Brendiver's World

Free Beer!

Following on from the post about free dive trips, what about free beer?

How does 24 bottles of Cobra lager sound?

If you look hard enough you'll find there are numerous opportunities to get published and you never know where these might lead.

We'd just finished a meal at a city centre restaurant and on the way out I did my usual trick (I love reading other people's stuff) - I picked up a pile of free magazines from the rack at the entrance.

One of them, Urban Life, had an interesting section in its back pages called "Food for thought." This is how it goes, you write a 200 word review about a restaurant and they give you a case of premium beer!

I put together a quick review on the restaurant we'd just been to, and here's the thing to bear in mind, it was in the style of the magazine. I've done hotel, bar and restaurant reviews for DIVER before, but this was for a magazine with a completely different readership. And so I dug out a review by the editorial team - it didn't matter what the review was for, a film, concert, the latest fashion. What was important was to write the restaurant review in the same style. The other thing to bear in mind is that by writing a review about a place which stocks the freebie, its publication has marketing potential for the freebie's advertising team.

Next month it was published, and I picked up my case of beer from the magazine's offices.

I was interested in how I managed to get published so quickly, so I gave the editor a call, "loads of people tell me they will do reviews for me, but they never get round to them," he said. "I'm continually being let down, you haven't been to any other restaurants have you?"

I politely explained how I had enough "work" elsewhere. But here's a thing, the same group that owns this freebie has numerous other titles, and one of the bigger ones has just done a feature on diving in the Red Sea. I can almost guarantee the conversation at the editorial office (it will be one big open plan space) went something like this:

Editor of big newspaper: "I've got an offer for a trip to the Red Sea to cover it's diving, any of you do scuba?"

Staff writer: "Yeh, I do, when is it?"

Editor of big magazine: "June sometime."

Staff writer: "No, can't do it, it's my sister's wedding."

Editor of freebie: "I've got someone who does restaurant reviews for me, good as gold, always delivers copy on time, in our style and to the word count."

Editor of big magazine: "Excellent, send me their details..."

Budding journalist - two months later, somewhere in the Red Sea: "Hi my name is..... I'm one of the freelancers from the XXX group here to do an article on your diving...."

Trust me - that is how it could work out for you. The media world is full of freelancers, and as a diver, you have niche skills. Take every opportunity to write 'stuff,' as you never know where it will lead. And if nothing else, doing this will help build up your clip file, which will prove your writing doesn't suck and just maybe someone will be willing to pay you for it.

Keep writing....

Brendan 

Alex's foot - their door

I'm very fortunate to have Dr Alex Mustard's permission to reproduce a post from wetpixel where he suggests some routes to getting published in the magazine world.

With a few additional comments based on my experience at the end.

If you're reading this and you have had experience of getting published, I'm sure there are people out there who would love to hear about it, e-mail me with details or post a comment.

Anyway, here's what Alex has to say:

"Many underwater photographers look at diving magazines and say "My shots are as good as those", but this is NOT enough to get them published. Your best chance of getting them published is to have the editors asking you to submit, rather than sending them in on spec.

Each month the Editor has to fill the pages of his magazine - so they are on the lookout for new contributors to do this. But new contributors mean risk. The regular guys and gals you see each month are the contributors that the magazine trusts to produce quality material, ON TIME and to the correct length.

A new contributor is a new risk for the editor. Remember they HAVE to fill those pages each month. Maybe their material will be below par, maybe the images won't relate to the story, maybe they will write too many words, maybe they won't deliver at all. This is why magazines tend to stick to the same few reliable names. Those people have a track record of trust.

So to break in to this circle you need to offer something that is better than the existing contributors or at least different. And prove you are reliable.

One of the best ways to get noticed as a photographer is to enter the big competitions that the editors see. This usually means the ones that are open to pros as well as amateurs. If you are targeting a particular magazine then you can enter their in-house competition too. Of course, this does not prove you can write, but it is an important step to getting noticed. All editors are interested in identifying the up-and-coming talent.

