Today I chat to award winning author and newspaper columnist, Allison Symes, about writing a weekly column for a newspaper or magazine and how you can get interviewed by those columnists.
Today I chat to award winning author and newspaper columnist, Allison Symes, about writing a weekly column for a newspaper or magazine and how you can get interviewed by those columnists.
Hi, and welcome to the writing and Marketing Show brought to you by author Wendy H. Jones. This show does exactly what it says on the tin. It's jam packed with interviews, advice, hints, tips and news to help you with the business of writing. It's all wrapped up in one lively podcast, so it's time to get on with the show. And welcome to Episode 54 of the writing and Marketing Show with author entrepreneur Wendy H. Jones. Yes, I know I said last week was Episode 52. But for some reason, we had two weeks of Episode 52 for no other reason, then I'm a bit of a dope last week's was actually Episode 53. But you know what, we're all safe. We're all well, and it's not worth getting worked up about just because I got the number wrong. I apologise. And here we are on the magical Episode 54. So what's happening in the world? Well, there's no way of getting round, we're still stuck in COVID lockdown. But do you know what it happens? It's what we do with it. That's important. We're safe, we're warm. And we're staying at home on that's why it's important that we just keep out the way and weather the storm. But people aren't getting their vaccinations. So I'm holding out hope that I will get mine sometime soon. I really am holding out hope that I get mine sometime soon. And I'm sure everybody else's as well. What we're going to be talking about this week, where we're going to be talking about writing a weekly newspaper column and where you get the inspiration for that, because I'm sure It must be hard. And we're going to get tips about writing a column how you get and how you get the gig for to write a column and what you can do, and we're doing that with the fabulous Alison Symes and Alison is amazing, and really knows what she's talking about. So before we get on, on talk to Allison. And first of all, I read a report today that says that reading is way up since we started with COVID. So that's an absolutely fantastic status to hear. Because we always want to encourage reading, reading as amazing, as we all know. But it's also good for us writers because it means that we're selling more books, so that's always a good thing. And so I was very heartened to read that really, because at least something has come out of this mess. And before we get on to interview Allison, I've just like to say, if you're listening to this, and you're thinking and writing a book, or you want to take your author business to a whole new level, I have started a new company called Authorpreneur Accelerator Academy. And if you just type in Authorpreneur Accelerator Academy into Google, it will take you straight there. And it literally takes you through every single aspect of the business of writing. So if you want to know more about writing books, and the entire business of writing, then the Authorpreneur Accelerator Academy is for you. It's a mixture of online courses, weekly webinars, coaching calls, master classes, and all different things. So it's well worth checking out. And I always enjoy bringing you this podcast. It's an absolute pleasure, but it does take time out of my busy working week. And if you would like to support that time, you can do so by just paying as little as $3 a month to patreon@patreon.com forward slash Wendy h Jones. That's pa t ar e o and forward slash sorry.com. forward slash Wendy H. Jones. And I would be very grateful. And it will mean that you want the show to continue because we're here we are in the second year. Who would have thought I certainly didn't think we'd still be here a year later. But I'm glad we are and I'm glad that I can bring you value. So what of Allison Allison, as I say is an amazing person. We had her on here before talking about flash fiction and I'm delighted to welcome her back to talk about how you can find ideas for a weekly column. So, Allison Symes is a multi-published flash fiction and short story writer published online and in print by CafeLit, Chapeltown Books, and Bridge House Publishing. She is also one of the fifteen winners of the Waterloo Arts Festival Writing Competition and has been for three years in a row. Allisons debut flash fiction collection, From Light to Dark and Back Again, was published in 2017 by Chapeltown Books, who are a small independent press based around Manchester. Her follow-up book, Tripping the Flash Fantastic, was published by Chapeltown Books in 2020. Both flash fiction collections are available in Kindle and paperback and can be found at Allisons Amazon Author Central page at http://author.to/AllisonSymesAuthorCent Allison is a member of the Society of Authors and Association of Christian Writers. On the non-fiction side, Allison is also a blogger who writes a weekly column for online magazine, Chandlers Ford Today. She often writes on topics of interest for writers. For example, her current series as at January 2021 is called Launches in Lockdown, where she shares her own experiences of launching a book during what has been a difficult time for all writers. She has also interviewed a wide range of other writers for this series. Do check out her blog page for more.
http://chandlersfordtoday.co.uk/author/allison-symes/ So without further ado, let's get on with the show and hear from Allison. And we have Allison here with us. Hi, Alison, how are you?
