May 2011
1 post
WatchOkay. Here is my Tumblr Accent Challenge. Not sure I’m doing this right. But tell me the truth, I’m pretty much neutral with the accents. Right? Right?!
-A
September 2010
1 post
1 tag
What would you say that you like most about your...
Everything!!! I. love. writing. I have to pinch myself sometimes when I realize I get paid to do what I love. It’s crazy. One thing I don’t love: chasing checks. I’m a creative. Not a businesswoman. I don’t like accounting. But everything else is truly the bees knees.
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August 2010
9 posts
1 tag
I'm interested in magazine journalism but...
I love both. I only worked at a magazine for three years. And I’ve been a freelancer for twelve. So I guess I obviously prefer freelancing! I do miss the camaraderie of working with a staff. But ultimately, I’m a loner. And I like not having to leave the house. (Wow. That sounds really sad).
As for glamour. I think that depends on where you work. I worked at Billboard and The Source...
1 tag
I've got beaucoup clips! I've worked for urban...
Go for it! Put your clips together, find the RIGHT person at a City mag and introduce yourself. Then follow up and stalk them! What’s to lose? Nothing! Urban online magazines are a great way to break into print.
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1 tag
ON Writing Well by W. Zinnser has me a little...
Yeah, Zinnser is not an easy read. And there are times when he contradicts himself. BUT there are some good nuggets in that book that make it worth it. Choose for yourself what works and stick with it. I find the book to be a little preachy and mean sometimes towards new writers. But I ignore those parts.
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1 tag
I hope I'm not getting too personal, but is being...
I’m blessed. I can say for me that it has been financially sustainable. That’s not to say there aren’t times that I feel like throwing in the towel for the security of a 401K and a steady check every other week. But people don’t write books because they want to be financially stable. They do it because they can’t NOT do it.
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1 tag
I'm interested in book reviewing, I have done a...
Hmmm. Book reviewing as a career? I think that would be very difficult to ONLY review books as a career. I can see that being one part of a career as a writer and a journalist. But I would imagine the number of full time book reviewers is very small.
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1 tag
Hi I'm a college dropout from a super small town...
You are ready to head to the bookstore. There are TONS of books out there just for you. I recommend On Writing by Stephen King and Wild Mind by Natalie Goldberg. They will help you. I promise!
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1 tag
Hello Aliya,
I've begun to write every day but...
YES!!! Writing every day is not about publishing. It’s about discipline. Writing every day is practice. It’s like working out. You’re getting your writer’s mind in shape. Soon, you will be ready for other people to read what you’re writing. KEEP GOING.
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food
I’ve been eating a lot lately. and not good food.
pizzas.
cookies.
ice cream.
clearly a sign that I’m working too hard and not caring for myself.
how do I pull myself out of this?
1 tag
Hi Aliya! Do you have any advice for someone who...
You are me. I also missed the opportunity for internships while in college. And I also started out of teacher. Look for mid-career opportunities. There are fellowships and other bridges that can bring you into publishing. Have you thought about graduate school in Journalism? Have you thought about the Columbia Publishing Course? I went there in 1998, after having been out of college for four...
July 2010
9 posts
1 tag
Hi Aliya! So I've been writing this story for...
Its about word count not page length. Pages can vary depending on font, spacing and stuff. You want to shoot for at least 90,000 words for a novel. Don’t be scared of that number. Thats only 250 words/day!
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1 tag
Hi Aliya! I'm a college student who has been...
I mentor right here! Through formspring, Twitter, Facebook and my blog: www.aliyasking.com I can’t offer one on one mentoring to anyone but my daughters right now but I pride myself on helping out writers through the Internets. So ask away!
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1 tag
I was recently offered the option of interviewing...
Of course you should. Unless you don’t need clips and you’re already exActly where you want to be in your writing career. I never turned down anything when I was just starting out. You never know when that clip could be helpful in landing a gig or writing assignment.
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1 tag
Hi Aliya:
As a hip-hop journalist, did being so...
Hmmm. Good question. In all honesty, i was never a hip-hop head. I was a writer-head. I just found my way into a magazine called The Source. so i never thought differently. It was exactly what i expected it to be.
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1 tag
I'm pretty new to the writing game, and a...
Ack! Such a good question. Does your editor know you freelance for other publications? If so, be honest with her and tell her you’d like to pitch it elsewhere. If not, give it up and let it go. Although honestly, in my day, I would have taken the risk. But i cant recommend it.
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1 tag
What do you think of Writer's Market? Do you think...
In my early days, I read that book cover to cover all the time. I wonder if the Internet makes that book obsolete before the year is out. Do they have an online version that gets updated more frequently?
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1 tag
If I haven't found you yet, could you add me on my...
Sure!
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1 tag
Hi Aliya, I enjoyed Platinum so much that I've...
It’s because of presales! Sarah Palin’s book did the same thing. They actually don’t hit no.1 until the week it comes out. But it’s presales that do it!
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June 2010
6 posts
1 tag
Hi Aliya! I've noticed that you and another...
Good question. I have an unusual case with the Timbaland deadline. The book was first assigned to a different writer who was unable to complete the project. So I came in late but I’m still facing the original deadline. UGH! I’m gonna make it happen though. I hope. Under normal circumstances you would get the first part of your advance and then a year or so to deliver.
Ask me...
1 tag
Aliya, when you successfully pitch a magazine, do...
I continue to issue very formal pitches until I know the editors very very very well. There is only one editor I would send a soft pitch. The rest, no matter how long I’ve known them, get a formal pitch. Always.
