How I Became a Syndicated Columnist – And You Can Too! (part 1 of 2)
By Sarah Smiley
Real Estate has “Location, location, location,” and writing has “Clips, clips, clips.”
When people ask me how I became a syndicated columnist, I usually say, “it just snowballed.” And basically that’s what happened: one publication led to another, which led to another, and so forth.
I began my career writing for a small community paper in my neighborhood. To look back on those first published clips is quite entertaining! But how can I be ashamed? The work I did at The Julington Creek Plantation Press (the JCPP) became a springboard for my now nationally syndicated column “Shore Duty.”
(If you read between the lines here, what I’m saying is, Don’t be impatient, and don’t expect quick success! Be willing to work your way up and focus on getting the coveted published clips.)
But a giant “snowball” was not all it took for me to become a writing success. Admittedly, it took hard-work, research and persistence too. Below are some things I learned along the way:
Never Submit Shoddy Work, No Matter How Small the Publication
When I was working for the JCPP I knew the interviews and spotlights I was writing were not Pulitzer material. In fact, I’d be surprised if even a hundred people ever even read those first pieces. Nevertheless, I made sure every submission was flawless and an excellent reflection of what I can do as a writer. (You never know who might read your work… even the small work!)
Providing error-free copy and meeting deadlines sets up a precedence of professionalism that will follow you throughout your career. Never forget the editors you are writing for now may be the ones writing your next referral or recommendation.
A great book for grammar and proofreading help is The Associated Press Guide to Punctuation by Rene J. Cappon.
Never Let Your Readers Down
Developing a relationship with your readers is the ultimate goal (editors only buy what their readers demand!), so it is important to make sure all your writing (however small or insignificant) is entertaining and consistent with your abilities.
Building a firm base of loyal fans and readers should be your utmost concern. Never let your readers down! When I write my column each week, I have in my mind the mother who will be sitting down to breakfast Tuesday morning and opening the Life section to see my submission. I don’t write for editors (well, ok, so I do a little bit); I write for readers.
Building my readership base has paid off. Now I have loyal fans throughout the country emailing their local papers to request Shore Duty! And I’ll say it again: Editors only buy what their readers demand!
Always Approach the Managing Editor
There are many benefits to querying the Managing Editor of a publication, as opposed to a section- or other editor. Ultimately, the Managing Editor makes the monetary decisions for the paper, which gives them the “last word.” If you want a quick “yes” or “no” with few middle-men in between, direct your query to the Managing Editor.
Once you get the job, however, strive to build a good working relationship with the editor of your section. This will be the person you deal with on a regular basis. Always meet deadlines (in fact, be early and they’ll love you!), and as much as possible, reduce the amount of work for your very busy editor: always proofread and “tighten” your writing before submitting it for publication.
Sarah Smiley’s syndicated column Shore Duty appears weekly in newspapers across the country. Visit Sarah’s website.
SOURCE: Wordpreneur.com — How to Make Money Writing!