Allison Symes:I'm very well, Wendy. Thanks for having me back on the show. Oh, it's
Wendy Jones:an absolute pleasure. You were amazing the last time and I knew I had to have you back because you've got so much wisdom to share with us?
Allison Symes:Well, I try. I've been I've been a writer for a very, very long time, and you pick up a few things on the way but it's good to share them?
Wendy Jones:You absolutely do. And I have to say that we're a bit topsy turvy at the moment, because you're down in Hampshire with snow. And I'm up in Scotland with none. It's not normally that way. No. You know, when I moved from Hampshire, back to Scotland, I thought, Oh, the weather, it'll get worse. The weather's been bad up here than it was in England. So cherish itmake the most of it.
Allison Symes:I will, I will.
Wendy Jones:Anyway, we're not here to talk about the weather. Nobody wants to listen to us not about the weather they want to hear all about and how they can write weekly columns for newspapers or magazines. So and for just to set the scene so we know where we are. Can you tell us a bit about the column that you write?
Allison Symes:Yeah, of course, I write for an online magazine called Chandlers Ford Today. And it has a wide range of articles aimed at gardeners, those interested in local history, and so on. There's a significant writing community in my area, so I write for them. And I sometimes also review local theatre company productions when I'm able to go. So I guess I'm kind of the nursing channel for today has to an arts correspondent. You remember the old gloss we used to get with the Sunday papers channels call today is very much the online equivalent of that. I write weekly with my posts appear on a Friday. Now, I was very lucky, I was able to choose that day of the week, thanks to my very generous editor, Janet Williams. And that spots really useful for my post comes out on the Friday and I get far more comments on my columns over the weekend, when people have chance to read them than I do any other day of the week. I usually write to about 1200 words or so unless I'm interviewing someone or writing a series when I upped the word count a little bit. There was a school of thought that blog post had to be kept to about 500 words. And that's a useful guideline. But what I'm doing, I'm more writing the kind of Article you'd have seen in the Sunday supplement magazines and stuff like that. It's just on a computer rather than imprint, that's all.
Wendy Jones:No, that's a good point that it needs to be a bit longer because it's actually an informative article, as opposed to a short pithy blog post. So thanks for raising that because it is an important point. And what counts. So roughly 1000, if you're doing a good article, you know, that is giving people information.
Allison Symes:Well, I'll touch on this a little bit more later on. But one huge advantage I have working just on an online magazine, is that you can break the text up with all sorts of things, texts, sound pictures, videos, even. And of course, that makes it even easier to read on the screen.
Wendy Jones:great tips there. So news column newspaper columns now can either be print digital, or even just online like yours. Can you tell us about the differences between these?
Allison Symes:Well, in my case, I've only ever worked for Chandlers Ford Today, so I've only ever known online. But I do know that online material, like the site on this website is becoming increasingly important because we're all using our smartphones and our iPads. So we need intelligent, interesting content available for that for our technology. The main difference I suppose, is with a paper or a magazine that you physically hold, you can hold it whilst you're having a cup of coffee, a cup of tea. But these days, even that a phone she's going because I I will read articles on my phone or on my PC while I'm having a drink. So and the other huge advantage is your work on your online column is permanent. I mean, unless you're the writer of the column, who keeps all of their old newspaper and magazine clippings where your work appears you'd run out of room very quickly in your house. If you wrote a lot less I do. So all my columns are so much easier to ask. And the cost savings are a significant, you know, printing out knowing costs, no distribution costs. And the sad thing is that print newspaper and print magazine, distribution figures have fallen considerably over the last few years. In fact, only this month in writing magazine was a sad but interesting article about all the magazines lost in 2020. In some cases, they went out of business altogether. In others, they scrapped the print edition, and just merely online, seeing it rightly, I think, is their best chance of surviving at all. Because the way people read has changed significantly.
