Who ever heard of an interview for freelance writing?

Who ever heard of an interview to write freelance articles for a magazine? But this is what I was offered when  I followed the advice mentioned in my previous post "Stop Writing")  I'd re-sent this pitch, and the reply from the editor was that she really, really liked the pitch, and could I come for a short interview and paperwork? This was a local magazine, so I wondered if they interviewed writers simply because it was geographically possible.

So I went to the interview, and it was like no other print media interview I'd ever experienced. Many years ago when I'd been trying to get an entry-level position, my experience at this one would have been a dream. It was clear the editor wanted me to write for her. In fact, I didn't even feel like I was being interviewed as much as I felt like she was trying to sell the company to me. And then, halfway through the interview, she asks if i"m interested in an assistant editor job because one just opened up. As a stay-at-home mom, I am not looking for that kind of job right now, but goodness, my younger self was so jealous. Ten years ago, I was desperate to find an open door, and couldn't, but wait ten years and walk in with more age and some freelance articles under your belt and you can write your own ticket? This was astounding to me.  

There were some surprises  though that have given me pause. The magazine is operated more like a newspaper in some aspects, as it is tied to a newspaper. Part of it is that they buy all rights to the articles, meaning I cannot resell them to other publications, as is the norm in magazine freelancing. And that really matters, considering the low, low pay. Seriously, I thought I'd known of the lowest paying gig around, but this really bottomed that one out. The only consolation is that the article length is shorter. The biggest perk is that the opportunity is there for me to create a niche for myself and get a lot of assignments, if I want them. The reasons for the interview is that it's required for anyone to write for any of their 5 publications, and getting okayed for one is getting okayed for all. Bylines could appear in multiple newspapers, not just the magazine too. And she likes to play to the strengths of her writers and take their ideas for stories. She said one of the things she really liked about me was my pitch and that it had tenacity; she invited me to pose all my ideas. That suits me because as a SAHM, I can write only the stories that I can access easily. I can't drive around the city interviewing scads of people on any given topic. But if I can pitch my ideas that I know I can cover in my situation, then that is the kind of writing I can handle right now.

Another surprise was my education in local print media politics; I learned that I could not write for certain other publications and write for the one interviewing me as well; I'd have to choose because whichever one i wrote for first would cause the other to not use me as a freelancer. Who knew?!  The weird thing is, the editor of the main rival publication had actually been talking to me in the past 2 weeks about an article.

So now I'm very busy. I don't think I'll be writing much online stuff, such as these:
100% Whole Wheat Bread with Honey or Molasses, for a Bread Machine

How to Determine If Your Child is Ready to Begin Kindergarten

Why is The United States Reacting Differently Than Other Governments to Cell Phone Risk Study Results?

Transferring Your Values About Sex to Your Kids: Timing and Definitions are Key

Stop Writing: Latest Advice to the Freelancer

Stop writing. That's what I need to do to succeed as a freelancer. No, this isn't someone's way of saying that I or any other freelancer isn't a good writer or should quit. I've read, and reread, from those who know the business of freelance writing that a big part of my job is resending, marketing, resending. It's been over a year now since I started, and my Word file of all articles I've sent out for publication (whether complete articles or the query letter positing the premise) numbers 61. I color-code them so I can tell at a glance where in the process they are. Blue is for published, black is for "waiting to hear," and red is for "take action--the first attempt got a no, so try again ASAP!" The list is overwhelmingly red. There are articles I should have resent 6 months ago. It's a shame really--every minute I spend writing new articles is delaying the time I might get another already-written one published and paid! And this is just in one category of things I write: print magazine articles.  I need to do this with devotionals that I write too.

So I just need to quit writing and get to my homework of resending. So today I accomplished 1.5 of a my list of perhaps 10 that I should have done yesterday. I rewrote my query letter for an article on simple back strengthening exercises that can be done in minutes a day, even while multi-tasking. I'd first pitched it to a local parenting magazine (one I've referred to in a previous post as "Fort Knox." Seriously, the national Parents magazine editor writes me back personally, but the tiny local parenting magazine never gave me any response to that query or the previous five...) I rewrote the query to market the article to a how-to magazine for women. The editor at that magazine wrote me back after my last query, but I never heard from her again, so this is my second try there.

Secondly, I edited a revamped article and was trying to get everything ready for a snail mail to American Baby--it's a lot of work to do it the old-fashioned way. But as I wrote in a previous post, it is really benefiicial to a writer to call the magazine and get direction on which editor is best to address the submission to, based on the topic. But both attempts today led to an answering machine at the editor's desk. I know she does answer her phone--I've talked with her before, and she helpfully furnished the information I needed. I guess I'll try again tomorrow...

Tomorrow I should do the same thing--not write. Maybe I should not write all week, but just do the business of readying submissions to resend...

Articles I've published online:
Power Your Electronics with Your Body's Own Movement? The NPower PEG, The First Kinetic Energy Recharger

Lyme Disease and Autism Patients Prescribed Diets Free of Genetically Modified Foods

What I've Learned After a Year Writing for Triond Sites

Waterbirth Lowers Group B Strep Risk Better Than Antibiotics?

How to Avoid Nutrient Depletion Caused by Your Prescription Drugs