- This topic has 22 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 4 months, 1 week ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
Please make sure to reserve time here, if you’re a Badger Den+ member with 1,000-word submissions ready for developmental line-edits (one each month, written feedback). I’m available for these Tuesdays–Thursdays. Please submit your text on the thread below, then schedule a critique.
The system requires you to book at least three business days ahead. This allows me to offer flexible submission dates — no fixed deadlines! — while juggling critiques around other projects.
NOTE: you’re reserving time for a written critique, not a call!
Do you have an edit emergency unfolding? Reach out to amanda@writelikeahoneybadger.com. We’ll help if we can!
-
Hey Amanda,
Here are three pitches I wrote last week about some non-serious, rather frivolous topics. But they might be great entree to certain pubs — who knows? Well, you do, which is why I’m submitting them to you haha. Anywway, you can let me know your thoughts when you’re able and I’ll work on more for this week. Thanks so much,
J’nai1. (Possibly for Vogue, T&C, T&L, CNT, Elle, Bazaar, Elle Decor, Elite Traveler) Champagne is one of those rarefied regions in the world that has just about everything: it’s known for its namesake style of wine, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site to boot, but also offers the world in the way of food and drink. So while you’re eating at Michelin-starred restaurants and drinking in the region’s liquid elixir, you’re going to want someplace equally fabulous to lay your head. And what better place to connect to the wines than being amongst the vines themselves? Sure, the fabulous hotels in the area are an option, but a winery guesthouse or accommodation might just make things a little more interesting.
In this piece, I’ll outline the best alternative hotel accommodations for a super luxe and connected trip to the Champagne region, including: The Royal Champagne Hotel, a three Michelin key and Relais & Chateaux property; Domaine du Chalet, Champagne Palmer’s luxurious guesthouse in the middle of the Montagne de Reims park; Rodolphe Taittinger’s Maison Privee Frerejean Freres; Les Suites du 33, Champagne de Venoge’s luxe bedrooms, steps away from its tasting room in Epernay; Le 25 Bis, five apartment-like suites owned by the owners of Leclerc Briant champagne; La Maison Besserat de Bellefon, three new posh suites set on the grounds of Champagne Besserat de Bellefon. For the discerning gastro-enotourist, these uber-luxe stays will connect you to the vines and wines in a way that you wouldn’t imagine, and show you a different side of the magical Champagne region.
2. (Possibly for Vogue, T&L, T&C, CNT, Elle, Bazaar, Elite Traveler) Champagne’s newest experiences are a treat for the senses. As the demographic of the wine drinker has changed, so, too, has the availability of experiences in the Champagne region. No longer relegated to just a strategically coordinated visit to one of Champagne’s grand marques, a visit to the region is now full of interesting ways to experience, many of which are surprising considering how sacrosanct Old World wine regions can be. In this story, I will discuss the best of Champagne’s newest visitor experiences that will open your mind, open your mouth, and open your ears.
–Royal Champagne Mysteries: the three Michelin-Key hotel outside of Epernay has introduced a paired wine program to show what different dates of disgorgement taste like paired with your meal, only at 1-star Le Royal restaurant
–Royal Champagne’s Clarins spa partnership uses high-tech skincare coupled with LED mask technology to create a custom facial experience that incorporates the rare Moonflower, which only blooms once a year
–Rendezvous with L’Assiette Champenoise – New woman-founded champagne brand, Rendezvous,is the brainchild of Rendzezvous owner Fiona Perrin and three-Michelin-star chef and owner of L’assiete Champenoise, Arnaud Lallement. The two have joined forces to do a private chef’s table and paired dinner with the full range of Rendezvous’ wines alongside an overnight stay. The eight exquisite course meal is beyond indulgent, and there might be other surprises in store as well.
–Trianon at Moet et Chandon is a limited and exclusive dinner and cellar tour at the private mansion of Moet, which has been closed for 200 years, and has just reopened.
–Vin en hip hop is a new, annual, one-night only street festival that combines Champagne’s brilliant grower-producers with hip-hop legends and new hip-hop talent–the ultimate pairing.