Wendy Jones:Now, they're really good points, because you're right, we are reading things in shorter chunks, we're doing it on the earth, we're doing it while we're sitting, having a cup of coffee, and we don't want to carry things around with us, you know, if you're carrying it, with all due respect to the Sunday newspapers, you can't carry that around, you'd end up with a bad back. Well, I remember the days of the old sort of full size papers before they went to tablets. And that would be far worse yet. You know, you can't even fold them up properly. And the days when I've actually done this myself, you read a paper and put the paper down and discover you've got ink all over your hand, you don't have that with an online column. Now, you are so right, all the advantages and none of the disadvantages. Yeah, I mean, having said that, I do not want to see print magazines and print papers go. Oh absolutley not.
Allison Symes:I think not at all. But I it is quite really that we have the development and technology, there is an alternative for people who want to read their material online. Now,
Wendy Jones:I agree totally with you. So I know you've alluded to this already, but and I'm sure the listeners will be interested, what's the focus of your column and why that focus? Well, I focus mainly on the huge writing community because our area covers Hampshire, a lot of Hampshire, particularly Southampton, and Winchester. Of course, Winchester is the home of the Winchester Writing Festival, the home of Hampshire Writers Society. So there's a lot of writers around here. And because I love writing myself, my flash fiction, short stories, and so on, it makes sense to write on topics connected to those things, I am literally writing what I know, which is what we're all supposed to do. Also, as a writer, myself, I know what is likely to interest me. So it's a reasonably intelligent guess, to assume that other writers will be interested in the same topics. It really is all down to knowing who your audience is and who you're pitching to. And I've got a fairly good idea of mourning. And the comments that I get in all my columns tend to confirm it. I'm also looking at I hope my column will do some good I mean, at the moment, my I've got a current series running on charms for today called launches in lockdown. I'm discussing with a wide range of authors, including your good self, Wendy, how we've launched bookstore and what has to be one of the strangest times we've all experienced. And if I wasn't writing that series myself, I know full well it'd be the kind of series I'd want to read. Why? Because I'd be looking for advice and tips from others who've gone through this difficult time, and who are wondering what on earth they're going to do when their books come out, because we have no way of knowing when the restrictions will be lifted. All we know right now is writers simply can't have the usual meet the author events would usually have in bookshops, and libraries. So a series of columns with full of advice and tips from writers like both you and me, Sharon, this is what we did. This is what we found worked. It's going to be useful as well as entertaining. And that's what I tried to do I try to write posts that are useful and entertaining. give good advice. I mean, to be fair, I do also write on other topics. I use the seasons a lot as well. I nearly always write a humorous flash fiction story for the end of year post because for today that always seems to go down. Well, I when I can I get to we've been very lucky here we got two very good local amateur theatre companies, both of whom have had their programmes wiped for a year thanks to the pandemic. I can't wait to get back to reviewing their stuff again. So anything that I can touch on with local interest is something that I also do. But the main focus is the writing because it is what I know and I know so many of the local authors around here, so I know exactly who I'm pitching to. That's brilliant because it's actually it's something that's useful. And it's something that needs to be covered and having things like that in a weekly column are are fantastic. So you know, it's well worth, I have to say it's well worth them reading your weekly column because you get so much advice. Yeah, well, I know from my own experience as a as a fiction writer as well, you never know, I've always learned from reading interviews of other writers, I may not be able to apply the tips immediately. But at some point, someone will happen in my career. And I think Oh, yes, so, so talked about that in their interview, blah, blah, blah, go. Yeah, they did that, I could do that. And then you find that tip really comes into practical use for you. And you know, it. And it's been, it's been lovely. I never know, when I'm going to get comments in on my posts, I've sometimes had it, where some people come in and say, Well, that was really useful. And it was a post I've written three years ago. So my goal was my posts are to be entertaining and useful. But I also try to write on topics that are timeless. So writing tips, writing advice, thankfully, always ease. You know, there are certain things you always need to know. And if I get flagged up by other writers, I network with that there's a scam in the offing. I will put up a warning post to other writers about it and things like that. Yeah, that's great. But you were talking a bit about topics and the topic should do. But I'm in awe of how you come up with the topic. 