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Land a Newspaper Column & Keep It Going
By Christina Lorenzen
There is nothing like newspaper writing to teach a writer to
write tight and meet deadlines. Another benefit is the steady
income in a business where payment often takes months to
arrive. You may think you need some experience, but getting
started as a columnist is not that hard. It’s ideal to start
with a regional or local paper, where editors rely on freelancers,
or stringers, for their material.
Getting a column will be much more successful if you keep
these few simple ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ in mind:
* Do your homework and find out what papers serve your area
and what content they provide to their readers. I learned
that as a writer you are like any other entrepreneur. Find
out what needs aren’t being met. Do they have a pet column?
A gardening column?
* Do make a list of your areas of expertise to determine
what subject you are qualified to write about. If you live a
green lifestyle, you can show readers how to do the same. If
you are a whiz with money, pitch a column on personal finance.
*Do look for the editorial contacts at the paper you are
interested in approaching. You should find the editorial
information on the first page of the paper. Contacting the
appropriate person is a sign of professionalism. For a
paper you will probably be contacting the editor-in-chief.
* Don’t assume you can phone the editor just because it’s
a small, local paper. Respect the editor’s time by sending
her an email introducing yourself as a freelance writer.
In one paragraph let the editor know that you are interested
in writing for her paper. Don’t forget to mention any
writing experience or attach any published clips for the
editor‘s review.
*Do pitch your column idea in your introductory email and
tell the editor why you are the writer for the job. Writing
itself may be a craft, but the business of writing includes
selling your product. Finally, conclude your email by
telling the editor that if interested, you will be available
to meet at his earliest convenience.
* Don’t email the editor hours later asking if they have
received your email. Despite the fact that we live in a
day and age of instant gratification, the writing business
requires patience. It’s often a waiting game when it comes
to getting responses from editors.
* Do send a follow up email if you have not gotten a reply
after a month. My own experience has shown me that a month’s
time is sufficient for a newspaper editor to get back to
you.
* Do paste a copy of the original email in your follow up
to make referring to your original email convenient. If
the editor is interested, be prepared to meet with her
in person by bringing any clips you have and, most
importantly, several sample columns.
My advice to you, as a former newspaper feature writer and
columnist, is to show an editor that you can go the distance.
By providing the editor with six, preferably twelve, sample
columns at your meeting, you show them that you have staying
power and won’t fizzle out after three columns. This is the
first step in maintaining a newspaper column with staying
power. The next step is to start thinking ahead and planning
columns weeks/months in advance. With a little brainstorming,
some research and keeping abreast of your area of expertise,
you can keep your column lively and viable for years to come.
BIO
Christina Lorenzen has been a freelance writer for more than
twenty years with more than two hundred articles published
in magazines, newspapers and online. She is currently
finishing her first novel, the first of a two book series
in women's fiction. She resides in New York with her husband
and two children. She can be reached at
carp119@aol.com
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