A minor political scandal broke in the small Mississippi town where
I was living, and the local paper scrambled to cover all the angles.
Unfortunately, most of their writers lived in larger cities at least
50 miles away which, if you know Mississippians, might as well be
in another country.
The initial stories were peppered with inaccuracies about the town
and the political scene. Like the rest of the locals, I was
irritated by all the errors, and almost stopped reading the paper
altogether. But then, one day, I noticed little sprites, dancing all
over the paper. Could those possibly be... dollar sign$?
I sat down and dashed off a bold letter to the editor, proposing a
follow-up story with quotes from residents and an interview with the
political whistleblower who just happened to live 2 houses away
from me, and often gave me gardening advice. I had no clips at the
time, unless you count the poetry contest I won in 11th grade.
But within 24 hours, I had an assignment.
Weeklies, small dailies and regional tabloids lack the cachet of the
big, metro papers or the national glossies; they are often
overlooked by freelancers. A working writer can find some golden
opportunities with a simple letter of introduction and a few follow-
up phone calls.
1. Identify the editors of small newspapers, shoppers' guides and
local publications in your area who need to produce regular
features, news items with a local spin, and home-grown human
interest stories. If you live in a very small town, take a look at
the next county as well.
2. Don't forget about businesses that send out regular newsletters,
like the tourist bureaus, the Rotary Club and the local junior
college. Someone has to write that copy why not you?
3. Pare down your list based on your own writing skills and
interests. If you understand education issues, pitch a school
resource guide to the Chamber of Commerce; they get requests from
new residents and visitors all the time. If finance is your beat,
write a piece called "How to Make Your Vacation Pay for Itself" for
the regional travel mag. Like to write about food? Propose a new
cooking or restaurant column to the weekly paper.
4. Introduce yourself! Write a short but powerful letter of
introduction to each potential market, personalizing each letter
with the editor's correct name and title. This one has worked for me:
Smiley Face News
Anytown, USA
Dear Editor -
I am a freelance writer in Anytown, specializing in travel and in
parenting issues. My work has been published in numerous print and
online publications, including ABC and XYZ. As you can see from my
clips, I have covered a wide range of local and regional topics.
Additional samples are available on my professional website,
www.myname.com.
I am currently available to work on a variety of assignments,
including feature stories, guest columns, interviews and round-ups
of regional events. I believe my experience and abilities are well-
suited to your publication.
I look forward to discussing your current needs! May I contact you
during the next week to propose a few articles? If you have any
questions, or need more information, I can be reached at 111-222-
3344.
Sincerely,
Writer With A Purpose
5. Make those calls! Be charming, professional and brief. Have a few
ideas to toss out. Make an appointment, take your relevant clips and
figure out how you can help this newspaper or mag better serve its
readers this year.
A final note: do your best work and meet your deadlines. One happy
editor leads to another, and another, and another...
About the Author
Kay Bolden publishes FamilyFest Newsletter, a free
online magazine for families of all shapes and sizes, and is the
author of Think Outside the Minivan: A Guide to Travel with Kids,
available at http://www.kaybolden.com. She earns vacation money by
writing for weekly newspapers and travel agencies.