Since he went back to school in 06 to pursue the world of
entertainment, Jason Motz has established himself as a capable freelance writer
in the world of magazine/newspaper writing as well as the online blogging
world. Jason believes you can tell how much a writer reads by looking at the
level in which they write. Jason encourages to read wildly and strongly “if it’s
a language you understand, read it” Jason also gives advice to young writers
who don’t yet know how to balance a day job with their health as a freelance journalist.
You have to have your own back in this industry as there isn’t much sympathy
for working writers. Also nobody is there to tell you when your day is over, the
day is over when the piece is written and published. Curiosity, not missing
deadlines and communication with your editor are some of the elements of
freelance journalism that new writers should take into account. Jason believes a
good hustle and juggle is what it takes for a good freelancer to balance these
elements. Jason prefers journalism to blogging as it is easier to reach a wider
audience than an independent blogger. Not having a big audience can be okay as
long as you are still getting feedback. One of the hard things about blogging
is when you don’t get feedback, it can make you desperate to get feedback that isn’t
even positive. Bloggers also have to earn their credibility where as a
freelancer affiliated with a credible established news entity doesn’t have to
work as hard to seem credible. Jason also sights a pay cheque as being another
defining factor in why he leans more toward journalism than blogging. Jason
loves his job as he is a curious person who never gets bored in the field he is
in. it also exposes him to backgrounds and people he wouldn’t usually get to
know. One of the best pieces of advice he gives is that there are worse things
than hearing the word “no” It’s a sign of acknowledgement and should be a
confidence builder. Don’t take the negative to heart.
reading is fundamental
Victor Kohli Jan 22 2016 Jeff Atwood’s blog uses a number of reasons and presents new ideas as to why reading is fundamental. The blog is aimed toward anyone in high school and above seeing as he makes it clear that reading is a skill that will be a major skill in one’s life. Jeff also adds that listening during a discussion is more advantageous for the discussion to move forward. He cites over posting as a key example, saying that there is more value to ones words when they speak less and listen more. He presents a number of new ideas that can change the way commenters interact with online writers. Jeff brilliantly starts his blog by addressing that your post count is the only number that you can change next to your username. That the amount of articles read is never counted but the amount of articles posted is, as if the person who spends more time repeating then list
Good summary, Vic
ReplyDeleteHi Vic ... whoa, that's a lot of green on my screen. Makes the font a tad hard to read. But as I am a WordPress guy, I have no idea what the options are for Blogspot. But, for what it's worth, readability is elemental to a blog.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow, I am the last guy you should be taking design advice from. And I will forgive the green because you picked up on something no one else has to date. And, honestly, that's a bit surprising.
.... communication with your editor ....
Yeah, that cannot be overstated. Having clear lines of communication with an editor is integral to survival. And if you're dealing with multiple deadlines and various editors, the risks are even greater. Some tips on working with editors.
Always confirm the assignment, from the details of what they ask for, to when they want the thing. It may seem obvious, but it's been known to happen where an editor and writer are not on the same page of a story. The results? Not good.
How to make sure there is a good line of communication? When I interned at Western Living, my primary editor would give me assignments verbally and then in an email. Not sure if it was OCD on her part or if she thought she was working with a chimp, BUT ... it worked. Turns out, on a few occasions, her verbal instructions weren't 100% clear to me. The email sorted it out.
Update as required, but do not harass editors. They are notorious for not returning every dang email unless it's crucial. But giving them a heads up now and then about your status is never going to get you fired.
I should offer some perspective on your writing too as the colour scheme shit was merely an ice-breaker. You have what is known as raw talent; the skills are evident, but they are sidetracked by structural woes, some grammar maladies, and pacing problems. None of these are critical flaws, but they are the sort of wrinkle that needs to be ironed out.
Cheers!