Welcome to one of freelancing's best-kept secrets! [Archive]

featurewriter

02-07-2002, 04:47 AM

Greetings!

Jenna was kind enough to invite me to kick off this forum for freelancers who work with trade and association press ... or freelancers who might be interested in this lucrative niche market ... or for people who might have heard of trade press at one time or another ... or for those who can identify a trade magazine two out of three times on sight alone (or not!).

Trade press is a great way to get published, make a decent living with relatively little stress (compared to some other freelance arenas), and get your name in front of company decision-makers who may need your services for other projects.

During the years I edited a major industry publication, I received an average of less than one query per month, and even then it was rarely from freelancers. Usually the inquiries were from advertisers who wanted some free promotion. Like any other magazine, not only did we need features on specialized topics of interest to our niche market, but general interest material as it applied to our market as well.

Here's a little story to show how wide open this field is. In search of contributors, we posted our publication in Writers Market and waited for the phone to ring. But even the writing industry's "Bible" didn't hold a prayer for us -- no one ever called! The association that the magazine supported had over 2,000 companies as members ... a tremendous back-end potential for any writer who cared to offer his or her services, with a well-paid audition in front of the entire industry each time an article was published. And no takers!

It wasn't the pay; our magazine, like countless others in the trade press arena, paid as well as or better than many consumer publications. It wasn't the industry or the subject material. It was, simply, that freelancers in general had no idea of the tremendous potential in trade press.

Never in my life was an opportunity more glaringly obvious. So, I switched sides of the editor's desk. Today I'm a full-time freelance writer, specializing in filling that gap and making a good living while enjoying more free time than ever before.

Okay, Jenna asked me to write a greeting and here I am composing a symphony! What I really want to say is that trade press is an awesome way to soar as a freelancer. It's relatively simple to break into, the pay is great, and the supply of assignments is practically endless. You'll get tons of exposure in front of people who need good writers to help image their businesses. And because there's so little competition, once an editor likes your work, you can expect a steady stream of assignments.

Interested? Let's start the conversation!

Tangewystl

02-08-2002, 11:19 PM

Hi Michael,

Thanks for kicking off the conversation! I am just getting started as a freelancer. I am interested in learning more about "trade press". I have heard the term but would appreciate a description or even an example of a trade publication.

Thanks,
Ellen
Tangewystl1@aol.com

featurewriter

02-09-2002, 09:28 AM

Hi Ellen,

Thank you -- that's a great place to start. I've posted two reference items in the Water Cooler to help set the stage. If anyone has info on other resources, please jump in and let us know!

Michael

Sandra Gurvis

02-13-2002, 06:23 PM

Hi, Michael:

I am definitely interested in doing trade journal writing, and have had excellent experiences in the past (right now I'm tied up with another project but hopefully that will only be for a couple more months).

Do you have any names of trade publications that are good to write for? (Feel free to visit my Web site, www.sgurvis.com).

Thanks!

Sandra Gurvis

featurewriter

02-13-2002, 11:26 PM

Welcome, Sandra!

Check out our Resources section in this forum. It's mainly a primer on how to start finding work and obtaining support materials for this genre.

Part of what I'm asking people to do is to think unconventionally. Trade and association press is not widely thought of as being "mainstream" to freelance writers. But the same basic rules apply; it's simply a market that isn't widely known.

I'd like to ask everyone to share their stories and resources. Just this morning I found another book that might be really useful for this genre ... it's called "Careers for Nonconformists," by Sandra Gurvis.

Here's an excerpt from the online "jacket":

"[Sandra] covers what it takes to break into a field, what to expect, and what you'll need to do to thrive, and includes useful reference information such as associations, Web sites, trade magazines, and much more. Thirty profiles of people who have succeeded in unusual endeavors put a real face on these interesting and eclectic undertakings-one of which could be the career you've always wanted."

Here's the link to the book on amazon.com:

www.amazon.com/exec/obido...74-7798458 (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/156924684X/qid=1013615413/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-7759674-7798458)

Glad you could stop by!
Michael

Wordaholic

02-13-2002, 11:39 PM

owenobsgatenet

02-14-2002, 12:02 AM

Greetings:
A thousand years ago when I freelanced fulltime, the 'bible' of the trade magazines was Gebbie's Press; sort of a blue-collar Writer's Market. Less than an eon ago I wrote, and was paid handsomely for, an article in a precision-machinery company's in-house magazine. The company literally manufactured and sold nuts 'n bolts; but their employees were offered a smorgasbord of titillating titles in a slick TV-Guide-sized glossy magazine.
The feature story I sold them was about the travels and travails of a group of Russian Old Beleivers who had spent 300 years+ roaming the world in exile, finally locating in Oregon and Alaska, a short-hop from Home Base.
Sooooo - the title/subject of a trade magazine is NOT a definitive clue to the type of material trade or in-house magazines seek and, come to think of it, mebbe I'll try that market again.
The note below was snipped for a lawyer's promotional website, for a bit of background on Gebbie's. But a hands-on eyeball of its content MAY be found in your local library. It costs $100 !!

Media Directories such as the All-in-One Directory by Gebbie Press, Inc.,
at <www.gebbieinc.com>, which includes over 20,000 listings for
newspapers and magazines of general and limited interest and costs about $100. (It's in
most public libraries, along with its top-of-the-line competitor, Bacon's Media
Directories.)

--
Yours sincerely,

Jack Owen (Prop.)
Old Book Shop, web page <www.anoldbooklook.com> (http://www.anoldbooklook.com>)
1207 North Dixie Highway,
Lake Worth, FL 33460 USA
Tel:( 561)588-5129
Charter Member FABA <www.floridabooksellers.com> (http://www.floridabooksellers.com>)

featurewriter

02-14-2002, 01:23 AM

Hi Wordaholic,

I believe it IS so if you're trying to tell a highly-skilled audience how to "do" what they've spent years doing. I avoid those types of articles for the very reasons you pointed out; I'm NOT an expert and don't even play one on TV (much less in your local friendly trade publication!).

On the other hand, many of the paid experts, while knowing their fields inside and out, couldn't put a sentence together to save their lives. If you're skilled at deciphering techno-speak, you may find a good sideline in translating for these folks. But even if I did have those skills (which I don't, nor am I really interested) I'd STILL avoid a byline, preferring instead to ghost-write.