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1 tag
I'm viewing the class you conducted on UStream,...
I was old! I taught US History for a few years before I made the leap into writing. So I got my first editorial assistant position at the ripe old age of 25. So those positions usually go to recent college grads. But not always!
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1 tag
Do you still keep in contact with all of your...
I try to. But it’s hard. I taught in two different schools. In East Orange and in Elizabeth. I see my students from East Orange more often because I still live nearby. I don’t see my students from Elizabeth nearly as often and I miss them all very much.
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1 tag
You have a book coming out! Do you see yourself...
Absolutely! I’ve already written half of the sequel to PLATINUM! Waiting to see if someone will buy it. *biting nails*
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1 tag
Thank you, thank you, thank you for giving writing...
Yes, yes of course you can! Now move to New York anyway. Like, now. I’ll buy you lunch when you get here.
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May 2010
11 posts
1 tag
Do you find the literary business as cut-throat as...
Hmmm. Let me think about that. I have to say no. I haven’t seen that. I’m being honest right now. My fellow writers have been SO freaking helpful. People share their contacts and hook-ups, help me with the marketing angle, read my stuff and give me tips on how to make it better. If anything, I’ve found the literary business to be more family-like and helpful than the music...
1 tag
formspring.me
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1 tag
formspring.me
Ask me anything http://formspring.me/AliyaSKing
1 tag
Thank you so much for genuinely helping new...
email me at aliyasking@gmail.com
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1 tag
I know this is a dumb question, but are you a...
No, actually. I’m a Libra! But I’m on the cusp of Virgo!
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1 tag
You've answered this before, but I need your...
It’s not a popular opinion. But I’m all for it! TH is graduating with an MA in Journalism from Columbia on Tuesday. (Yeah, TH!) If you can afford to take time from the day job and do it. (And you don’t mind taken out loans) I say go for it. How could more education ever hurt?
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1 tag
formspring.me
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1 tag
When did you realize you had the gift to write?
At the risk of sounding, I don’t know, conceited or something. i feel like I’ve *always* known I was a decent writer. At 4, it came to me with such ease. By 8th grade I was trying to write a novel. I don’t know if it’s a gift. But it’s always always something that’s been there. Kind of like being right or left handed or. It just is.
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1 tag
Do you have any examples of great cover letter...
Good question. The best cover letter is CUSTOM TAILORED to the job. I see so many cover letters that are generic and could go out to anyone. That’s lazy. And real talk? I’d be tempted to throw out the whole package if I can tell they just substituted “Aliya S. King” for another editor’s name. Cover letters should show how much you know about THAT job. How much...
1 tag
I'm in $100 local freelance hell! I work p/t...
First, congrats on even being in freelance hell! Some people are dying to get even there!! I suspect you’re not putting one hundred percent into your pitches. Slow down. Take your time. Focus on one magazine/pitch at a time. Study study study each magazine for at least three months BEFORE you pitch. You can do this!
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1 tag
formspring.me
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April 2010
16 posts
1 tag
formspring.me
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1 tag
Hello! What was your experience...
First of all, thank you! I loved that book and I loved writing. I didn’t have to do much prep honestly. I hadn’t written a cover story on her for VIBE. And we’re from the same area and know a lot of the same people. We’re the same age. Have children the same age. We were pregnant at the same time. It just seemed fated for us to work together. Had a lot in common. Still do....
1 tag
formspring.me
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1 tag
I like your hair. What type of weave do you have?...
Thanks! Yes, it’s sewn in. I buy the hair myself from a place called Lugo’s in Manhattan. I love that my hair is safe and sound underneath, neatly braided and growing like mad. They key is to find the right texture. My hair is exactly the same as “my hair” so it blends really well. My stylist is Lynn Miles at the Shades Hair Studio and she’s dope. Holla at your...
1 tag
Is grunt work ever acceptable during an...
Yes. Grunt work is acceptable. I was actually a hired employee at Billboard and I did a lot of coffee-fetching, mail sorting and delivering and phone calls. I did NOT earn a byline at Billboard until I had been there for many months.
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1 tag
Did you read your husband's story about Haiti in...
I tried to read it. I really did. But the opening graf through me for a loop. We’ve never talked about being married in our published work. And the story starts off with when I first heard from him. I couldn’t read anymore. It took me right back there and I started crying.
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1 tag
I teach High School English, and as a former...
I’m sad to say, PLATINUM is NOT appropriate for YA readers. Not even a little bit. They WILL read it. And they WILL love it. But as a teacher, it’s way too salacious to use in class. WAY. ;) It’s definitely a book for grown folks.
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1 tag
Do you think writers need to find a niche to write...
It’s helpful. But really, new writers need to find *anything* to write about. Something that makes it a story only they are qualified to write about. the niche comes later. I started out at the source and everything I wrote was hip-hop, hip-hop, hip-hop. When I left, I branched off into travel, relationships, and now celeb journo and fiction. Start by writing, period. Niche comes later....
1 tag
formspring.me
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1 tag
Is it possible to have a successful journalism...
Possible, yes. Probable, no.
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1 tag
formspring.me
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1 tag
I've noticed that a lot of companies want an...
Another good one. I would put it under the heading Skills. I think most templates have that. The same place where you would outline which software you’re familiar with. (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc.) Just add another bullet point and put, “active and proficient on Twitter, 4Square, Facebook, YouTube, Tumblr, Formspring, WordPress and Flickr.”
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1 tag
formspring.me
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