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Josephine, angles can be tricky at first. But it gets easier, I promise!
I’m sharing some lectures from Timely Angles from Freelancers, a class WLHB used to offer and may revive down the road. They really dig into how to generate ideas.
Lecture 1: Developing “Timely Listening”
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18hGqyFDwJRCIieqgRLZeFJvEtu2ThLXwszrQLuFxKZQ/edit?usp=sharing
Lecture 3: Crafting a Timely Story
Lecture 4: Getting Ahead of the CurveMuch as I love my own lectures, these might be a more useful starting point if you’re struggling to dream up ideas. 😉
Bravissima, Ansley!!! Congrats on the clip and freeing up energy for fresh projects!
The Orion opportunity sounds special. Hope it works out! If you need a recommendation or reference, please feel free to use my name — you don’t even need to ask (but do alert me, so I can keep an eye out).
That offers stands for everyone here, of course!
Re: summer pitching — August can be very hit or miss. A LOT of people are out of the office or just distracted by socializing and soaking up outdoor time. So it’s a good month, maybe even the best possible month, to not be querying.
Still, I encourage you to keep jotting down ideas and maybe adding two sentences a week to a pitch. I.e., keep your subconscious noodling on all this. (Bonus: you’ll have copy to work with, when you are ready to pitch!)
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!
I’m a bit late to the party (apologies), but here are my intentions!
Week of 07/21/2025: Send out the shatio pitch
Why I’m stoked: This idea needs to find a home before someone scoops me or it should go away. I’m ready to move out of this weird limbo, whatever that looks like!
Concerns or challenges: Now that my family’s income has stabilized after three years of drah-ma, I am having ALL THE FEELS. Like I moved out of survival mode and all the sidelined stuff came roaring back. It’s intense… and definitively pulling focus. So is digging into my perfection-paralysis and experimenting with“not letting perfect be the enemy of good.” (The idea that nothing can ever be flawless, so skip the diminishing returns, which can block other opportunities… and feel pretty blerg too!) I’m intentionally keeping my goals light, since I have a bunch of Afar projects on the boil, as well as teaching the pitch class and evolving WLHB. My brain is extremely rebellious right now, probably because my work has been steamrollered over and over again by medical caregiving and reams of petty bureaucratic paperwork over the last year. It’s certain that I deserve a looooong break, which isn’t possible at the moment. So I’m trying to enjoy summer, keep demands light and build momentum instead of melting down into a big ball of resentment about adulting, haha!
Accountability check: um… yeah. Totally crapped the bed on plans for 500 words of the spite garden story last week. I’m going to try on Friday, but won’t beat myself up if this punts to next week. Onward and upward!
Unburden yourself of that fantastic olive oil piece! And take heart: most people struggle with this, hence the saying, “stories are never finished, just abandoned.” It sounds like you need this mental space and emotional energy for other projects now. So I encourage you grit your teeth and submit, lady!
Pruning pitch ideas is another classic challenge — and one I struggle with too. My brain finds everything exciting everywhere all at once! That’s why it can be useful to slip into “editor/analytical mode” like you’re planning to. I.e., take off your creator hat and put on a strategic one. Isolate the actions, so their sometimes-conflicting needs don’t trigger writer’s block!
One thing that helps me: keeping a honking big list of potential ideas. That stops my brain from FOMO. I know they’re recorded and can be returned to. Phew!
Hey Ashley,
Bravissima for moving the olive oil piece along. And I hope your alpha reader helps you own how ready that story is for prime time! (I always find it equally exhilarating and alarming when editors don’t edit much. I have to remind myself that they *would* intervene if the piece were lacking. That helps my perfectionist-paralysis mellow out.)About editor connections: If they’re a pal, absolutely lean on their insider knowledge. That can be as simple as “would you look this over and give me a sense whether it’s in CNT’s lane? And if so, would you suggest I approach any staffer in particular?” (This gives your friend room to volunteer help or an intro without presuming too much. Which is a thing I worry about… because Seattle. But other approaches would work too like politely asking for what you need, as you’ve done!)
And if the connection is more casual—which it seems to be?—I’d just pitch! Good editors usually redirect good pitches that are outside their departments. (From the site, it looks like he might commission.)
https://www.cntraveler.com/contributor/matt-ortile
Smithsonian magazine immediately sprang to mind as it now covers international travel! I didn’t spot any destination guides there per se. But your overall theme sounds like a fit for a feature, trend piece or roundup!