I won't take on a technical "how-to" (usually ... I won't say "never") but I will write a feature on an issue that could impact an industry, even if at the core of the subject is a technical issue. For example, one of my current assignments is to write a story on the impact that a particular harmless chemical has on the composting process. Now, I can barely spell "compost," and have even less ability to describe its qualities to the landscaping industry (which is the target audience). I don't know anything about chemistry (at least, that's what one or two of my ex-girlfriends have said), nor do I claim to understand much about the difference between compost and peat moss.

But! My assignment isn't to become a tech expert. What's happening is that gardeners are using a non-toxic, environmentally-friendly chemical in treating lawns (for some reason, which I'll learn when I do my homework). Then the gardener mows the lawn, and eventually the clippings make their way to a landfill. Once there, they're separated from other garbage and sent to a compost-making facility. If this chemical gets into the compost windrows (big piles of brown organic material), it will mess up the composting process. The compost won't be "right." Then, when a landscape contractor buys this compost and tries to apply it, it could damage or ruin their project.

The story here is that the landscape contractor has to know what he or she is buying, and how to avoid getting stuck with this problem. For that, you turn to the experts to tell you how to look out for it, what to do about it, and resources (organizations) that can help you. I listen to the problem being described, the solutions to it that the experts have come up with, and then I write the story in plain English.

I'll write about the compost and how it can affect a landscaper's business ... but I'll avoid like the plague an article telling the landscaper how to apply the compost.

What ain't so is that general freelancers have to become experts to work in trade press. That's one misconception that I hope to dispel in this forum!

featurewriter

02-14-2002, 01:28 AM

Thanks, Jack -- this is good information to have.

writebythesea

02-14-2002, 05:20 AM

Michael,
Thanks for the great advice and information! I am a burned-out newspaper reporter looking to expand my horizons and this was the type of information I needed.
I'm especially interested in writing for jewelry trade magazines. Do you have experience with these?
Can you, or anyone out there, offer advice on writing/breaking in to this market?
Thanks for the help.

featurewriter

02-14-2002, 06:12 AM

Personally, I don't ... but your approach is a great example of how to get started. You have a field you're interested in writing for, and there's a whole industry with lots of levels that you can pursue.

You might want to find out if there's an association representing jewelers and/or jewelry merchants in your state. Some industries band together in regions (groups of states) if they don't have the numbers to support one that solely represents their own state. In any case, find out who represents the industry.

When you contact that entity, keep this in mind: editors for association pubs are usually not adverse to taking calls from freelancers. Even if they don't have work for you, they should know which other publications are read by their constituents. To further encourage them to talk, you might also express an interest in affiliate membership ... especially if their members might be a potential market for your writing services!

Association members often -- but not always -- prefer to do business with people who support their industry through association membership. It's not a must, but it certainly adds points when you're trying to score.

Finally, here's one more pitch for Writer's Market: for three bucks, you can get a one-month membership and access their database. If you're serious and want to find out more, here's the URL:

www.writersmarket.com (http://www.writersmarket.com)

I hope you'll let us know how it comes out. Thanks for your input!

Michael

MalcolmAB

02-14-2002, 06:58 PM

Hi Michael
Thanks for your interesting comments.I specialise in writing on management topics, from 'do it yourself' type items for company upgrading, to the latest in international management.
Responses have been pretty thin so far,do you have any ideas on where I can find a better market?
(I have a published book on this topic but that doesn't seem to help much either!)
Sincerely

Malcolm Birkin

owenobsgatenet

02-15-2002, 12:01 AM

Greetings:
Jewellry feature leads, or any other subject of choice, can be found by a search of GOOGLE.Com. There are a zillion trade shows listed, each one stocked with manufacturers, representatives, PR flaks and TONS of take-out data and brochures.
There's a biggie in Basle, Switzerland, next month - hint ;-))
Yours sincerely,

Jack Owen (Prop.)
Old Book Shop, web page <www.anoldbooklook.com> (http://www.anoldbooklook.com>)
1207 North Dixie Highway,
Lake Worth, FL 33460 USA
Tel:( 561)588-5129
Charter Member FABA <www.floridabooksellers.com> (http://www.floridabooksellers.com>)

featurewriter

02-15-2002, 01:39 AM

Malcolm and Jack:

I'm going to copy and paste your comments into a new segment called "generating leads for trade press." Let's pick up this discussion over there.

Michael

Visitor

08-17-2003, 12:52 PM

Hi Michael,
I've read this section of the forum a few times and think it's a great addition to the forum. I can't understand why there is so little activity here. Maybe most writers don't consider the trades glamorous enough to warrant their attention.
I hope you keep this section going. IMO it's incredibly worthwhile. I haven't yet decided if I'll register as a member of the forum, but I do appreciate all the information you've shared here.

I'm still unpublished but I'd like to write for some of the trades, so I look forward to continuing to learn from all of you.

I've become quite a fan of Jenna's. I've read a few of her interviews and learned a bit about her. Amazing story. Love the way she runs this forum. Hope she keeps this section on trades an active part of the forum.
Thanks again Michael.

featurewriter

08-19-2003, 06:43 AM

Thanks for the input! I'm the first to admit that writing for trade pubs isn't exactly glamorous. But there's also what I think is a misperception that writers need an in-depth knowledge of an industry in order to land assignments. My experience has been that it's no different from identifying any other target audience and angling a feature to those particular folks.

It's understandable that writers would hesitate to approach a trade publication. For example, I write for the green industry (landscaping, horticulture, etc.) but have very little knowledge of plants. What I DO know, however, is that there are many things common to ALL businesses (good relations, basic marketing, understanding your clientele', etc.), and nearly all of my articles take these common elements and slant them toward a pub's audience. In this case, it just happens to be landscapers.

Occasionally I'll pick up a techie-type assignment, but most trade pubs don't want a writer to tell their readers how to use products or convey intricacies about how they work ... editors are more interested in how applying some piece of new technology can help a business owner. The way I find out is by interviewing end-users who match the demographics of the readership. They're more than happy to guide me through, because it's great PR for them to be quoted in a glossy publication. I've spoken to CEOs of the biggest companies in the U.S., and never once had one turn me away just because I wasn't an industry expert.

Lots of writers have asked which publications are good to write for, and some have shared their contacts. What I've tried to do is point writers to the sources where they'll find more leads and info than they'll ever need. Kendall Hansen's book describes, in detail, dozens of trade publishing firms which cover hundreds of publications. Writers Market Online provides daily updates of trade pubs looking for writers. Together, these two sources cost around $45 and will lead a writer to more options than they'll ever know what to do with. And that's just two sources ... there are hundreds.

