Everything You Wanted To Know About Freelance Journalism
(But Didnt Know Whom To Ask)
Reviews
I started my writing career as a freelance journalist and how I wish such a book was available back then! Covers everything you need to know to start freelancing and make it a satisfying, paying career. A bible for freelance writers everywhere.
Rashmi Bansal, bestselling author
This book will be relevant not just for freelancers but many young journalists too. The nuggets of useful information do not come as lectures but as illustrated examples from the working lives of the authors. There is emphasis on small, practical stuff, read the publication thoroughly, be available for rewrites, dont fight over every comma shifted... The authors rightly point out that apart from a brilliant story idea, some of these things will make a difference when an editor takes a call to recommission a freelancer.
Seema Chowdhry,
deputy national features editor, Mint
This should be every freelancers essential reading before stepping into the difficult and dicey world of freelance writing. In this remarkably perceptive and extremely useful book packed with practical tips, the authors dish out on a platter the dos and donts of freelance journalism from how to pitch a story to an editor to handling rejection.
Rasheeda Bhagat,
senior associate editor, Business Line
The authors deliver exactly what its title promises, and do so with lucidity, insight, and most delightfully, wit. They dont just tell but show you how its done with copious examples. I predict this book is destined to become a staple on every J-school syllabus and aspiring journalists bookshelf.
Lakshmi Chaudhry, senior editor, FirstPost
I wish Id had this book when I started writing. Beginning with the wisdom that writing ability isnt enough to get you an assignment (its true!), it takes the reader through the steps needed to land that assignment. Filled with very practical advice, this is a must-read for those looking to break into the field.
Baradwaj Rangan, deputy editor,
The Hindu , and author of Conversations with Mani Ratnam
If you ever needed a DIY device to break into freelance writing, this is it. Its practical, truthful and almost gives you a checklist of what to do (and not to) when pitching stories. With tongue firmly in cheek, I can think of many career freelance journalists I would recommend this book to.
Prasad Ramamurthy, features editor,
Cond Nast Traveller India
The process of freelance writing is all too often mistaken for the following three steps: 1. Writing 2. Emailing 3. Cashing cheque. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Each week I get emails from half a dozen aspiring writers all seeking to break into the nations newsprint. Hopefully this book, a one-stop resource, will help these writers and liberate my inbox.
Sidin Vadukut, foreign correspondent,
Mint and author of the bestselling Dork series
Compelling journalism, especially feature writing, is increasingly sought by editors, and foreign appetite for India based stories is growing. This book is not just a how to to meet those demands, but also detailed enough to include strong pitch writing, how to chase (but not overwhelm!) editors, tailor stories to reader needs, and use social media to make a career as a freelancer. I only wish someone had handed me a copy five years ago when I left a full-time journalism job to freelance.
Gayatri Rangachari Shah, contributing editor for
Harpers Bazaar , and freelance journalist for the International New York Times , Cond Nast Traveller , Architectural Digest
Everything You Wanted To Know About Freelance Journalism
(But Didnt Know Whom To Ask)
Kavitha Rao
Charukesi Ramadurai
westland ltd
61, Silverline Building, Alapakkam Main Road, Maduravoyal, Chennai 600 095
No. 38/10 (New No.5), Raghava Nagar, New Timber Yard Layout, Bangalore 560 026
93, 1st Floor, Sham Lal Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110 002
First published in India by westland ltd, 2014
First e-book edition: 2014
Copyright Kavitha Rao and Charukesi Ramadurai, 2014
All rights reserved
ISBN: 978-93-83260-08-9
Typeset in Garamond Regular by SRYA, New Delhi
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, circulated, and no reproduction in any form, in whole or in part (except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews) may be made without written permission of the publishers.
To Pappa, for all the bedtime stories, and the gift of reading and writing, the best thing you could have given me.
To Amma, for letting me read all day instead of studying, and so much else...
To Geetha, for teaching me the alphabet.
To Sanjeeb, for constantly praising, sharing and bragging about everything I have written, even when it is awful.
To Maya and Shyam, without whom this book would have been written in half the time, but with much less fun along the way.
Kavitha
For my parents and for Vamsi. For everything.
Charukesi
Contents
Why Should You Read This Book?
As nationally and internationally published freelance journalists who write for The New York Times , The Guardian , Time , The Economist , Elle , Open , Vogue , The Hindu , Mint and several other publications, we are used to people thinking they can do our jobs easily. Between the two of us, we get at least a dozen emails a week, from people who want to know how to be freelance journalists. People tell us, Id love to write! It seems so fun and so easy.
Fun perhaps, but not easy, we think.
The truth is everyone wants to be a writer. Freelancing seems like a glamorous and easy job to the outsider. One that you can do from the comfort of your home and at your own pace. Perhaps in your pyjamas. And taking care of the children, while you are banging away at the computer. And most importantly, satisfying your creative urge and writing what you are passionate about.
Lets begin with a simple truth. Contrary to what most beginners think, it isnt as easy as sending your articles off to editors, in the hope that they may make it into print. Freelance journalism is a science, with its own laws and rules. It is less about the writing than about other things, such as coming up with fresh and original ideas, convincing your editor to buy your idea, delivering what the editor wants and coping with the inevitable rejections.
Unlike some western countries, India is not a saturated market for freelance journalists. This means beginners have a fighting chance of getting their names in print. In some ways, theres never been a better time to be a freelancer in India. Its one of the few countries where print media is booming. Several foreign magazines have entered India in the last few years and there are thousands of pages out there waiting to be filled. And most have digital versions that are easier to break into.
The Internet has made it simpler than ever before to research stories, gather information, interview subjects and send copy across the world. Besides, foreign publications are now increasingly interested in news from India, especially stories about culture, travel, technology and the economy.
But with no definite guides on how to break into freelance journalism, editors too busy to give feedback, and wildly varying fees, most wannabe freelance journalists have no idea where to get started.