–Famille Mousse chef-paired dinner features celebrated grower Cedric Mousse, who partners with the world’s greatest chefs like Alexis Leconte and David Grosdent for his monthly Chef-in-Residence series at his estate in Cuisle. The dinners are open to the public but sell out in mere hours. Like many Michelin-starred meals around the world, visitors plan their vacations around these dinners as a way to experience a renowned chef and to spend significant time with one of the greatest Grower-Producers in all of Champagne.
–Frerejean Freres’ tailor-made, super exclusive tasting experience takes place in a stylish, contemporary living room space, where you’ll taste the range of lines with select bites.
–Ruinart’s new art and cocktail bar space took two years to complete, but it’s now the toast of the town. Visitors to the maison and non-visitors alike can grab a cocktail if wine isn’t their fancy, and take in a collection of some of the best contemporary art on the planet.3. Though we’re all trying to convince people that wine isn’t just a special occasion drink, but a perfect pairing for every day, it is still seen as the epitome of luxury beverages, and because of that it should have the proper accessories. These gifts are for the ultimate oenophile — the wine guru who has everything, has been everywhere and has a collection for the ages, but still wants to be wowed. The gifts that I’ll present are:
Armand de Brignac’s 2015 inaugural vintage wine in magnum
Josephinenhutte full set of glassware
Ecellar 365 luxury wine fridge
Glasstats
Ritual at Manresa membership
a year of Daniel Johnnes’ dinners
Kelli White’s Wine Confident
Full Pour magazine subscription-
Amazing J’ai! So inspiring that you did three pitches in one week! I love your confident, friendly voice that shows your deep knowledge of the region. I wouldn’t call your ideas frivolous! They all sound like interesting ways to experience the region to me. I especially love the contrast you set up with the sacrosanct Old World traditions in the second one. I look forward to seeing where these go!
-
-
-
Hey all, thank you for the warm and fuzzy notes of encouragement about my above pitches. I really appreciate it. Below you will find the one I sent to NYT (probably to the wrong people), but I think it’d really work for NYT Mag or WSJ Mag or a big pub like that. We shall see…See below…
My name is J’nai Gaither and I’m a Napa-based wine and travel writer whose work has appeared in publications like Decanter, Wine Enthusiast, AFAR, New York Magazine’s Grub Street, Vinepair, Plate, Michelin, Forbes and others, as well as leading wine books like Karen MacNeil’s “The Wine Bible” and “From Napa With Love” by Alexis Swanson Traina. A long-time champagne ambassador, in 2023, I was granted a knighthood as a dame chevalier of the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne for my contributions and dedication to the region.
I’m reaching out to you with a pitch that I think would be relevant to your inquisitive, educated audience about the decreasing costs and greater accessibility of GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic and Wegovy, and how those of us in the food and drinks industries who use them have had to navigate altered relationships with the things we consume.
Even at sky-high prices and a lack of insurance coverage, weight loss drugs have faced consistent scarcity in the market and have become a coveted item. And now 8% of the US population takes some form of GLP-1 agonist. But just last month, Novo Nordisk dropped prices of the drugs by 23%, which makes access to the drugs more accessible to a wider swath of people. I’m one of those people. Yes, I’m a statistic and a part of that 8% group. I get paid to travel the world to eat and drink, yet every week, I shoot myself up with a miracle drug that protects my heart, curbs my appetite and slims me down. That slim down has been to the tune of 60 pounds and counting over the last 10 months. Sounds great, right? Well, it’s changed my relationship with food and alcohol—and not necessarily for the better.
In this story, I will explore how other food and beverage professionals on GLP-1s consume or make certain gastronomic choices, how they approach 10-course meals with accompanying wine pairings, and the mental changes that take place. I’ll also delve into the science of how GLP-1s work, and use the expertise of doctors who specialize in weight management, as well as nutritionists, pharmacists, and psychiatrists. Optionally, and in an effort to differentiate this coverage, I welcome the opportunity to incorporate personal anecdotes about my own journey in all of this.
-
Is there something wrong with me?? I can’t find a Zoom link for the critique session, and I’ve been looking for 17 minutes at this point. PLEASE send to me!
