Thursday, May 9, 2019

Add Newspaper Writing to Your Resume

Edie here and I'm so excited to introduce our newest columnist - Julie Lavender. Julie and I met when we both won the Guideposts, "Write for Us" contest in 2014. I love her writing, her wisdom, and her willingness to help other writers. She's definitely a perfect fit for The Write Conversation. Be sure to give her a warm TWC welcome!



by Julie Lavender @JLavenderWrites


EXTRA! EXTRA! Read all about it: 

Newspaper articles are a great way to earn writing credits for beginning, as well as, experienced writers!!!

Have you ever considered writing for your hometown newspaper? Newspaper writing is a market that is often overlooked by writers, but it can be an easy way to earn bylines and build a resume with those elusive credits that every writer needs and covets. 

More than 1300 daily newspapers fly off the presses and into neighborhoods in the wee hours of the morning across the United States. And that number only accounts for the seven-day-a-week newspapers. The number stretches when newspapers published once a week or a couple of times each week, or even six days a week like my hometown newspaper are added in. 

Newspapers are not dead – that’s “fake news” – though the rumors are true that some are sick and ailing. The launching of the Internet years back caused many faithful readers to cancel their newspaper subscriptions, and a steady decline of local newspaper readership has taken place. 

A handful of newspapers in large cities are flourishing; many are just barely getting by financially, and most editions fall between the two. But all continue to need regular, fresh content, over and over again with each printing. 

That’s where the freelance writer stands to benefit. 

Financially-strapped newspapers have tightened fulltime staff, letting many reporters and staff go, and regularly use more freelance stringers, sometimes called “news correspondents.” 

My newspaper, The Statesboro Herald, only has two fulltime reporters, with freelance sports and business editors adding content according to the season or happenings. 

And with a county that is home to just over 70,000 people, that’s a lot of stories that go uncovered. 

Sadly, the stories that often get overlooked are the “good news” ones, the inspirational ones, the celebratory ones, and most definitely the faith-based ones. 

Yet, those are the very stories that readers crave. The ones that change lives and encourage and have a lasting impact. The ones that appeal to the heart and the ones that let us know that good still prevails. The stories that remind us of what’s right about the world. 

Freelance writers fit the bill to tell those needed stories! 

An unpublished or less-experienced writer can break into newsprint often quicker than any other form of media. Newspaper editors, though busy as bees most days, are more accessible than magazine or book editors and will typically reply to emails or phone calls personally. Most are willing to meet face-to-face, too, with advanced notice. 

Granted, the pay for a newspaper stringer is nothing to write home about, but the other rewards outweigh the slim paycheck.

The personal satisfaction of sharing a local headline or fascinating story in one’s hometown is often reward enough. To give someone his or her “fifteen minutes of fame” is a real treasure, especially when the story is a heart-warming one or noted accomplishment. 

If you’re blessed to live in a town that publishes faith-based articles and stories in the newspaper, your writing becomes a ministry, sharing God-stories and church happenings and Jesus moments. No one can put a price on that! 

A byline for an author generally brings a smile, and writing locally often garners comments from friends and family about a recently published, enlightening and fun article. 

And if those aren’t enough intrinsic rewards, a writer can often recycle a story by writing a slightly different version for submission to a regional newspaper or magazine, or even a national media outlet, if the story contains a broad readership appeal.  

Are you intrigued yet? Have I talked you into pursing newspaper writing? Tune in next time and we’ll discover how to get started. Until then, read newspapers from cover to cover. Check out stories online to see what appeals to readers. Keep your ears open for the events and happenings in your community that might be of interest to others. Get to know those in the community that have unique stories to share. 

Most importantly, pray, asking God if He wants you to use newspaper writing as a ministry to further His kingdom right in your own backyard, or shall we say, in your neighbor’s newspaper box!    

TWEETABLES



Of all the hats Julie’s worn over the years – Navy wife, public schoolteacher, homeschooling mommy to four, church volunteer in a variety of ages and stages, writer, book and magazine author, journalist, conference instructor, and crochet gal – her most favorite hat of the past will always be homeschooling mommy. Overtaking rapidly, though, is the GrammaJulie hat of the last four months.

Julie writes for her hometown newspaper, Guideposts publications, magazines, various compilations, and several parenting blogs. She is the author of 365 Days of Celebration and Praise: Devotions and Activities for Homeschooling Families, Creative Sleepovers for Kids, and three teacher resource books for the religious division of Carson-Dellosa Publishers. Connect with Julie on Facebook, Twitter at @JLavenderwrites, Instagram at JulieLavenderwrites, and follow her nature blog, On My Walk With God, at julielavender.blogspot.com.

14 comments:

  1. Welcome, Julie! Great post on a fresh new topic.

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    1. Thank you, DiAnn, and I am THRILLED to join Edie's conversation! I have admired her blog for so long and have learned so much from the posts over the years! I just think she's amazing, and I'm so honored to join the team!! (And, I think you BOTH are amazing, actually, with your wonderful support of and encouragement to writers for so many years now in and through the Blue Ridge Conference. Can't wait to see you both in just over a week! WooHoo!!)

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  2. Welcome aboard, Julie! Your article entices me.

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    1. Thank you! I'm thrilled to join the conversation!

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  3. Welcome to TWC. I’ve gotten away from writing newspaper articles and look forward to inspiration and tips from you to get back into it. Thank you.

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    1. Thank you, Tim! With your experience, then, I'm sure you know there aren't "big bucks" waiting for most newspaper writers, but it is so rewarding to share God stories with my community and beyond! (And great, easy writing credits to add to the resume!)

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  4. Welcome Ms. Julie. I've followed your writing for years now; it's wonderful to be getting even more encouragement and wisdom from you ma'am. God's blessings.

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    1. Thank you so much, my friend! You are so kind and faithful to join in conversations on various blog posts, and I know that I, along with many others, value your insight and comments on those posts!

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  5. Welcome to the conversation. And it truly is the one place where it feels like a true conversation. 3 reasons: 1) Edie - an awesome person to know personally and professionally - she brings real substance to this daily blog; 2) the substance itself - it benefits me immediately and most I can forward to others (like this one); and 3) the freshness of new contributors like yourself.

    I have subscribed to and eventually moved on from others, but this one is not only faith-based, it is like an online writing course. I write freelance for a magazine but most of my time is spent on books. I look forward to your next installment because I, like Tim, look forward to your inspiration and tips on writing for newspapers.
    Jay Wright; Anderson, SC

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    1. Jay, I completely agree with all three of your points! Edie is not only a cheerleader for us writers, but she provides such informative content for us through this blog that, like you, said, benefits us immediately and it does have the feel of a continuous writing course!! Thanks for commenting, and blessings on your magazine and book writing!

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  6. Julie,
    Your writing is a wonderful addition to The Write Conversation. I enjoyed your informative post which broadened my thinking about writing opportunities. Well done, my friend!

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    1. Thank you, Jeannie! It is indeed another writing opportunity and one that has great rewards for sharing local, God-stories with people right in my own community! It's been quite a blessing to me, and, I do believe it brings unique, positive stories to our paper that sometimes, sadly, is filled with mostly "bad" or negative headlines!

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  7. Welcome to the writing team here, Julie! I love your writing and your heart. Thank you for these ideas.

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    1. Thank you, Katy! I"m thrilled to be part of the team and join the conversation! So so many great tips on this website, and I'm honored to offer my tidbits about newspaper writing and other writing! It's a stellar list of contributors I'm adding my name to, and I'm delighted!

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