I was hoping to help create a discussion forum for people who write for trade and association press, but it seems that many visitors to this forum are mostly interested in leads. That's understandable ... but there are far better places to find that information than this could ever be.

Perhaps the Water Cooler isn't frequented by enough trade writers (or hopefuls) to support a full-blown nuts-and-bolts discussion forum. But I'll be here whenever anyone wants to chat. Thanks for your kind words!

Michael

Visitor

08-21-2003, 09:10 AM

You put a lot of information in your posts! I'm going to look for a copy of Kendall Hansen's book. I already have Writer's Market '03.
Your approach to the trades, using common elements as a jumping off point, makes a lot of sense. After thinking about it for a while, I had come to a similar decision. I've had a wide range of experience in several kinds of businesses over the years. Sales and marketing mostly. There are probably a few things I've picked up over that time that will help me, both in prospecting for sales, and in finding angles for articles.
I'm hoping to find my first sale in the next couple of months. It'll be nice to finally break the ice.
I'll be checking in from time to time.

featurewriter

08-22-2003, 05:44 AM

Looking forward to hearing how it comes out. I hope you'll stay in touch and share some of your early experiences.

Have fun! All the best to you.

lastr

08-19-2004, 10:41 AM

I found this thread fascinating and full of great information. I pick up a few writing assignments myself freelancing for a few trade magazines. I prefer to interview an expert or two and quote them in any article that demands expert opinions in it. I generally stick to the history of the widgets and what people are doing with it, rather than the how or why of the internal workings of it.

Selenia692

08-19-2004, 02:51 PM

I'm in the process of reading that aforementioned wonderful book, and have already gotten an assignment from one trade mag. It's absolutely awesome and the editor is a dream to work with.

Betty W01

08-20-2004, 05:21 AM

Don't miss taking a peek at the database of trade magazines that I posted under the subject line "DON'T MISS THIS!"

This offer is good until the end of August and if you spend an hour or two trawling, you could end up with a lot of new markets and article ideas.

Good luck!

featurewriter

08-22-2004, 11:59 PM

Thank you Betty! :)

armyjim

01-13-2005, 08:50 PM

I live out in the boonies. However, even though I am off the beaten path, I have decided to try my hand at writing for trades.

Since I worked in construction, I may try to write for those types of trades, although I did do a stint in a bowling alley as a mechanic/salesman/counterperson/bartender. It was there that I actually saw most of the trade magazines that I have seen (not too many trade mags on jobsites).

From the responses in this forum it sounds like there is a market, but some of those messages are a few years old. Is the market still out there? Are the resources still the same, or have they changed names?

So many questions...

armyjim

01-13-2005, 08:51 PM

I forgot to add in my prior message...I am an unpublished writer...:eek

wurdwise

01-14-2005, 09:21 AM

My advice is to first buy yourself a 2005 Writer's Market. They have them at all major bookstores, and it cost around $30.00. It is filled with advice on how to get started, and lists paying markets from trade publications and many others that you could submit to with your experience. Think outside the box. You don't have to limit yourself just to trades, unless that's all you want to do.

But say for example you wrote a story about the construction business that was designed for a trade market you found. You could take that story and add a bar after work, and whalla, you have an article for a blue collar magazine.

featurewriter

01-14-2005, 02:05 PM

Welcome to the board, Jim!

It may be that you didn't see trade mags on job sites because most of them are written for business owners and other decision-makers. But that's not the only market for the trades.

For example, the trucking industry employs over three million people in the US. Publications are pretty diverse. Transport Topics is a national mag with a big focus on congressional activity, while The Trucker is angled to appeal to the driver. There are also many other arms of that industry: independent operators, small and medium-sized companies, dump truck drivers, dump truck companies ... and on and on. They all have one or more mags.

That's why it's really important to be familiar with a publication before you try to write for it. Know what the readers want, and know what the editors need.

I write for trade publications that are geared toward business owners. I know that what the readers want is to know -- right up front -- how the topic will help their business. If they can't see that right away, they'll flip the page.

The editors usually answer to a board, or to a publisher who answers to a board. In any case, there's a group of stakeholders who have a huge say in what gets published. But again, there will be a common denominator that's simple to grasp: the board wants to be credited with giving good, useful information to the readers. The key is to find out how they define "good, useful information."

As for "writing from the boondocks" ... as long as you have a phone and Internet connection, you can write from anywhere. Actually, all you need is to be able to GET TO a phone and the Internet! Your location doesn't matter as a freelance writer.

Last thing: you're right. The resources change over time. I agree with investing in Writers Market. Also, you can use a search engine to locate publications that interest you. That's been my approach: decide what I want to write about and then find editors who publish similar stuff. The major search engines update constantly. So does Writers Market in their online version, which costs $29.99 a year, or you can try it out for $3.99 a month. Here's the link:

writersmarket.com (http://writersmarket.com/index_ns.asp)

All the best!

Michael

www.bymichaelriley.com (http://www.bymichaelriley.com)

Featurewriter

01-01-2006, 01:42 AM

I thought we'd end the year here in this forum back where it all began nearly four years ago, with an overview of this arm of the writing industry. Today's post brings it back to the top.

Nothing's really changed from what was said 46 months ago when we went "live." It's still a wide-open market without enough good writers who are interested in it ... and that's still a mystery to me!

I'm looking forward to seeing what the next four years bring.

DeniseK

01-01-2006, 01:52 AM

I sent off four proposals after getting fired up, reading this forum back in the spring of last year. None of them even bothered responding. I think it is because I was not an expert on any of the subjects. I just told them I knew people to interview and that I was a good researcher.

I gave up after that getting no replies. I have many interests, but am not an expert at anything, really, so I suppose writing for trades is not for me.

However, you say you wonder why there aren't more writers doing this sort of work, for me, I know the answer now.

Donna Pudick

01-01-2006, 03:51 AM

Easiest trade press story to write is the store story. Walk into your favorite pet store, health food store, mill-end store, wilderness store and ask to see a copy of the trade magazine that caters to those stores. Take down the information on the masthead. Look inside the mag and see if it carries store profiles. Ask the store you're in if it was ever profiled in the trades. If the answer is NO, contact the mag editor and offer to write a profile on your favorite store.

