be rejected no matter how informative it is. Using online tools like Google docs or MS word, you can create blog content with proper formatting. You can add headings, subheadings and bullet points in the blog content with these tools. 

Grammarly 

In blogging, you have to make sure that the quality of your content is up to the highest mark. You cannot afford to make any silly mistakes in your blog content if you don’t want to lose the interest of the organic traffic. We would like you to know that using online proofreading tools like Grammarly can help you find mistakes and remove them from your work in less than minutes. For enhancing the quality of the blogs, you would surely need Grammarly.

PlagiarismChecker.co

Plagiarism is an intolerable offence in blog writing. If your content has plagiarism, you will lose the interest and trust of the search engine and the organic traffic interested in your site. To check plagiarism, you need a reliable plagiarism checker tool. The plagiarismchecker.co is a designated resource that can help you check for plagiarism in your blog posts. The plagiarism detector tool cannot only scan your newly created content for duplication errors, but it can also scan your complete blog website and find out if someone is stealing from you. A plagiarism check is very important for a blogger, so you should never avoid or take it easy.

ReverseImageSearch.org

Images are also considered to be an important part of a blog post. Without an image, a blog post would look boring and unappealing for the common visitor. Images are important because images are more understandable than text. The human mind understands and accepts visual information sixty thousand times quicker than it perceives text. The reverseimagesearch.org is a search platform that is powered by the RIS technique. This image search utility can help you find relevant and royalty-free images for your blogs, and that too without any formalities and added expense. 

Ahref 

Ahref is a very powerful platform that you can use for free for two weeks. The main purpose of Ahref is to help you audit your blog site for different aspects. If you want to see your blog site rank in Google’s highest positions, you need Ahref. It would help you get information about the keywords you should use in your content and help you make a thorough competitive analysis of the sites working on the same niche as yours. If you want to get the right keywords or find out details about the directory links on your blogs, you should try out Ahref. Backlinks are very important when it comes to affiliate and SEO based marketing.

Live Chat

This is another important tool for a blogger. Having a live chat on your blog would help you communicate with your audience in a better way. If you want to understand your readers, then you should connect with them on live chat. You can get feedback about your blog posts and find out what they would like to read about. Create blog content according to the target audience’s requirements!

Paraphrasing Tool – SmallSEOTools

Paraphrasing tools are online software programs that can help you rewrite the content into unique and human-friendly content. You must know that you have to constantly create and update your old content in blogging so that readers can stay engaged with you. The online paraphrasing tools can help you rewrite and revise your old content in a new style. Instead of creating new content, you can use the spinner tools to revive your old and appreciated posts. The paraphrasing tool is also used to remove plagiarism from the content!

These are some of the best and most helpful tools that bloggers can use from all across the globe!

Amelia John is a digital marketer and a writer who has introduced various modern strategies in her published articles. She is also co-author of various famous digital marketing books. Amelia was born and raised in New York. She was a bookseller before moving to children’s publishing and worked for Knowledge Creators Company as a creative writer. She wrote a number of articles and blogs for teens and children on the adequate use of technology while working in that company. Amelia is famous for her great knowledge about the modern innovations that can be depicted in her writing.

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Magazine and Freelance

7 Ways to Make Sure Your Article Doesn’t Sell!

Everyone knows there are certain rules that must be followed in order to present an article to a publication. Here are a seven mistakes to avoid if you want to make sure your article has a great chance of acceptance.

1. Don’t read the guidelines.

Everyone knows how important guidelines are. In order to tailor your writing to a certain publication, you must know what they are looking for, the style they use, and what format to use. That information is found in the magazine guidelines so do not neglect reading them.

2. Fail to proof and edit your work.

Few writers hit their target level of writing on their first try. Read your article out loud. Have someone else read it. Hearing it read to you will help you know you said things with the correct choice of words.

3. Don’t check to see who the current editor is.

The article business is pretty fluent and editors move from one publication to another. If you don’t know who the current editor is, you probably haven’t read the publication in a while. Check the magazine, the website, and call the office if you must to double check who should address your article to.

4. Break multiple rules of good writing.

Many people aren’t aware that the rule for spacing after periods has changed – several decades ago – and still put two spaces following every period. That tells the editor you have approached that you have not kept up with the changes in style and grammar rules. Also comma rules change from time to time. So you know what the current rule for the Oxford comma is? Do editors prefer more commas or less?

5. Pester the editor.

Writers get excited about getting their words into print. They also get impatient when waiting to hear from editors. But calling and emailing the editor will not endear them to them. Try to wait patiently for a reasonably amount of time. Check the writers market guide as to response time. Make note of that then add a week or two before emailing a short inquiry as to the status of your manuscript.

6. Don’t follow through on your promises.

If you say you will have your article to an editor within three weeks, make it two. If you say you are going to interview a famous expert, make sure you include that expert’s opinion in your article. One of the last things you should do before submitting your article for publication is to make a checklist of what you promised the editor and make sure all those things were included.

7. Fail to send something the editor requested.

When an editor responds positively to a query, you need to act on it. Editors will not express interest in your idea unless they genuinely want to see your work. Dragging your feet or failing to send the material at all is a great way to know you will never sell that article.

Instead of looking at what you should not do, be aware of the things that will give you the best chance to sell your work. Make every word you write make a difference in the lives of others.

Linda Gilden is an award-winning writer, speaker, editor, certified writing and speaking coach, and personality consultant. Her passion is helping others discover the joy of writing. Linda recently released Articles, Articles, Articles! and is the author of over a thousand magazine articles and 16 books including the new LINKED Quick Guides for Personalities. As Director of the Carolina Christian Writers Conference, Linda helps many writers take the next step in reaching their writing goals. Linda’s favorite activity (other than eating folded potato chips) is floating in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing grandchildren—a great source of writing material! www.lindagilden.com

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Magazine and Freelance

Start the New Year with Articles

The new year. A great time to try something you haven’t done before. How about writing articles?

Many people think there is no other option for writers except writing books. And, they think books are the quickest way to garner fame and fortune. Many of those writers have never considered writing articles, which have so many benefits to your writing.

1. Articles get your name out there. Because you can write many articles in a short amount of time, you are able to reach many audiences at one time. As readers see your name repeatedly, you become recognized as an authority on your subject.

2. Articles keep small paychecks coming. Even though small, the amounts you are paid for your article writing add up to a nicer amount.

3. Articles are a good way to publicize your book. When you write an article that is even somewhat related to the subject of your book you increase your notoriety as someone who is knowledgeable on the subject. When you write your bio you can mention that you are the author of a certain book, which will pique the interest of readers on your subject.

4. Articles give you many opportunities for subjects to write about. For instance, if you write nonfiction, you could write article on closely related subjects.

If you write about the care of dogs, for example, you could write not only write your care article but you could write an article on the different breeds, what breeds are best with children/older people, therapy dogs, etc. In your research you probably come across all of these subjects as you learn about the care of dogs.

If you write fiction, consider your theme. If your book is about trust, you could write numerous articles from numerous angles on trust. If your heroine has a sister who has suffered from depression, write an article on how to recognize depression in others, what the best treatments and therapies are, etc. Perhaps your heroine’s baby was kidnapped from a school classroom, you could write about kidnapping and how to make sure your children are safe at school. Or if your child was bullied, how your child should react to bullying when he or she is away from home.

All these will point back to the book you are marketing and help build your platform.

Linda Gilden is an award-winning writer, speaker, editor, certified writing and speaking coach, and personality consultant. Linda is the author of many books and over 1000 magazine articles. Linda is a regular columnist for writing and family websites. She and her husband live on a farm near their family. Her favorite activity is floating in a pool surrounded by six of the cutest, splashing grandchildren in the world—a great source of writing material! www.lindagilden.com

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Magazine and Freelance

3 Reasons to Disagree with an Editor

You might be surprised to read the title of this post. Aren’t editors always right? Won’t you doom your writing career if you disagree with an editor? Won’t they label you difficult if you dare to question one of his or her edits?

