ASK A FREELANCER PT. 4
Some questions sent in by my man Henry:
1. What topics/issues should I focus my writing on to stand out as a freelance writer? What subjects in general do music editors look for?
That's a very hard question to answer without using vague, almost cliche terms like, "something interesting!" The easiest way for you to figure this out is simply to read the magazines/publications that you want to break into. See what stories/topics they focus on and try to predict, as best you can, what the "next" story will be that you can pitch that can keep you ahead of - or at least, on top of - the pack. There's no silver bullet answer here though, it entirely depends on the publication and the editor.
2. I don't have any scholastic background in either music or writing yet (well except for a composition class anyway). With nothing but my passion for both music and writing, do I have any chances of succeeding in the freelance world at all? If not, are there any correspondence or online classes you'd recommend?
I'm tempted to bust out laughing here but I know you're actually asking this earnestly. To put it simply: there really is no "scholastic background" necessary to be a good writer. The best way to learn how to write is 1) write, 2) write, 3) get honest, critical feedback from others, 4) write, etc. The act of writing will itself improve your writing over time, especially if you're self-critical enough to really care about your craft and its progress. And feedback is crucial since it's often very hard to get a clear perspective on your own writing.
Believe me, good feedback is very hard to come by. Many editors don't have time to break stuff down for you - they basically just tell you to "change this" or "nix that" and I can understand the necessity of that brevity. But it is important for you to seek feedback, where possible.
If you do feel compelled to take a class, I'd really recommend finding a workshop setting where your work gets peer-reviewed. It can be challenging to take feedback that directly, but if it forces you to think more introspectively about your craft, that's a good thing.
3. Finally, what publications (if you know of any) largely accept first-time writers? I'm sure it's necessary to have been published elsewhere before approaching major magazines like Vibe and XXL.,right?
It really depends on the publication - you'd be surprised at how many "big name" magazines will accept first-time writers (it often helps to know the right people of course) - but I always, always recommend people look at regional publications in their hometown, especially if you have an alternative weekly newspaper (i.e. like the Village Voice or LA Weekly for example) and try starting there. They offer a great platform to start developing your ideas but within a structured environment (vs. a blog or online publication with little editorial vision) that will force you to learn how to write for an editor and for an audience. I definitely wouldn't be where I am today if not for the many years I wrote (and continue to write) for alt weeklies like the SF Bay Guardian and LA Weekly. The pay's not stellar but it's often times more satisfying that writing for glossies where you have much stricter editorial directives placed on you.
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