It is also well worth going to shows and actually meeting editors face to face. The best one for this is the Antibes festival - because there are usually so many editors there and it is a relaxed and social occasion. The diving media world is very small and it does not take long to get to know everyone. You don't necessarily need to bombard an editor with material at an event - but you can promise a follow up email a few days later.

Each magazine is different. Each has a very different take on diving and all think that their way is the only correct way to write about diving. So before submitting study the "house style" and make sure you article fits.

The final point I would make is practice. The more you write the easier it gets. So volunteer to write articles for your dive club etc - learning the ropes so that you know what you are doing when you get your chance to impress."

Wise words Alex and thank you again for the permission to reproduce your post.

I would add that editors are real people (contrary to the image they may present) and they do like to be approached with ideas, but make sure you have prepared your pitch before you do so.

Here's what some editors I know have said to me on this subject:

"When people phone up, they're often really surprised that I answer the phone. I do like to speak to people who have new ideas."

"If you don't encourage new talent you will eventually run out of writers, they don't stick around forever."

"Don't be upset if I don't speak to you or if I'm short with you - if it's the busy time of the month I won't have time."

The dead give away to whether editors want to be spoken to, e-mailed, or not bothered at all, is their contact details in the masthead.

If they have a telephone number next to their name then they don't mind being called. If it's an e-mail address, then they prefer to be e-mailed. If they have neither, then you'll have to go through the switchboard, where I would ask if the editor ever speaks to would be contributors, and if they do, when is the best time.

You might find that the magazine has contributor guidelines, in which case, follow their 'contact us' advice to the letter. Failing to do so is a sure fire way of annoying the editor - you can just imagine the scene as you try and speak to them after they have put, 'please write in the first instance...' in their guidelines:

"I write up guidelines, and this dufus can't be bothered to read and follow them!"

Chances of getting published following this? 

Keep writing.....

Brendan

The Rules

I've just put this on wetpixel in response to someone who had posted a question about feeling insecure about underwater photography competitions and stuff.

I guess the pictures advice applies equally to writing for magazines. Replace the someone / your friends with 'the editor' and you'll get the gist. There are no rules as to what works as far as writing is concerned. Sure, there are heaps of books out there that try and tell you, but the bottom line is, they're mostly boring, are poorly written, have been put together by someone without a track record and continuly blab on about past particples, verbs and adjectives and stuff.

Anyway, here's the post:

Rule number one:

If it looks good on your wall, or someone else likes it enough to ask if they can have a picture for their wall, then you have done good.

Rule number two:

Don't bother with advice from people who want to babble on in some kind of super-geek language, they're more interested in showing off that they know loads of 'stuff' about something you probably don't need to know about, than genuinely helping you develop your skills.

Rule number three:

When you begin it can take quite a while to get over the scathing feedback of those in rule number two. I'd just come third in the BSoUP 1995 Beginner's Portfolio competition in London and the front row people (very important front row people - VIFRP) asked each one of us who had come 1st to 3rd, to stand up infront of our photographs and do a self critique. Mine went something like this, and bear in mind I wasn't ready for this and had supped about 5 pints of something which had a name like 'Futtocks Old Dirigable.'

Me: Erm, well I kind of like this one 'cos it's on one of my friend's bathroom wall, and his kids love the fish on it.

VIFRP: Yes, but it's not moving anywhere, the fish has no-where to go.

Me: it's a photograph, it's not supposed to move.

VIFRP: But it needs some space.

Me: Yeh, whatever, anyway, this one is one all my mates like, they say it looks like a hand reaching up into the blue, and the divers and the boat make it seem like the hand is massive.

VIFRP: Yes, but it doesn't follow the rule of thirds.

Me: Rule of what?

And so it went on, after a few minutes more I stood down, deflated and determined to drink more beer.

A few months later DIVER published the hand reaching... shot on their front cover. I cancelled my membership to BSoUP and for the past 13 years have been very happy in my ignorance. My stuff still looks good on the wall, at least I think so, and isn't that all that matters?

End of post

So, you see, you don't need to impress the VIFRP, just the editor, he or she is the one that will decide whether your stuff is good enough to, 'hang on the wall.'

Keep writing....