It’s important to keep in mind that disagreeing is far different than being disagreeable. Your relationship with your editor should be one of mutual give and take, characterized by dialogue and interaction. This is the reason for the Accept and Reject Change button in Microsoft Word—you have the power and right to reject editorial changes, but only for very good reasons. And you must be prepared to defend yourself.

Here are three acceptable reasons to disagree with an editor.

1. The proposed change is incorrect. Most editors are well versed in grammar, punctuation, and the particular style guide of their publication. No editor, however, can know everything.

One reason to question an edit is the area of local or specific knowledge. For example, in my devotional book, Hungry for God … Starving for Time, I refer to my home area as the Sandhills of South Carolina. During the editing phase of my book, my editor lowercased the s in Sandhills.

I rejected her edit and inserted a comment bubble that explained that I wasn’t using the word Sandhills to describe the topography of the region; it was the actual name of the area. To add credibility to my explanation, I inserted a link to a web page of South Carolina geography facts describing the Sandhills region of South Carolina. And yes, the S was capitalized.

Similarly, you may have knowledge about an area, field, or specialty your editor doesn’t. If this impacts an edit, it’s important to object and explain why you chose the wording you chose. Documentation adds credibility to your objection.

2. The edit alters your meaning. Sometimes a change in wording or word order will significantly alter your intended meaning. This is a valid reason to oppose an editorial change. For example, you may write, “The club is open to visitors and meets on the first and third Thursdays.” Your editor may think the specifics bog down the flow of the article and change it to “The club is open to visitors and meets every other Thursday.”

You know, however, that there might be a fifth Thursday in a month, making the “every other Thursday” change inaccurate.

If an edit changes the meaning or intent of your words, you must reject it (with an explanation) to maintain the accuracy of your writing.

3. The edit significantly alters your voice. Good editors know edits should reinforce your voice and style, not change it. If you’re folksy and casual, and you’re writing a whimsical novel about life in the mountains of North Carolina, your editor shouldn’t change your vernacular to sound like an academian. Conversely, if your topic is technical or educational, she’s justified in editing out the y’alls, sistahs and sugahs.

Voice is a tricky thing to pin down, but if you read the piece aloud, and it sounds more like your editor than you, it’s time to politely object.

Keep in mind that editors are not adversaries. Their job is to make writers look good and make your work as clear and effective as possible. While most are knowledgeable and professional, they’re not infallible.

It’s important to remember that while you may be justified in disagreeing with an editor, you’re never justified in being disagreeable. If you interact respectfully and remain teachable, and you’ll always have a great relationship with the editors with whom you work.

Lori Hatcher loves God even more than she loves chocolate. Since He rescued her at age 18, she’s been on a relentless journey to know and love Him more. Her deepest desire is for others to join her on the journey. As an author, blogger, and women’s ministry speaker, she writes for Our Daily Bread, Guideposts, Revive Our Hearts, and Crosswalk.com. She’s written three devotional books, including Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible, and Hungry for God…Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women. Connect with her at LoriHatcher.com or on Facebook, Twitter (@lorihatcher2) or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

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Magazine and Freelance

The Value of a “Write Away”

I have a good friend who often says, “I’m going to be gone this week to a “write away.”

What you may ask is a “write away?” Simply put it is a time set aside where you go somewhere and write away (in more ways than one)! During these time of staying at home and social distancing, most of us need a write away more than ever.

When you are in a writing slump and can’t seem to get the words flowing, maybe you need a change of scenery and routine. For these times, that may mean changing your writing space in your home so you have a view out of a different window as you write, parking the car by a lake and spending a few hours writing, or finding a quiet outside location near your home to write. Look for an uncrowded park that is open and “camp out” there.

You may be thinking to yourself—That’s fine for you but I don’t have a lot of places to go nearby. The good news is you don’t have to. Here are a few other suggestions.

A friend of mine lives on a lake just a short drive from my house. She has a beautiful home with an entire glass wall in her living room. The view is calming, relaxing, and extremely conducive to creativity. This sweet friend has given me an open invitation to come to her house and write any time I need to have a write away. During this time of staying away from others, I can ask my friend if I can go sit on her dock and write all afternoon. I am not around people but my creativity has a chance to flow as it comes. Do you have a friend whose yard or dock you could visit for a write away?

Look for a friend who lives in the country and take a chair and small desk to sit and admire the countryside as you write. Most people won’t mind your coming and just hanging out in their yards.

If your library or church is open, you may be able to find an indoor spot to enjoy new surroundings and increased creativity

No matter what method you choose, the benefits of taking a break from your normal routine are great. Does your creativity need a jumpstart? Plan a “write away” today.

Linda Gilden is a wife, mother, and grandmother. Linda finds great joy (and lots of writing material) in time spent with her family and enjoys every opportunity for a short “write away.” Her favorite activity is floating in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing children!

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Magazine and Freelance

A Writer’s Bio – The Most Valuable Piece of Real Estate on the Block

Many writers assume that the value of their article is the payment they receive for writing it. The opposite may be true.

If you’re trying to make a living as a freelance writer, you may be tempted to choose which articles you write based on the compensation you receive. Fiscal sense tells us to accept the articles that pay the most and reject the ones with little financial reward. While compensation can determine if we can pay our bills, there’s often a hidden value in every article that has little to do with financial compensation. It’s a prime piece of literary real estate called a bio.

Almost without exception, magazines, compilations, devotionals, and online publications include a writer’s bio—short for biography—at the end of each article. A bio is a few lines that tell the reader about the writer. If you craft your bio well, it can be more valuable in the long term than a check.

 A well-written bio can:

1. Help convert one-time readers to followers. If your writing resonates with a reader, they’ll want to read more of your work. Be sure to include live links (if allowed) to your blog, book, or social media sites.

2. Establish your credibility. Whenever I write grandparenting articles, for example, I always say something about my four grandchildren in my bio. If you write for professional publications, mention your education or awards. If you contribute articles to Bikers Weekly, be sure to include a detail or two about your Honda Goldwing or your Harley.

3. Spark emotional connections. Years ago I read one of Lori Roeleveld’s articles on Crosswalk.com. Her message resonated with me and made me want to learn more about her. When I read in her bio she was from my home state of Rhode Island, I had to reach out. As we exchanged emails, we discovered a multitude of common interests and experiences. Her well-written bio sparked what is now a delightful friendship.

4. Open the door to other writing opportunities. When you write in your area of expertise and use your bio to share additional credentials, others in the field can find you. For years I wrote articles and devotions for homeschooling parents. One day a friend shared one of my articles on Facebook. It caught the eye of an editor seeking a writer with homeschool experience. When she read in my bio that I had homeschooled for 17 years, the editor invited me to write for their website.

As you craft your bio, make every word count. And don’t use the same bio every time. Customize it for each publication, including details relevant to that audience. Use humor or share quirky details as long as it furthers your purpose. Check with each publication for style preferences and word count.

If you found this article helpful, I hope you’ll read my bio below. If I’ve written it well, it might make you want to visit my blog, vouch for my credibility, be my friend, or invite me to write for you. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Lori Hatcher is the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine and the author of three devotional books including Refresh Your Faith – Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible and Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women, winner of the 2016 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year award. A blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker, her goal is to help busy women connect with God in the craziness of life. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Hungry for God. . . Starving for Time . Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

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Magazine and Freelance

Get Started with Writing Articles

The first thing a beginning writers often hear is “write what you know.” Good advice! But once you have exhausted what you know, how do you find other things to write about? Is it possible to write about things you don’t know?

Of course it is. You just have to know how to locate information that can make you a temporary expert!

1. Research. These days we have research at our fingertips. Start with an online search on a topic you would like to write about. Read the information but don’t stop there. Locate the sources in the bibliography of the article and go to some of them. The closer you can get to the original source of your information, the more accurate it will be.

