Archive for March, 2009

When people ask me what I do, I tell them that I’m a freelance journalist and copywriter.  But, more often than not, what I actually do is listen to and recount people’s stories.  And I love every minute of it.

Sometimes I share someone’s general life story.  Most of the time, though, I share parts of them specific to what I’m writing about — whether it’s the work life or their specific experiences.

I spent yesterday making stops at four places in a nearby city for a series of 16 articles that I’m writing.  I met people I don’t know and went to places I’d never been.  I heard their stories.  While they are mostly business profiles, I learned mostly about their work, but in between the lines I learned a bit about them as well.  I learned about an appliance store owner who has been dealing with a sick wife but who loves his work.  I learned about the history of a former hotel that had included guests like President Harry Truman and Hogey Carmichael.  Though a long day, it was a great one.

Time and again I am reminded that every person I encounter has a story to tell.  I feel privileged that they share part of their story with me.  It is a trust between us that I take seriously; I try in all of my work to portray each story and each component as it is in real life.

What’s your story?

Last Friday, Poynter’s Al Tompkins wrote about how cussing has increased with the downturn in the economy.  Tompkins’ article got me to thinking about cussing and its role in a variety of avenues — specifically the written word.

I suppose I should begin this post by saying that I don’t cuss either verbally or on paper.  That said, this is a discussion that has come up in every writing class I’ve taught, so I felt it was worth a post.  I’m talking nonfiction here, not fiction.

In writing for a specific newspaper or magazine, the first rule is to check the publication’s guidelines.  The vast majority of publications don’t want writers using cuss words in their text, but some are OK with them as part of a direct quote when warranted.  If you’re not sure what the publication wants, then ask.

Some publications may leave it up to you.  In which case, you have to have an idea of what you’ll do.  This hasn’t come up very often for me in the type of writing that I do, but it has come up.

For example, when editing autobiographies to go into the library of an aviation museum a few years ago, I came across cuss words from time to time.  I always edited them, usually using a cleaner alternative word such as “darn.”  I knew the library was used for education and school children were one audience.  Strong language was inappropriate.

In general, my personal philosophy is to not use quotes with foul language.  It doesn’t fit with most publications that I work for, and I just have a problem with it personally.  I don’t like hearing it or reading it, so for me it doesn’t make sense to write it.

How do you feel about cuss words in print?

I love music.  I always have something playing in the background when I’m working, making dinner, driving to the grocery store, cleaning the house or just about anything else.  While I have an eclectic mix of music that I enjoy, some of it is more conducive to working than others.

Right now on a typical work day, I have my iTunes set to “Party Shuffle.”  I can go from an old M.C. Hammer song to Beethoven to Michael W. Smith to Kenny Chesney to “All that Jazz.”  I love it!  Sometimes I make a smart list with a specific genre, like Christian, to work to.  During the holidays, I cue up holiday music to get me going.

But, during times when I really need to concentrate and write, I turn to one soundtrack: Riverdance.  The Irish cadence is ideal for typing; the lack of lyrics leads to less distraction.  I discovered Riverdance works well a few years ago when I was in grad school and have used it ever since.

What music gets you ready to work?

For the last year or so, news reports have circulated about newspapers ceasing print publication and going completely online.  Publishers say the change is due to loss in profit — fewer subscribers, higher operating costs.  Does this trend mean all print newspapers are doomed?  I’ve heard arguments both ways.

The latest newspaper to go solely online is the Seattle Post-Intelligence.  As home to Microsoft, Seattle could arguably have a higher number of technophiles who are turning to the Internet for their news.  My husband is one such user.  He never picks up the local newspaper to read.

But is the average American city ready to go online only with their local newspapers?  I daresay no.  Another fact newspaper publishers bemoan is the age of their readership.  While Generations X and Y are hitting the Internet for news, the World War II generation isn’t as likely to log on.

In order to survive, American newspapers need to give local readers what they want most — local news.  I would estimate that 65 to 75 percent of the articles in the newspaper of the mid-sized Indiana city where I live are written by the Associated Press or other content providers.  Some AP content is fine and even a good thing, but most readers turn to the local newspaper for local news.  They get the national stories from other sources, such as television news.

Unfortunately, many local papers are falling behind on local coverage, which could be aiding in their loss of profit.  For now, I continue subscribing to my local newspaper.  I like to sit at the kitchen table with my bowl of cereal and read through the paper in the morning, but I do notice that I am reading less and less of the paper as it shrinks in content of interest.

While the economy is definitely in a major slump, the time has come for newspaper editors and publishers to pay more attention to and deliver what their local readers want before it’s too late.

Time management is one of those phrases that gets bandied about in various capacities, most often at job interviews.  Saying you have good time management sounds great to a potential employer.

Actually having good time management is a crucial component of having your own business, though.  I’ve found a few tools along the way that help me stay organized and in charge of my time.

The first is Microsoft Outlook.  Of course, similar programs exist, but having an e-mail program with a calendar and task list is priceless to me.  Outlook is the first program I open when I get to work in the morning and the last one I close when I am finished for the day.  I’m obsessed with it.

