The Gold Star
Tuesday, October 12, 2010 Question of the day: I'm a newbie (ish) freelance magazine writer and have received quite a few assignments from national magazines. I love writing them, however, this biz is pretty, well, thankless. I don't want any glittery emails back about how my women's service-y tips were groundbreaking, but my question is: how do you know if you've done a good job? How do you know what the difference is between mediocre and great when, aside from edits, there's not much feedback to go off of? Sometimes my articles go through the editing machine pretty consistent with what I turned in; sometimes they're torn up; others they're reorganized a bit. What do you think makes a successful (and desired) freelancer?
Oh, this is a great question and seems so hard to answer that I definitely wanted to open up the floor to other magazine writers to get their thoughts. I thought I knew that I'd done a good job with a few telltale signs: 1) I instinctively knew that I'd given it 100%, and that showed in both the writing and the research. These days (or maybe it's just that I wrote for the mags for so long that toward the end, I could write the pieces in my sleep), it feels like some pieces are just regurgitations of older pieces, so when I wrote (and now, when I read) an article with genuinely insightful/new research or quotes, I was always pretty proud of myself. And again, the pacing and snappiness of the writing - I think that most writers can tell when there's a good flow to the work.
That said, you're right: editing doesn't have so much to do with whether or not you've done a good job. It may simply be a magazine's protocol to edit the hell out of each and every piece, and there were plenty of times that I had pieces taken apart and put back together and thought, "Well, that must have SUCKED," but the editor just thought it was business as usual and not at all an indication of the quality of the piece. That generally happens at the magazines that edit by committee - ie. multiple editors take a crack at it.
But what WOULD tell me that I'd done a good job - and this is both obvious and still true - is getting a repeat assignment. Toward the end of my heavy duty magazine work, I earned most of my bread and butter by having built relationships with maybe half a dozen editors who trusted me and who sent work my way time and again. THIS is the real mark of good work. They may not come back to you right away, but if you've blown their socks off, their doors will be left open for more work, even if you have to keep pitching and pitching. Another assignments proves that you couldn't have done too poor a job on the first one. :)
At least that's my take. But I bet there are 100 different answers to this question. So writers, I'd love to hear how YOU know when you've done a good job.
Reader Comments (7)
I agree Allison, the best evidence of a job well done is repeat business. Especially in this environment where I'm guessing there is a lot of competition out there.
I agree with Allison about the repeat assignments. When an editor e-mails me to say, "what can you pitch?" or "Thought you would be great for this story," that's reassurance. Once in a while a story really strikes a cord and gets a reaction - I write a lot of local culture pieces - so that feels good to read the letters to the editor about the pieces.
Cord, or chord. Ha.
First sign it's good is IT WAS PUBLISHED. Second sign, REPEAT BUSINESS.
Be thankful for what you've got. Don't overanalyze.
I agree-- repeat assignments are definitely a measure of how well you've done, but I've been known to ask an editor how I did as well. When I submit an assignment to a new-to-me editor, I always let them know that I'm happy to do revisions to make sure it meets their requirements, and I end with, "Looking forward to hearing what you think of the piece" or something of the sort. I usually get feedback right away.
As a side note, Allison: there are way too many spam comments coming up on your blog. If I ask to be notified for follow-up comments, I find at least 3-6 spam comments in my Inbox, so have had to stop using that option for now. Could you screen them, please? Thanks!
I have just found you site and have been reading and learning for hours. I have a question.
I have been working on a local and regional level building up clips. I have not had to query and the thought terrifies me. I have had over 50 articles published. I am ready to try other venues. So far I have written about health and fitness, but am looking for a little broader canvas.
My question is how do I handle clips? Do I have a website where they "live" or do I snail them?
There are many superior quality replica watches at our watch shop.replica watches : replica watches,Omega:Omega,Hamilton:Hamilton,Breguet:Breguet,Replica watch BreitlingBreitling,Replica watch TAG HeuerTAG Heuer,Replica Rolex watchesRolex watches,Replica watch Bell and RossBell and Ross,Replica watch CartierCartier,replica watches ukreplica watches uk,Replica watch FerrariFerrari,Replica Patek Philippe watchesPatek PhilippeU-Boat U-Boat,replica watch chopard Chopard,replica watch IWC:IWC,replica watch Hublot:Hublotwatches for sale:watches for sale.Welome to our store.