2. Interview others who are experts on your topic. There are websites that can connect you with experts in every field. Local directories can give you contact information of those experts in your area. Social media is now a quick way to find people who are knowledgeable on a certain topic. If you still can’t find enough for your article, try colleges or local educators. Often they can give you the information you need or know someone who is knowledgeable in that area.

3. Look in your newspaper. People who write articles for newspapers and magazines have already done research and if they have already written about the topic you want to write about, they can be a gold mine of information.

4. Spend some time learning about the subject. For instance, Barbara Ehrenreich wanted to write about the welfare system in our country. She got a job and tried to live off of her meager salary as she researched that system.

At one point I wrote a soccer handbook. I had no idea how to begin or even what the rules for soccer were. My sons friends who played on the high school soccer team stopped by almost every afternoon to see what questions I had about the game. Those young men made it possible for me to complete my assignment and do it well.

Perhaps you are writing about a character in your novel and you are not familiar with the occupation of one of your characters. Ask to shadow someone for several days who has the same job. You would be surprised what you can learn in just a few sessions with someone who is knowledgeable.

As you can see there are lots of ways to write about something you don’t know about. So maybe we should rephrase our subject. If you are a beginning writer, write what you know and write what you can learn.

Linda Gilden is an award-winning writer, speaker, editor, certified writing and speaking coach, and personality consultant. Her passion is helping others discover the joy of writing. Linda recently released Articles, Articles, Articles! and is the author of over a thousand magazine articles. As director of the Carolina Christian Writers Conference, Linda helps many writers take the next step in reaching their writing goals. Linda’s favorite activity (other than eating folded potato chips) is floating in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing grandchildren—a great source of writing material! www.lindagilden.com

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Magazine and Freelance

Avoid these Common Article-Writing Mistakes

As the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine, I’ve had the pleasure of coaching new (and seasoned) writers for more than ten years. Every month we work together to produce informative, engaging, and inspiring material for our readers. As I review submissions, I often see one or more of these common mistakes:

Common article-writing mistakes

1. Beginning at the beginning

It seems logical, when writing a feature article, to begin at the beginning of someone’s life. That’s where it all began, right? And the details are so fascinating and relevant. Unfortunately a reader doesn’t care about the details until they care about the subject.

We have to hook ‘em first, show them why they should care, then fill in the back story. Twentieth-century filmmaker Billy Wilder described this technique: “You grab them by the throat, their heart is beating, and you never let go.”

Instead of beginning at a subject’s birth, choose the point of highest conflict in their story and dive in. Once you’ve captured your reader’s attention, you can flesh out the details and the back story.

2. Telling not showing.

I find it much easier to rattle off a list of details rather than take the time to set the stage. But whether we’re writing a novel or penning an article, we must create a setting, provide sensory details, and showcase the story.

Dialogue is a great way to inject a reader into the scene by showing. Here’s an example:

“Mom,” Simpson said, raising his eyes and staring deeply into hers, “I’m going to New York to follow my dream.” He swallowed hard, then spoke again. “I hope you’ll give me your blessing.”

Simpson Jackson’s mother knew her response would impact their relationship for the rest of their lives.

3. Omitting description.

In today’s image-driven world, we rely heavily on graphics. We know the art director plans to use photos of our subject in the layout, so we skip the physical description in the story. Why waste precious words on the person’s salt and pepper crew cut or Bambi eyes?

Weaving physical descriptions into our narratives reinforces the graphics and spotlights details we want our readers to notice. Mentioning a subject’s “kind eyes” or “quick smile” also provides welcome description for visually-impaired readers and those listening to an article rather than reading it.

4. Failing to answer the readers’ questions.

Before I submit an article, I run it through the Have I Answered All My Readers’ Questions? test. This is an important step, especially if I’m very familiar with the subject or ministry. Just because I know the vernacular doesn’t mean everyone does.

Set aside your writer perspective and read the article as someone who knows nothing about the topic or person. Make sure you’ve included details that might answer their questions. Some examples might be:

  • How is this project funded?
  • How can I learn more about it?
  • How can I get involved?

5. Failing to define acronyms and jargon.

In recent days we’ve learned about the CDC, PPE, and LMNOP (oops, that was kindergarten). Although terms may be familiar to us, we can’t assume everyone knows what they mean. Unless it’s a universally-understood acronym, spell it out the first time and include the acronym in parenthesis immediately after, i.e. “the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said recently . . .” or “My WIP (work in progress) is coming along nicely.” Once you’ve defined it, you’re free to use the acronym in place of the complete name.

The next time you write an article, edit your piece with these common article writing mistakes in mind. If your work avoids all five, you’ll provide your editor with an article that’s clear, enjoyable, and RTP (ready to publish)!

Lori Hatcher is the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine and the author of several devotional books including Refresh Your Faith – Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible and Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women, winner of the 2016 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year award. Her most recent book, A blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker, her goal is to help women connect with God in the craziness of life. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Hungry for God. . . Starving for Time. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

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Magazine and Freelance

5 Tips to Make Your Editor Smile

It’s confession time.

I’ve been a magazine editor for nine years. During those years I’ve worked with more than one hundred writers.  I’ve loved and respected many of these writers with my whole heart. Others, well, not so much.

What makes the difference? Are magazine editors like me fickle and random in their judgments? Maybe some are, but most are hardworking people trying to do their jobs well.

If you’d like to make your editor smile, do these five things. Not only will they improve the quality of your submissions, but they’ll win you a place in your overworked editor’s heart forever.

1 Include your bio in every submission.

Even if you’ve written for a particular venue for years, don’t skip this. If you don’t include it, your editor will have to dig into the files of past publications to find your (probably now outdated) bio and cut and paste it into the current article. Sounds easy? Picture having to hunt down a whole magazine full of missing bios.

2 Include a current, professional head shot with every submission.

Make sure it’s a picture that won’t embarrass the publication (or you) when they print it alongside your article. Shun the painful, goofy writer poses (hand on chin gazing off into the sunset, for example) and instead opt for something casual yet professional. Again, even if you write for them regularly, don’t make them hunt for your head shot.

3 Stick to the word count.

If the submission guidelines say 400-600 words, don’t send them 750. Or 300. Editors set word counts based on space in the magazine. If your editor has room for a 600-word article, but you send him a 750-word one, it physically won’t fit on the page. He’ll do one of two things—mercilessly trim off all your favorite phrases or reject the piece outright. Even editors of online publications take their word counts seriously. Although they’re not restricted by physical space, today’s editors and webmasters battle decreasing attention spans and fierce competition for their corner of the worldwide web.

4 Submit on time or early.

Keep in mind that you’re not the only one with a deadline. Editors have deadlines, too. They have bosses who expect them to produce a product –on schedule. Every time you miss your deadline, you make it harder for your editor to meet his. What if you have a legitimate emergency? If you’ve established yourself as a punctual writer, your editor will do everything he can to accommodate. If you’re frequently late, however, your editor may choose not to work with you in the future.

5 Ask and answer the questions readers will most likely wonder about.

One of the first tests I put an article through is the 5 W’s and an H: who, what, when, where, why, and how? If you don’t answer these questions in your article, your editor (and your reader) will become frustrated.

These five tips are simple and easy, but don’t be fooled. They’re verrrrry important. If you implement them as you write and submit, before long you’ll have editors chasing you instead of running away from you.

Now it’s your turn. What tips can you share to help writers make a good impression on their editors? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts.

Lori Hatcher is the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine. She’s also a blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker. A pastor’s wife who lives delightfully close to their four grandchildren in Lexington, South Carolina, she’s authored several devotional books including  Refresh Your Faith – Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible (Our Daily Bread Publishing) and Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women , the 2016 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Hungry for God. . . Starving for Time . Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

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Magazine and Freelance

Put Dialog on a diet

Like delicious desserts, dialog is often a reader’s favorite part of a story. We quote great dialog for generations.

            “Off with her head!” – Lewis Carroll.

            “We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill.

            “There’s so much scope for imagination.” Lucy Maud Montgomery.

