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?
Hi Aliya! Do you have any advice for someone who is interested in journalism with little actual writing experience. I am a recent college grad and fear I miss the opportunity for internships, etc., while I was in school. I am currently teaching, but would
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 years. And it changed everything for me. It’s not too late! Just because you don’t have experience doesn’t mean you can’t get clips. You just have to start small and hustle. You can get clips in local papers and websites and move on from there. Good luck!
Hi Aliya! So I’ve been writing this story for about 3 yrs and hope to turn it into a novel but I was wondering in terms of page length, how short is too short and how long is too long? Thanks :)
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!
Hi Aliya! I’m a college student who has been interested in writing for as long as I can remember. I know you’re very busy but I was wondering if you’re willing to mentor or if you can recommend writers who may want to. Thanks in advance! - Eunique
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!
I was recently offered the option of interviewing a popular R&B singer I can’t stand. I want to freelance for indie pubs, i.e. Waxpoeties, Paste. I wouldn’t want to use the story as a sample if I were pitching to these mags. Shd. I take the story anyway?
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.
Hi Aliya: As a hip-hop journalist, did being so close to the behind the scenes of it ever make you not like hip-hop anymore or think differently of it?
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.
I’m pretty new to the writing game, and a publicist has come to me for an interview with a big celeb. My editor said nah. But I work for another mag that I know will jump on this. Is it unethical for me to do the interview for the other mag?
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.
What do you think of Writer’s Market? Do you think it’s really necessary to purchase every year since it’s “the writer’s bible?”
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?
If I haven’t found you yet, could you add me on my new twitter account? My handle is @monshiprose. I had to start over because my old one was completely out of control.
Sure!
Hi Aliya, I enjoyed Platinum so much that I’ve started all over last night. Anyhoo, I was looking at “The Blueprint” the day it hit shelves, and I was wondering how does a book become a New York Times bestseller before it’s officially become available?
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!