Make sure the store isn't within driving distance of the mag's headquarters. The mag will send you a guide that includes what questions to ask, how to take photos, etc. Most trade mags that cater to specialty stores publish a profile every month. These profiles are hard to get, if the editor doesn't have a lot of contacts.

When I was editing a pet trade mag, I had grandfathers, young husbands, teenagers, and starving artists covering sections of the country from whence they hailed. Each time they took a trip, they would find a well-run store and write a profile. Once they established a reputation with me, I sent them to cover grooming shows, trade shows I couldn't attend, interviews, features, etc. A good and ambitious writer could make three or four hundred extra dollars a month, just doing profiles, more if they can get assigned to features.

As long as the writer doesn't screw up and send the same story to competing mags, he/she can make thousands per month writing for the trades.

Best thing about writing for the trades is you almost always get an instant international by-line.

dp

Featurewriter

01-01-2006, 04:15 AM

Without more information, Sarah, it's impossible to evaluate why you didn't get any responses. Each writer has to decide where to draw the line on effort, whether it's how many attempts to make or how much to invest in learning about a market. I'll be the first to admit that this one isn't everyone's cup of tea.

I think you'll find that writers who only send out four cold queries to any market will realize results similar to yours. The fact remains that trade editors receive a tiny fraction of queries compared to consumer publications, and that the market is a deep well of opportunity. But there are opportunities for writers in dozens of markets; the key is to find the one that works best for you and put your efforts there.

Donna, I'm glad to see another seasoned professional join the conversation. The input of experienced trade editors and writers in this forum is like gold. Welcome!

LloydBrown

01-01-2006, 10:17 PM

I'm glad you bumped this thread. For what it's worth, it's providing value for me, even though I haven't contributed any meaningful posts.

electric.avenue

01-22-2006, 04:21 PM

Hi

it's been interesting to read this thread. I am new to the AW Water Cooler, and currently UK based, (I'm English). I am studying Sciences at the moment, have computer programming qualifications, and am interested in technical stuff. Writing for trade magazines and custom publications could definitely be for me. I'll keep my eye on this area. Thanks for all the information!

Carol

Elwyn

01-25-2006, 10:09 PM

[QUOTE=featurewriter]Welcome, Sandra!

Check out our Resources section in this forum. It's mainly a primer on how to start finding work and obtaining support materials for this genre.

I've looked by haven't found it. Do you have a link?

TIA

Featurewriter

01-26-2006, 01:13 AM

Hmm ... it would appear that the Resources section has disappeared sometime during the four years since I wrote that message. With two server changes and who knows how many gremlins, either it's disappeared altogether ... or I simply can't find it either!

dscalise

02-01-2006, 01:37 AM

I'm new to the Absolute Write and when I saw this thread, I just had to post. I'm a senior staff writer for a trade/association magazine and I can say from personal experience that 1) trade pubs such as ours (mine is health care business-related) have tons of opportunities for freelancers; 2) you don't have to be an expert to write for the pub, but you do have to know how to pitch and execute an article (which means you have to be familiar with what is covered, who the audience is, current topics and what constitues a "good" fit for the magazine); 3) the pay off is generous -- literally and 4) once you get your foot in the door, the opportunities keep on coming.

I started in my job without any background in health care and as a freelancer -- I got a lead on a freelance opportunity here and parleyed it into three assignments, back to back to back and then lucked out into a permanent job. I learned on the job (actually, I'm still learning after six years here) -- all I had were research and interview skills. Now, I see other writers pitching the magazine and the ones who are successful aren't health care experts, they're people who know our audience (executives) and what angles in larger, more consumer-oriented stories our audience is interested in (finances, legal implacations, staffing, etc.) and they come up with story concepts.

I would suggest anybody who wants to try trade/association pubs goes online to see if the magazines have articles posted on the web; to read the member-oriented news on any of the sites (such as legislative actions, topics covered at industry meetings) and learn the topics of interest to readers BEFORE pitching (we gets lots of stuff pitched to us that clearly doesn't work with our publication). And then, even if you get rejected initially, keep reading the magazines/sites and keep pitching ideas -- lots of times rejections are a matter of timing, or editorial calendar musts. The rejection might be because we just wrote on your topic a month or two ago, not because the idea wasn't good.

Our editors keep looking for good contributors and if they can write good stories, keep giving them assignments again and again. The only real killers are bad reporting/writing and missing deadlines.

Anyway, those are my two cents. By the way, I am following my own advice as I branch out more into writing about parenting and more consumer-oriented women's/lifestyle issues.

blueturtle

02-12-2006, 07:02 PM

I just discovered this thread and am writing to say that I'm glad it stayed active in spite of the small number of posts. I'm just starting to pursue writing for trade magazines and am excited by the possibilities. I hope to become a more active member of this thread as I query and write for trade mags!

Thanks for the info Michael (and others) -- I've picked up some great tips!

Sandi

Featurewriter

02-12-2006, 09:52 PM

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Sandi!

You're right ... this forum doesn't have as many posts as most others. It's also not nearly as social ... we tend to stick to the topic, which in itself isn't nearly as exciting as, say, the prospect of writing your own novel. Or the high-spirited chatroom atmosphere of the more popular threads. But we're friendly!

I'm glad you find our resource useful. Welcome!

LaBell

02-16-2006, 12:09 AM

I'm so glad you've kept this thread going! It never occured to me to try my luck at writing for Trade magazines. What a great idea! Thank you sooooo much!

L M Ashton

02-20-2006, 08:53 AM

The idea of freelance writing has always intimidated me, but with this thread, I'm considering doing it - with a focus on the trade publications. Thanks for the info!

Coachwriter

03-23-2006, 04:30 AM

Having read a few trade publications in my time, I would have to say that anyone trying to write for that market had better be prepared to become an expert in that field. The audience consists of industry insiders with a good general knowledge -- if not expert knowledge, and you had better know your stuff. I used to be in screenprinting and the trade publications we received mostly covered arcane advances in the field more sophisticated than anything we dealt with, but we still knew enough to have caught almost any error. Furthermore, some people rely on trade publications for in-depth knowledge about new processes. They're relying on what you tell them to do in what order, your numbers and your data. I've sold articles to consumer magazines on topics as diverse as canoe paddling and astronomy (I'm not an expert in either, believe me), but I find the trade mag audience intimidating. Please tell me it ain't so.

I freelanced full time on and off for more than 25 years. By far the best publications to write for were the trades. They tended to pay well, pay on time and really liked my work.