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/category/europe
Personally, I wouldn’t sweat that you’re seven months into the 2025 timeframe. Most editors aren’t hung up about only running anniversary stories in Q1, though the tighter timeline may nix print options. Still, you never know what’s happening behind the scenes. Smithsonian, for example, hasn’t covered Andalusia in a travel capacity since 2023. Maybe it’s been looking for a fresh angle and then another story tanks and BOOM! Suddenly you’ve got a print commission. You just never know until you try!
(You’d mentioned “Andalusí heritage,” hence my search terms. Then I read Andalusia is an autonomous community next to Murcia. And I couldn’t see *any* travel stories about Murcia, just talk about archaeology, flamenco and that poor sperm whale with 64 pounds of trash in its stomach. So you might be able to fill in a gap there, sharing an up-and-coming destination, which could merit a mention!)
This touches on a point I feel strongly about: as writers, our job is to generate ideas, then report and craft a spellbinding story. Editors shape the pieces and magazines, responding to a gajillion goals and pressures we can’t see. So, when in doubt, let them sort it out. That’s always preferable to self-censoring a pitch!
I could also see this idea at National Geographic, BBC History, BBC Travel, History Today, The Saturday Evening Post (pay sucks for digital, but I hear the editors are awesome), possibly Popular Mechanics (I know, I know, sounds weird but the mag does a surprising amount of archeology and history coverage. Science too. I actually bought a subscription!).
I’d also encourage you to be open to in-flights that service Murcia—Europe still has some kicking, including Virgin’s Vera—and European newspapers like The Guardian.
Finally, it might be helpful to dig up inbound tourism intel on Murcia, then pitch publications in areas where a lot of visitors come from. Checking for new airline routes helps with this too!
Cheers,
AxStanding ovation for knocking out three pitches, J’nai! I’m hoping some of your momentum will rub off on me! 😉
I’m excited to dig into the critique next Tuesday.
The forums (chat and share) both have discrete little “subscribe” links top right that should do the trick, Ansley. And if you don’t want push notifications for whole forums, there are checkboxes below each thread, allowing you to opt into replies to specific posts.
Please let me know if you run into trouble and I can look for a different plug-in to help manage this!
About “The Writer’s Market,” the publisher went out of business in 2020 or 2021. “The Writer’s Handbook” claims to have filled that void, but I’ve always found it inferior and too UK-focused for my needs. https://amzn.to/3ICJUeI
Here are 20+ other resources for finding outlets. But I’m bummed, as I found inspiration easier while flipping through “The Writer’s Market” than while navigating around a site, where I’m more likely to click and search on things “in my lane,” if that makes sense?
For example, I wound up with columns in “Moviemaker,” when I had no TV or streaming services, and “Road and Travel,” when I didn’t own a car! But I noticed these smaller, more obscure outlets needed travel coverage and there wasn’t a ton of competition pitching against me. So when editors offered me “meh” pay, I replied, “I could only make this rate work in a bulk situation. Any interest in comissioning a column?” They both bit and suddenly I had some reliable income streams (extra important then to me as a single freelancer during the Great Recession)! And those rolling assignments helped me onto media trips all over the world, giving me material I could pitch into bigger outlets too. Win-win!
Here’s an exercise that may be familiar from my courses. It helps writers isolate the building blocks of a good pitch, which can be helpful before you start writing (these tasks use different brain modes, separating the more analytical/research tasks from the creative act of composing).
Remember: the elements that land great placements often differ from the components of the story itself. You are selling, not telling, at this stage! So you might include details like why your idea will especially appeal to the publications’ demographic or explain how your storytelling will change the larger conversation: elements persuasive to editors, but irrelevant to readers.
Not every idea will tick all the boxes below. But dig to fill in as much as you can. Working these angles can significantly up your acceptances, especially when you’re breaking into new markets.
Proposed headline (six words work best!)
Description (max 125 words)
Why now? Is there a timely angle?
Why you? What unusual skills, expertise or access can add to your allure for editors?
What else has been written on this topic or similar ones recently? Include links to five to 12 stories.
How will your piece be different and add to the conversation?
What demographic will your article help or entertain? Who needs to read your story?And can you use figures or statistics to show the scope of the audience or other reasons why your story will be useful to readers right now and worth a publication’s investment? (Bonus, this shows off your reporting chops, which editors adore!)
What types of sources do you plan to use? (Statistics, studies, what type of interviewees and/or specific people, etc.)
