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Inklings Issue 6.16
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i n k l i n g s
Inkspot's newsletter for Writers on the Net
http://www.inkspot.com
Issue 6.16 August 16, 2000
*****************************************************************
<http://www.inkspot.com/inklings/issues/ink0616.html>
In this issue: Chloe Osborne describes ways to beat the anxiety
of interviews, and Marcia Yudkin (Ask the Freelance Writer)
offers a range of tips on such topics as bios, syndication and
more.
This issue sponsored by:
*****************************************************************
XLIBRIS exists to help authors publish. Promptly, permanently.
You retain control. We make it happen: your book in beautiful
hard cover and trade paperback editions, available on-demand,
forever. Call for a free information pack: 1-888-7XLIBRIS, e-mail
info@xlibris.com or visit us online: http://www.xlibris.com/
*****************************************************************
ISSN 1205-6413. Copyright (c) 2000 Inkspot Company Of Canada.
See end of issue for full copyright and contact information.
*****************************************************************
CONTENTS THIS ISSUE:
From the Managing Editor's Desk
Fresh Ink/Book Giveaway
Market Information
Ask the Freelance Writer
"Beating the Anxiety of Interviews," by Chloe Osborne
Inkspot Community Chat Update
Writers' Classifieds
*****************************************************************
FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR'S DESK
-------------------------------
More About Contentville
-----------------------
My report on Contentville in the previous issue drew a flurry of
letters -- including responses from many writers who were
dismayed to find their work listed for sale on the site.
The latest news still concerns the pending agreement between
Contentville and the National Writers Union. The gist of this
agreement is this: If you find that your material is posted on
Contentville, and you believe you hold the exclusive right to
distribute this material electronically (i.e., you didn't
license electronic rights, exclusive or nonexclusive, to
anyone else), you can register that work with the NWU's
Publication Rights Clearinghouse. Once all the issues of who
owns what are cleared up, you will receive 30% royalties on
all sales of your material from Contentville.
Some articles have reported that this is the only way by which
authors can claim royalties from Contentville. However, one
reader forwarded a copy of an e-mail from Contentville that
indicated that, in fact, writers may be able to claim royalties
even if they do not sign up with the PRC.
If you do register with the PRC, the NWU will collect "a small
administrative fee" for handling your royalties. In addition,
the NWU may make your work available (on a nonexclusive basis)
to other electronic outlets. There is no fee for registration,
and writers do not need to become members of the NWU to join.
In addition, once a work is registered, writers can continue
to sell it elsewhere, in any medium.
It isn't clear just how soon this agreement will go into
effect, or even when it will be finalized. Writers will
undoubtedly have to demonstrate that they do, in fact, own
the rights to the work in question. The best way to do this
is with a copy of your contract. In the absence of a contract,
you might wish to contact your publisher and ask for a
letter that states that no electronic rights were transferred
to that publisher. In the absence of either of the above, it
is generally understood that a sale without a contract usually
encompasses only "first" rights in the medium of the sale (e.g.,
first print rights, etc.). However, this may prove more
difficult for writers to prove, without documentation.
Not every writer is thrilled with this proposed arrangement.
Many believe that it doesn't address the primary issue -- the
fact that the material should never have been sold to
Contentville (e.g., by EBSCO) in the first place. The
agreement does not seem to prevent the possibility of future
unauthorized sales. It doesn't protect authors' rights or
prevent unauthorized use of one's material (past or future);
it simply provides a vehicle that will, at some point in the
future, provide writers a means of recouping royalties on
material that has been sold (even if it was sold without the
author's permission).
What do you think? The deal isn't final yet; for more details,
visit http://www.nwu.org/journ/cv1.htm. You can review the PRC
agreement at http://www.nwu/prc/prcjoin.htm. If you would like
to share your views with the National Writers Union, you can
contact them at prc@nwu.org. (We'd like to hear your opinions
as well!)
