Budding writer - getting started - advice sought...

Boredsdotie

Hi all,

I love writing, but I have never published anything on the net or elsewhere. My question is this, in order to get my writing noticed (impossible feat though it may seem), what is the best way to go about it - online in particular???

Blog/website? What are the pros and cons of both? Also, what if someone plagiarises your work from the website/blog?(!) Is it better to publish on a blog/website that to submit articles to a publication???????

I write short-ish articles (which I try to put an amusing slant on) - I'm not trying to write a novel (the 'how to get published' thread appears to deal with would-be novel writers)...so any advice relevant to this type of writing is welcomed...

cobsie

The answer to these questions and so much more is on the thread How to Get Published, which is a sticky at the top of this forum. Read through all the q & a, it's extremely informative and insightful and literally everything you ask here has been answered there. Good stuff!

Boredsdotie

Great thank you...

You've just inspired my next post, entitled 'what is a sticky'?(!):)

Boredsdotie

would you mind telling which category I can find that in - can't see it...

Thanks again...

Boredsdotie

ok - I got it - at least I'm not an aspiring Boards.ie user - thank you

EileenG

My take is that to get your writing noticed, first work on it and get it as good as possible, then try to get it published in a magazine or newspaper. It's not that difficult, most daily newspapers have acres of space to fill, and will print and pay for anything that's the right quality.

I see a lot of blogs that are embarrassingly bad, and are not an advertisement for your writing. Also, while I don't think you need to worry about people plagiarising your work (ideas are ten a penny, it's all about how you write it), putting something up on a public forum or blog is publishing, which means that if you want to sell it, you can't offer first serial rights.

The exception to the plagiarising is if you write something very technical, or with specialised knowledge. In that case, I would definitely try to write for someone who will pay you money to publish it.

Boredsdotie

Thanks EileenG...

I just write general articles about experiences I have had/subjects I know a bit about...

As you said, the best thing would probably be to perfect what I've written...then I will have to figure out what sort of articles should/can be sent to what sorts of publications...

I usually try to write witty pieces about everyday subjects, so I guess I need to find out who would be most likely to publish that sort of stuff...

If you happen to have any resources re same, I would appreciate it?

EileenG

Read the papers. Most of them have a regular slot for witty opinion pieces and they all have lots of space for well-researched features of general interest.

Take a look at the magazines you buy yourself. Could you write for any of them?

If you have an idea for something that you think a particular paper would like, ring the right editor (the reception will tell you which one), and tell him your idea. If he's interested, he'll tell you to send it in. Find out what length he wants, and when he wants it, and make sure that's exactly what you do. If he asks for 800 words, he does not want 2000 and your permission to cut it. And ask what he will pay for it. Do not offer to work for free, it just makes you look desperate and unprofessional.

Then send it in. He may or may not use it, but he won't steal your idea - it's cheaper to use your piece than to get someone else to write it. Keep an eye out for it, most editors don't tell you when it's going in. If you don't see it within a couple of weeks, ring and ask. There are all sorts of reasons something doesn't get used.

Make sure you have another idea ready to go even if he didn't use the first one.

If it does get used, send in an invoice at once.

Boredsdotie

Excellent advice - thanks Eileen - appreciate it. You write yourself obviously?

EileenG

At home with the children now and writing novels, but I've been a full time freelance journalist for years. If you are consistent and professional, you will sell your work.