What types of outlets would be a good fit (genres like “regional newspaper” or “social justice magazine”)?
The exercise touches on publications. Like all Write Like a Honey Badger courses, we don’t tell you where to pitch stories. Over 10,000 English-language outlets exist: no one has an encyclopedic grasp of them all! Each writer must discover the ones suitable for their beats and experience. Happily, lots of resources exist to help you start this process. We’ve rounded up 20 in the article linked below.If you’re on a learning curve there, don’t stress! Start by thinking about what types of people would be informed or entertained by your idea, then look for some titles they might like.The Writer’s Market is incredibly useful for this sort of research. We’ve attached an older PDF the editor shared below, but we also recommend a hard copy, as flipping through the pages tends to spark more innovative ideas than just searching on key terms. https://amzn.to/44eqOSq
What would be your dream outlet(s)?
Include three links to published clips or writing samples.
Be as relevant as possible. Show off if you’ve written similar types of stories, in terms of genre, topic or type (roundup, essay, new story, etc.) Don’t panic if you’re just starting out: we’ve all been there! Just concentrate on highlighting other elements that show why THIS story NOW by YOU instead!Do you have other value-adds to offer?
This could include photos, multimedia, infographic expertise, the ability to do a quick turnaround, a giant social following that could boost a story, etc.What URL will you include to show your expertise best?
If you don’t already have an author site, I highly recommend whipping one up by the end of class. You can do this quickly using free blog software. Check out Creating a Writer Site in 5 Easy Steps below. A DIY build will give you more control than using a free service like Muckrack. But any site beats no site, even a blog “about” page or LinkedIn profile.Note: writers generally HATE writing bios and selling themselves. We absolutely feel your pain, but push through it! Good editors vet potential writers, sometimes even net-stalking them to get a sense of their vibe and unedited voice. A portfolio lets you control that first impression: it’s a powerful tool. Take advantage of it!
EXAMPLE
Proposed headline — “Shatios” Banish Cat Litterboxes from Living Spaces SafelyDescription — Americans own around 95.6 million cats, according to the American Pet Products Association. We may love our cuddly companions, but the scent of their waste grows ever more challenging, as people work and study at home. Enter the “shatio” — hutches built onto the side of homes to contain litterboxes!
Kitties enter via cat flaps set into walls or window inserts (handy for renters who can’t alter buildings). As a bonus, these structures provide the quiet, private, easy-to-reach spaces that cats prefer.
Why now? Is there a timely angle? — Many people are still confined at home because of the pandemic and western wildfires. Also shelters have seen surges in demand for pets, which offer companionship and improve mental health during this exceptionally difficult time, personally and politically. The tiny home vogue has further increased the need for diminishing kitty stink in small spaces. Finally, this appears to be an emerging trend, which hasn’t been covered yet. I’m hoping for (ahem) a scoop!
Why you? What unusual skills, expertise or access can add to your allure for editors? — I live in a tiny home and built a shatio to contain a Litter-Robot (a self-cleaning device that sends a “clean me” notification to my phone). Moving its noise, smell and night light to a sheltered spot outside greatly improved our living space!
What else has been written on this topic recently? Include links to five to 12 stories. — Builders report constructing many of these in Seattle, but I can’t find any coverage of the trend yet. So I’ve surveyed some general stories about litter box placement and how to accommodate pets in small spaces.
Apartment Therapy: https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/8-purr-fect-diy-ways-to-hide-the-litter-box-232008
Buzzfeed: https://www.buzzfeed.com/summeranne/27-useful-diy-solutions-for-hiding-the-litter-box
Pet MD: https://www.petmd.com/cat/behavior/best-and-worst-spots-your-cats-litter-box
Rover: https://www.rover.com/blog/where-to-put-a-litter-box/
Spruce Pets: https://www.thesprucepets.com/litter-box-placement-554839
Spruce Pets: https://www.thesprucepets.com/clever-ways-to-hide-the-litter-box-4590007
This Old House: https://www.thisoldhouse.com/pets/21162803/hidden-litter-box
How will your piece be different and add to the conversation? — As I mentioned above, I can’t find coverage of the exterior hutch that we built – and that contractors report creating for other local families too.What demographic will your article help or entertain? Who needs to read your story?A quarter of US households — 32 million families — now live with cats, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Around 20% of the population lives in apartments and many others are taking advantage of the trend towards smaller homes. This article will inspire pet parents, and hopeful ones, who are dealing with compact spaces.