-
Here’s your instructor critique, J’nai! Amazing work!!!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W0l11WdNOlKcjHBsALkXjolIrze1a__R7hzC6YCZrZE/edit?usp=sharing
-
-
J’nai, I’m so sorry this wasted your time! As I mentioned via email, the critiques are written, just like in WLHB’s regular classes. I’ve just made this WAY more clear around the site. But if anyone spots a place I could beef up the messaging, I’d be grateful for a heads-up! I don’t want folks feeling confused or frustrated!
-
Hi Amanda, I was so close to asking for an extension on my July critiques (gritting teeth emoji), but decided to send them in their current state. They can all use work. Many thanks in advance!
PITCH 1: I’m thinking of this one for Food & Wine, although it’s not totally clear how to pitch to them. This one is still pretty rough, so I’d love to hear your thoughts on honing it more tightly.
Hello X,
I’m a writer and translator based in Murcia, Spain, specializing in food and travel. I’m writing with a story about a pilgrimage-worthy destination for rice lovers—Restaurante Elías, in the Alicante province. “Heaven on earth!” José Andrés posted about the restaurant on Instagram. “They should have a Michelin Star!” The restaurant has received much coverage in Spanish outlets, but not in the US.
This Restaurant in a Tiny Spanish Village Serves Legendary/Pilgrimage-Worthy Rice/Strives to Master Rice Cooked over Flames
Forget the gummy paellas served in heavily touristed plazas throughout Spain. In Xinorlet, a tiny village in the Alicante province, Restaurante Elías has perfected the regional specialty, arroz serrano—rice with rabbit and snails cooked over flames fueled by grapevine trimmings. The chefs have mastered fire, temperature, and time for perfect absorption and a crisp, deeply browned soccarat. The flavor is just the right amount of savory with notes of Mediterranean scrubland. Although cooked in a paella pan, this is NOT paella. It is what has come to be known in the Spanish press as Pinoso-style rice, which famous chefs have long swooned over. It’s an example of the trend in Spain away from the avant-garde towards cocina de producto and honed traditions.
I’ll cover Restaurant Elias’s pursuit of perfection and will provide historical context to show how this is part of a long rice tradition in the region, stretching back to the Arabs who first planted rice here. I plan to speak with the restaurant team as well as a Spanish food historian.
I’ve lived in the neighboring region, Murcia, for over 16 years, which shares the same landscape, history, and culinary traditions. I deeply understand rice culture in the area and how it differs from paella culture farther north. I’m always looking for a good excuse to return to Restaurante Elías.
PITCH 2:
I got a positive rejection on this one from Cake Zine (with the part labeled TAKE 1). It didn’t work with the line-up, but the editors thanked me for a “thoughtful” pitch, which they found “compelling”. I’m considering sending it to Whetstone and maybe AramcoWorld? I’ve sent a version of this pitch to GastroObscura and the BBC and got ghosted/rejected.
Dear XX,
I’m a writer and translator based in Murcia, Spain, specializing in food and travel. I’m writing with a recipe story idea from my adopted home of over 15 years, which is celebrating its 1,200-year anniversary in 2025. This emblematic tapa offers a delicious window into this history.
Morcilla de Verano: Eggplant Alchemy
It seems like magic: heaps of chopped eggplant and onion plus abundant olive oil slowly collapse into a sweet, spreadable delicacy, flecked with oregano, black pepper, and pine nuts. A clever trompe l’oeil, morcilla de verano (summer morcilla), a traditional tapa from Murcia, gets its name from the other morcilla—pork blood sausage. It resembles its namesake in texture, flavor and hue.
TAKE 1: Along with a recipe for this delicious, easy-to-make tapa, I’ll include a headnote focused on its shape-shifting history. Morcilla de verano blurs the boundaries between sweet and savory, and plant and meat. And despite the Christian-signalling name, it exemplifies Spain’s hybrid history—not Muslim or Christian, but a fusion of the two. Once heavily associated with Muslim and Jewish communities on the Iberian Peninsula, eggplant—unlike cilantro and couscous—survived the Inquisition and stars today in many “typical” Spanish dishes. “Its Islamic identity was slowly erased, its ‘otherness’ consumed,” writes scholar Carolyn A. Nadeau in Food Matters (I plan to speak with her for this piece). But now, there is growing recognition for the enduring legacy of over seven centuries of Islamic rule—recognition that this “otherness” is, in fact, integral to Spanish culture, evidenced in recipes like this one.