In the meantime, we'll continue to keep you posted on this
extremely hot issue!
-- Moira Allen
*****************************************************************
FRESH INK
---------
New on Inkspot:
---------------
Getting Started in Greeting Cards:
An Inkspot Interview with Terri See
by Kennerly Clay
http://www.inkspot.com/feature/cards.html
How to Become a Foreign Correspondent -- Without Leaving Home!
by Ysabel de la Rosa
Find out what it takes to bring international news "home" --
even if you never leave home.
http://www.inkspot.com/feature/foreign.html
Temping Fate: Finding Work as an Editorial Temp
by Scott Kirkwood
Temping isn't just for office help. Editorial jobs abound --
and can help you fill in the gaps between freelance checks.
http://www.inkspot.com/feature/Kirkwood.html
Writing Scams: Advice from Those Who Know
by J.A. Hitchcock
An insider's look at some of the biggest writing scams in the
business -- and how you can avoid getting "taken."
http://www.inkspot.com/feature/scams.html
Finally, be sure to visit Inkspot's new "Travel Writer's Spot."
Hosted by Kennerly Clay, this section includes markets, conference
announcements, exercises, resources and articles. This month,
look for an interview with Bonnie Ammer, President and Publisher
of Fodor's Travel Publications. Check it out at
http://www.inkspot.com/genres/travel/.
**-----------------------------------------------------**
Prize Giveaway: Screen & Stage Marketing Secrets
----------------------------------------------------
by James Russell (James Russell Publishing)
If you've dreamed of writing and selling a script or getting an
agent for your screenplay work but are stymied by confusion and
inexperience, James Russell's book, "Stage & Screen Marketing
Secrets," provides you with the answers you need. Russell helps
screenplay writers learn how to make the contacts they need, from
agents and production companies to big-name movie stars.
To boost your screenwriting career and learn how to benefit from
high-response marketing secrets, don't miss out on the chance to
win this information-packed book from James Russell -- enter the
Inkspot Writers' Challenge today!
Entry deadline is midnight, August 30th.
To find out how to enter Inkspot's Writers' Challenge, please see
INKPRINTS, Bev Walton-Porter's bi-weekly book review column, at
http://www.inkspot.com/books/inkprints.html
** If you have a writing-related book you would like to
be considered for review and/or giveaway, please contact Bev at
bev@inkspot.com. The BookStop: http://www.inkspot.com/books/
**-----------------------------------------------------**
CORRECTION: The correct link for Ethics in Journalism is
http://spj.org/ethics/index.htm
Writer Beware! Protecting Yourself from Questionable Agents
-----------------------------------------------------------
An article by Marg Gilks describing steps one can take to
research an agent. (Not to be confused with Victoria Strauss's
"Writer Beware" site on scams at http://www.sfwa.org.)
http://www.themestream.com/articles/136130.html
Writing Well About Health
-------------------------
Several columns on health and science writing by health writer/
editor Linda Wasmer Andrews.
http://www.linda-andrews.com/writing_tips.htm
GroupWeb: Academic Journals
---------------------------
A good resource for locating academic journals and other
academic, scientific and technical materials.
http://www.groupweb.com/ref/ajournal.htm
Decades in 20th Century America
-------------------------------
If you're looking for historical information on the last
century, you'll find decade-by-decade links in this collection
from the Alameda County Library.
http://www.aclibrary.org/decades/
1500 Newspapers
---------------
Find mailing addresses, contact information, and some links for
1500 U.S. newspapers.
http://www.zuzu.com/helpful/new-add.htm
** Please send suggestions for Fresh Ink to freshink@inkspot.com
*****************************************************************
MARKET INFORMATION
------------------
Please get current, detailed guidelines before submitting to
publications if possible. Don't submit to email addresses unless
specifically stated. Include a SASE for surface mail replies.
More market info at: http://www.inkspot.com/market/.
