Always the same writers, is there room for more?!

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5879

I know, I know, I should just start writing and sending out and see who bites the bait. But I have to say, it's really discouraging when I see that the same people keep on writing for the same papers/magazines, many for years and years, especially when they have a certain area of specialty (e.g. - and I'm making this up because I don't want to appear to be knocking a specific writer, even though mentally I am - the same psychology columnist. The same writer every time it's about, say, allergies). What's more, as an insider to topics of interest to me (either professionally or due to personal life involvement) I often find that I don't even LIKE much of what I read by this particular writer. Yet I still feel like why bother trying to write on this topic when everyone seems stuck with this same person. And how on Earth does that same person keep generating column after column when they've been doing it for so long?! I see the same names in EVERY major Jewish newspaper and magazine in certain areas.

This is part vent and part honest question - is there really any hope for a schnook like me to try to compete with the Jewish world's most popular columnists? (I really do think I can do it better. But frankly I think many people could; I don't think the old stuff is that great. And I'm sure others must have tried, and yet the same name is still always at the top.)

Moderator Joined: Dec 18 2008 Posts: 3611

If you think you can do a better (or different and also good) job, then by all means write it up and send it in.

No one gets anything that's destined for another.
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איזהו עשיר השמח בחלקו ... אבות ד א

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5879

Sure the NYT has their columnists in various areas, but is the SOLE NYT health columnist also the sole health columnist for the Miami Herald and the Washington Post and the I am about to reveal how few major newspapers I have heard of? It's a little weird...

You're right, the only thing to do is just throw myself out there and see what happens. I'm just fishing for encouragement because I hate the idea of working at something and putting myself out there and then getting rejected all over because everyone already has as much writer as they need. Also, what I REALLY want is a column or assignments, I'm not that interested in freelancing in the long run though I could see doing it for a little while if there were any hope that it could lead somewhere. But since someone already seems to have a lifelong contract or something, that seems remote.

I think it's worth a try. Maybe these papers don't know that there's someone better out there.

Silver Member Joined: Nov 16 2010 Posts: 538

Not sure what your talking about. All the top publications do not share columnists.

Moderator Joined: Dec 18 2008 Posts: 3611

Executive Member Joined: May 02 2012 Posts: 279

The only way to start publishing is to submit your work. There are no shortcuts! But the magazines do accept unsolicited submissions, I see new names all the time. Once you have proven yourself to a publication, then you can ask for assignments.
IME, Binah has been very nice to work with, they respond quickly to submissions, have a really great editorial team, and (most important to me) they ALWAYS send me the final edited version for my approval.
Hatzlacha!

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5879

Yup, I do not want to name names or even topics because I have indicated that I don't think that highly of this writer (they're OK, just not consistently amazing or anything) but I have seen this same person write regular columns in several frum newspapers as well as occasional articles in the magazines (the newspapers feature this person's subject regularly while the magazines feature different topics in that area every few weeks).

That's just the problem, I can't really think of anything different. This person seems to really have it covered, and we are both involved in the same area of interest.

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5879

Hindy, we posted at the same time, maybe I'll try Binah because a quick response is good. They are affiliated with Hamodia which subscribes to this other writer big time but maybe they are not as attached.

Executive Member Joined: May 02 2012 Posts: 279

Best of luck! Let us know if your article is accepted!

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5879

I guess one thing I'm hesitant about is that all these publications always have disclaimers that when you send something in you can't send it anywhere else, they receive all rights, blah blah blah. It seems like quite a gamble to sacrifice hard work for that and only a slim chance of getting anything out of it.

I could try harder to find a niche or a twist but so far I've come up with nothing. This person really covers all the same bases that I do. But I can try writing in a different style; the thing I dislike most about that writer is that all their stuff sounds the same to me (though it's improved over the years, to be fair. A couple of years ago I thought I could compete easily but they improved a lot faster than I did. What I need is to pull together my self esteem faster and just get moving already).

I had an article published in Binah recently. When I submitted it, I added that in the event they choose to publish my piece I retain rights to the article at all times. they accepted it with that condition.

If I ever do submit it elsewhere I think it is honest to mention its been published already in binah mag. most publications want original and unpublished articles unless otherwise noted.

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5879

That's smart. I didn't know that was an option, maybe I'll give it a try that way.

I guess my main concern is that I'll invest all this time and energy and risk of rejection for a hopeless cause because the product I'm offering is neither needed nor wanted. But I suppose the only way to find out is either make a submission because I doubt I could hope for an honest answer if I asked outright without having a submission ready ("Hello, editor? Do you want articles about lizard scales? Well, no, I don't, but if you wanted one I could write it...")

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 01 2005 Posts: 16889

Seeker, Mishpacha/Family First is always looking for new contributors. Binah used to be a pain to submit to; I waited months for rejection, they never remembered my submission, now theyre better bh. AMI also loves submissions, esp for their Our Days section.

Start working. Rejection will hurt, but eventually you might get noticed. I was rejected for several years til I got noticed by all three magazines; all three would love for me to write more, but I simply dont have the time!
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http://www.autism-parenting.com

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5879

Mama Bear, somehow you always warm over my heart Wink

What's Our Days? Personal story kind of thing? Do you know what specific areas the others might be most interested in? I'm more into info than stories but if stories would get me "in," I could conjure some up and try to take off from there.

For initial, unsolicited submissions, about how long do you think they should be?

Posted: Mon, May 07 2012, 6:42 pm Post subject:

They definitely don't retain the rights to your article if they reject it! They just don't want you submitting the same thing to multiple places at the same time. So the work is never for nothing.

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 01 2005 Posts: 16889

The reason you see the same 2-3 writer writing the informationals is bcz those writers are staffers. They dont assign informationals to freelancers they don't know.

I suggest you write a sample informational and submit it to all 3 mags. I can give you my 'insider' contact info in 2 of the magazines so you reach an actual person and not a 'submissions' office, so they can consider you.

contact me via email or pm.

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5879

gp2.0, but do they reject it outright or do they let your hard work sit in a pile somewhere while you wonder why you bothered?

Mama Bear, I am not talking about staff writers who write on various topics for their magazine. I am talking about an "outside expert" who writes on the same topic for all the newspapers and numerous magazines.

Any idea what qualities might be appealing in a sample informational? About how long (word count?) should I aim for?