52 weeks a year, and year on year? How do you find topics and keep it fresh? What is the writing life in all its glories and sometimes horror fascinates me. I'm always fascinated by the creative side of it, just how do you put a story together? And then how do you get it published. I also fascinated by the business side of it. And every writer has a unique voice, and they have a unique story. So there are things there. Locally, I mean, it's nice, I've got a nice wide range of local things to talk about. For example, in my local park, we have a beautiful wild flower meadow. So when that's out in flower, I'm out with my smartphone camera taking loads of pictures. And there's the nearest thing I get to do to doing any photo journalism, but it's beautiful. That kind of post always gets a good response locally. And they mix the Flower Flower mixes up every year. So I can do that year on year on year. And I can use certain dates in the year to help me For example, around remembrance, I will always nearly always do a topical the importance of memories and things like that, to tie in with things like that. And just sometimes something will come up on the news that I can latch on to and write the only golden rule because it's chanceford. Today is a community site, no politics. I agree. There's enough politics out there without ramming it down people's throats on a community newspaper. Well, I think people want to escape from that. And I mean, I'm always delighted to share news from writers I know when they've got a book out because it feels like a winner for all writers given we all know how difficult it is to get to that point. So I'm very, very happy being a cheerleader. And that also gives me plenty to write about. And what's lovely my getting into Chandlers Ford Today at all, is an excellent example of the importance of networking, because I was told about it by a local young, author, young adult author, called Richard Hardy. I sent a piece into the editor, Janet Williams, she loved it. I wrote some more she loved those two, and it led to the weekly column. All thanks to the two authors networking while we were both walking talks in the local bark. So I've written posts about ways to network. No, that's great. Because I was terribly shy when I started out. I mean, I'm not I'm not the most competent person in the world now now, but I've come on a lot. And I know I would have valued to call him showing how to network when I was starting out. So I do think try to think about what I would have found useful 20 years ago and write that post up. No, that's brilliant and brilliant ideas. Thank you. But the other thing I'm interested in is how do you get a feel for your readers and what level to pitch your column at? Well, it helps a lot that I've met some of them. So I know directly. But generally, I base my column on three aspects. I will every every now and again, I will write a beginners piece on writing topics because there's always somebody new looking for this kind of thing. And that that kind of post usually gets a good response. Most of my pieces I'm aiming for the middle ground where the writers have got some experience but I'm sharing news they may not know or helpful tips that I found useful. And also, that's where I might put up a post about the latest writing scam and things like that because we all need to be walled off those. Every so often I will share experiences or my work as a writer and how things are going. People love the personal story. But it pays to mix things up. I deliberately do that. I mean, you don't want to sound To start record, which is another reason why I love having guests on my column, because new blood is always valued and not just by Count Dracula. You've got to mix things up and I am taking the broad brush approach. Most of the time, I'm aiming at the writer with some experience who would like to develop more, I mean, to be fair, that's me to myself to the tee. So I am thinking about what I think would be useful what I think would be entertaining, and I sometimes have fun, I will sometimes do a my favourite film, my favourite, my favourite music type of post that those generate lots of responses and get community discussions going. And they're always great fun.