**-----------------------------------------------------**
"FNASR": First North American Serial Rights, "SASE":
self-addressed, stamped envelope, "simsubs": simultaneous
submissions, "mss": manuscript, "RT": response time, "GL":
guidelines, "cc": contributors' copies.
Markets Editor: Sal Towse (ST). Research assistants: Shane Stacks
(SS), Margaret Shauers (MS), Jan Edwards (JE), Jerri Ledford
(JL).
**-----------------------------------------------------**
IMMERSED MAGAZINE
Co-Publisher/Editor: Bob Sterner
FDR Station, P.O. Box 947, New York, NY 10150-0947
(212) 903-5901; fax (212) 259-9310
IMMERSED MAGAZINE "covers the frontier of recreational diving,
with theme-oriented issues that examine archaeology, biology,
history, gear and sciences related to diving. We emphasize
training, education and safety." CIRC: 25,000. NEEDS: "We're
always looking for diving destination stories, how-to tips on
rigging gear, and profiles on divers who've made a real
contribution to the field. Read a copy before sending a 50-word
query. We're a lot different from other scuba-diving magazines."
LENGTH: Features of 2,000 words, destination articles of 1,200
words, how-tos of 250 words, breaking news of 200 words or less.
GL: Query with cover letter and SASE by mail, or by e-mail.
PAYMENT: On publication. $250 for features, $150 for shorter
articles, $150 for how-tos and $0.35/word for breaking news. Buys
one-time rights with optional reuse for promotional purposes on
website. No reprints. RT: "We try to respond as queries come in,
but some responses are put off while we're on deadline. If no
response is received within six weeks, query again." TIPS:
"Urging people to read the magazine first before querying is the
best tip of all. We are very different from the entry-level
scuba-diving magazines. At the very least, read the content
posted online and/or request a sample copy." (JL)
URL: http://www.immersed.com
GL: Request by e-mail
E-mail:immersed@immersed.com
**-----------------------------------------------------**
FIBERARTS Magazine
Editor: Nancy Orban
50 College Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28801
phone (828) 253-467; fax (828) 253-7952
FIBERARTS Magazine is for professional artists, textile students,
fashion designers, museum curators, gallery owners, collectors
and non-professional fiber aficionados. FREQ: Published 5 times a
year, bimonthly, except for July/August. CIRC: 28,000. AUDIENCE:
Readers interested in textile-related subjects, including
contemporary fiber sculpture, surface design, weaving, quilting,
needlework, papermaking, basketry, clothing and mixed media.
Technical information, historical and ethnic textiles and tidbits
about the above subjects are also of interest. NEEDS: Feature-
length articles that communicate the work and personality of an
artist or a concept. Articles should be written in an informal
tone. Possible subjects for features include the latest work of
a mid-career artist or a promising new talent. Articles that
compare and discuss the work of two or three artists, discuss
textile groups, present an important technique or explore textile
history or present ethnic textiles may also be considered for a
feature. Articles may focus on a particular aspect of an artist's
work, a folk artist, an innovative organization, a collector or a
personal technique. Upfront includes new ideas for fiber, unusual
or off-beat subjects, continuing education, work spaces,
resources, events and marketing fiber art. Also looking for
articles on new materials, technologies, and equipment, design
and trends. Profile Articles featuring one artist: article and
one photo must fit on one page. Review articles. Visuals are
required for every article. Features include four to eight
photos. Full photo captions are essential. Please include a
number-keyed caption sheet. LENGTH: Feature Articles 1,000-2,000
words; Upfront articles 300-450 words; Profile articles 450 words;
Review articles 500 words and three to five photos. RTS: FNASR.
