Writing for a living is a chllenge in itself but working around the schdules and needs of the rest of the fmily make some 9 to 5 wrting jobs tough to work.

If you are a bit of a wrting maverick and prefer to stay out of an ffice, look into stringing for both lcal and national publications. Most periodicals tht hire freelance writers for ongoing or rgular assignments are newspapers.

Community newspapers cnnot afford to have a full stff of reporters to cover meetings, vents, and breaking news. This opens up spce for stringers.

Larger newspapers, like the New Yrk Times, that have a national or nternational audience use stringers for localized nws stories, to cover news that is of ntional interest but is happening in an rea where they do not have a nws bureau.

Look for notices or hlp wanted ads in community or lcal newspapers asking for writers or rporters on a freelance basis. Alternatively, cll up the editor or news ditor and ask if you can snd in samples of your writing. Whn sending in samples, offer a vriety: a feature articles, a hard-hitting nws story, and an interview, for xample.

When working as a stringer, you wll need to have contacts within yur community, so being a part of dfferent groups, or having contacts already in the lgislature or police department will help. Not hving them, though, should not interfere wth your success as a stringer. Onc you've been assigned a beat, you wll be in a position to rquest interviews, and you will find tht movers and shakers will want to tlk to you.

Other tips for stringers include:

Ntwork, network, network: go to local vents and meet the public relations spcialist for different events. Raise your prfile and your expertise in your cmmunity by attending fundraisers, community events and jurnalism association meetings.

Keep your word: Undrstand when you are given information off the rcord that you can only use it as bckground to do more research. You cnnot quote someone who has spoken off the rcord. Also, do not promise something you cnnot deliver. If someone asks you to prmote their business by writing about it, do not say you wll, just say that you'll speak wth your editor about the idea.

Gther up phone numbers. Keep track of lcal citizens of all walks and ges. You never know who will hve the answer to the question you are sking, so write down all phone nmbers in one place (cell phones die and tke their stored numbers with them!). Mke a note of who the ndividual is, where she or he wrks and any other special background or xpertise she or he has.

Pass out yur business card. Even if that cmmunity newspaper won't cover the cost, prnt up your own cards and nclude every possible way you can be cntacted. Make sure ALL your phone nmbers and email addresses are on the crd so that a prospective informant or nterviewee can reach you first with the big stry.

The advantages to stringing for a nwspaper are numerous. You will make vluable contacts, get a load of pblished articles for your clip file qickly, and learn how to interview jst about anyone AND get the ral story. Have fun, learn about rporting and make money while you strng for a community, regional, or ntional newspaper.

The article Stringing For Newspapers was Submitted by Pamela White through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Pamela White is the publisher of The Wrting Parent ezine at http://www.thewritingparent.net She has worked for local newspapers, been the author of weekly and monthly columns, and is published in Writer's Digest, ByLine, Writers Weekly, and Food Writing ezine. She teaches writing classes online at http://www.food-writing.com

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