PPS I’d change to the real family name but Franco Santostefano is a lot to write

Have sent you an email Frank; in bocca al lupo!

7. “…because you live in a small?” TOWN. Small town. We all know you don’t live in a “small”.

20. “You’re writing isn’t very controversial…” YOUR writing. Not You’re. I did say it’s 1 am here…I’m not bright and bushy at this hour, okay?

I guess I don’t need you to tell me that proofreading is a good skill to have, huh? LOL

Salena of The Daily Rant’s last blog post..Eddie Is He Wearing Trousers?? Friday

No proofing required at BE

1. When you first decided to write for publications (like the several you already do) how did you go about getting those particular jobs?

2. And when you did secure those jobs, do they give you the topic they want written about?

3. If they don’t give you the topic, have you ever written a column or article about something you thought was interesting and then just try to sell it to a publication?

4. Do you find it easier to get jobs for writing articles/columns on web sites or print? And is there a difference in pay between web/print articles?

5. Do you ever sell a photo along with the article?

6. When you do a query letter, do you just wing it and send one to a publication you *think* might like your topic or do you only send to publications that are shopping for new writers?

7. Is the competition stiff or do you have a special niche because you live in a small?

8. Do you think having a niche is important or helpful? (oh, I don’t know, like maybe a female truck driver? lol)

9. What do you do if you don’t have any published articles to show your work? How do you navigate the cycle of “I can’t have a published article if you won’t publish me and if you won’t publish me, I won’t have a published article”?

10. What do you do if you’re given a topic/assignment to write about if you’re not crazy about the topic? Do you still take it and just grit your teeth through it or do you prefer to wait for something you’re really interested in because you know writing it will be more fun?

11. Can you do a post that links to the majority of your articles? I know we can read Guarda and the stuff you’ve done on About.com but what about some of the articles you’ve written about that are just floating out there in the internet that perhaps you haven’t alerted us to? Maybe you can do a top ten “never been seen on B.E prior to today” type of list.

12. Am I annoying you yet? (Please don’t really answer this question….but I’m on a roll now.)

13. What kinds of questions did you have when you first started?

14. Where did you turn to get the answers? Did you just read books/articles or did you get to ask real live people like we get to with you?

15. What was the best advice you’ve gotten that actually HELPED your writing career?

16. I get this question all the time, especially when people see how much our equipment is and what our expenses are, and I am not private about the answer at all and will usually tell anyone…although Ed doesn’t really love the idea….but, how much do you make? You don’t have to answer (of course) if it’s too private and maybe you don’t have to tell us your actual income, but can you give a REAL dollar amount for an article/column you have done in the past? Like maybe say, “For this article I got paid X dollars per word, resulting in a total of X.” or “This article was a flat fee, with one photo, and I got paid X.” A range would be okay, but that’s sort of vague. lol

17. Has your blog been the source of any assignments? Like someone said, “I stumbled across your blog and I think you’d be a good fit to write XYZ.”

18. How do you promote yourself? Other than links back to your blog in any of your articles, do you do anything in particular to get your name out there?

19. Back to the query letter thing – say for instance I wanted to write an article or column for a trucking industry magazine (there are several), do I just put together a letter stating my desire and what can I use as a writing sample or proof that I actually can spell and have some command of language?

Last one…

20. Do you feel that anything you’ve written on your blog may either help you get a writing assignment or hinder you getting a writing assigment? Let’s say, for sake of argument, that someone was going to use you for an article or column….then they find out by way of your blog that you’re a Democrat, you wrote an unflattering blog post about a particular region or city in Italy (hypothetically), or that you like goats? And they were offended by one or all of these things….can you lose a writing job because of that? You’re writing isn’t very controversial and generally, you’re very positive and nice, so I don’t see much getting in your way, but what if that wasn’t the case? Can blogging bite you in the ass?

OK….I think I’m done. It’s 1 am here in Arizona, so you’re probably drinking your morning espresso….I look forward to this weeks subject matter. Again, I’m SOOOOOOOOOO freaking excited!!

xoxo

Salena of The Daily Rant’s last blog post..Eddie Is He Wearing Trousers?? Friday

I really wish I knew how to make you feel more comfortable to participate around here I shall do my best in answering these, but I have a feeling I may have to do a FWW Part II…gladly, of course

AND: Where do you get the images you don’t photograph yourself?
ALSO: How do you copyright protect your photos?

Have been wanting to ask questions about monetizing your blog, is it advisable, how it can be done, what are the limitations in your experience, etc.

Gee, Ann, could you ask another 500 questions?

Or are they really post topics? You be the judge…….

anna l’americana’s last blog post..No smoking in the dark….

Thanks for the questions…soon soon….

sky’s last blog post..Currys GRIFFIN ITRIP AUTO for only 39.99

Good questions