Crafting the “Reactive Story” — Reworking News Stories into Web Features
by Steven Threndyle If you’re as ADD as most writers I know, you probably spend a bit of your day on social media and get a significant amount of your news from what your friends are posting or tweeting. And, if you’re in story-hunting mode, (and you should always be in story hunting mode), you […]
Pitching around staff writers
By Brittany Duggan As a freelancer, it’s hard to keep of track of which Canadian media outlets still have budgets for outsourcing. “The Globe has a freeze on freelancers for another month,” a colleague told me recently while we brainstormed where to pitch a story. A Toronto editor told her this after a pitch she […]
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #34 — Anne Mullens
In this regular feature, Story Board asks Canadian writers to share a few details about their work habits and their strategies for navigating the ups and downs of freelance life. Anne Mullens is an award-winning freelance health writer, author, editor and health communications consultant who lives in Victoria, B.C. She has won a dozen awards for her writing, which […]
Turning Your Holiday into a Travel Writing Opportunity
By Brittany Duggan As a freelancer, days not worked are days not paid. But that doesn’t you mean don’t get to take holidays, whether in your own backyard or to somewhere more exotic. It just might mean you get creative about how to turn your holiday into future writing opportunities. I’ve just emerged back onto […]
A Q&A with freelance writer Cole Kazdin
by Brittany Duggan Cole Kazdin is a writer, performer and four-time Emmy winning television journalist. She currently lives in Los Angeles where she regularly contributes to VICE, MEL Magazine and Refinery29. Kazdin has written for The New York Times, Los Angeles Magazine, Cosmopolitan and has produced television for HBO Documentaries and ABC Network News. She […]
The fine line of the follow-up
by Brittany Duggan Following up with editors after sending a story pitch can be anxiety-inducing. “Why have I not heard back?” “Is it a bad idea?” “Are they just too busy?” Ultimately, the radio silence you hear after sending a pitch is likely because of a combination of busy schedules, email overload, and – unfortunately […]
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #32 — Jennifer Van Evra
In this regular feature, Story Board asks Canadian writers to share a few details about their work habits and their strategies for navigating the ups and downs of freelance life. Jennifer Van Evra is a Vancouver writer, broadcaster and university instructor. Her work has appeared in publications including the Globe and Mail, the Vancouver Sun, Vancouver magazine, the Georgia Straight, Mother […]
Victoria Freelancers: Register for our Perfect Pitch workshop
Victoria-area freelancers, CMG Freelance has a professional development opportunity coming your way next month. Every freelancer — whether new or experienced — can use some pitching practice. So join us for The Perfect Pitch, our day-long workshop on pitching. It’s scheduled for October 1 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Fisgard Street Forum (845 Fisgard Street). You’ll learn how […]
The 3 R’s of freelancing: Reuse, Repurpose, Resell
By Sandra Phinney You’ve heard that clichéd line, “the gift that keeps giving.” I’m starting to view my stories that way. If I resell an article I’ve written, or repurpose the story and sell a second or third rendition of that story, I am gifting myself—and putting extra money in the bank. I’ve already done […]
The 5-Minute Freelancer Q&A #31 — David Hayes
In this regular feature, Story Board asks Canadian writers to share a few details about their work habits and their strategies for navigating the ups and downs of freelance life. David Hayes is an award-winning freelance journalist who has written four nonfiction books as well as features and articles for publications such as The Walrus, The New York Times Magazine and The Globe and Mail. […]