Brendan

Your foot - their door

How to get your foot in the door - most budding photojournalists fear this aspect of getting published more than any other rung on the ladder.

So, two examples of how it could happen for you, one from that scurrilous hack, John Bantin (who works full time for DIVER) and one from myself (who would love to work full time for DIVER but is quite happy doing stuff in his spare time).

From John's world:

I discovered their office was just around the corner from where I had a photography studio in London.
I walked into the editor's office (He's now Editor in Chief) and said "Nigel, I'm taking you out to lunch."
He answered that he couldn't come out, he was too busy, and had some sandwiches prepared.
I asked him if the sandwiches were the ones I noticed neatly packed on his desk.
When he nodded in the affirmative, I picked them up and tossed them in the bin, with the words, "I think we can do better than that!"
Yes, I scared him to death!
Ah, the confidence I had in those days!!!

...and yes I was a bully, but the meek shall inherit the earth - but only if it's OK with everyone else!

My story,

I'd just come third in the 1995 BSoUP Beginner's Portfolio competition and DIVER seemed to   really like my pictures with three of them featured in the two page spread they put together about the competition. I also got the cover shot - and if I can share something with you, seeing it for the first time was one of the coolest experiences in my life.

I'd been trying to get my photographs published for a couple of years, this letter was the closest I got to at that time to getting published and seeing my name in print.

Following the BSoUP thing (I must tell you sometime about the argument I had with them on the evening) I started to work out (Duh!) that the best way to get published would be to get some words wrapped around the pictures.

And so, I rang Jonty Summers, who was the editor of DIVER back then. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Er, hi, erm, I'm really excited, the cover shot, wow!

Jonty: Well, we liked your pictures, and the one we used was ideal for a front cover (and incidentally, because they sponsored the competition and had the rights to the photos they didn't have to pay me to use it, £150 saving for DIVER, makes good business sense).

Me: Actually, I was thinking how I would like to write for DIVER.

Jonty: So what are you thinking of?

Me: (wasn't expecting that question, once again, duh! But saved by quick thinking and being cocky) I've just spent a week in a place called God's Pocket which is a small resort on an uninhabited island off Vancouver Island. I've got some great pictures.

Jonty: And? (He was looking for the angle, God's Pocket is a place not an article, and pictures mean nothing without engaging copy to support them).

Me: (quickly getting his jist) This place is one of Howard Hall's favourite sites, I know you haven't covered this area before (I used to and still do read the magazine back to front), and it's different because no-one lives there, you won't see another dive boat, it's in the wilderness, the diving is equally wild, and for cold water diving, the colours match any warm water location I've been to.

Jonty: (who unbeknown to me was preparing a feature on diving off Canada's west coast, this would tag onto the end of it nicely) Sounds good, I need it in three weeks, no more than 1000 words, and with a selection of pictures that illustrate what your copy.

My thought bubble: What's copy...no, don't ask him, he'll think you don't know what you're talking about. But I don't! Erm... say nothing, look it up later!

Jonty: ... with captions.

Me: No problem - I can do that for you, thanks for the opportunity.

Jonty: I look forward to seeing your contribution

A few months later and this get published.

 

Me: wow, that's cool! And they paid me £200 for it! (they still pay the same rate). So - what next?

The lesson here. As John says, it's all about "confidence."

But you can prepare yourself - having a plan of attack is a sure way to ensure you have the confidence to pitch to the editor. After all, if you don't sound confident as you try and get your foot in their door, how can they be confident your work will be what they are looking for?

Keep writing....

Brendan

DIVER magazine and its Contributor Guidelines

What to do if you can't find any contributor guidelines? One editor I know refuses to publish them claiming, "why should I tell the competition what I'm looking for?"

At DIVER magazine you won't find any published contributor guidelines, however, if you enquire about writing for them this is what you will be sent:

Many thanks for contacting us. We do not issue commissions, even on the
basis of outlines, other than to our regular writers, but we will always
consider freelance submissions as long as we receive them as complete
packages on CD.

This means copy as a plain text file plus a good selection of accompanying
hi-res tiff or jpg files (usable at 300dpi at A3 if possible), underwater
plus topside as appropriate. Original slides or prints are also acceptable.
All images must be FULLY captioned on a separate file.