            “It’s me again, Hank the Cowdog.” John Erickson.

            “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” – Jesus Christ.

Dialog is what characters say. Powerful stories are dialog driven through carefully chosen word selections. When Scrooge responds to Christmas cheer with “Bah, humbug,” Charles Dickens has masterfully portrayed the old man’s attitude and character in two words.

Dialog has dynamic purpose in a manuscript. It economically accomplishes several vital objectives. Dialog must

  1. move the story forward. “There’s no place like home. ” This declaration tells the reader that Dorothy’s goal is to return to Kansas.
  2. reveal something important about the plot. “The priest told me they are married.” A single sentence provides a crucial plot point in Fiddler on the Roof without the use of an entire scene to show the same event. In dialog, information can be dropped like a surprise bomb. Readers read to be surprised.
  3. show something important about the character. “Go ahead. Make my day.” What a character says can show what the character is thinking, how the character responds, and illuminate the depth of the character’s motivation.
  4. give the character a unique voice. “I know hurryin’ is against your nature, but you might want to pick up the pace before that storm rolls in.” Vocabulary lets the reader know if the character is educated, gives clues to the region the character is from, and shows the character’s nature to be relaxed, tightly wound, worried, sly, or confident.

Put your dialog on a diet. Words that should not appear in dialog include:

Yeah

Okay

Hello

Good-bye

Oh

Well

Writers give the illusion of reality when crafting dialog. It is the juicy parts with the empty portions left out.

        She helped him sit up. “Are you okay?”

            He rubbed the goose egg on the back of his head. “Where is the phone?”

In this example, if the character answered the question – “Yeah, well, I think I’m okay,” – it would detract from the urgency of the situation. From the action of rubbing his head, we know the hero has a painful noggin. Because he ignores concerns about his health, the reader sees he is focused on what is more important. Show me or tell me, but don’t do both.

In the first draft, dialog may begin with “Hello,” “Oh,” or “Well,” “Yeah,” and end with ‘Good-bye,” but in the editing process, be sure to remove these unnecessary distractions. They are like empty calories in your work. Cream filled Twinkies to be eliminated. Then reread the conversations and see how concise it flows without the banned words weighing it down and sounding like the writer is a novice. With practice, you will no longer even write these twinkies into your diet for dynamic dialog.

History buff and island votary, PeggySue Wells skydives, scuba dives, parasails, and has taken (but not passed) pilot training. PeggySue is the bestselling author of 29 books including Homeless for the Holidays, The Girl Who Wore Freedom, and Chasing Sunrise. She is a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Christian Authors Network, Run Hard, Rest Well, advisory committee for the Taylor Writers Conference, and talk show host on Five Kyngdoms Radio. Connect with her at PeggySueWells.com, @PeggySue Wells, linkedin.com/in/peggysuewells, and facebook.com/peggysue.wells.

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Magazine and Freelance

Don’t Let “Bio Foxes” Spoil Your Article Submission

For almost ten years I’ve served as the editor Reach Out, Columbia magazine, a regional publication dedicated to celebrating the life and light of Jesus Christ in the world. My favorite part of my job is reading and editing articles—until I get to the end and encounter a problem with the writer’s bio.

Solomon (who must have edited a magazine at one time) warned about “the little foxes that spoil the vineyard” (Song of Solomon 2:15).

Every field has its little foxes. Today I’d like to share four “bio foxes” common to magazine and website submissions. Problems with this seemingly insignificant component won’t totally ruin your submission, but they can hinder a publication timetable, reduce an editor’s efficiency, and make said editor decidedly grumpy.

And we never, ever, ever want to make an editor grumpy.

Four Bio Foxes that Can Spoil Your Submission

  1. Forgetting to include your bio at the end of your submission.

If a magazine allows you to include a bio instead of just a byline, they’ve given you a gift. This valuable piece of literary real estate allows you to mention (and, often, include links to) your blog, book, or website. A bio provides a way for readers to further explore your writing by visiting your blog or website or hop over to Amazon to buy your book. If you include personal details, you help readers learn more about you and enhance the connection they feel.

Whether this is the first time you’ve written for the publication or the twentieth, always, always, always include a bio at the end of your submission. It saves the editor the time and frustration of having to either email you for the missing item, search for it on a previous submission, or (heaven forbid) make one up.

  • Failing to update your bio.

If you’re still using the bio you sent ten years ago, or five, or even two, it’s time to update. Hopefully the list of your writing accomplishments has grown, you’ve gained a new hobby, or added a grandchild or two. Not sure what to include? Study the bios of other contributors and take your cue from theirs. Be sure links and web addresses are functional.

  • Failing to follow the publication guidelines for your bio.

Most websites will specify the length and scope of your bio. If the guidelines say, “No more than 40 words,” please don’t send 75. Worse yet is sending 75 and instructing the editor to “edit if necessary.” An editor has no idea what your priorities are and may very well cut the item you most want to include.

If the guidelines instruct you to focus on your writing credits, personal life, or expertise with the subject matter, be sure to honor the request.

  • Neglecting to include a professional head shot.

Not every site or publication includes a head shot with your bio, but many do. Be sure to attach this (usually in jpg format) with every submission. Even if you’ve written for the publication before, attaching it to every submission ensures that the correct picture will accompany your article. It also saves the editor or graphic designer the time and effort it takes to email you for a picture or search their files.

Your bio may seem like a small thing, but attaching one that is up-to-date, fits the publication guidelines, and includes a headshot in every submission will maximize your reach and please your editor. If you doubt its importance, take a page from King Solomon, one of the wisest writers of all. He was so convinced a bio was valuable that he included it at the beginning of one of his most famous books: “The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.”

Too bad he didn’t include a head shot.

Lori Hatcher is the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine and the author of several devotional books including Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women, winner of the 2016 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year award. Her most recent book, Refresh Your Faith – Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible releases in the spring of 2020. A blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker, her goal is to help women connect with God in the craziness of life. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Hungry for God. . . Starving for Time . Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

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Magazine and Freelance

Writer’s Block Or Submission Block? Play to win the Publishing Game

We came. We pitched. Did we send?

Writer’s conferences are well-planned days of speakers, workshops, and opportunities. After pitching themselves and their beloved projects, many writers leave their meetings with agents, editors, and publishers, clutching close a business card and those much sought after words, “Send that to me. I’d like to take a look at it.”

Perhaps you submitted a query or proposal and received the coveted invitation to submit your manuscript.

Editors report that they often never see the projects they invite writers to send. 

There are two types of writers. Those that submit for publication and those that don’t. In the writing industry, the difference between players and spectators is frequently determined by who takes the next step. 

While the unpublished group may claim writers’ block, professional writers are adamant that writers block is as mythical as Nessy the Loch Ness Monster. 

“A professional writer doesn’t wait for inspiration anymore than a professional plumber waits for inspiration to lay a pipe.”

John Erickson

After spending his first forty years as a Texas cowboy, John Erickson is the author of 60 some Hank the Cowdog books. “A professional plumber knows some principles like you don’t lay a pipe uphill or in frozen ground but he lays that pipe. Professional writers write. I write four hours a day seven days a week because I’m fanatical about that because that’s what I do.”

Batter Up

Are your projects stuffed in a drawer, or stored on computer files? Submission block is like a batter that refuses to swing. Opportunities wing past. 

What are you afraid of? Rejection? Success? Both? Taking action that will change the status quo of your life? Is the dream of one day being a published author greater than your courage to go after it?

Even a rejection proves you are in the game. A participant rather than a spectator. A “no, thank you,” is not calling your baby ugly. It is a step closer to connecting with the agent or publisher that shares your passion for the project. It is valuable feedback. Behind a “no” is generally three plays. 

  • The piece does not fit with the purpose of the publisher. For instance, a publisher of non-fiction books is not interested in novels. 
  • There are similar projects already available or in process. 
  • The writing needs improvement.

A homerun response is an enthusiastic yes followed by that favorite call, “Check enclosed.” 