Allison Symes:Yeah, I, I know a lot of who my readers are, I've met some of them. And I haven't been to a number of writing conferences over the years, both at Swanwick and Winchester, and at the Association of Christian writers, writers events. When we're able to go to such things, I know the kinds of people who go there, and they're the people I'm writing to.
Wendy Jones:Yeah, a wide range. So that's, that's good advice for any writer, because you do get to know your readers just through various different ways. Now, you've already said that you invite guests, and sometimes you might interview them for your column. So how do you choose guests, I have basically one Golden Rule. And it's a simple one, I've either got to either know the guest personally, or via a very close writing friend who will vouch for them, or I've got to love their work myself to invite them on. Let's just say if I could interview Jane Austen, I'd have her on in a shot even though I don't know her personally. Likewise, any of the big day Law Office, I'd be happy happy to interview them, because most of them are the demand their work. But mostly I know people what. And what I do is I then check out people's websites and find out more about their writing, because that gives me a feel for what they've written and the kind of questions that I could ask them. And that gives me an idea as to Yes, this would be a good article, this person's got a story here. And if I can find anything that remotes to remote that can connect in any way to the local area, even if it's something as simple as having a cup of tea with me once at an ACW writers day. There's the connection. There's something I can use, and we can take the article from there. But I've generally got to know the person all their work. Yeah, I have to say cups of tea at ACW writers days have got a lot to answer for. Yes, there's all sorts of things have been planned and plotted over a cup of tea. Any writers day, any conference? Well, I've had lovely conversations all over the literally all over the country, with writers and you find out so much and you develop friendships, of course. And that's I learned not to be afraid of networking, when I realise it's a question of having a chat over a cup of tea and finding out what the other writer is doing. And and they talk to you about what you're doing. And before you know it, you've got a conversation going. Brilliant. Yeah. So someone wants to pitch you to be interviewed for your column? What would be your advice to them? Well, you'vegot to convince me as to why you think Chandlers Ford Today would be the right place for you to appear. Because bear in mind, it is a community magazine. So some local knowledge, if only the regular contributors, including me is a good star. Above all, I want to know what your story is. If there are any local connections so much the better. And sometimes that local connection is made because you know me, and that's fine. But the story has to be something that I know my fellow writers would want to read. So what's your story? I often start There's a wonderful pixabay image, quote, and it's just writing on a chalkboard saying what's your story? I often use it for my Facebook posts. But it's something that every writer, whether you're writing fiction, nonfiction, or both, or to ask, What is your story? What are you trying to say here? And if you're trying to pitch to me for an interview, why should I interview you? What have you got to share with me that I really want to share with the readership of Charlottesville that? Wow, that's really good advice, actually. Because you need to know if you're pitching anywhere, you actually need to know what it is they do and what they're looking for. Because otherwise it would be pointless me pitching Chandlers Ford Today about an article about I'm doing a book about a chap called Thomas Graham. He was a real chap, who was a Scottish doctor and then joined the Royal Navy. Now unless he actually went to Chandlers Ford at some point in his life, which I very much doubt, then it's not going to be the sort of thing that you would pitch really because it's not going to be of any huge amount of interest to your local people. Quiet but I'm willing to bet that somewhere there will be a Scottish equivalent, childless or die who may well be interest The state? Absolutely this is the thing that will be local papers who will snap it up? Yeah. So it's not it's knowing you know, it's knowing your audience but knowing what they write. And I think part of it is, and if you don't mind me saying this, because I'm just adding to what you're saying is, it's reading the column as well to get a feel for the sorts of things they write. Oh, yeah, very much so very much. So you have got to know, I mean, I would not want to write for anything that I didn't want to be published in, I want to be proud of my work, whether it's fiction or nonfiction, I want to, I'm very proud of my columns for charlas. For two days, I think they're useful. They're entertaining people give me good food feedback on them. Thank you, folks. But if I couldn't be proud of