PAYMENT: $250-$425 for features, $75-$115 for Upfront articles,
$115 for Profile articles, $125 for Review articles. Payment is
made after publication. RT: 30 days. SAMPLE COPIES: Available for
$5 and 9x12 SASE. COMMENTS: Writer's Guidelines are available for
a 2-oz. SASE. Detailed guidelines include A Writer's Guide,
Editorial Policy regarding Article Proposals, Guidelines for
Exhibition Reviews, and a Checklist for sending in mss once
articles have been assigned. SUBMISSION: Prefers a brief outline
and prose synopsis of the proposed article, accompanied by color
transparencies (35mm slides or larger formats) or black and white
photos. Visuals will be returned whether or not they are
published. If interested, editor will contact writers to arrange
specifics such as word length, payment and deadline. Please
include a SASE for return of submission materials. If a mss is
requested, refer to the Chicago Manual of Style or The New York
Times Style Manual. Mss should be double-spaced with minimum
one-inch margins, 25 lines per page. A one-sentence author's
bioline should be included at the end of mss with address,
telephone and/or fax numbers. TIPS: "We'd be more likely to
work with a new author on an Upfront, Profile, or Review
article than a feature." (JE)
URL: http://www.larkbooks.com/fiberarts
E-mail: fiberarts@larkbooks.com
**-----------------------------------------------------**
FINE TOOL JOURNAL
Editor: Clarence Blanchard
27 Fickett Road, Pownal, ME 04069
Phone: (207) 688-4962; Fax: (207) 688-4831
FINE TOOL JOURNAL is a print magazine established in 1970,
devoted to hand tools, their history, use, beauty and value. "Our
sole purpose is to spread knowledge of hand tools of all trades
and crafts, with the primary focus on woodworking." FREQ:
Published Quarterly. AUDIENCE: Collectors and users of vintage
tools. Content deals with hand tools that date before 1960 and
"are powered by man or beast." Readers range from beginners with
an interest in tools, to collectors and corporations. NEEDS:
Detailed, informative articles covering the use or history of a
particular tool, group of tools, toolmaker or collection. Average
articles run about three pages with photos. Features run about
one-half page. Regular departments include products of Stanley
Rule & Level Co., Tricks of the Trade, boring tools, wrenches and
scraping tools. Shorts are often run as sidebars to an article of
similar subject. Prefer articles with original information that
has not been previously published. LENGTH: 400 to 2,000 words.
RTS: First and/or second North American Serial Rights. All rights
to photos that are considered specific to the article. A photo is
considered specific to the article if it shows a particular
activity or tool; i.e. a photo of a group of people at a
convention would not be deemed specific, whereas a specific
person holding a tool at the same convention would be specific.
(Photo releases are required.) PAYMENT: On publication. Byline
given in most cases. Articles $50 to $200; regular features $30
to $60. Average time to publication 6 months. RT: Can vary from
one to three months. SAMPLE COPIES: Available for $5. COMMENTS:
Writers' Guidelines are available for a SASE. SUBMISSION:
Manuscripts can be sent for review and should include copies (at
minimum) of any proposed photos. Queries welcomed, but should
include detailed information on proposed subject and be
accompanied by published clips. TIPS: "The easiest way to get
published in the Journal is to have personal experience or
know someone who can supply the detail information. We are
seeking articles that go deeper than general interest and that
require experience and/or research. Short of personal experience,
find a subject that fits our needs and that interests you. Spend
some time learning the ins and outs of the subject, and with hard
work and a little luck you will earn the right to write about it."
(JE)
URL: http://www.finetoolj.com
E-mail: FTJceb@aol.com
**-----------------------------------------------------**
CONJUNCTIONS
Editor: Bradford Morrow; Managing Editor: Michael Bergstein
21 East 10th Street, New York, NY 10003
CONJUNCTIONS is the Literary Journal published by Bard College.
FREQ: Twice a year, spring and fall. CIRC: 12,000. AUDIENCE:
Literary. NEEDS: Innovative fiction, poetry, drama, art and
interviews by emerging and established authors. LENGTH: Varies.