Get in the Game

If submission block is keeping you out of the publishing game, here are moves to get you playing:

  • Accountability. Tell someone you will submit on or before a specific date. 
  • Submit your best work knowing it may not be perfect. 
  • Approach an editor as an eager team player. Be coachable.
  • Like athletes, writers improve with practice. Every time you submit, you take a swing at the ball. 

Betcha’ a cold ballpark hot dog and warm soda that your publishing home run average improves when you submit your work. 

PeggySue Wells is the bestselling author of 29 books including Slavery in the Land of the Free, The Girl Who Wore Freedom, Chasing Sunrise, and Homeless for the Holidays. Connect with her at PeggySueWells.com

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Magazine and Freelance

3 Tips to Help You Secure that Elusive Media Interview

Readers love stories about people. Because readers love stories about people, newspapers, magazines, online publications, and websites love stories about people. If you’re trying to break into these markets, a few well-written profile pieces can be a great way to grab an editor’s attention.

But in order to write an article or profile piece, you first must secure an interview.

Here are three tips for how to bag that elusive media interview:

1. Email through a person’s website

Most websites have a Contact me link or page. Sometimes the website will have an online form you can fill out that includes your contact information and your question. This is the place to paste a carefully-worded request for an interview, called a pitch email. Remember, even though you’re filling in boxes on a website, you should treat this as formal correspondence.

In the letter, include the following information:

  • When you need an interview (your time frame)
  • What publication you’re representing. If you’re a freelancer unassociated with a particular publication, say so.
  • What angle you plan to cover (slant/focus)
  • How much time the interview will take.
  • When the story will be published
  • Anything that sets you apart for doing the interview.
  • Your experience
  • Any point of connection

2. Through a publicist

Publicists are great, because they get paid to book publicity opportunities. They know an article in a local paper or website in advance of an event can provide much-needed exposure and raise the number of attendees.

Speakers want people to attend their events. Musicians want fans to come to their concerts. Writers want readers to purchase their books. If you hear a well-known personality’s coming to town for an event, reach out to their publicist and ask for an interview. A publicist’s information is usually displayed on a celebrity’s website.

I’ve secured many interviews in advance of an event by contacting the local sponsor and asking for the name of the publicist or contact person handling the arrangements. Sometimes the local contact is even willing to reach out on my behalf to request an interview. It’s in their best interest to ensure that the event is well-publicized and attended, so they’re usually motivated to help get the word out.

3. Through personal connections.

I secured an interview with Jack Easterby, the character coach of the New England Patriots, through David, a dental patient of mine. David suggested that Jack would be a great person to feature in Reach Out, Columbia, the regional magazine I edit. “I agree,” I said, “but how in the world would I get an interview with him?”

“His father is in my Sunday School class,” David said. “I’d be glad to ask him if he’d connect you.”

True to his word, David reached out to Jack’s father, who emailed Jack. Imagine my surprise when he agreed to grant us an interview the next time he was in town. The resulting interview generated so much material that we featured him in a two-part series on the role of sports in Christian families.

You never know who knows someone famous. Keep your ears open in conversation and don’t be afraid to ask people to connect you. I was surprised to discover that a man in my Bible study is the grandson of one of the women who started the Vera Bradley company. I haven’t asked for an interview yet, but I plan to.

After you’ve reached out through one or more of these avenues, give it some time, then follow up. Be polite but persistent. If you’re speaking with an administrative assistant or secretary but haven’t gotten a response, ask if there might be a time in the future when the person’s schedule might be lighter, then check back then. Don’t be discouraged if they don’t say yes right away. Some interviews take months to set up.

Above all, pray. Ask God to open doors you could never open on your own. Ask him to help your request find favor with the person who will read it. Ask him to direct you to the people and stories he wants you to write. If you surrender your writing life to him, he will guide your path.

Lori Hatcher is the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine and the author of several devotional books. Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women won the 2016 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year award. Her most recent book, Refresh Your Faith – Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible is due out in the spring of 2020. A blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker, her goal is to help women connect with God in the craziness of life. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Hungry for God. . . Starving for Time . Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

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Magazine and Freelance

What Oscar Mayer Wieners Have to Do with Style

One of the joys (and frustrations) of the English language is how it ebbs, flows, and changes. Unlike dead languages, which are, well, dead, English is fully alive. As writers, it’s our job to stay informed. Does email have a hyphen? Is the word internet capitalized or lowercased? And what in the world is a singular they? It sounds a little schizophrenic if you ask me.

As you write and submit articles, your professionalism will shine if your grammar, punctuation, and formatting reflects the latest updates. Your editors will appreciate you, the publications you write for will invite you to contribute more often, and your edited articles will no longer look like the victim in a slasher movie.

Here are several changes and points of style you may find helpful. In the spirit of full disclosure, I also struggle with (and sometimes fail to remember) the rules that govern usage. When in doubt, look it up. But be sure to use credible sources. One of my new favorite reference books is Dreyer’s English, An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dreyer.

The Singular They

Every year, editors announce big stylebook changes at the American Copy Editors Society (ACES) annual meeting. In 2017, they announced, “the AP Stylebook now allows writers to use they as a singular pronoun when rewriting the sentence as plural would be overly awkward or clumsy.” Even though I squirm a little, this change helps me avoid the annoying and often interruptive he/she or his/her.

Example: The teacher announced that each student could use one homework pass a month. This means he or she won’t have to turn in his or her homework on the night of the big football game. 

Change To: The teacher announced that each student could use one homework pass a month. This means they won’t have to turn in their homework on the night of the big football game. 

 The style also allows writers to pair they with everyone in similar situations.

Exclamation Points

The late Sue Duffy first editor at Reach Out, Columbiamagazine, gently but firmly told me, “Use as few exclamation points as possible — only when someone is shrieking or their house is on fire.” Even now, years later, whenever my left pinkie reaches for that forbidden punctuation mark, I hear her voice and my pinkie returns to its proper place.

“Began to” and “Started to”

In most cases, it’s best to avoid the use of “began to” or “started to.”

Example: “Tears began to roll down his cheeks.”

Change To: “Tears rolled down his cheeks.”

We don’t begin to cry, we cry. We don’t start to walk, we walk. We don’t begin to eat, we eat.

Occasionally someone might start to walk to the front of the church and change his mind, but most of the time, it’s best to use the verb only. If you’re not sure which is correct, try it both ways. You’ll realize that began to and started to are usually unnecessary.

Were vs. Was

Remember the hot dog jingle, “I wish I were an Oscar Mayer wiener”? Why doesn’t it go, “I wish I was an Oscar Mayer wiener”? Many writers struggle with knowing when to use were and when to use was.

Dryer proposes this rule of thumb: If you’ve presented a situation that is unlikely, improbable, or just plain impossible, use were. If the situation that is not the case but could be, use was.

Example using were: If I were to become the president of the United States, I’d end war, rid the world of nuclear weapons, and give every ten-year-old a bike.”

Example using was: If I was in that meeting, I’d have asked for a raise.

I hope these four points of style have made you think and settled more questions than they’ve raised. And in case you’re wondering, during that 2017 meeting of the ACES, editors also announced the Associate Press would no longer use a hyphen in email and lowercase the word internet. The Chicago Manual of Style followed suit the next day.

Now you know.

(Portions of this content were previously posted on The Write Conversation.)

Lori Hatcher is the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine and the author of several devotional books. Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women won the 2016 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year award. Her most recent book, Refresh Your Faith – Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible is due out in the spring of 2020. A blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker, her goal is to help women connect with God in the craziness of life. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Hungry for God. . . Starving for Time . Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

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Magazine and Freelance

5 Tips for a Successful Interview

When I interviewed Dr. Gary Chapman, author of The 5 Love Languages and a bazillion other books, I prayed for a unique interview question to set the tone for our time together. As Linda Gilden shared in last month’s post, “Interviewing – An Article Writer’s Best Tool,” one of the greatest tools we have as writers is the interview. “Quotes from individuals strengthen your point,” Gilden wrote, “and let your readers know that even if you are not an expert on the subject, you know people who are well-versed, and you work hard to make the connection.”