While knowledge of the field is absolutely essential for many trades, this is not true for all. There are literally thousands and thousands of trades out there. While you need to read those you want to write for and ferret out the ones for whom you can write, believe me they exist.

For instance, I probably wrote the same BASIC article about newsletters for more than 125 trade magazines. By basic, I mean the facts were the same, but I always interviewed someone in the trade for quotes and to feature. I wrote this article for trades from hardware store owners to saddle makers to opticians. It was a gold mine for me. This was before paper was invented so I don't think you could do it on this topic today, but find something else that's relevant and you can approach the RIGHT trades and succeed.

Another area in which I was very successful was doing profiles of business owners. I'd find a plumbing supply store in the town where I lived, go in and ask the owner what trades he read, borrow a copy, then see if they did this kind of feature. If so, I already had my interview.

Have fun!

Warmly,

Lynn
www.bloomngrow.net (http://www.bloomngrow.net)

Featurewriter

03-23-2006, 11:15 PM

Coachwriter

03-24-2006, 01:47 AM

Welcome to the boards, Lynn! And thank you for balancing the perception about writing for trade publications. Many people believe that they have to be experts in the target industries, and as a result don't give the trades market a second glance.

This thread, Welcome to one of freelancing's best-kept secrets!, may be the longest-running active discussion in the AW forums. It was started only a few days after the forum went live in early-February 2002, and was the second or third "Discussion of the Week" in the AbsoluteWrite newsletter that month. Jenna obviously felt that it merited attention, as this market for freelance writers is both wide-open and lucrative. But (no surprise here) after four years, the vast majority of writers who frequent AW have yet to explore the possibilities.

Sometimes you'll find the best opportunities in the least visible places. Trade publications don't appear on store shelves, and the Trade Press forum isn't nearly as popular as many of the others here. This "low visibility," I think, leads people to believe that because it isn't popular socially here, it isn't viable. If they only knew ... (!)

Thanks for the welcome. I appreciate it. I happen to really enjoy being around writers and especially mentoring or supporting those who are just starting out.

You're right, it's interesting, but not suprising that this forum is so sparsely attended. I do think a lot of people don't realize that they can write for the trades. They do think they need to know a lot about the particular industry. Secondly, I don't believe most people approach freelancing as a job. They crave the glamour and there is no glamour in the trades. Well, maybe in Denture Weekly :D But seriously, if people want to make a living freelancing, they need to stop moaning about how hard it is to break into the biggies and find work that they can do while they wait! Trades rock!

Warmly,
Lynn

Featurewriter

03-24-2006, 01:50 AM

Trades rock!

They also pay quite well! But I agree: it's not high-profile. Just a great way to earn a decent living as a writer.

jenngreenleaf

03-27-2006, 12:43 AM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Coachwriter
Trades rock!

They also pay quite well! But I agree: it's not high-profile. Just a great way to earn a decent living as a writer.

I actually prefer writing for trades over anything else -- yes, the pay does help with that feeling at times. :D

VictoriaE

03-27-2006, 09:37 PM

I'm still trying to break into writing for trade publications :/

Coachwriter

03-28-2006, 03:01 AM

What's stopping you?

Lynn
www.bloomngrow.net (http://www.bloomngrow.net)

jenngreenleaf

03-28-2006, 03:15 AM

I'm still trying to break into writing for trade publications :/

You can do it :Hug2: -- if I can, anyone can. LOL

VictoriaE

03-28-2006, 06:54 AM

What's stopping you?

Lynn
www.bloomngrow.net (http://www.bloomngrow.net)

Good question! I sent a number of introductory letters, but didn't get much bite back from that. My next step is to find trade publications that apply to my hobbies (since I will have a bit more experience there) and see if I can get any bites from that.

Bamponang

03-30-2006, 04:06 PM

The audience consists of industry insiders with a good general knowledge -- if not expert knowledge, and you had better know your stuff.

That's the challenging part of trade publications. The advantage from that self-same scenario is that you have a big pool of knowledgeable people willing to give you news and insight into their industry.

I met interview subjects who were patronising because of my lack of industry knowledge when I first started but for everyone of them, I met 10 more who were helpful and helped me grow as a writer.

I have also made mistakes due to lack of insight on issues. I've missed the nuances in certain statistics, my source misinterpreted the facts to suit his viewpoint, and I've spent weeks trying to get tons of new information to shape into an interesting read rather than an academic thesis.

Despite that, I love my subject and the readers can tell ( judging by the emails and phone calls I receive). I love the constant challenge of learning and digesting facts and communicating them in simpler, clearer language. I know the information I provide helps business (http://0-2u.com/?go=business) people in their decision-making processes.

I also found trades to be the easiest place to build a name ( you consistently write for the same audience on niche issues), which has led to a flood of story suggestions from PR companies and invitations to conferences, seminars and breakfasts events. I've lost count of the number of times a media relations person for a large company has said:'my CEO /COO/CTO would like to chat to you. Which date and time is most suitable for you?" That's the power trades has given me that a decade of consumer writing never did.

ATP

03-30-2006, 07:50 PM

Yes, there are palpable benefits to this job. But, for all the work, the attention, and invitations, at the end of the day, I would be more content to see a good, sizeable bank account, and an affordable health insurance cover to compensate for all the blood, sweat and tears.

ATP

Featurewriter

03-31-2006, 02:41 AM

... I would be more content to see a good, sizeable bank account, and an affordable health insurance cover to compensate for all the blood, sweat and tears. ATP

It does take time. Thing is, it's not writing for trades that has the biggest learning curve; it's the business end of writing.

Once a writer develops a base of regular assignments from well-paying sources, he or she can begin to streamline efforts to improve ROI (return on investment).

But there's no point of reference for that until one actually builds up momentum and has to begin prioritizing -- not only the work flow, but revenue management.

It's the same for any business. Writers who succeed also learn about running a small business ... because that's really what it is. And this forum seeks to help serious writers tap into this excellent market.

Coachwriter

04-03-2006, 11:22 PM

Good question! I sent a number of introductory letters, but didn't get much bite back from that. My next step is to find trade publications that apply to my hobbies (since I will have a bit more experience there) and see if I can get any bites from that.

Great idea, Victoria. Start where you are. Good luck.

Warmly,

Lynn
www.bloomngrow.net (http://www.bloomngrow.net)

Elwyn

04-10-2006, 02:54 AM

It's 9 April 06 and this is the first time I've read this entire thread. I've spent a LOT of time writing a novel and am still waiting to hear from the publisher. Oh, the second novel has already been started.