RTS: FNASR. PAYMENT: Varies. RT: Usually within six weeks. SAMPLE
COPIES: Available for $12. COMMENTS: To see excerpts from current,
past and future issues, visit website. SUBMISSION: No electronic
submissions accepted. Send mss to the Editorial Office (listed
above). Include a SASE with all mss and materials submitted.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: "As for writer guidelines, we have none
except to urge that writers become familiar with the type and
quality of writing that we publish." (SS)
URL: http://www.conjunctions.com
E-mail: conjunctions@bard.edu
**-----------------------------------------------------**
AMERICAN WINDOW CLEANER MAGAZINE
Publisher: Richard Fabry
27 Oak Creek Road, El Sobrante, CA 94803
Phone: (510) 222-7080; Fax: (510) 223-7080
AMERICAN WINDOW CLEANER MAGAZINE is a bimonthly international
publication for the professional window cleaning industry,
emphasizing professionalism, safety, increasing profits,
industry-wide networking, new products, and add-on businesses.
We also like to occasionally poke fun at ourselves. CIRC: 9,000.
NEEDS: Practical, down-to-earth useable information for pro
window cleaners, more than travelogue. Cleaning famous landmarks.
How it was done by whom. Practical info. Equipment/tools used.
How many people did the work? How they got the job in the first
place. Humor or satire about our industry. Working in Resorts/
Casinos/Unusual Cities. Profiles of window cleaners who have
unusual window-cleaning gigs/lifestyle. Window-cleaning in
foreign countries. Add-on Businesses: gutter cleaning/repair,
pressure washing, blind cleaning, solar tint film, awning
cleaning, bird control, etc. Offering More Services: screen
cleaning, metal restoration, construction cleanup, water spots,
window protectants/sealants, etc. LENGTH: 1,000-4,000 words. GL:
If you have an idea for an article, contact us and if it's
something we can use, we'll ask for a rough outline of the
proposed article. Once you get the go-ahead, both parties will
set an agreed-upon deadline for its completion. PAYMENT: $50-$75
per thousand words and also up to eight copies of the issue in
which your article appears. Accepts reprints. RT: 1 week. TIPS:
"Realize that the magazine goes to pro window cleaners and most
of them want articles that include tips on how to work more
efficiently, make more money. Practical articles are the most
valuable, though we entertain other more creative ideas. If the
article is based on quotes from window cleaners, I sometimes
follow up the article with a few additional questions. Since I
was in the industry myself, I may think of additional questions
to make the article more practical, so be sure to include the
contact numbers of any window cleaner in the article." (JL)
URL: http://www.awcmag.com
GL: Request by e-mail
E-mail: awcmag@aol.com
**-----------------------------------------------------**
HOMEBusiness Journal
Managing Editor: Kim Lisi
9584 Main Street, Holland Patent, NY 13354
Fax: (315)865-4000
HOMEBusiness Journal is a bimonthly publication that targets home
businesses or those looking to go into home business. CIRC:
50,000. NEEDS: "Unique businesses, articles including facts,
statistics, practical work-at-home advice -- no glitz." LENGTH:
900-1,000 words. GL: Submit query or complete ms with bio by mail
with SASE or through e-mail (no attachments accepted). PAYMENT:
Flat $75 fee for FNASR rights. Accepts reprints; reprint payment
negotiable. RT: Varies. TIPS: Specifically looking for "Editorial
submissions on the subjects of finances, taxes, online business
issues, marketing/networking, and home based success stories."(JL)
URL: http://www.homebizjour.com
GL: Guidelines/editorial calendar available by e-mail
or by calling 800-756-8484 ext. 223.
E-mail: kim@steffenpublishing.com
**-----------------------------------------------------**
MARKET UPDATES: The correct URL for Indigenous Fiction, which
was listed in issue 6:14 (July 19) is
http://home.earthlink.net/~deckr/if/intro.html .
Please send market news to Sal Towse, towse@inkspot.com.