Whether you’re writing an informational article that includes quotes from an expert or a profile piece using original quotes, you want to be sure to handle your interview well. Here are a few tips for a successful conversation:

1 Do your homework.

Research your subject well. Learn everything you can about your subject/ministry/product/service before the interview so you won’t waste your (or their) time by asking for information you can easily find on the internet. Take notes and use your notes to craft your questions.

Sometimes you’ll discover unusual or intriguing information your subject might be too modest to share. These facts can chart the course of your interview and help you deepen and flesh out your article.

Often you may have only ten or 15 minutes to talk with your subject. You’ll want to spend these valuable minutes asking questions to unearth unique quotes and information, not rehash stuff someone else has already covered.

2 Create interview questions that deliver a new twist to who, what, when, where, why and how.

Don’t be afraid to dig deeper, but respect your subject’s privacy. Ask questions your readers might be wondering about.

As I prepared for my in-person interview with Gary Chapman, I asked his assistant what his love language was. She said, “Acts of service.” I used this information in an unusual way when we finally met in person.

Finally, conclude by giving your subject the chance to talk about something they consider important that you may not have thought of. Ask, “Is there anything you’d like our readers to know that we haven’t covered yet?” or “Is there a question you’ve always wished someone would ask you, but they never have?”

3 Ask permission to use a digital recorder, especially on a phone interview.

After a little small talk, I usually say something like, “I want to be sure I quote you accurately. Would you mind if I recorded our interview?” I’ve never had a subject refuse.

Once you have their permission, put your phone on speaker, turn on your digital recorder, and place it near the phone. If I’m interviewing in person, I use an inexpensive app called JustPressRecord, which allows me to record, transcribe, and email the conversation to myself later.

Occasionally someone will want to say something “off the record.” When this happens, I pause the recorder until we’ve moved beyond the subject in question.

4 Honor your subject’s time by sticking to the agreed-upon time limit.

Set a timer, and when you’re a few minutes away from the end of the interview, acknowledge this by saying something like, “Our time is almost up, and I want to respect your time. May I ask one final question?” Sometimes your subject will be willing to talk longer, but if they don’t offer, don’t presume. Wrap up the interview as soon as they’ve finished their answer by thanking them for talking with you.

5 If you know the date, tell them when you expect the article to be published and offer to send them a few copies or a link.

Ask for their address, and follow up with a hand-written thank you note. If you worked with a publicist or personal assistant to set up the interview, send them a note as well. Always leave a trail of gratitude and professionalism behind you.

Interviews can be scary, but they don’t have to be. If you do your homework, write clever questions, use a voice recorder, honor your subject’s time, and follow up with a thank you note, you’ll maximize your interview and further establish yourself as a writing professional.

On the day I interviewed Dr. Chapman, I baked a batch of cookies, packaged them up, and brought them to the interview. After I introduced myself to Dr. Chapman and Debbie, his assistant, I handed them both a box of cookies.

“I heard your love language is Acts of Service, Dr. Chapman,” I said, “so I wanted to do something special for you. These are homemade oatmeal pecan cookies. I hope you enjoy them.” He laughed, thanked me, and we sat down to one of the best interviews of my career. Several weeks later I received an email from Debbie thanking me for the cookies and asking for the recipe. Now how’s that for a surprise twist?

Lori Hatcher is the editor of Reach Out, Columbia magazine and the author of several devotional books. Hungry for God … Starving for Time, Five-Minute Devotions for Busy Women won the 2016 Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year award. Her most recent book, Refresh Your Faith – Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible is due out in the spring of 2020. A blogger, writing instructor, and inspirational speaker, her goal is to help women connect with God in the craziness of life. You’ll find her pondering the marvelous and the mundane on her blog, Hungry for God. . . Starving for Time . Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter (@LoriHatcher2), or Pinterest (Hungry for God).

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Magazine and Freelance

Interviewing – An Article Writer’s Best Tool

One of the greatest tool we have as article writers is the interview. You do not necessarily have to do an hour-long interview to receive great benefit to your articles. Quotes from individuals strengthen your point and let your readers know that even if you are not an expert on the subject you know people who are well-versed and you work hard to make the connection.

Here are several reasons the interview helps the article writers make their articles stronger.

  1. The opinion of someone else validates your subject and adds value to the material. Interviewing someone who is knowledgeable in your subject broadens the scope of your reach and helps more people to personally identify with your subject.
  2. An expert brings extra meaning to your article and gives credibility to your subject. Even if your article is not an academic one, having a quote from an expert let’s the reader know that there is deeper knowledge to be had if they want to pursue it.
  3. Quotes show how your subject can be applied to daily life. If you are writing an article on depression, yet you have never experienced depression, having a quote or a sidebar from someone who has gone through depression will bring the human element into your writing. Likewise, if you are writing on running marathons and have never run one, seek out a marathon runner who can not only read your article and verify key elements, but he or she can also provide firsthand experience to illustrate your points.
  4. Often when you interview someone for a quote to go in an article, you find an aspect of the subject that you didn’t even think to include. So, talking to others helps you strengthen your outline and not leave out important parts.
  5. Those you include in your article will help spread the word about your writing.

Even if you only contact someone for a quote, remember your manners and be respectful of their time. Be sure to write a thank you note. Send them a copy of the published article and let them know where they can get copies or find it online.

If there are parts of your conversation you aren’t able to use for this article, file it away to use another time for a different article. Never throw anything away because you never know when you may have an opportunity to use it!

Linda Gilden is an award-winning writer, speaker, editor, certified writing and speaking coach, and personality consultant. Her passion is helping others discover the joy of writing. Linda recently released Articles, Articles, Articles! and is the author of over a thousand magazine articles and 16 books including the new LINKED Quick Guides for Personalities. As Director of the Carolina Christian Writers Conference, Linda helps many writers take the next step in reaching their writing goals. Linda’s favorite activity (other than eating folded potato chips) is floating in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing grandchildren—a great source of writing material! www.lindagilden.com

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Magazine and Freelance

Making a Difference One Word at a Time

Do you want to do something that makes a difference? When I first started writing, I was content to write in my office and have a few things published. That seemed like a pretty good accomplishment. But sitting there all alone with my computer, didn’t make me feel like I was impacting the world. Looking across the top of my computer out the window at the vast landscape in front of me should have been inspirational. Instead, because it was all the world I could see every day, it felt very small.

As I reflected on my thoughts, several things changed my perspective.

  1. I had peace about what I was doing. I didn’t feel restless to go do something else. God had called me to be a writer and I was learning the craft. With each successful placement of my work, I had the opportunity to touch or change a life.
  2. I quit worrying about how I fit in the writing world and concentrated on doing what I knew I was called to do. Some like to approach the writing world as a competitive venue. God has a special message for every writer to communicate in a way that is unlike any other writer’s style. I needed to let my uniqueness overflow onto every page.
  3. I received bits of encouragement from others. Friends commented on my writing, a note or two arrived from people I didn’t even know, my passion continued to grow, aspiring writers asked me for advice.
  4. Second Corinthians 3:3 says, “You are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of the human heart.” Whether my words are on a computer or spoken by the way I live, I am God’s messenger to the world and others are reading.

Yes, being a writer is a pretty solitary job. However, very few other professions have the opportunity to take their messages directly to their audiences. Can you make a difference? Absolutely. How? One word at a time reaching one heart at a time.

One of my favorite writing quotes is from Martin Luther. “If you want to change the world, pick up a pen.” Since the first time I heard it, I knew I had heard directly from God as to my calling.