TAKE 2: In addition to providing a recipe, I plan to talk with Nawal Nasrallah about the dish’s Islamic roots (despite its Christian-signaling name). Nasrallah translated this thirteenth-century cookbook by a Murcia-born Andalusi scholar with a recipe for an eggplant “sausage.”I’ll also talk with Spanish food scholar Carolyn Nadeau about how eggplant, once heavily associated with Muslim and Sephardic communities, came to star in many “typical” Spanish dishes. For a current perspective, I’ll speak with a member of a Peña Huertana—a local association dedicated to preserving Murcia’s agrarian traditions.
I’ve lived in Murcia for over 16 years and am obsessed with the city’s history. I’ve translated over a dozen cookbooks and regularly translate for the Louis Vuitton City Guides.
PITCH 3:
Amanda: Thank you for your suggested publications for this one. I’d love to publish in the Smithsonian, but they ask for 3 published clips, so I need to wait. The Guardian could be a great place too. This one needs some pizazz — I got the idea after attending a conference led by a group of inspiring women (including the sources mentioned below) who are passionate about sharing their knowledge about the Islamic period.
Hi Matt,
I’m reaching out with a story idea from Murcia, my adopted home of over 16 years. This lesser-known Spanish city, once a jewel of Islamic Spain, or al-Andalus, is celebrating 1,200 years of history in 2025, and tourists are still welcome. This story is particularly timely given the booming Muslim tourism market and the importance of recognizing Western Europe’s diverse roots in these divisive times. Thanks for reading!This Spanish City’s Historical Gems Shine with New Splendor
“Murcia is among the richest lands in aromatic plants and fruit trees,” enthused one 13th-century traveler to the city a jewel of al-Andalus. Founded on the Segura River in 825 CE, Murcia became famed for its still-legendary market gardens, a feat of Islamic hydraulic ingenuity. Culture blossomed, too, nourishing philosophers and poets like revered Sufi mystic Ibn ‘Arabî.
There is still much to marvel at in modern-day Murcia, which is embracing its heritage like never before. In this potential Destination Guide, I’ll cover where to visit, eat, drink, and stay to experience the city’s rich history and its contemporary manifestations. Places like the Museo de Santa Clara—a convent built over a luxurious Islamic palace, a predecessor to the Alhambra—and the Local de Ensayo, offering modern interpretations of Murcia’s traditional larder. I’ll speak with Professor Pilar Garrido, creator of the interactive app Escape Andalusí, and Belén Cuenca, who runs a boutique tour company specializing in Islamic Spain.As a longtime local, I can offer a respectful, nuanced perspective. I translate for the Louis Vuitton City Guides and have translated over a dozen cookbooks.
Some writing samples:
The Alcohol Professor: What You Should Know About Licor 43
Blog: Coca: Spanish Flatbread
Translation for Arles magazine (link to PDF): Salt and Sky (a profile of French designer Jacquemus) (Amanda – what are your thoughts on linking to translations?)
I look forward to hearing whether this story interests CN Traveler! -
Thanks for your patience, Ansley! Here are my thoughts!
-
-
Hi Amanda,
Here’s my application for the Magma Environmental Reporting Fellowship. I’d love your feedback on it. I’m not sure I have enough previous experience in journalism. Last year was the first year of the fellowship and they had some impressive fellows, so chances are slim, but it can’t hurt to apply. Should I mention my previous experience as a teacher at all do you think?
Here’s the application info:
Applications are now open for the second edition of the Magma Environmental Reporting Fellowship, to be held online from October 2025 to April 2026. The deadline to apply is August 31.
Nine early-career journalists based in southern Europe will be selected to participate in this hands-on six-month program. The program aims to enhance their skills in environmental reporting and narrative writing while expanding their portfolios.Requirements:
• Previous experience in journalism
• Based in one of the following countries: Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus and Türkiye
• Interest in environmental topics, particularly climate change
• Commitment to leveling up writing skills
• Good level of spoken and written EnglishHere’s what I’ve written for each application section (in bold):
Previous experience in journalism: Max 250 words.A student of comparative literature and languages, I’ve always loved reading and writing and believe in the power of words to open and change minds. I’ve worked as a freelance translator (French and Spanish to English) for over two decades, specializing in cookbooks, travel guides and journalism. My translation clients include the Internews agency and Arles magazine, which features narrative journalism deeply rooted in the Mediterranean. I also proofread scientific articles for Spanish agronomists and soil scientists.