*****************************************************************
Ask The Experts
---------------
*** Please put "inklings question" in the subject header. ***
Judith Bowen (ROMANCE WRITER) judith@judithbowen.com
David Breeden (POET) dbreeden@schreiner.edu
Charles Deemer (SCREENWRITER) charlesd@inkspot.com
Mark Fowler (LAWYER) askthelaywer@inkspot.com
Ginger Knowlton (AGENT) agent@inkspot.com
Michelle West (SF/FANTASY WRITER) Michelle.Sagara@sff.net
Lee Wardlaw (CHILDREN'S BOOK WRITER) lee@inkspot.com
Marcia Yudkin (FREELANCE WRITER) yudkin@inkspot.com
Columnists may be unable to reply privately to every message,
but will answer selected questions in future issues of Inklings.
Please keep your question BRIEF and send it to *one* columnist.
*****************************************************************
ASK THE FREELANCE WRITER
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Marcia Yudkin <yudkin@inkspot.com>
On Bios, Self-Syndication, Rates and More
-----------------------------------------
Q: On some submission guidelines, a bio is required. As an
unpublished writer, I have no idea how to do that. I have
searched in the library and online and cannot see to find out
how to write a short bio on myself. Can you please advise?
A: The best way to learn how to write a bio for yourself is to
look at examples. Go to the library and begin looking at the
section marked something like "Contributors" that you find in
many magazines. There will be three or four sentences about each
writer, usually telling a story about the writer's background and
how he or she came to write the article. Those are bios. Since
these are often not completely focused on the writer's previous
publications, you should be able to use them as models for your
own bio.
Q: I recently began doing freelance PR work for an ad agency on
an hourly basis. I've asked around about how to charge and have
received mixed feedback. Is it typical to charge less per hour
for non-writing tasks, such as making phone calls, attending
meetings, traveling to meetings, and reviewing materials?
A: Don't drive yourself crazy trying to itemize different tasks
and charging different fees for different activities. I've never
heard of anyone who bills by the hour being asked to do this, and
it is not customary or necessary. Besides being inconvenient, it
goes against the assumption that your time has a certain value
regardless of what you are doing. In short, just have one hourly
fee.
Q: I am self-syndicating a column I write in ten magazines and
web sites. I am interested in ramping up this syndication, sort
of "taking things to the next level". I fear that my own ability
to scale up to more publishers will soon reach its limit and I
will need help. How should I go about this? Through an agent?
Through a site like iSyndicate.com?
A: Literary agents do not handle column syndication. And while
you could indeed work with iSyndicate.com (instructions for
writers are at their site), you seem to be doing very well on
your own. I fail to see how it would involve more work to find
the next ten customers for your column as it did to find the
first ten. Remember too that even if you could find someone else
to help you sell your column, that person or company will never
have as much incentive to find a customer for your column as you
have yourself. Just keep on keeping on!
Q: In the June 21 Inklings, you mentioned to a reader that she
wasn't ready to be syndicated until she had a loyal following
with a newspaper. Would a newsletter following be considered
similar? I'm editor of a writer's newsletter with about 600
members; is that a similar enough market to entice syndication
or should the market be in newsprint or hardcopy zine?
A: The problem here is not that you don't have a following but
that, assuming you are trying to syndicate the material in your
newsletter, you probably do not have a syndicatable topic. Unless
it's something like business writing, writing is a niche topic
and not of interest to a wide enough segment of the population to
support a syndicated column. A good guideline: If you can find
newspapers that run something on your topic at least once a week,
then it's probably syndicatable. Another guideline: Take a look
at the topics in the annual syndication guide published by Editor
& Publisher magazine.