Linda Gilden is an award-winning writer, speaker, editor, certified writing and speaking coach, and personality consultant. Her passion is helping others discover the joy of writing. Linda recently released Articles, Articles, Articles! and is the author of over a thousand magazine articles and 16 books including the new LINKED Quick Guides for Personalities. As Director of the Carolina Christian Writers Conference, Linda helps many writers take the next step in reaching their writing goals. Linda’s favorite activity (other than eating folded potato chips) is floating in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing grandchildren—a great source of writing material! www.lindagilden.com

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Magazine and Freelance

Slant – A Writers Secret Weapon for Multiple Articles

“Slant” is a commonly used, every day word. You can slant things to the left or the right or walk up a steep slant in the terrain.

In the writing world, slant means you write your article or book to a specific audience. Being aware of those audiences provides keys to multiple markets for your work. You have done your homework by reading the guidelines and several issues of the magazine or several books by the same publishing house. You have an understanding of what they are looking for, what their worldview is, whether or not the perspective is more conservative or liberal. Determining your slant also involves understanding the readers of the particular publication or publishing house.

For example, if you wanted to write an article on some aspect of parenting you might start out with a serious slant such as “The ABC’s of Parenting.”

A different slant might be “Parenting Teens – Life’s Biggest Challenge.”

You could use a variation on that slant such as “Create Boundaries to Keep Your Teens Safe.”

A humorous slant might be “When People Think Your Daughter is Your Little Sister.”

“Daddy Daughter Relationships” could be a good slant for men.

A women’s slant could be instructions on “How to Get Along with Your Mini-Me.”

You might consider a children’s slant like “Parenting the Early Years Well” or Six Fun Games for Painless Toddler Learning.”

Each of these slants could be targeted to a different magazine, giving you multiple opportunities for publication.

The same process can apply to books. In fact, for books, this is a good way to brainstorm your subject and find the focus that works best for you. You might find that as you list possible slants, you may be creating an outline for your book.

Another word you might hear used interchangeably with slant is the word “angle.” The slant, or angle, of your article or book could affect your chances of having your article or book accepted. Knowing the way information is presented to an editor’s specific audience is sure to catch his or her eye.

Why not give it a try? Pick a subject and see how many slants you can come up with. You may find you have lots of articles to write from one subject you are familiar with. Or perhaps thoughts of book slants will yield chapter focus and clarity.

Linda Gilden is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She loves to take one subject and create multiple articles from her research. Linda finds great joy (and lots of writing material) in time spent with her family. www.lindagilden.com

A similar article first appeared on thewriteconversation.com in June, 2016.

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Magazine and Freelance

The Five Ps of Meeting Deadlines

Deadlines can be overwhelming. But with just a bit of preplanning, they can be managed without taking over your life. Here are a few tips to make the struggling and juggling a little easier.

Pray

Make prayer your first step in meeting every deadline. Take time to ask God’s blessing and direction on every project you undertake. The time you take to talk to Him about what you are working on will be multiplied as you write.

Prioritize

Make a written list or keep it in your head, but make a list. Which projects have the closest deadlines? (Sometimes it comes down to a few hours difference in the deadlines.) Which can be pushed into next week? All are important so be sure you don’t let one fall between the cracks.

Plan

Are there any projects that could share research? Even if not, decide what you need to learn, then set aside a specific time for research. Doing it all at one time will make your writing time more efficient. Just be sure to keep good notes as to what information goes with which project.  Also, plan some family time in the schedule. Even an hour at dinner with your spouse, playing with the grandchildren, or walking in the garden alone will refresh you and make you more productive.

Partner

No, I don’t mean look for a coauthor. Writing is not a solo occupation. Your spouse, your family, and others are an important part of what you do. If you have a season of heavy deadlines, discuss it with your family. Ask them to take some of your chores or to cook a meal to free your time time to write. Talk to your close friends and your prayer team and ask them to pray for you during this intense time of writing.

Persevere

Whatever you do, don’t let major deadlines weigh you down. Stand strong, work according to your devised plan, and don’t give up. Even though you are alone when you write, you have an audience waiting to hear the wisdom of your words. You are making a difference. Your words can change the course of someone’s day.

Now head back to the computer and write the words that will make you a life-changer. Martin Luther said it well. “If you want to change the world, pick up a pen.”

Linda Gilden is an award-winning writer, speaker, editor, certified writing and speaking coach, and personality consultant. Her passion is helping others discover the joy of writing. Linda recently released Articles, Articles, Articles! and is the author of over a thousand magazine articles and 16 books including the new LINKED Quick Guides for Personalities. As Director of the Carolina Christian Writers Conference, Linda helps many writers take the next step in reaching their writing goals. Linda’s favorite activity (other than eating folded potato chips) is floating in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing grandchildren—a great source of writing material! www.lindagilden.com

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Magazine and Freelance

Are You a Titan?

There is a television show this season called Titans. It is one of those shows that challenges the strength of the participants. Every week those who have trained and passed the auditions show up to try to out-run, out-pull, out-climb, and out-do in every other way their opponents.

The challenge is always different but the method is always the same. The contestant starts off with a burst of energy when the torch signals to start. He or she completes the first segment quickly. But as they progress, each contestant begins to show signs of fatigue. Their muscles bulge, their faces contort, their steps falter, they fall more, and they advance toward their goal slower.

For some reason, I am drawn to these shows. There is something about cheering another person on to victory that is exciting. Even though I am not the athletic type, I love to see others meet their goals.

Last night as the show went off, I realized that writers are a lot like these titans.

We first get an idea to run the race to publication. After that initial idea, we grab another idea to write about. We go into training as we ponder and research the idea.

Then comes the race. We step up to the plate, excited, adrenalin flowing. We know we are going to make it to the top. We work tirelessly to assimilate our information, make outlines, and write our introductions. Then we begin to write. We notice our enthusiasm may have waned just a bit but we know we must get those words on the paper. We start writing, pushing our muscles a little farther.

As we progress to the top, we notice we are having to flex our writer muscles a bit more solidly to keep on track. But we keep working at it.

When we get near the finish, we realize that we are really struggling to stay focused and wrap up the article in a strong and effective. We write one word at a time, deliberately striking each key. We pray that we can make a difference and that our words will change lives.

Finally, we finish, exhausted, arms in the air declaring victory (and stretching our weary muscles in a different direction. Maybe not the same kind of exertion as the titans on television, but all the same exhausted.

Are you a titan? Do you approach your writing with every bit of energy and training you have had? I would say to you exactly what I would say to the titans on the screen, “C’mon. You can do it! Go for the goal.”

Linda Gilden is an award-winning writer, speaker, editor, certified writing and speaking coach, and personality consultant. Her passion is helping others discover the joy of writing. Linda recently released Articles, Articles, Articles! and is the author of over a thousand magazine articles and 18 books including the new LINKED Quick Guides for Personalities. As Director of the Carolina Christian Writers Conference, Linda helps many writers take the next step in reaching their writing goals. Linda love to float in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing grandchildren—a great source of writing material! www.lindagilden.com

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Magazine and Freelance

Looking for Article Opportunities

Writers just beginning to write articles look around them and the big question becomes, “I know some of the basics of writing articles but how do I find places to submit my work?”

Article writing can come in many forms these days. Just look around you. Everything that has words on it has been written by someone—magazines and blogs, of course, but also placemats in restaurants, stories on sides of products such as kid’s meal boxes, flyers, newsletters, and more. So be creative and think outside the box.

Articles require research and it is sad not to be able to use and reuse your research for other things. Don’t spend time in extensive research without looking for ways you can use your material for other articles or projects.

For example, you may have just submitted an article on cats and what great pets they are for a general interest magazine. Why not create a fun quiz for kids about the quirky habits of cats? Or make a list of fun facts about cats? Those are things you could submit to another magazine or pitch to cat product manufacturers as something fun they could put on the side of their products. You could also write a children’s story that incorporates some of the things you learned.

Perhaps you have done an article for a local magazine and learned a lot about your area. Create a placemat with games and fun facts that you could pitch to local restaurants. Better yet, offer to customize the placemats by including a few fun facts about that specific restaurant. Some restaurants have the history of their businesses on the placemat. Here again, writer opportunity!