However, you should be aware that we accept very few destination reports at
present from outside our circle of regular writers.

Any package should be submitted exclusively to Diver on a first-refusal
basis.

More about getting a commission in a later post - but for now, notice the phrase, "we accept very few destination reports at present from outside our circle of regular writers."

To most budding photojournalists the holiday / trip report may appear to be the most obvious route in - but in this case it isn't. Unless - you write it with a theme / angle that is appealing to the editor. How to do this though? I'll explore this in another post with a review of the latest DIVER. Until then,

Keep writing.....

Brendan

"Fam" / Press trips

Earlier today I was chatting to a journalist from the world of newspapers who has just returned from a Press Trip (sometimes known as a "Fam" trip - short for familiarisation) to Malta.

Her time was co-ordinated in such a way that every moment was guided by what the PR team behind the visit wanted her to experience.

This isn't unusual, most PR agencies use "number of journalists exposed to the destination," as a performance indicator, which may be followed by, "number of articles written following the visit."

Which isn't very sophisticated, PR agencies often don't evaluate the content of the article, which is why the trip might be rushed as you are exposed to what might seem like everything the destination has to offer. I like to call it the scattergun approach.

And as soon as the dive centres hear you are in the area, they will all want you to dive with them. I've seen arguments break out over who will dive with who!

Press trips can be a lot of fun, but that isn't why you are there. Your job is to get the best material available to produce copy and photographs that will satisfy the editor, and sometimes this won't be what the PR agency is looking for. Read on for what was a mischievous poke at the PR and marketing world.

Keep writing.....

Brendan

BSAC Trip Reports - an ideal training ground

So far my research has revealed over 30 magazines, either paper based, on-line or both, that accept contributions from freelancers. So, the purpose of this post category is to share this knowledge with you.

Starting with the British Sub Aqua Club's trip reports where you will actually get paid! OK, it's a £15 voucher towards buying something from the BSAC shop, but it's a start.

You can find the site with the guidelines here.

Although it asks for a lot, and most of it is fairly factual, here is an opportunity for you to practice your art. Remember my adage, "Keep writing until you don't suck at it and someone is willing to pay you?" Well, this is a great way to get by-lined, and get paid.

The CG mentions the use of humour, I would steer clear of trying unless you really are the next Bill Bryson. Most attempts at humour fail - unless you are an established writer I believe most editors will not welcome you for it as it will need removing.

And here's an insider snippet - there is at least one editor who looks to this site as a training ground for new talent. This editor sees the site as a way you, as a budding photojournalist, would be willing to join a community of contributors. After all, if you become established with a magazine, this is what you will be.

Keep writing....

The life of the roving reporter

As an established freelancer you sometimes pick up assignments that to any budding photojournalist must seem like a win on the lottery. But is the life of a roving reporter all it's cracked up to be? Pleasure or work? Or is it something in-between?

OK - time to bust some myths, this is an example of how it goes.

The editor of DIVER asks if I can fly out to Mauritius to cover the 2007 CMAS World Underwater Photography competition. He knows I love to cover this sort of event, and so the answer was always going to be, "when do I fly out?"

Wednesday morning - leave the UK. Two flights later, a missed transfer bus and a long wait followed by a taxi gets me to the hotel at about 1100hrs Thursday. There's no time for a post flight rest on any assignment, you're straight to work, which on this occasion means: introducing myself to the organisers; picking up my press pass; working out who would be worth speaking to and who I must speak to; sorting out the next few days diving; ensuring that I could dive with one of the teams; planning my own timetable around the one suggested..... It's a long list.

Within an hour of arriving I'm out with my camera working out where I should position myself to capture the best shots for the evening's opening ceremony. This is followed by hanging around the teams as they return from their practice dives, introducing myself and picking up quotes.

The opening ceremony goes well and I get the pictures of those who I've already figured out will get included in some way for what was at the time just going to be a news piece.