Once upon a time, I made a VERY good living as a technical writer in industry and have been published in some magazines. I think I'll start pounding on the doors of the trade pubs while waiting to hear from the publisher about my novel.

A hint to ya'll: learn how to use a camera because some editors demand pictures with your (technical) articles. And, if you really want to wow an editor, write a great tech article that includes a video and post it on the Web.;)

book_maven

04-15-2006, 04:58 AM

Hi everyone.

Though I am not new to AW, I am new to this particular discussion. Two weeks ago, I applied for an assistant editor position at a company that, among other things, puts out five different trade publications. They are quite successful, and have been around for a long time.

I didn't get the position (they had 35 applicants), but I did get an email from the editor who asked me if I would be interested in writing on a freelance basis for them. The majority of their articles are approximately 3,000 words, and they provide the focus and contacts. They give the writer at least a month between assignment and due date, and pay 30 days after acceptance. Their pay scale varies depending on the complexity of the article, but falls in the range of $900.00 for that length.

I don't worry about benefits since I work PT at a community college and get all their benefits. But I also run a web site which takes time. Given your experience, does this look like a good deal? Do you think that I could, if the assignments were available, do two articles a month? Or do trade publications' articles generally take longer especially if one is inexperienced in these types of articles.

ATP

04-15-2006, 05:24 AM

This relates to an earlier thread here. Part of your answer can be found in the thread below.

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24689&highlight=production

ATP

KTC

04-15-2006, 05:26 AM

hello there, Book. I get paid such differing figures from different clients that I probably can't really help you. You might get some more definitive replies, but the client I deal with the most pays $400 for a 1000 word column. I don't see any problem with doing two articles a month. I myself would be uncomfortable with 3,000 words...just because.

I like referring to the below schedule myself, when it comes to payment, but I'm very flexible:

http://www.writers.ca/whattopay.htm

(I guess, in the end, it depends on whether or not you want to do it. And...whether or not it may lead to something else and open doors for you?)

book_maven

04-15-2006, 05:49 AM

Thank you ATP and KTC. Those links were helpful. This kind of writing would be a job. The subjects don't personally interest me, and I am not interested in doing it FT. (The kind of writing I love--book reviews and book- and reading-related essays--is what I do on my web site.) I want to talk to the editor and find out what they want: the number of sources, research. I'll see if I can get hold of copies of the publications too. It's something that fell into my lap, and I will explore it further. Thank you.

KTC

04-15-2006, 05:58 AM

If it fell into your lap, and you are trying to get deeper into freelancing, I say take it. Some of the topics I cover do not interest me. I always find something enthralling in the research of whatever column/article I write. I ALWAYS GET HOLD OF COPIES OF THE PUBLICATIONS I WRITE FOR, TOO. Good idea. I understand that you're not interested in doing it full time. I was suggesting that doing it might open a door in a completely unrelated field for you. This has happened for me. After writing a profile article I was once offered the assignment of writing a radio ad...in a field completely unrelated. It's just good to keep the networking channels open. You never know what might come out of doing these articles. Good luck with your decision.

christa

07-03-2006, 07:40 PM

It's been a while since I've visited the board, and since the board's been shut down, I imagine that's the same for the most of us.
In an effort to pick up this thread again, I'll share my story: After years as a news-editor, I'm now freelancing (with a yearly contract) for a trade/industry newsletter and I'm very happy. I'm living my dream, traveling (seven to ten days a month--sometimes less) throughout my state visiting various communities; seeing wonderful things, meeting terrifc people, staying in glorious places. I'm working from my home office the rest of the time, an average of 20 hours a week. Although I charge well below the industry/trade standards, I'm still making more money than any journalism job ever paid me--indeed more than I've ever made anywhere! There's plenty of room for me to raise my fees according to increasing assignments and cost-of-living raises. And! there's plenty of time for me to pursue other avenues of writing.
When I started I didn't know diddilly-sqat about the industry. They didn't care so much about that, they cared that I could write well, that I was a versatile writer, and very professional. Another important skill was my ability to interview.
Meanwhile I've learned a lot about the industry itself (although there is always so much more to learn). In my case, I write a variety of articles for these newsletters, some of them are a bit technical, some are news related, but most are full-fledged features.
Trades are a great place for a writer to earn a happy, rewarding, freelance lifestyle.
Cheers!

Freckles

07-23-2006, 10:01 PM

The trade/association avenue is actually something I've never thought of. Thanks for opening my eyes!

ritinrider

12-07-2006, 05:57 PM

bumping this thread up, so I don't have to look so hard to find it later. Found this thread helpful back before I lost internet service, now that I'm back I want to read it through. Besides, it might help someone else.

nita

jdkiggins

12-11-2006, 12:27 AM

Making it a stickie. ;) It was one of several I thought should be readily accessible.

ETA: Thanks, Nita. You saved me from having to search for it again.

limitedtimeauthor

12-11-2006, 12:45 AM

Hey, can we have another sticky? "Trade Magazine Mastheads" or something similar? I still haven't found a good listing of trades. They are difficult to track down!

I realize that if you're familiar with a particular industry, you could search for mags associated with it. But if you have no one particular industry affiliation, the field is too wide!

What do you think? Could we have some kind of listing of trade mags that exist? Perhaps: Title, industry, format (i.e. glossy, online, newsletter, e-newsletter, etc.), editor(s), whatever other info we know.

I don't have a problem researching the editorial guidelines, particular slant or focus of the mag, etc. I just have a hard time finding that they exist!

I LOVE the idea of working for trades. Who needs "glamour"? Just pay me and be thrilled with my work, and I'm a workhorse. ;)

Thanks.

ltd.

jdkiggins

12-11-2006, 01:26 AM

ltd,
Many moons ago there was a resource thread in the Trades forum, but it and a number of other threads were lost in one of the board moves. There are many links within the threads here, I'll see what I can do about putting them all in one thread. Maybe in an alphabetical order as in the main freelance forum. At least that will save all of you some searching. Give me some time. It takes an enormous amount of time to research, cut and paste. ;)

limitedtimeauthor

12-11-2006, 06:30 AM

Hey, Joanne, I have an idea...

Why should you have to do all the work? Eh? Especially since this would be of benefit to so many.

Maybe we could start the sticky, and then everyone else can go research and cut and paste (or simply add the ones they know of), and add them to the thread. (I know they wouldn't be in alpha order, but at least they would all be in one place.)