For example, if I send out an invoice, I make myself a reminder to follow up with the client a month later if I haven’t heard from him or her.  Otherwise, I am likely to forget or let six months pass.  If I have a deadline coming up for an article, I put it on the calendar and set the reminder at least a week ahead to make sure that I remember.  I set various tasks relating to the deadline as reminders in my task list that will pop up before that.

I even use the Notes section, which are like digital Post-It notes, to keep a running list of current projects listed by deadline.  If it’s not on my calendar or in my task list of Outlook, then it may not get done.  And, of course, I use Outlook to for RSS feeds, e-mail and contacts.

A little lower tech, I also love a small whiteboard.  I have my task list and calendar set up in Outlook for everyday, but the whiteboard keeps me in check.  Each morning I’ll organize myself on it.  In the upper right corner, I write any scheduled meetings and then list any personal chores that need to be done that day.  With scheduled meetings, I include either (IP) or (Ph) after the appointment so I know whether it’s in person or on the phone.  That makes a difference in how I dress!

Personal chores keep me organized, too.  Today, for example, I have listed that I need to make a grocery list and wash towels.  When I get some downtime or at the end of the day, I remember what needs to be done.

On the left side, I list those tasks that pop up in my Outlook for the day along with any new ones that have come up.  Having them in two places may seem redundant, but it helps me.  I’ve found the white board keeps me a bit more motivated when I find it easier to keep clicking “Snooze” on reminders in Outlook and not get them accomplished.  The white board makes the tasks seem that much more important.

Caller ID is another tool that helps me manage my time.  First, I have both my office number and my home number ring to the same phone, so called ID helps me know how to answer.  It also helps me know who is calling.  If I’m in the middle of a project and the ID shows up that it’s my dentist’s office reminding me of my appointment the next day, then I let the call go to voicemail.

And, finally, Twitter, keeps me on target a lot of times.  For those who don’t know, Twitter is a social networking site where users post information about what they’re doing.  It could perhaps be a time zapper, but for me, it can often keep me on target.  I’ll post what I’m doing and then feel accountable to get it done, especially when I read how much others are getting accomplished.

What tools help keep you on track with time management?

One of the most frequent questions I get asked is where I get article ideas.  Sometimes I get article “ideas” from editors who call with specific article assignments.  Those are a bit easy in that I don’t have to do any work to develop the idea.  But, other times I am the one who has to come up with ideas and pitch them to editors.  I would like to say that I sit around and good ideas just spring into my head with little effort but that almost never happens.  Most ideas come from some of the following sources of inspiration.

My own experiences. Though 97 percent of my writing doesn’t include anything about me, I can draw from my own experiences to develop article ideas.  For example, if I’m going to be researching a topic for personal reasons, then I often try and find an article angle to pitch while I’m at it.

And sometimes I can throw in some personal experience.  I recently wrote an article for Discipleship Journal’s DJ Plus section that focused on how to reach out to those dealing with job loss.  That idea came directly from my own experience with my husband losing his job.  I briefly mentioned that in the short article to establish credibility.

Other media. I am most certainly NOT talking about plagiarizing here.  But many times newspaper articles, magazine articles and television reports can spark ideas.  So much so that I have a file folder in my office where I put articles of interest.  I might find a report on a study that gives me some jump-off ideas for a specific article.  I may find a profile in the local newspaper of a person who I think would fit well with a national magazine using a different angle.

The Internet. This includes everything online from e-mails to e-newsletters to random articles I come across.  The Internet is often my best source when researching an article, but it can also be a great source for coming up with ideas.  I subscribe to a few different e-newsletters that spark ideas for me.  Poynter.org has some great options, especially for journalists.  PewInternet.org is another favorite for studies based on technology that can spark ideas.

People around me. I listen to stories that people tell me.  They may come from my husband, my mom or complete strangers, but good stories are out there.  You just have to listen for them.  Sometimes you can even ask for them.  If I’m looking for a specific type of story, I tell people around me.  I’m often surprised at how I can find the best sources and ideas from unexpected sources. The more people who know what you do, the more likely you are to have people tell you things.

Another way this works is to sort of eavesdrop when waiting in line at places.  For example, if the people behind me in line at the grocery store are talking about the same topic the people in line behind me at the bank are, then that’s something to pay attention to.  Writers write for readers and have to be in touch with what readers care about.

Having just recently written about both the benefits and drawbacks of being a freelancer, I am especially struck by the irony of how these two things have been personified this week in my life.

Let me explain.  I’m sick.  Not horribly sick with a major illness, but a miserable head cold through which breathing is difficult and energy is hard to come by.  My husband is in the same boat.  And my benefits and drawbacks are coming to life more than usual.

First, I have the benefit of getting my work done while sitting on my couch in my PJs with a box of tissues beside me.  In fact, that’s exactly the scene as I type this!  But, I also have the drawback of having to work while I don’t feel well.   I am trying not to envy my husband his sick days.  However, deadlines loom and no one else picks up the slack.  I tried to talk my dog into writing a couple of articles, but he wasn’t interested.

And that’s about all the news I have to share right now.  I’m definitely feeling benefits and drawbacks of freelance this week.  But, it’s a life I chose and one I’m happy to live  — especially on the days I can breathe through my nose!