Friday - diving all day with the Mauritian team. All of the other journalists leave to dive on other sites as guests of the Mauritian Scuba Diving Association. Big mistake - aren't they there to cover the competition? Estee de Rond and Gerald Rambert from the Mauritian team turn out to be great dive buddies and eventually become a central theme for the article. The perfect underwater model? That'll be Estee.

Saturday - another day diving with the teams. I'm picking up so much material - great anecdotes, colourful characters and some great quotes. I know that this will be more than just a news piece, but how to write it up in a way that is more like a feature? I still haven't worked that out yet.

Saturday evening, still out and about meeting people. You can't just go and hide in your room for a rest, you're an ambassador for the magazine and as such, need to act like one.

Sunday morning - Dive on the other side of the island with the rest of the journalists. I'm feeling quite smug as they start to realise how much material they have missed out on by going on leisure dives.

Sunday lunch - meet with the editor of Asian Diver, her husband and Joe Moreira, managing editor of Ocean Geographic magazine (this contact proved invaluable - but that's another story).

Sunday afternoon - some rest, channel surfing in my room. There's not much on so I settle for a South African documentary about a beach fishing competition. I'm amazed at how the commentators make the landing of a fish onto a deserted beach so exciting. That's it, I'll write about the CMAS competition in a similar style - perfect!

Sunday night - judging, prize giving and closing ceremony.

Monday at stupid o'clock, leave for airport, fly home, I'm still collecting material in departures lounge and on the plane.

Tuesday morning - back to regular full time job, everyone insanely jealous. Me - knackered, don't they know I've been working? And now I have to write up the copy?

The life of a roving reporter? One big holiday? Not quite - but I wouldn't swap it for any other part time job.

Keep writing

Brendan

Teacher, Pharmacist, Gardener, Diver?

One of the ways to get yourself known to an editor is to think about your professional area of expertise and to link this with the diving world, to produce something no-one has come up with yet. Or maybe they did a few years ago, and this time you can do a better job. Some ideas:

As a pharmacist - you could put together an article about things you must pack in your diving first aid kit.

If you are gardener, you could compare the layout of coral gardens and how to best view them with land based gardens (David Domoney has just done this in this months DIVER magazine)

And if you have an educational background you could evaluate diving related training courses (this is my particular area of expertise, see my review of Maria Munn's photography course in March 2008's DIVER magazine).

In all of these cases, you are rightly portraying yourself as an expert to produce what one editor I know calls, "the stuff I didn't know I wanted."

So what next?

A previous attendee on one of my seminars has a background in hydrogeology, so after a recent exchange of e-mails, she is looking to take up my advice and put something together about rock formations.

Another attendee is an accountant, we spoke about an article looking at the financial pitfalls of making your hobby your career - "Run your own dive business? Ten pitfalls to avoid." Throw in a few case studies and you are bound to find an editor who will pick that one up.

The common denominator - you are selling yourself as an expert. Everyone in the media loves them, especially when there is a disaster. Following an earthquake there is always some obscure professor on the news or in the newspapers answering questions about why last night the earth really did move.

With all of this in mind, I'm still wondering what Bob, our very own expert rocket scientist from NASA will come up with?

Keep writing

Brendan

One of the best rates of pay in the business

Your dream might be to get an article published, but have you ever considered the alternative and best paying (per word) route to getting yourself by-lined?

You might be surprised - it's the letters page. If you get your letter published as the magazine's top choice there is invariably some form of "prize" associated with it - anything from an £85 watch to a £300 dive computer. Not bad for 250 or so words!

And if the editor really likes what you have to say they may ask you to elaborate further for another part of the magazine.

I've just opened up some random back issues. Subjects include:

How I loved your magazine so much I took it on our diving holiday in Australia (no prizes for guessing - an American magazine)

Why I prefer UK diving and how it grew on me

Where to find statistics on diving incidents

Why divers brag about getting decompressed

They're not difficult subjects to write about, and even if you don't get the "Star" letter, the editor will know your name and you will have demonstrated your aptitude for writing. Also, editors are more likely to look favourably on you as a contributor if you can demonstrate that you are part of their community of readers, someone who knows what issues are of interest to the readers and can write around them.

Keep writing

Brendan