WRITING FOR MAGAZINES… WITH CATRIONA ROSS

To really know me is to know about my enchantment of Fashion magazines. It was like a sign, when I got my hands on Catriona Ross’ book “Writing for Magazines; Absolutely everything you need to know” it’s just what I needed. I tweeted about it and it lead to this feature on the Shades of Cool blog. Catriona shares the wisdom and the cool tricks that she has gleaned during her writing career, just what my readers and I need to get inspired to get ourselves out there in print.

Order from www.porcupinepress.co.za or buy the ebook in the Kindle store

Since she has a 19-year-old writing career under her belt, I had to ask if Catriona had ever thought of starting her own magazine or Zine (that’s what they call an online magazine right?), how she runs her freelance business, which publications work with freelancers, what makes a good freelancer, what makes a great interview, how you find the right market for your story, how to work with editors, what to know about writing for foreign media, and the one question that she has never been asked that (freelance) writers should be asking

A Cape Town freelance journalist and author, Catriona Ross is a former features editor on Cosmopolitan and O, The Oprah Magazine. She's written six books, including the handbook Writing for Magazines: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know

Many magazines in South Africa use freelancers from time to time, if not monthly. Personally, I haven't been tempted to start my own magazine - I love to write books, and editing eats into that time! So I've consciously chosen not to go the magazine editor route, but have stuck with writing novels and other books. I'm about to finish my new novel, The Last Book on Earth, which will be launched in the Kindle store early 2016, so I've got a bottle of bubbly waiting in the fridge to mark that event.

How I run my freelance business… In the past I've worked out how many stories per month I need to write to make enough money; I invoice before the end of each month so I get paid sometime this century (freelancers are usually paid at the end of the month after the month they invoice), and I constantly look for new story ideas and send pitches. 

Catriona Ross devised The Peacock Book Project creative writing adventure (www.peacockproject.net), inspired by her master's degree in creative writing.

A good freelancer… Is professional, persistence, and has a good writing style. If you're to make a success of the freelance life - ie. writing from home - you need to be able to sit at your desk and work for a few hours a day, and meet your deadlines, without anyone standing over you telling you to do it. You have to be that person. And you need to enjoy your own company, because you spend a lot of time alone.

Finding the right market for your story… Step one is to come up with a compelling, fresh story idea. Then use your brain and intuition. Seriously. Ask your brain a question: which publication would be the perfect fit for this story? Then wait for a few answers to come filtering through. Go wash dishes or something. It really works. Have two or three possible publications to approach, and if your first choice doesn't work out, approach the second, and so on.

@edgar_magano

What is a pitch and why is it important? A pitch is when you contact a publication with a story idea you're proposing to write for them. It's soooo important because media editors are extremely busy, so they'll give your pitch email a mere glance, and if it doesn't grab them, move on to the next email. Your pitch must start in the email subject line. Write the subject line as if it's the grabby headline of the story you're proposing to write for them. Keep your pitches brief and to the point, succinctly outlining your idea in one paragraph if possible.

How to you work with editors…  Be gracious, willing and keen, be professional, reliable and consistently write well, and they will send work your way.

@princeedgie

What makes a great interview? When your interviewee feels comfortable with you and has a story they need to get off their chest. It helps if you ask a few open-ended questions (not questions with 'yes' or 'no' answers, but 'how' or 'why' questions) and then sit back and let them talk. Record it with a dictaphone so you're not sitting there scribbling their words down. Give them your full attention, and prepare to be enthralled. Everyone has an amazing story.

 How do you write a feature?  You need a great head and intro, an attention-grabbing first paragraph, and then a series of sections, each linked in a logical way.  Writing a subheading above each section can help you organise your thoughts. Add a box or sidebar on related issues. Where appropriate, add humour, similes, metaphors and quotes from case studies to liven it up. People read magazine, website and newspaper articles for pleasure, so you need to impart the information as effortlessly as possible and make it a pleasurable experience for them. Finally, always read through your story twice at the end to ensure its typo-free and actually makes sense.

How to you write for foreign media… I approach foreign editors with stories I feel would suit their publications, pointing out why a story with a South African slant would be a good fit for their readership. It helps if you have a few professional-quality photos to send along with your pitch or story. 

@edgar_magano

What about specialist areas? As a journalist, you don't have to be a specialist in any area; you're just the conduit. So by all means write about topics that interest you, even if you have no expertise or training in that area - just include comment from at least two (preferably more) experts in that field, and read all your research on the topic very carefully. It helps to ask specialists to read your complete draft to check facts before you submit it to a publication.  

@sealetsa_rsa

What are the FAQ you are get? People always ask me whether I come up with my own ideas or whether editors send me stories they'd like me to write. In reality, it's a bit of both, and that keeps it interesting. 

The one question that you are never asked that (freelance) writers should be asking? What do you love about this work? Because you have to love it to eschew a safe, salary-paying work to be a freelancer! I love having control over how I spend my time, I love choosing the stories I write, and I love interviewing amazing people about their survival stories, their homes, gardens, ideas, expertise. Being a freelance writer makes me feel young (I'm 41), fresh, optimistic about life, and enthralled daily by the rich drama of the human experience I get to share with readers of my articles and fiction. I'm so grateful for this career.

 

Follow Catriona Ross on Twitter: @CatrionaWriter

Find her on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/Catriona-Ross/e/B0058SNC8G

Images of Catriona Ross supplied by Anthony Koeslag

Images of magazine supplied Katlego Edgar Magano @edgar_magano, Prince Nhlengethwa  @princeedgie and Tshepo Sealetsa @sealetsa_rsa