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Special Events ReportsCoffee Klatch Serves Up Camaraderie By Christianna McCausland, Membership Committee On October 25th, AIW hosted its first ever “Coffee Klatch,” an informal networking event at the AIW office in Washington, D.C. A diverse group of approximately 20 members from Maryland, Virginia, and the District stopped by the office to socialize with their fellow AIW members and to share stories about their writing and their lives. They included bloggers, copywriters, correspondents and authors of books, representing many incarnations of the writing craft. Homemade baked goods helped attendees smooth into “yummy” conversation, and the afternoon was considered time well spent. The event, hosted by the Membership Committee, was the brainchild of Randy Sly, Conference Committee Chair and AIW Board member. The Membership Committee is always looking for new ways to engage current members and to provide the services members value most. In numerous AIW surveys, members indicated that networking with other writers is one of the more important benefits of membership, so we are finding ways to offer more opportunities like this. “Writers spend many days alone, hunched over a computer or a pad of paper. The opportunity to not only network, but to interact with other people is an important support for our members,” said Cecilia Sepp, AIW President. “I thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon, and I heard many great stories. That’s what a writer’s life should be about.” In addition to the fun AIW members had, the Coffee Klatch gave us the opportunity to showcase the AIW office and its uses as a resource for our members. The office, centrally located on K Street, NW near the Farragut North Metro stop, can be used for meetings with clients (by appointment), checking email or as a quiet place to work or spend time between appointments. AIW also provides a library of useful books available to members who wish to drop by and work on their craft. The October event was so successful, the Membership Committee will be scheduling monthly Coffee Klatches beginning in January 2008. In the future, these gatherings may include informal visits from local editors or experts to allow members to network with other professionals in a casual, inviting atmosphere. Add “attend AIW coffee klatches” to your list of 2008 New Year Resolutions; this is one you’ll definitely want to keep since it’s a great opportunity to meet other members and share in the casual shoptalk we often crave in our profession. *** Freelancing for Fun and Profit: AIW's All-day Seminar on October 13, 2007 By Sarah White, AIW Member As independent writers, we know we must equip ourselves with the skills necessary to succeed. Whether we wish to get our words published for profit or for self-expression, we need to be able to deliver our messages clearly, accurately and in an interesting way. AIW’s Saturday, October 13, Seminar, co-sponsored by Johns Hopkins University Master of Arts in Writing program brought members face to face with experienced freelancers, professors, and editors, who were on hand to discuss some of the tools necessary for success. We all have ideas. The trick is selling them. David Everett, Director of the Master of Arts in Writing Program at Johns Hopkins University, helped open Saturday’s discussion by citing important things freelance writers should be thinking about when preparing to package and sell an idea. Focusing the story and giving it an angle were at the top of the list. Your focus articulates the heart of your story, and the angle you choose will offer a unique way to communicate your message. Whether you’re writing a human-interest piece, an investigative report or a profile, you’ll need to think about how to narrow your scope and tell the story. Many of us are told that persistence is key and that knowing someone helps. Both may be true, but even if you know someone who can get you to the right editor or you’ve contacted an editor who has been able to sift through the piles of pitches sitting on his or her (or more likely, their assistant’s desk), if your story isn’t well planned with a terrific hook and narrow focus, it will not sell. Make Your Story Unique The impulse most writers have is to get the pitch out as soon as possible because an accepted pitch means money in the bank sooner, but research on the front end is imperative. Dale Keiger, associate editor at Johns Hopkins Magazine, said the number one mistake most freelancers make when sending him pitches is not conducting enough research beforehand. According to Keiger, research helps open writers up to more engaging angles. The more you know about your subject the stronger your idea will be because it will be based on a foundation of knowledge that is yours alone. Think Like an Editor Writers sometimes forget that they need to think like editors. When you’ve got a story you’re ready to pitch to a publication, you must remember the audience that publication is trying to reach. Julie Asher, national editor of the Catholic News Service, talked about pitches she’s received from writers who have misread her publication’s audience. She’s received pitches for stories that covered local events even though she works for a national news organization. If you think more about the type of publication you’re querying and read up on what they’ve been publishing, what their lead times are and the types of stories they’re interested in, you’re more likely to be able to achieve a successful and timely pitch. From general interest magazines to trade publications, profiles can open writers to a wide range of markets. Panelists discussed some of the important steps writers should take to master the profile. When reporting, Keiger emphasized the importance of developing a rapport with your subject. This doesn’t mean sitting down for a single lengthy interview. It means talking to them in a restaurant. Talking to them in their home. Going with them to their child’s soccer game. Seeing them interact in all areas of their daily life. Spend enough time with the subject in order to “get past the performance,” as Keiger put it. Everyone wants to paint him or herself in a certain light and your job is to paint them in the most accurate light. Keiger also emphasized the importance of talking to people close to your subject. Talk to the spouses, the children, the friends. Keiger emphasized that it was important to try to understand your subject from every angle. Don’t forget your research either. Exhaustive research, according to Keiger, allows you to bring up something your subject didn’t know you knew. Showing you’ve done your homework can encourage a more difficult subject to open up. Attacking Electronic Markets Howard Yoon, vice president and editorial director of the Gail Ross Literary Agency, shared his professional expertise on electronic markets. Yoon talked about some of the ways writing for the web differs from writing for print publications. According to Yoon, many people have shorter attention spans when reading online so it’s important to clarify what it is you want to say in as few as 600-800 words. Yoon also talked about the web as a great place to break into publishing. He was quick to note, however, that the pay isn’t as high, so it’s important for writers to think of writing for the web as a means to an end rather than just an end. Whether you promote yourself or your work through a blog or online resume, the web now provides many outlets for networking and advertising your work. Closing Remarks The closing session allowed panelists and AIW members to talk about their own experiences in today’s writing market. Questions were fielded and ideas were shared. At the end of the day, members went home with a long list of resources and tips to think about the next time they sit down at the computer to write. Miss a AIW Special Event? Click here to read about past events. |