Just a thought. I would be guilt-ridden if you did all that yourself!

ltd.

limitedtimeauthor

12-13-2006, 08:24 AM

What do you think Joanne? Could we all help?

(Or am I the only one who wants this? Does everyone else have a secret place they go to find trade mags? :))

ltd.

jdkiggins

12-13-2006, 09:29 AM

ltd,
Trade Market Masthead/Links stickie thread is started. ;)

limitedtimeauthor

12-13-2006, 10:12 AM

Yahoo! Thank you! :)

ltd.

Freckles

12-13-2006, 07:52 PM

Thanks, Joanne!!! I've got some reading to do now. :)

Jiggz

06-04-2007, 05:24 PM

This has been a long read, but well worth it. I think this is possibly where I need to be, although the trade mag market out here in South Africa is most likely quite different to over there. Nonetheless, I have no desire to write the great African novel, I don't really need to write pretty sentences all the time.
I remember teaching a blind woman to operate her electric lawnmower years ago, in order that she could then teach her gardener. It was deeply satisfying using my ability with words and my technical understanding to help her. I did a really good job at it too, according to the old blind lady!
I trained and worked as an engineer and technician for years, have incredibly diverse interests and can grasp tech concepts dead easily.
Put it this way - at the moment I am rebuilding the motor for my '72 VW Bus, but modifying it to have an oil filter and oil cooler the better to cope with the heat of long summer hours idling in the Kruger National Park whilst game viewing.
I have experience of farming, sawmilling, auto, music, computer, hotel, liquor, health food and long-distance heavy transport industries...WTH, I am sure I can make something out of all that?
Cool thread, and now it has life in 2007!
Groovy, or what?

bee

07-04-2007, 07:45 AM

I'm a newbie (Hi Everyone!). After reading this post, I was urged to cease being a lurker and join. This thread is so interesting! I will follow all the suggestions and try to pursue a freelance career in the trades.
Thanks!

limitedtimeauthor

07-04-2007, 09:27 AM

Welcome, Bee! Glad you decided to de-lurk and join the discussion! :)

ltd.

bee

07-05-2007, 02:08 AM

I can't wait to get started with the research! I have about one more month before I go back to work so, I have to hit the ground running. I plan to go to a few travel agencies because travel management seems interesting to me.

I'm really excited about this but...well, I won't say. I don't want to defeat my purpose before I get started. I'm going to the library tomorrow (Happy Independence Day!) to see if I can find a copy of How to Write for Trade Magazines.

Payson Dean

08-18-2007, 09:31 AM

Hello, I'm new to writing for a living, but have 45 years of commercial, residential and industrial plumbing contracting experience. I found this thread by accident, but am very interested in getting into this type of writing, if it will pay the bills while I pursue my true love, writing novels.

I am wondering if having this much experience in the construction industry is a help or a hindrance? Based upon some of the comments that I've read in the thread, it seems so. I have to admit, I'd never given much thought to writing for trade publications, but once I realized that the subject matter was something that I was more than passingly familiar with, it seemed like just the right idea. Any suggestions as to how I can parlay my background into a paying gig would be greatly appreciated. Starting points would be especially appreciated.

Thanks,
Payson Dean

Featurewriter

08-18-2007, 11:08 AM

Hi Payson,

A plumbing contractor with 45 years of experience who can write is in a GREAT position to get published, although I can't say whether of not it will pay the bills. You might come out ahead doing 8-10 hours a week in your trade, as opposed to working 15-30 hours on a feature article that pays $300-600.

Still, it's a good supplement. You know what contractors want to know (or at least the general concepts and can get the info together). What editors want is someone to write for them who adds good value to their publications.

I recommend that you start with associations to get some writing credits. You can find a pretty good list with links to your industry association websites at:

http://www.plumbingweb.com/assn.html

It's been my experience as an editor that subject matter experts rarely make good writers for magazine feature articles. It doesn't seem fair, considering the vast knowledge you guys have that would benefit readers.

Having industry experience but little or no editorial background can be a hindrance because of how topics are approached differently at the business level versus the magazine level. It comes down to willingness to learn new approaches to communicating your knowledge, incorporating research and input from sources, and to understand WHY a given publication exists.

Writers have to learn the same things. But the reason we have an advantage is that our strength is in communicating info from a variety of sources and packaging it to fit a given set of editorial parameters. We don't need to know much about a subject in order to deliver a complete, valuable article; we just need to know what the editor wants, how to obtain the info, how to angle the approach, and who makes up the target audience. (Someone please correct me if I've left something out.) Granted, it's EASIER if we do know something about the subject (trade and association editors love it when a good writer is willing to do future articles on related topics), but we can tackle most assignments as long as we're willing to put in the effort to get the background.

Those are the general realities, as I see them. But that doesn't mean 'everyone' fits into that mold.

The reason I and many other career writers frequent the AW forums is to lend support and encouragement to ANYONE who wants to write, wants to improve their writing, wants to make more money from writing ... etc. You already ARE a writer. When I edited magazines, I would consider a writer's credentials. But what I was MOST interested in was his or her query. I could tell within the first few sentences whether or not the writer had the basic skills. If so, the query went into my "to-be-considered" pile. If not, I thanked the writer for the query and declined politely.

What I'd like to suggest is that you practice writing one thought per sentence. This is basic for contractor publications. Try to keep your sentences to around 15 words or less. This is to help you practice for the narrative portion of your articles. (We're not talking about novel-writing here, just the approach for industry publications.)

Also, make a list of things that you would liked to have seen in your trade publications during the time you were an active contractor. Then dig a little deeper to come up with interesting angles. Keep in the forefront of your mind the reader's benefit (what's in it for him or her to read it), and make sure the publication also derives a good benefit from it.

For example, association magazines exist to promote association membership (that's the business that associations are in; they aren't in the "plumbing business," etc.). Some will carry technical articles that explain a "how-to" topic. Others won't, but they may contain frequent business features (a different kind of "how-to," such as "How to Make Money from Clients Who Have [a particular problem or issue]"). When you make the effort to understand why a publication exists, it will set you ahead of the pack. You'll know how to pitch the benefits.

Finally, if your passion is to write, don't let me or ANYONE tell you how you 'should' do it. Just WRITE. You'll know soon enough what gets you going and what doesn't. It sounds to me like your passion is to be a storyteller. Writing for industry may be like throwing a bucket of water on your flame, so don't let that happen. For that reason, it may be better to just do a few hours of your old gig on the side to pay bills so that you really CAN focus on what matters most to you.