**-----------------------------------------------------**
Marcia Yudkin is the author of ten books, including FREELANCE
WRITING FOR MAGAZINES & NEWSPAPERS (HarperCollins), WRITING
ARTICLES ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND YOU (Writer's Digest) and
INTERNET MARKETING FOR LESS THAN $500/YEAR (forthcoming from
Maximum Press). You can find the latest version of her
Freelance Writing FAQ and many other articles of interest to
freelancers at http://www.yudkin.com/publish.htm.
Copyright (c) 2000 Marcia Yudkin
*****************************************************************
BEATING THE ANXIETY OF INTERVIEWS
-----------------------------------------------------------------
by Chloe Osborne <angelchloe@gbis.com>
You've accepted the challenge of writing an article on a topic
you know almost nothing about. Suddenly the anxiety hits: How do
you make the article sound convincing? Who can provide reliable
information, and perhaps a few quotes?
I faced this problem a few months back, when I submitted a query
for an article on the America's Cup. My query was accepted, and
I was suddenly left feeling like I had gotten myself into
something I couldn't handle. Sure, I'm an avid follower of the
America's Cup yachting races, but my knowledge of yachting is far
from erudite.
Feeling discouraged, yet under pressure to get those quotes, I
visited numerous sites belonging to these individuals' America's
Cup teams. Finally, I found an e-mail address for Dennis Conner.
I e-mailed a request for an interview, then did the same for Dawn
Riley. I was surprised by the quick responses asking for more
information, then the speedy agreements to complete online
interviews. I was able to assimilate a wealth of information
from these two individuals, and my stories became the front-page
lead exclusives at the respective publications.
What can you learn from this personal anecdote? First, a lot
about the way interviewees react. People enjoy being interviewed.
It makes them feel that their advice and experiences are of
interest to a wide range of people, and that would make anyone
feel special -- right? While not everyone will be willing to do
an interview with you, there are always many experts who would be
more than happy to lend a little of their time to answer your
questions.
Making Contacts
---------------
How do you get in touch with such people? In this era of
technology, most professionals will have e-mail addresses, which
can be found at their web sites. If they don't have a web site,
you can easily look them up in the online white pages (or yellow
pages if they are a business), and call or write to them. Word-of-
mouth also works when it comes to contacting professionals. If
you mention the article you are writing to enough friends and
colleagues, it is likely that someone will say, "Well, I have a
friend who is an expert in..." This makes finding experts far
less daunting than trying to contact the most famous person you
can find.
There are many places to find experts, or at least knowledgeable
people to help with your article. The Internet is the most
comprehensive information resource; simply type appropriate
keywords into a search engine to reap a variety of sources to
interview. Visit the web sites that come up, and you're likely
to find several names, e-mail address and telephone numbers of
experts. If that doesn't work, ProfNet (http://www.profnet.com)
is a database created by over 11,000 public relations
professionals to provide journalists with links to expert
sources. These people are willing to answer questions relating
to their expertise.
How do you ask for an interview over the phone? Many people feel
anxious when thinking about interviewing someone. The same is
true for me, as the more famous my subject is, the more nervous I
become. However, there is no need to be fraught with anxiety
before an interview. Take a deep breath, pick up the phone and
dial the number. When the subject answers, politely introduce
yourself and explain who you are and what publication you are
writing for, and say that you would like to interview them for
your article. Explain the subject matter in as much detail as
possible. Try to speak slowly to avoid overwhelming your
interviewee, and be informal but respectful.
Choosing an Interview Format
----------------------------
There are three basic ways to conduct an interview these days.
Each works well for different types of interviews, so it's up to
you to decide which to choose.
The first is the traditional meeting in person. This type of
interview is great for obtaining descriptions of the
interviewee's reactions as you ask questions, and definitely adds
color to an interview. However, if you are located in California
and your subject lives in Texas, flying out for a personal
interview is likely to cost you a bundle. This is when the
telephone comes in handy.
Telephone interviews are wonderful to cover geographical
distance, as well as for interviewees who are always on the go.
