| Real Estate has "Location, location, location," and | | | | ClipsAs soon as you are published anywhere, start |
| writing has "Clips, clips, clips."When people ask me how | | | | saving your clips. I always photo-copy mine because |
| I became a syndicated columnist, I usually say, "it just | | | | newsprint begins to yellow over time. Make sure the |
| snowballed." And basically that's what happened: one | | | | publication date is noted on the clip, then place it in a |
| publication led to another, which led to another, and so | | | | protective binder. Hopefully you'll be making more |
| forth.I began my career writing for a small community | | | | copies of these clips soon when you write your |
| paper in my neighborhood. To look back on those first | | | | syndication proposal...or your book proposal!Watch |
| published clips is quite entertaining! But how can I be | | | | Your ContractsWriters are artists at heart, but |
| ashamed? The work I did at The Julington Creek | | | | unfortunately, in the world of publishing, there's a lot of |
| Plantation Press (the JCPP) became a springboard for | | | | business-minded tasks to take care of. In particular, it's |
| my now nationally syndicated column "Shore Duty."(If | | | | important to learn about contracts...or find someone to |
| you read between the lines here, what I'm saying is, | | | | learn about it for you.My husband is my personal |
| Don't be impatient, and don't expect quick success! Be | | | | "business advisor" who helps me to think with my |
| willing to work your way up and focus on getting the | | | | "career" mind rather than my "artsy" mind when it |
| coveted published clips.)But a giant "snowball" was not | | | | comes time to sign on the dotted line.Here's one very |
| all it took for me to become a writing success. | | | | important thing I've learned (by error) about contracts: |
| Admittedly, it took hard-work, research and | | | | be cautious of a "Work for Hire" deal. If you sign a |
| persistence too. Below are some things I learned along | | | | "Work for Hire" contract, you are basically signing |
| the way:Never Submit Shoddy Work, No Matter How | | | | away all the rights to your writing. In effect, the |
| Small the PublicationWhen I was working for the JCPP | | | | publication, not you, owns the article/column you |
| I knew the interviews and spotlights I was writing were | | | | produce. If you should ever want to reprint that piece |
| not Pulitzer material. In fact, I'd be surprised if even a | | | | (in a book, etc.) you then have to ask permission from |
| hundred people ever even read those first pieces. | | | | the original publication.A much better way is to sign a |
| Nevertheless, I made sure every submission was | | | | "Freelancer Contract". This type of arrangement |
| flawless and an excellent reflection of what I can do | | | | assures you the rights to your work. You are actually |
| as a writer. (You never know who might read your | | | | only lending your work to the publication, and you still |
| work...even the small work!)Providing error-free copy | | | | retain all rights to reprint or publish however else you |
| and meeting deadlines sets up a precedence of | | | | choose (except that most papers will ask that you not |
| professionalism that will follow you throughout your | | | | publish in another competing local paper).A good book |
| career. Never forget the editors you are writing for | | | | to educate yourself about contracts is Understanding |
| now may be the ones writing your next referral or | | | | Publishers' Contracts by Michael Legat.If You Have the |
| recommendation.A great book for grammar and | | | | Choice, Go With Self-SyndicationThere are two ways |
| proofreading help is The Associated Press Guide to | | | | to syndicate: through an agency, or on your own. |
| Punctuation by Rene J. Cappon.Never Let Your | | | | Below are the pros and cons of both (as I see it).Going |
| Readers DownDeveloping a relationship with your | | | | through an AgencyThe experts do all the business |
| readers is the ultimate goal (editors only buy what their | | | | work for you (marketing, writing proposals, etc.)Your |
| readers demand!), so it is important to make sure all | | | | mind is freed up to be artistic and write, write, |
| your writing (however small or insignificant) is | | | | write.Agencies have contacts and networks you do |
| entertaining and consistent with your abilities.Building a | | | | not.Selling a syndicated column can be a full-time job; if |
| firm base of loyal fans and readers should be your | | | | you want to write full-time, leave the business of |
| utmost concern. Never let your readers down! When I | | | | promotion and sales to an agency.However, an |
| write my column each week, I have in my mind the | | | | agency will take a hefty chunk of your profits.An |
| mother who will be sitting down to breakfast Tuesday | | | | agency creates a middle-man through which you have |
| morning and opening the Life section to see my | | | | to work.An agency takes "control" of your |
| submission. I don't write for editors (well, ok, so I do a | | | | career.Self-Syndicating Your ColumnYou retain control |
| little bit); I write for readers.Building my readership base | | | | and direction of your own career.You don't have to |
| has paid off. Now I have loyal fans throughout the | | | | share profits with an agency.You don't have to work |
| country emailing their local papers to request Shore | | | | through a middle-man.BUT, you do have to work really |
| Duty! And I'll say it again: Editors only buy what their | | | | hard to market yourself and your |
| readers demand!Always Approach the Managing | | | | column.Self-syndicating is like taking on another job. |
| EditorThere are many benefits to querying the | | | | (You will be solely responsible for sales, promotion, |
| Managing Editor of a publication, as opposed to a | | | | understanding contracts, creating invoices, etc.)For me, |
| section- or other editor. Ultimately, the Managing Editor | | | | however, the biggest benefit of going the |
| makes the monetary decisions for the paper, which | | | | self-syndication route has been the satisfaction I get |
| gives them the "last word." If you want a quick "yes" | | | | from knowing I am in control of my own career and |
| or "no" with few middle-men in between, direct your | | | | that I've gotten here through my own talents and hard |
| query to the Managing Editor.Once you get the job, | | | | work.A good book for understanding the differences |
| however, strive to build a good working relationship | | | | between self-syndication and syndication through an |
| with the editor of your section. This will be the person | | | | agency is Successful Syndication: A Guide for Writers |
| you deal with on a regular basis. Always meet | | | | and Cartoonists by Michael H. Sedge.If you work hard |
| deadlines (in fact, be early and they'll love you!), and as | | | | enough, have patience and collect lots and lots of clips, |
| much as possible, reduce the amount of work for your | | | | you are well on your way to being a columnist.I wish |
| very busy editor: always proofread and "tighten" your | | | | you luck, no writer's block, and many days of writing |
| writing before submitting it for publication.Save Your | | | | success! |