Scott Oldford Site

Tag: local publications

  • Home is Where the Heart Is. Why Not Earn Money Writing About It?

    Home is Where the Heart Is. Why Not Earn Money Writing About It?

    “They” always say to write about what you know.

    And what could you know better than your own hometown?

    Where you live can become the source of endless inspiration for your writing, from the quirky characters you see every day to the restaurants you frequent.

    You don’t have to live in a massive metropolis to find topics to write about. If you live in San Francisco, New York,or Atlanta, you’ll no doubt have a truly endless array of things to cover. But even in my town of 10,000, I find plenty of stories to cover.

    The key is getting to know your community, its residents and businesses. The more you know about your community, the more you’ll find to write about. And the more people you know, the better the odds you’ll get the lead on a hot new restaurant or innovative upcoming festival first.

    What types of publications look for hometown stories?

    You can write about your hometown for all sorts of publications. Take a look at local publications and see what your options are. Is there a local daily or weekly paper? Or maybe a regional magazine or two?

    These types of publications are generally filled with primarily local content, and they are often looking for writers who live nearby to cover stories and issues.

    But don’t limit yourself to just local publications.

    Major national publications write about people, events, and happenings that occur all over the country and the world. Keep in mind when pitching national publications that it’s often important to tie in broader themes and the national and international implications of your story to appeal to the magazine’s audience.

    An article about the local Perfect Pickle Festival is great for the local newspaper, but if you’re pitching  The New York Times, they might prefer a story on pickle festivals across the country or world.

    Turn into a hometown travel writer

    A little known secret of travel writing is that many travel writers write about their hometown more frequently than any other destination.

    Sure, you could hop on a jet and spend a week in Aruba and write about the experience, but would you know the bakery with the best breakfast treats or the perfect spot to watch the sun set? Nope.

    That’s why travel publications like to use writers who actually live in the destination they are covering and know  intimately.

    What do people do for fun in your hometown? Whatever you enjoy doing, there’s a chance others would love to do it too, and that’s why it makes a great activity to write about. Does your town have an amazing zoo? How about a first-rate children’s museum? Is the local park’s labyrinth exceptional? Is whitewater rafting on the local river an experience not to be missed?

    If your town has a booming tourism scene, it seems obvious that you could sell some travel stories. But if your location is more “up and coming,” don’t count it out. Pitch a regional piece or a round-up article, such as a larger multi-destination “road trip” type piece.

    Personality profiles

    Everyone knows that quirky character who hangs out on Main Street and dances every afternoon. Or the local artist who has an unbelievable (but true) backstory about living for years in the Peruvian rainforest.

    When you get to know people, you get to know their stories and you can often see a great story in people who think their own lives are unremarkable.

    Consider pitching stories about local personalities, from a charismatic local businesswoman to a beloved youth soccer coach. Find what’s special about community members and convey these stories to publications and show them how their readers would benefit from delving into these people’s lives.

    Of course, make sure you don’t have any conflicts of interest in telling these stories. Generally, you shouldn’t write about people who you are close to. If you have any questions about your relationship with a subject, make sure to ask your editor and disclose the relationship when you pitch so they can help you work through any potential conflict of interest and keep your journalistic integrity intact.

    Business time

    Every community is packed with a variety of local businesses. Why not write about them?

    You could write about a local antiques shop, mom-and-pop variety store, farm stand, dance studio, consulting firm, hotel, health and wellness business, or just about any other type of enterprise you could imagine.

    Look outside of your normal markets, too, and consider writing for trade publications. For example, I’ve written about local supermarkets for trade publications aimed at supermarket executives.

    If you enjoy writing about food and dining, why not pitch stories about local restaurants? You could pitch these to niche publications, trade magazines, national travel and food publications, and even the local newspaper. Since you live nearby and can presumably go to the restaurant, taste their cuisine, meet their chef, and write about the food, service and ambiance first-hand.

    Editors are likely far more inclined to assign that story to you than to someone who has never set foot in the establishment.

    Whatever you choose to write about, you know your hometown far better than people who come in for a day or week or maybe never visit, instead completing research with phone calls and web searches.

    This gives you an advantage when it comes to stories about your community. Put that local knowledge to good use and pitch some stories about the place you know best.

  • 5 Crucial Tips if You Want to Write for Local Publications

    5 Crucial Tips if You Want to Write for Local Publications

    If you’ve pitched stories to national outlets before, you know to expect a rejection within two weeks or so. That’s because these media organizations typically have larger staffs, and might call on another editor to look at your pitch.

    However, local publications are often much smaller and might not have as quick of a response time. That’s why the first pitch is so important.

    After freelancing for almost a year, I finally broke into an independent regional magazine.

