Why Taping My Podcast Reminds Me of Working in Magazines
I never thought I'd find a way to repeat the experiences I loved so much.
What one of my paid subscribers says:
“Recently retired, been listening to your podcast for weeks, need to make my love for writing a professional reality and you are the one I deem to make it happen..thanks.”
I’ve finally figured out why I love taping my podcast Freelance Writing Direct so much. It’s because the work of taping and prepping for the taping is a harbinger of my early work as a magazine editor for print publications.
In case you haven’t read my book Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published, I started out in magazine publishing when I worked at Woman’s World magazine in the beauty department as an Associate Beauty Editor. In my job, I set up photo shoots, made sure to keep the beauty supply closet stocked, wrote articles and interviewed experts from Frederic Fekaii to Georgette Mosbacher and Marina Valmy. I also periodically traveled around the country in a Winnebago with my boss and a styling team, doing makeovers that I’d scheduled in each city we visited. I also got my own Beauty Tips column. It was fun and frothy and hard work, and for those photo shoots, I had to get up at 2:00 am for a 3:00 am start time.
Back then, in the 90s, once you got your foot in the door and proved yourself, there were lots of opportunities to continue to move up. And I did. I moved to American Woman Magazine, first as Associate Editor, and then I was promoted to Senior Editor.
That was where I really dug in. I came up with story ideas, hired writers, looked for writers (long before social media was a factor), worked with the art director (layouts using X-Acto knives were big at Woman’s World, but by then the publisher I was with had moved to computer layouts). I also looked for articles and stories to excerpt in the magazine from books. It was not unusual for me to go through 20-30 books a week in search of material. I’d always been a speed reader and this was my Mecca. In the midst of all of that, I started editing writers and helping the editor come up with the headlines and sometimes even cover lines. I also had several columns of my own that I worked on, including a new one called Dial a Dream date. Yes, that’s where I became a dating expert, teaching classes at the Seminar Center in NYC as “The Dating Diva.”
After that 2 year stint, I became editor-in-chief of the first of several publications. My days varied, but the responsibilities remained the same: sourcing writers, coming up with ideas, planning issues and special issues, writing my own columns and editor’s letters, editing (developmental and line editing), writing headlines, deks, pull quotes and coverlines, holding staff meetings, dealing with contracts and payments and following up on pieces, and holding writers (and myself and my small staff) to deadlines.
So, when I started the podcast, some of the work I was doing for it felt familiar: doing the research on who I should have on my podcast (check); doing a deep dive into the person once they’d agreed to come on (check); reading books in order to curate which authors I’d like to have on the show (check); interviewing those authors in a way that made it more like a conversation than an interrogation (check) and finally, coming up with the headlines that compelled people to check it out (check, again).
The bottom line: Stories mattered then, and they matter now.
One of the ways I demystify publishing through my podcast is by sharing what kinds of forms, functions and structure work for novels, memoir, articles and essays.
Bonus Episodes
Here is a sample of the kind of Bonus Episodes I offer paid Substack subscribers.
Bonus episode: This is a bonus with Jennifer Chen who wrote Artifacts of an Ex.
This is her Freelance Writing Direct episode #70
Where I’ll Be
My next virtual webinar: Making Your Mark with Micro Memoir: Join me on May 23rd for this fun webinar for Writer’s Digest where we’ll explore micro memoir & how to write them.
Where You Can Hear Me
I had a great conversation with Zibby Owens on her podcast Mom’s Don’t Have Time to Read Books. We spoke about my book, my experiences in life and publishing, going viral, finding inspiration, writing about parenting, pitching strategies, writing essays and paying homage to my dad through writing. I love this episode and Zibby was such a pleasure to chat with. Listen to our chat here.
I’ll also be chatting with her on April 16th about the state of publishing and her fabulous novel Blank for the Women's Media Group. Sign up for that here.
News
I’m now a Contributing Editor for Writer’s Digest, where I’ve been writing and teaching since 2016. My latest piece is on how to market your book 3 months pre-launch. What To Do Pre-Launch To Get Your Book Noticed
I hope it helps you!
Today, I am leaving comments open. Please let me know what you would like to see from me in terms of help and support, or even what you would like covered in bonus episodes or upcoming special solo episodes.
Cool Resources
For examples of pitches, my book, and The Open Notebook Pitch Database. You can also get a free Pitching guide by signing up for my newsletter on my website.
New podcast to check out Writing Your Resilience with Lisa Cooper Ellison. She is a trauma specialist and covers lots of serious mental health topics. Tell her I sent you.
For book structure, Story Genius or Wired for Story by Lisa Cron.
Episode #79 of Freelance Writing Direct features Amy Ferris. In our lively and illuminating conversation we chat about her book Mighty Gorgeous, finding empathy for ourselves and others, the power of acceptance and the messy parts of life that make life what it is and make us who we are. Pull up a chair and join us!! Here it is on YouTube.
My First Office Hours
For paid subscribers, come join me on this site on Friday, April 12th from 1-3 pm EST. It will be an ask me anything about publishing books, essays or articles. Hope to see you there. Would love for you to join my community.
Also, my next newsletter (out next Tuesday) is going just to paid subscribers.
Happy writing.