Interviewing people over the phone is also good for getting a
mental picture of the personality of your subject, as voice can
reveal a lot about a person. Telephone interviews are also great
because you can slip in extra questions as you think of them. The
long distance costs are about the only downside.
Last but not least are e-mail interviews. The most contemporary
approach, e-mail interviews have good and bad points. Obviously,
they are extremely quick to complete, although many interview
subjects will procrastinate on replying to your questions, and
that can put a stop to fast-paced deadlines. Also, it is usually
difficult to ascertain the personality of your subject through e-
mail, as text doesn't have quite the animation of a real-life or
telephone interview. E-mail interviews are great if your subject
works irregular hours, lives far away from you, or is extremely
busy and will answer your questions in their few spare minutes of
the day.
Bringing Interviews Alive
-------------------------
Many people are nervous during interviews because they know that
their words will appear in a magazine or online, and many people
will be reading about them. If your interviewee is stiff and short
with you, it is possible to bring them out of their shell and make
them more animated. Ask them questions about something they are
thoroughly interested in, whether it has to do with the interview
topic or not. Make these questions easy, and they will pour out
information about themselves. This will enable you to ask
questions on your topic, and receive a more animated response.
You don't need to know everything to do with the subject about
which you are writing. Just a basic knowledge, and an interest
in the topic, will suffice. There is an abundance of experts in
nearly every field, and if your particular topic is an area in
which expertise is not extremely common, chances are that the few
experts present will be even more willing to interview with you
in order to publicize their field.
While your dream interviews might include Leonardo DiCaprio,
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Demi Moore, you probably won't get
these interviews unless you are writing for a high-profile
magazine such as Cosmopolitan or GQ. However, if you are writing
an article on, say, the movie Titanic, you don't need to
interview the lead movie stars. How about contacting a member of
the stage crew -- someone who is often left out of interviews in
favor of the bigger names? Such a person can often provide a
unique insight into the filming of the movie that the big names
could never give you.
So the next time you worry that you've taken on much more than
you can handle, sit back, relax, and hunt down some experts.
Chances are that with expert quotes and commentary, you'll wow
the editors of the publication, and encourage them to accept
your next story idea as well. Good luck!
**-----------------------------------------------------**
Chloe Osborne is the editor-in-chief of The O_zon
(http://www.theozon.com) and the former Nonfiction Editor of
Deeply Shallow. Her most recent e-book is "How to Become a Good
Public Speaker," now available at Booklocker.com
(http://www.booklocker.com/bookpages/cosborne.html).
Copyright (c) 2000 Chloe Osborne
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INKSPOT WRITERS' CHAT CENTER UPDATE - by Shane Stacks
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UPCOMING CHAT: "Escape the Slush Pile" with MARYJANICE DAVIDSON
Date/Time: Thursday, August 17th @ 8 p.m. Eastern/7 p.m. Central
Place: Inkspot Java Chat
INFO: MARYJANICE DAVIDSON, a cross-genre writer (romance, women's
fiction, YA, and nonfiction) who has sold eight manuscripts in the
past three years, joins forces with Inkspot.com for a night of
fascinating chat that should be relevant to any aspiring writer.
Davidson's forthcoming book, ESCAPE THE SLUSH PILE, also happens to
be the topic for this chat, so get those questions ready and come
on out for an hour of fun and great advice.
ALSO: MARYJANICE will give away two copies of LOVE LIES, her
current (contemporary romance) release, as well as three free
downloads of ESCAPE THE SLUSH PILE.
INKSPOT CHAT MAILING LIST: Send blank e-mail to
icc-subscribe@topica.com
DISCUSSION FORUMS: Join this growing community of writers!
Wide variety of topics and events, everyone welcome.
http://www.inkspot.com/forums/topics.html
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Inkspot Java Chat: http://www.inkspot.com/ss/iwcc
(open 24/7, chat anytime!)
Community Events Newsletter:
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Or send e-mail to Shane Stacks at staxx@inkspot.com
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