Are there any "professional" writers here?

[oxfordcircus]

I can't imagine a more diverse crowd than the DIS to ask for advice and opinions.

My question is on behalf of my wife. In my opinion, my wife has a very readable and engaging writing style and can make the most mundane events seem interesting and entertaining, at least to me. She loves to write but she doesn't have an audience. Does anyone have any advice on breaking into the field? I would classify most of her writing as Dave Berry / Erma Bombeck type material. Nothing too heavy. Never anything technical or political. I think she could do well as a columnist or some such. Thanks in advance.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

It's very nice of you to do this investigating for your wife!
I would think she should try a small local newspaper...at least to get started and to get used to deadlines, etc. It would be good experience and they might be likely to hire someone with little experience.
Good luck!

 

[oxfordcircus]

I would think she should try a small local newspaper...at least to get started and to get used to deadlines, etc. It would be good experience and they might be likely to hire someone with little experience.

I agree with the local paper suggestion. That was our first thought too. She was published fairly quickly and received some positive feedback from the editor and some readers. I even had an elderly lady call me at work wanting to chat with my wife about the article!

I just want to explore whether her writing might appeal to a broader audience. And I wonder if newspapers/journals/magazines even consider someone with a non-literary background, such as my nurse-wife.

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

I'm managing editor for a national food publication. It's hard breaking into the business without a degree or clips. I'd suggest having her start a blog. There are several people I've read who ended up getting book deals from the writing on their blogs (www.waiterrant.com; www.jennsylvania.com).

Most magazines/ tabloids won't hire someone or assign a story to someone without experience, but will entertain well-written query letters (google query letters -- you'll find sites that will tell her how to write one) from freelance writers. Is she particularly schooled in one area? (e.g., I have a master's degree in criminal justice, so I'd be a good candidate to write for criminal justice journals or newspapers).

 

[oxfordcircus]

I'm managing editor for a national food publication. It's hard breaking into the business without a degree or clips. I'd suggest having her start a blog. There are several people I've read who ended up getting book deals from the writing on their blogs (www.waiterrant.com; www.jennsylvania.com).

Most magazines/ tabloids won't hire someone or assign a story to someone without experience, but will entertain well-written query letters (google query letters -- you'll find sites that will tell her how to write one) from freelance writers. Is she particularly schooled in one area? (e.g., I have a master's degree in criminal justice, so I'd be a good candidate to write for criminal justice journals or newspapers).

Thank you for that information. She's doing the blog thing, frequent updates and all that, but she's only been doing it for a short time. I'm trying to figure out how to "advertise" it to get some readership. I will do some research on the query letters. One question: what is a "clip". I assume that's samples of previously published writings?

 

[Disney-Kim]

My DH self-published his Crime Noir novel. It sells on Borders and Amazon.

His situation is a little different though...he has been writing screenplays, even sold a couple, but he re-did one of them as a novel and self-published.

good luck !!

 

[gypsydoodlebug]

Thank you for that information. She's doing the blog thing, frequent updates and all that, but she's only been doing it for a short time. I'm trying to figure out how to "advertise" it to get some readership. I will do some research on the query letters. One question: what is a "clip". I assume that's samples of previously published writings?

Yep. Clips are writing samples.

 

[ducklite]

I agree with the local paper route.

I got my start when a friend asked if I was interested in writing a feature on a subject I was considered an "expert" in at the time for an industry magazine published by someone he knew. I agreed, and that feature became a monthly column that I wrote for five years.

I set aside the writing for a bit then was asked to write a feature for a national music magazine by someone I knew who was a features editor for them.

After I moved to Florida I presented a story idea to the editor of a local music paper and he hired me on the spot to write it. (I had tear sheets from my previous published pieces as well.) One thing led to another and now I'm the senior writer. I still do freelance work for a couple of national magazines as well.

Anne