    Now, I regularly contribute to city-specific publications, including an alternative weekly and hyperlocal, neighborhood-specific news blog.

    In addition to discussing my experiences, I reached out to a few editors and writers about breaking into local publications for the first time.

    1. Find a local angle

    You may be tempted to pitch a national story to a local newspaper or magazine, but think again.

    Although national issues affect the smallest of towns, you need to find a hook to make them locally relevant.

    “Do look for local angles on national stories,” explains Ken Schlager, editor of New Jersey Monthly. “Don’t pitch the obvious, like a review of a new restaurant. Do pitch local trend pieces that might not be obvious to the average observer.”

    For instance, in February, some local punk bands hosted a benefit show for a 24-hour LGBTQ suicide hotline. Although the story began as timely coverage of an event, the story was an opportunity to localize transgender rights and discuss bathroom bills in different states.

    “Get a good sense of what’s been done already and try to find uncharted territory, or perhaps a different angle on a story that’s already been told,” says Lindsay Lennon, who regularly contributes to regional publications. “If there’s a seemingly great story that hasn’t been covered yet, try to get the scoop on why.”

    2. Always look for stories

    If you’re truly committed to telling your community’s stories, try adopting a new mindset. For every event you attend, remind yourself that you are the storyteller in the room and rock it.

    “Walk your beat,” Lennon stresses. “Talk to people. Go to local government meetings. Pick up the phone. Do not just send out emails. Sit down and have a chat with the mayor or the town supervisor or anyone who is considered a local magnate.”

    While many journalists and writers search for sources on social media, especially those in the millennial generation, Lennon prefers to stay within her own network. When you’re working with strangers, including those you’ll never meet face-to-face, credibility could be taken for granted. That’s why she prefers to only interview those she knows.

    Personally, I have used the internet to get connected, but I usually try to contact sources to verify their interest in going on the record before pitching a story.

    3. Pitch far in advance

    Especially for print publications, you want to give editors a lot of leeway when it comes to timeliness.

    For example, in February, I pitched a local print magazine editor June, July and August stories.

    “A lot of times, local magazines have annual themed issues — top doctors, best & worst surveys, best new restaurants — and you can easily find out what month those issues come out, so you can time your pitches,” explains freelance writer Kate Andrews, who has been reporting on local issues her whole career and currently contributes to several publications specific to Richmond, Virginia.

    Andrews recommends pitching magazines three months ahead of time, as well as looking over the submission guidelines. “Of course, read the publication thoroughly before pitching so you know what they cover and know what they have written about recently, so you can avoid pitching the same story,” she adds.

    4. Know your competition

    If your community has multiple publications dedicated to local stories, it’s best to familiarize yourself with all of them. Likely, they’re all competing with each other.

    As a freelance writer, you might not have to commit yourself to one, but reading different publications helps you understand the tone and style of each one.

    “If there’s a competing publication, pay attention to what they are writing about, so you don’t pitch that story to the first publication,” Andrews mentions. “I guarantee the editors for both are paying attention to the other one. That’s not to say you can’t write for both, but it’s probably smarter to pick different subject areas so one publication doesn’t feel ‘robbed’ if you write a story for the other one.”

    The writing world is a small one, especially when it comes to local publications.

    “Be aware that if you’re in a smaller or midsize city/region, most of the editors/staff at local and regional publications know each other,” Andrews adds. “So, if you burn bridges in some dramatic way at one place, word will travel and you may not get any work. On the other hand, if you have a good reputation at one publication, you may get work at a second place.”

    5. Emphasize your familiarity with the area

    Show the publication you’re an expert, and make a personal connection.

    Shoshi Parks, a contributor to Hoodline who lives in San Francisco, contacted the publication first with her qualifications. In her introduction email, she explained her familiarity with the neighborhood —in addition to having lived there for a decade, she owns a small business in the city and is active in a few local nonprofit organizations. She also included a writing sample.

    “Your perspective on your city is valid and unique,” Parks elaborated. “Think about what’s in your world and use it to convince editors that you have a valuable point of view. Having a writing sample or two is also helpful, even if it’s self-published, so that editors can see your skills for themselves.”

    When reaching out to local publications, you should take pride in where you live. Promote yourself as a local authority who is qualified not only as a writer, but an expert, to report on regional issues that matter the most to the surrounding community.

    “I find writing for local publications to be so fulfilling as both a storyteller and a consumer of information and lore,” Lennon adds. “Having a sense of place is one of the warmest and most oddly comforting phenomenons I’ve experienced in my life, and I think writing about a place and its inhabitants only enhances this sense.”

    Challenge yourself as a writer to find interesting stories through events, people you know, and of course, everyday life. Ask yourself what your community needs to know through local journalism, using your insight as a community member.

    Chances are, you probably have a lead under your nose to break into local publications.