What types of sources do you plan to use? (Statistics, interviewees, etc.) — I’ll speak with cat experts, as well as contractors and pet owners who have built shatios. I’ll also draw on my own experience, working with a tradesman who was comically incensed to be building a “crap palace for cats.” I’ll also draw on statistics about the number of cats in the U.S. and the adoption/foster surges (I’ve seen conflicting reports here and need to sort through it more).
What types of outlets would be a good fit (genres like “regional newspaper” or “social justice magazine”)? — National outlets focused on news, general interest, architecture, home décor and pet ownership. I could also see repurposing this material for a regional outlet like The Seattle Times.
What would be your dream outlet(s)? — The Atlantic, which does quite a bit of cat coverage…
Have you published similar stories before? If so, please include three links. — I’ve only written one cat story before, so I’d highlight that in my pitch, along with some national-level lifestyle pieces.
Rodale Organic Life: This $10 Accessory Will Stop Your Cat Killing Wild Birds
Sierra Magazine: Welcome to the Library of Things
The Seattle Times: Small, by choice: These radical downsizers find freedom in the tiny house life
Do you have other value-adds to offer? (Photos, multimedia, the ability to do a quick turnaround, etc.) — Professional photos, quick turn-around, ability to shoot high-def video (though I don’t think the story merits it).What URL will you include to show your expertise best? (Portfolio URL, landing page, Linked In, etc.) — http://www.amandacastleman.com
What a fun and inspiring chat today (7/14)! Thank you, all!
I’ve compiled a few recap points below. Feel free to chime in, of course.
General
- Shifting meet-ups to Thurs/Fri when possible (we may need to revisit this as the group grows larger. But the plan feels great for now!)
* Ansley recommended: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking
Hacks
* Google alerts — let those timely story angles come to your inbox!
* Brainstorm your pitch out loud, while recording into Otter or another transcription service. Then try it again with a 90-second time limit. This helps distill key points.Multimedia (both “scrollytelling” and interactive maps)
- National Geographic, North (login amandacastleman@gmail.com, pw sKDM8RYX5F#r*JG) https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/graphics/christoph-niemann-artist-trip-svalbard-norway#moving_hotels
* https://www.thrillist.com/news/nation/strega-nona-fall-italy-travel-inspiration
* https://www.nytimes.com/projects/2012/snow-fall/index.html#/?part=tunnel-creek
* https://nikkei.shorthandstories.com/road-to-nowhere-china-s-belt-and-road-initiative/
* https://www.thequint.com/quintlab/fifa-world-cup-qatar-2022-astonishing-stories-history-stats-graphics/
* https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/detroit-segregation-wall/
* https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/2022/04/sinking-cities-sea-level-rise/
Illustrations
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* https://creativetimereports.org
* https://www.mollycrabapple.com/illustration/reportage
* By a WLHB alumna! https://thenib.com/the-emergency-weve-accepted
https://sva.edu/features/drawing-from-reality-olivier-kuglers-journalistic-illustration
* https://mymodernmet.com/housesketcher-albert-kiefer-architectural-illustration/
* https://www.buzzfeed.com/michelleno/jose-naranja-artist-notebooks?utm_term=.qi7RX0Q3d#.pyjQ9xKAqUgh! Sorry! Ansley had this happen too, but I haven’t been able to recreate the issue to troubleshoot properly. I believe it’s either a first-big-post problem or else the links are freaking out the plug-in.
Anyway, I could see your post on the back end: it’s approved and visible now. Hopefully this won’t come up for you again, but I’ll be working on a solution regardless!
AMANDA’S GOALS
Week of 7/7: Catio/shatio pitch
Why I’m stoked: I found a jazzy new angle for a story idea I’ve been dragging my butt on for five years. And 12 months of extreme chaos are *finally* mellowing, so I’m excited to chase the assignments I want, instead of coasting on projects editors hand out.
Concerns or challenges: Feeling rusty and overcoming the Wall of Awful, which has delayed this pitch
(Note: I have mild, well-managed and -medicated ADHD, which introduced me to this concept. But it can plague every type of brain, so I highly recommend checking the link out if you’re unfamiliar with this emotional barrier and dopamine deficit, as it’s often entangled in writer’s block!)
Did the magic happen? [END-OF-WEEK ACCOUNTABILITY CHECK] - Shifting meet-ups to Thurs/Fri when possible (we may need to revisit this as the group grows larger. But the plan feels great for now!)