As a writer, I’m drawn to stories with a sense of place that reveal connections across cultures and time. For The Alcohol Professor, I wrote about how the ancient port city of Cartagena, Murcia, shaped the now-global liqueur brand, Licor 43. Most recently, I wrote about olive oil tourism in Spain as an antidote to mass tourism for The Olive Oil Professor. For this piece, I interviewed six oleotourism veterans in the country who are proving that this niche can give rural communities a future rooted in the past. This piece showcases issues that are particularly important to me, including agricultural heritage, biodiversity and rural development that supports traditional ways of life.
Why are you applying to this program? Max 250 words
I found out about this program through Goldy Levy’s [Amanda – she was a fellow last year] great article about the troubled Mar Menor. As a longtime resident of Murcia, I’m deeply concerned by the consequences of intensive agriculture, overtourism and climate change, exemplified by the plight of this coastal lagoon. I’m also distressed by the rise of hate crimes and Islamaphobia in Spain, which have been especially intense in Murcia over the past year—ironically, the year the city celebrates its 1,200-year anniversary. Here on the ground, I see the other side of the coin—people resisting hate speech and celebrating the region’s Islamic heritage, and people working to sustain the landscapes and traditions that make Spain unique and resilient.
It feels urgent to me to share stories that counter misinformation and highlight people making the world a better, more understanding place, albeit quietly. People whose voices the algorithm does not tend to amplify.
I’d love this opportunity to improve my reporting and writing skills. With a mentor, I’d discuss strategies for interviewing in the field, organizing (and streamlining) research, and shaping it into compelling narratives. I’d like to build my portfolio so that I can eventually write long-form feature stories and reported essays for outlets like Orion, National Geographic, and Grist.
What stories and themes would I like to work on? Between 250–350 words
I’m interested in solutions journalism with a focus on agricultural heritage and traditional foodways. I have an insider perspective on the farming community here in Murcia, as my husband is a stone-fruit breeder with the Spanish National Research Council. Through his work, I’ve gained insight into the challenges Mediterranean farmers face and learned about breeding for disease resistance and climate change.
I’d love to pursue a story I’ve done some pre-reporting on about desert truffle cultivation in Murcia and the role fungi can play in conservation efforts. Not only drought-tolerant, desert truffles can also improve soil health, mitigate desertification, and provide a sustainable income source in rural Mediterranean areas where little else grows. The story centers on a passionate botanist and her quest to get others to see the potential underground, where untrained eyes see little agricultural potential. It interweaves several themes I’m interested in, including sustainability, the water crisis, Islamic heritage in Spain and passionate people quietly doing amazing things.
I’d also like to work on a story about the Consejo de Hombres Buenos, one of the two ancient water rights tribunals in southeastern Spain that UNESCO declared as Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2009. This customary law tribunal has its legacy in Murcia’s Islamic origins and its echo in the acequia system in the American Southwest, among other places. I’d like to examine how the UNESCO designation has impacted the court and how it remains relevant today locally and worldwide as a model for water resource management.
I’d also like to continue working on the issue of overtourism through stories like my olive oil tourism piece. Can tourism have positive outcomes in communities? Tourism has the potential to be an important income source, but how can cities and towns welcome tourists without becoming museums or theme parks? I’d like to highlight more individuals and communities grappling with this question and seeking ways to foment a respectful, sustainable tourism.
Thank you!
-
And, here is my stab at a “companion piece” to the hate-speech article in Fodor’s. I did pitch them a story about Murcia’s anniversary several months back and never got a reply, but this is slightly different. Should I address it to Jeremy? And do you think I should include more about what travelers can do in Murcia? I have such a hard time coming up with titles!
P.S: A travel article about Murcia recently came out in the Guardian (it appears to be sponsored). Thank you!