Whichever way it turns out, I wish you all the best!

Tejas220033

08-27-2007, 07:34 PM

I write for industry trade magazines and absolutely love it. I spent about ten years in an industry I loved but could no longer could juggle the excessive travel and client needs with a growing family. I do think it helps to consider an area that you already love, be it a hobby or topic of interest, and start in that arena. It will make it easier for you to think of story ideas and pitches.

Being a member of the association is also very helpful. My work has branched out into a number of other opportunities, and although it isn't always easy to juggle deadlines and kids, I'm so grateful to be able to build a career this way.

I hope you'll give trades a try. They're worth it.

Simple Living

09-27-2007, 12:02 AM

Somebody please give Featurewriter an instant 1,000 rep points for me, ok? I've read every post in this thread and am incredibly encouraged.

I'm 41 and have traveled, and lived, all over the world. I've worked in many different fields and fulfilled a lot of dreams in my time. I've been homeless and I've had money. Currently, I'm working in Corporate America and really, really need to get out. I'm not wired to work this way! I'm a small town guy living in downtown Big City USA. I'm in the middle of making major changes in my life.

I've decided that the only thing I truly enjoy doing is writing. I'm unpublished but I have a lot of writing experience, from newsletters, business writing in my jobs, stories on a weekly basis for kids I volunteered with, etc., (I could kick myself for finding out how much business writing I've done and not been compensated for!)

So, I'm becoming a freelance writer. Initially I decided to stay away from business writing because I wanted out of Corporate America in every way. This thread, however, encouraged me to give it try.

I'm also in the process of finding a new place to live. I'm torn here. I would ideally love to live in a very small community. (One I'm looking at has only 223 people and is 90 minutes from the nearest big city.) This would suit me, but how about freelancing? I'm aware I can write from anywhere, but wouldn't cutting myself off that much be a hinderance?

I've researched freelancing for newspapers and magazines to death and was about to jump in with pens in both hands, and I will, but I'd like to learn more about writing for trades and industry publications.

The process sounds very similar to writing for newspapers and magazines. Is the query writing process the same? Are there any tips for speaking with editors in trade publications? Any no-no's that magazine freelancers should remember not to do that they currently do with magazine clients?

As I've said, I've done a lot of writing. I believe I'm very good at it. Coming into the industry unpublished makes me a bit nervous, but I've never not done something I've set out to do. I would just feel a little better knowing more about the process (do's and don'ts) from those who are experienced in this field.

Payson Dean

10-02-2007, 08:36 AM

Hello again,

I followed your advice and have just been commissioned for two assigments. One was for a publication that deals with something I like to do, and the other is for a publication that deals with my trade. I have gotten good feedback from the first article and hope to get more assignments from that venue as well.

Last time I posted, I forgot to mention that I am now retired, so 'doing my thing' for eight to ten hours a week is not in the cards, but sending out queries by the truckload seems to be paying dividends.

Thanks so much for your encouraging words, spot on tips and the great advice.

Payson Dean

jdkiggins

10-21-2007, 04:10 AM

Congratulations on the two assignment, Payson. Good luck.

atabscooler

02-15-2008, 07:42 PM

hi,
this is a much needed discussion. i've been a niche writer for advtg.&mktg.publications.my background was in micobiology. the imp. thig is to familiarise with the subject and write simply without using jargon.

Writing Mom

02-21-2008, 11:21 AM

I just found this thread, but have been hanging out in the Trade Magazine thread for a while. I have been freelancing for years now. At the beginning, and from an early age, I always wanted to write for magazines. I started freelancing to get some experience and a few publised clips. After a while the money was decent and I had bills to pay, so I got stuck in a rut, forgetting magazine writing. Then I wanted to learn how to write a great query before sending anything out. I actually sent out a total of 3 queries about 4 years ago, non of which netted me anything so I put it off again 'to learn more about it'. Fast forward through many more articles and writing jobs to last week. I stumbled on the trade magazine section and read a few threads, enough to get me interested. There was some advice about how to write a letter of introduction rather than send a query. This was great for me, as I didn't really have an specific article ideas in mind, I just wanted a chance to write. So I polished up the resume, dug out a couple of clips and sent them to a few editors of trade mags I was interested in. Within 5 minutes I had my first response, with a promise of a few articles to do, and by lunch I had another response with the same promise. And this was only today. I am hopeful other editors will get back with me tomorrow, although these two seem to have more than enough work for a while. It really does work. Get past any fear or awkwardness you may have and just go for it. I have a lot of freelancing experience, but it is all part-time (a minute or two while the kids are quiet) with no 'real' writing time set aside. I have never really felt like a real writer, although I have been writing since grade school, and have paid plenty of bills by writing.
And now I am going on and on and on.....lol. To those of you wanting to learn more, just do it. There is never a better time than now. Send a query or letter of interest in to those magazines you want to target. The worst they can do is say "We don't need any freelancers at this time." And that is your que to move on to the next magazine. Good luch to all.

Ldyjarhead

06-13-2008, 11:11 PM

I've just read this thread through and definitely taking notes to research further.

I've only just started looking at writing to fulfill a dream and have yet to be published (maybe because I haven't written anything?). I'm still very much in the research phase and was leaning towards local/regional publications, but if even half of what I've read here is true, that may change quickly.

I am off to look at the other forums and to google more.

Next decision - what trades to target.

Let's see. I've:

... spent more than 21 years in uniform as a United States Marine
... managed a dry cleaning operation with 6 stores
... worked as a receptionist/proofreader for the nation's largest radio research firm
... worked on the school bus with special needs children
... had a hobby farm with 6 horses; bred my mare/assisted her foaling
... hunted for deer and pheasant
... worked at a national call center (for the U.S. Postal system)
... processed intake applications with county Social Services (medicaid, food stamps)
... run a mailroom; helped out at a bulk mailing facility
... got my hands dirty in the garden, and more recently, container gardening (blogging about it)
... been caring for a baby robin for almost a week (blogging about it)
... taken in stray dogs/cats; worked with rescue organizations
... crocheted dozens of afghans/baby blankets
... dabbled in beading/jewelry making

My husband has been:

... roughneck in his younger years
... long distance truck driver for over 20 years

Where could I possibly find something to write about?

:Shrug:

cnbrath

03-21-2009, 08:38 PM