When you see a possible market, be bold and don’t hesitate to approach a business or editor with an idea as to how you can help. Introduce yourself as a writer and tell him or her that you noticed they used written materials. Offer to send samples or a list of ideas. Then make sure you follow up.

Bottom line, be attentive as you go through your day and make note of written items you see. There may just be a writing opportunity right in front of your eyes.

 

Linda Gilden is an award-winning writer, speaker, editor, certified writing and speaking coach, and personality consultant. Her passion is helping others discover the joy of writing. Linda recently released Articles, Articles, Articles! and is the author of over a thousand magazine articles and 17 books including the new LINKED Quick Guides for Personalities. As Director of the Carolina Christian Writers Conference, Linda helps many writers take the next step in reaching their writing goals. Linda’s favorite activity (other than eating folded potato chips) is floating in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing grandchildren—a great source of writing material! www.lindagilden.com

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Magazine and Freelance

Last-Minute Christmas Gifts for Writers

When checking to make sure you have gifts for everyone on your list, you may find that your author friends are the hardest to buy for. Here are a few suggestions to make the holidays merry for writers everywhere.

  1. A nice pen. I am not suggesting an expensive pen. Just something that writes well. Authors love pens and need them by their computers, by their beds, and to sign books. A writer can never have enough pens and the thrill of a new one never grows old.
  2. Time to write. If your writer friend or relative has children, offer to babysit or take the kids for ice cream so he or she can focus fully on his or her writing for an hour or two.
  3. Help him or her to tidy up the office. Although the office of a writer often looks like a cyclone came through, he or she probably knows exactly what is where. However, writers enjoy a tidy space and often find things cleaning up that that have been missing for months.
  4. Make a meal and take supper to the writer’s family. Here again, a gift of time to write.
  5. A briefcase. Like a new pen, a new briefcase is always welcome and makes a writer feel he or she is moving up in the world of publishing.
  6. A writer ornament for the tree or a piece of jewelry that identifies him or her as a writer.
  7. Help him or her attend a writers conference. This is the best way to help writers move ahead their careers. You could do this in several ways:
  • Provide funds for them to attend.
  • Offer your flyer miles to help with transportation.
  • Help care for children while they attend.
  • Buy a new briefcase for them to use at the conference.

One of the very best gifts you can give a writer is to help him or her feel validation. Brag to others about the writer’s accomplishments. Offer to suggest your book club read his or her book. Share news of published articles online. So many people think because writers work at home that their work is more of a hobby than a career. So any praise or recognition you can offer is always welcome. Everyone needs a little support now and then and applause makes a great Christmas gift!

Linda Gilden is an award-winning writer, speaker, editor, certified writing and speaking coach, and personality consultant. Her passion is helping others discover the joy of writing. Linda recently released Articles, Articles, Articles! and is the author of over a thousand magazine articles and 17 books including the new LINKED Quick Guides for Personalities. As Director of

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Magazine and Freelance

Article Writing Basics

People are often surprised when I say I love to write articles. “Articles?” they say. “How did you learn to do that? Doesn’t that take a lot of time? How do you know what to write?”

Continue reading “Article Writing Basics”
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Magazine and Freelance

Why Write Articles?

When I began writing I had small children at home. I wrote in my head all day long and looked forward to the few computer moments I would have at nap time, between loads of laundry, and after bedtime. Because of that mental prewriting, I was able to quickly get my work into files ready for submission. The best market for these short pieces seemed to be articles, so that is where I focused.

After several years of writing articles (because I thought it was the only thing I had time to do), I realized that I really enjoyed writing articles, for several reasons.

  1. They were short and they fit very well into my daily schedule of parenting. As the children got older I realized that even though we had added new activities to the day, I could still write in carpool line or while I was waiting for dance lessons or soccer practice to be over. Even when the children got old enough to be dropped off for long periods of time or to drive themselves, my favorite thing to write was articles.
  2. Because of their brevity, I could complete articles quickly. Some days I could finish multiple articles and submit them. That was always a good feeling to know much had been accomplished in a day. Especially since some days left almost no time for writing.
  3. Articles often require research which means not only am I writing something that will educate others, I am learning new things myself. Research can also be used to write other articles without additional time in the library.
  4. Often when you figure it per word, articles are a great way to supplement your income. Many people think books are the best way to make additional money. But strategically placed articles can be lucrative.
  5. Articles are a good exercise in writing tightly and making the most of the words you use. When you only have a few hundred words to get your message to the world, you need to make sure they all count.
  6. Articles can be written anywhere. Recently I was on the road and someone else was driving. Before I arrived home I had written an article, edited it, submitted it, and it was accepted. What a great road trip!
  7. As writing moved into the digital world, I found many new markets for my articles. True, writing for the web is a little different than writing print articles. But with very little additional learning I found a new world of writing for the internet.

What about you? Have you discovered the fun and excitement of writing articles?

Linda Gilden is an award-winning writer, speaker, editor, certified writing and speaking coach, and personality consultant. Her passion is helping others discover the joy of writing. Linda recently released Articles, Articles, Articles! and is the author of over a thousand magazine articles and 16 books including the new LINKED Quick Guides for Personalities. As Director of the Carolina Christian Writers Conference, Linda helps many writers take the next step in reaching their writing goals. Linda’s favorite activity (other than eating folded potato chips) is floating in a pool with a good book surrounded by splashing grandchildren—a great source of writing material! www.lindagilden.com

Categories
Magazine and Freelance

Are You Using A Magazine’s Theme List?

Last week I was at a Christian writers conference. It’s one of the key places where you can build relationships with editors and learn how to send the editor what he wants. If you write what an editor needs, then you are much more likely to get published than randomly writing something and sending it into the publication. If a writers’ conference is not in your plans, make plans to get to one soon. As editors, we publish people that we know, like and trust and you can build these relationships at a conference.

During an editor’s panel at this conference, I heard an editor’s cry for help. I’m not going to give the specific magazine but use this incident as a way to help you be more successful and on target with your magazine submissions.

This magazine editor leads a 200,000 circulation Christian publication which publishes a theme list with their guidelines. With each monthly magazine, they publish articles outside of their theme but in particular they need articles tied to their theme. In front of the entire conference, this editor mentioned several of his projected themes did not have a single article ready for publication.

magazine theme list

As I listened to this editor’s cry for help, I recalled my work at Decision, the publication of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. As Associate Editor, I was looking for theme related articles. For example, I needed articles about love for a February magazine (Valentine’s Day). It was not easy to get these articles even for a large circulation magazine like Decision whose circulation at that time was 1.8 million. To gather these needed theme-related articles, I would call or email some of my author friends and ask them for submissions.

If you want to be published in magazines, in general there are two options. You can write whatever you want (inspiration) and then try to find a publication for it. Or you can look at the themes an editor has created for their magazine (their needs) and write an article to meet those needs. The second approach of writing for a particular theme is more likely to be published from my experience.

The 2018 Christian Writers Market Guide includes over 150 magazine listings. Many of these listings include the location of their guidelines and theme list. Another way to find these publications is to use Google with the search words “Christian editorial theme lists.” I instantly found several pages of Christian publications with their theme lists.

As you meet needs of the editor (their theme list) you will be published in magazines and become a dependable resource for your editor. Don’t overlook this important resource for your magazine articles.

W. Terry Whalin, a writer and acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing, lives in Colorado. A former magazine editor, Whalin has written for more than 50 publications including Christianity Today and Writer’s Digest. Terry is the author of How to Succeed As An Article Writer which you can get at: http://writeamagazinearticle.com/. He has written more than 60 nonfiction books including Jumpstart Your Publishing Dreams. His latest book is Billy Graham, A Biography of America’s Greatest Evangelist and the book website is at: http://BillyGrahamBio.com Watch the short book trailer for Billy Graham at: http://bit.ly/BillyGrahamBT His website is located at: www.terrywhalin.com. Follow him on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/terrywhalin