I think my total word count for line edits, between this and the fellowship application, comes in at under 1,000 words, but think about whether the standard rate feels fair here — can the 1,000 words be a combination of different pieces? Thank you! I look forward to our group coaching session on Thursday!
Hello,
I’m a writer based in the city of Murcia, Spain, specializing in food and travel. I’m pitching a timely story about my adopted home of over 16 years. Murcia has made international headlines recently for Islamophobic policy initiatives and hate speech, overshadowing the city’s 1,200-year anniversary celebration in 2025.
I propose a companion piece to this news, highlighting Spaniards who celebrate the region’s Islamic heritage and featuring ways travelers can engage with this legacy.
Meet the People Making Murcia’s Islamic Legacy More Accessible than Ever
I’ll speak with local Islamic studies professor Pilar Garrido, a creator of the app Escape Andalusí, which immerses visitors in medieval Mursiya. I’ll also talk to historian Belén Cuenca, who runs a boutique tour company specializing in Islamic Spain. Additionally, I’ll talk with the director of the Museo Santa Clara, a working convent in Murcia built over an Islamic palace and now a tolerance-driven museum.
As a longtime local, I can offer a respectful, nuanced perspective. Here’s a link to my portfolio and some writing samples:
The Olive Oil Professor: How Olive Oil Tourism Supports Spain’s Legacy
The Alcohol Professor: What You Should Know About Licor 43
Blog: Coca—Spanish FlatbreadI look forward to hearing whether this story interests you. Many thanks!
-
Here’s your critique. And, WOW, you are on fire! Your pitching skills have really accelerated since last month. (I know you mentioned those were a bit rushed. But you should still be super proud of your progress!)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nq1VefcUGfi-LQccOchihfIq8rxTRvnE9L-4w_SzrRo/edit?usp=sharing
-
-
-
-
Ansley, I just got 100 words into critiquing your July submission, thinking you’d revised the previous pitch.
But I’m gonna share that file since I had a few fresh thoughts on the hed. https://docs.google.com/document/d/12Ovmq6JH-5NOR14oqhL3dHaWCk_iNB5F3X0BfcmPU-k/edit?usp=sharing
More soon — this time with the right materials!
-
Here’s my rough pitch on “Is Ad rage the New Road rage?” for Vox. I included a few questions from my end + their submission guidelines within the doc. I also welcome line-edits and/or overall thoughts!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/14vnQmXiurfXSdiKuEOioxjjXXJbVtffWZUdN1LTdDWs/edit?usp=sharing
-
Here you go, Auburn! I leaned into the suggestions, since that’s what I’m here for (not just messing up Zoom links, haha!). But you have a fantastic idea and great pitch! So if Future Perfect doesn’t bite, I know some other outlet will!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EPVAq-QVJfTE4kkvESTRKxpShLkVLXqaEa6sXDl0Tq4/edit?usp=sharing
-
The sources you cite to demonstrate that this trend is happening are relevant, comprehensive, and concise.
Personally, ads annoy me, but I don’t necessarily feel rage. It makes me wonder why people feel full-blown rage. Is it because ads interrupt the flow of whatever content we are consuming? Or is it something like: being comforted with this idea that Big Business thinks we are all manipulable pawns?
Also, your pitch reminds me of this Black Mirror episode (link below), which could be right up Future Perfect’s alley. Brief synopsis in case you haven’t seen it: After the main character becomes dependent on this subscription-based service to operate a part of her brain that had been removed, problems develop when she starts involuntarily rehearsing ads in her day-to-day conversations. The upgrade to an ad-free version of this life-saving service is unaffordable on her teacher’s salary. But these ads become so disruptive that they threaten her personal and professional life.
I think this is a great idea for an article that speaks to managing problems that are out of our control.
-
-
Thank you for this! Great questions to incorporate into reporting. I’ve been trying to pinpoint this in myself, whether it’s worse when I’m being interrupted in streaming/social media, when I turn away from work for downtime, or annoyance at the power/lack of regulation in tech, or if I’m just quick to snap due to a general sense of stress or… all of the above? And why online and generally not in other areas of life?
Also a good reminder that I’m not caught up with Black Mirror (but loved S1) so bookmarked that ep immediately!
-
-
-
-
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.