what I put up, I simply wouldn't write for them. And I've got to know who I'm writing for what the point of the column is. With those two things lined up, away, I go. Yeah, no, it's, it's a fabulous column, I have to say I really like it. And so what would be your top three tips to anyone approaching a newspaper to pitch a regular column? Right, accept it's not a quick business. It just isn't. You've got to know the newspaper or the magazine you want to write for inside out. Now a great way of finding out who the core readership of a print magazine particularly or print newspaper is, look at their adverts. adverts for stairlifts in a magazine indicate one kind of audience adverts for preschool toys show a completely different audience. So look at their adverts, read their columns, read it from back to front, make sure you know their style. Also know who to approach because of course, the bigger places will have different editors for different things, read the paper yourself regularly, check out the websites mean often a way in will be to write for their website rather than their print version people do get in that way. And also to remember to begin with, you're gonna be pitching individual articles, it takes time to break through because I can't think of anybody who would be given a regular column straightaway, unless they're a really big name. Yeah, you've got to sort of build up your track record and individual articles regularly appearing in a place is the way to do it. But it just takes time. Um, follow any guidelines given to the letter. This is not the time to reinvent the wheel, it honestly isn't. I mean, the papers and magazines will have their guidelines for really good reasons. In the case of the print ones, it will be literally to deal with their production process to they have things that are certain size for a reason. Don't go outside of that, and check your submission is perfect. Now this is true for whether you write stories or whether you write articles, make sure it's perfect, get it sent in, and then go write some more and more after that, because you're probably not going to hear that quickly, even if you if you do that at all. So you've got to keep going and not give up. But keep writing and keep pitching and ensuring all as as perfect as you can make it and that is the best way. But it's hard work. And it takes time and there are no guarantees. Well, they're fabulous tips on you, they're absolutely bang on so anyone that's wanting to pitch to a newspaper, or an online magazine or anywhere. And make sure you follow these tips because they will take you a long way. And unfortunately time's coming to an end. I can't believe how fast this podcast interview actually goes. Especially. And it's packed with tips. But I would like you to finish by telling us about your other writing and where my listeners can find out a bit more more about you and your books. Oh, and the column of course.
Allison Symes:Of course. Thanks, Wendy. Well, I'm with my fiction hat on I'm a multi published flash fiction and short story writer, published online and in print by CafeLit, Chapeltown books, and Bridgehouse Publishing. I've got two flash fiction collections out From Light to Dark and Back Again and Tripping the Flash Fantastic, both published by Chapeltown Books. And I think the best place to go to those is my author central page. So it's http://author.to/allisonsymesauthorcent but I'm also going to direct you to my website, because you can link on to things from there and that is
http://allisonsymescollectedworks.com For more Chandlers Ford Today posts. I do have my own page, and that is http://chandlersfrodtoday.co.uk/auhtor/allison-syme/
Wendy Jones:Fantastic. That's plenty places where we can find you. And I'm sure people will want to find you.
Allison Symes:I'd be gald to ake peop
Wendy Jones:Thank you for your time again today because I know this will be a popular blog. We're not on a blog and on a podcast, this will be a popular podcast episode. As well as everything else, Allison.
Allison Symes:We all get days like that, but I hope people find it useful.
Wendy Jones:Who am I? Where am I? Anyway, it really has been a pleasure having you back again. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to join us.
Allison Symes:Oh, thank you, Wendy. Thank you for having me back on.
Wendy Jones:It's been a real pleasure. And it's been my pleasure to and enjoy the rest of your day. Thank you, hunt you. Bye bye. That brings us to the end of another show. It was really good to have you on the show with me today. I'm Wendy h Jones. And you can find me at Wendy H jones.com. You can also find me on Patreon where you can support me for as little as $3 a month which is less than the price of a tea or coffee. You go to patreon.com forward slash Wendy h Jones. I'm also Wendy h Jones on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Thank you for joining me today and I hope you found it both useful and interesting. Join me next week when I will have another cracking guests for you. Until then, have a good week and keep writing. Keep reading and keep learning