Anybody in here every been published--pointers please

[faithincowboys]

I was wondering if anybody on this thing has been published. I am heeding Dubya's campaign advice to write articles and subit them to newspapers.

I would appreciate a list of local and regional papers that would be receptive to a submission and conservative opinion.

Anybody that knows the business would be a huge help.

[DB]

To police logs count?

[DB]

Oops... Make that "Do police logs count?"...

[Conservababe]

Unless you are very talented as a writer...and can submit your work and be accepted...I suggest you work on your spelling.

[Tim Osman]

I don't know about articles per se, but I've had a couple of letters to the editor published - that's always a good bet.

[MHGinTN]

Had many published in 'Letters To The Editor' of several newspapers in the South, especially in 2000. Try to limit word count to 250 and no more than 300. Make the paragraphs short (even one sentence if appropriate). Keep the language to a 7th grade level. Have your opening sentence set the agenda (linked to some running news item, if possible) for the remainder of the letter.

[Auntie Mame]

Your local newspaper is the best way to go for letters to the editor. I've had more luck typing them and sending them by snail mail than sending by email.

As for articles, there again your local newspaper would be a start. Hopefully others will chime in with other suggestions.

[knak]

Find a paper or magazine that you know shares your views. If it's good writing they'll probably publish it and may contact you for more. I had a report I did published in a mag about 12 years ago. But it was specific to what that magazine was all about. Find someone interested in what you've got to say.

[boris]

I have been published--if you can call it that.

Dozens of letters in the Los Angeles Daily News, a few in The Los Angeles Times, and (actually!) two invited guest editorials in the Times for which I was paid the princely sum of $200 each.

Advice: keep letters to one topic. 125 words or less. Always include your name, address, phone. They will publish your locale: "Joe Smith, Gaithersberg, MD" and that is all. But they'll phone to make sure you sent it, and not me masquerading as you.

If you write ~600 words, ask that it be considered as a guest editorial; they will not print letters that long unless you are "important" like a Congressman or Mayor.

--Boris

[faithincowboys]

I was thinking more of an opinion piece. A guest Op-ed.

[whereasandsoforth]

When I was a kid, I had six letter posted in Bob Brock's TV Q & A in The Dallas Morning News Sunday TV guide magazine on the same day under different names. It was all about the pro's and con's of Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho" being shown on television. It was a banner day for a thirteen-year-old.

[Joe Anybody]

You can use this link to find media by zipcode:

http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/media/

[faithincowboys]

Well, it is late. I know I spelled submit wrong. It's called a typo. Apparently, you've never made one.

BTW, You provided real constructive criticism. Maybe your dreams have all gone to shit, but you might want to try to support other people.

[faithincowboys]

All good, constructive advice. Have you ever been paid? Were your stories all local? Which papers were the most receptive to you? Did you have to provide any bio information?

[MHGinTN]

Boris, I was able to get good results by sending in Faxes. Always got a call from them before they published. Glad you brought that up ...

[Veritas_est]

Get a good spell checker. Write it, rewrite it, and write it again. Then check it thrice, grammar and spelling. ALWAYS use the spell checker after you add or take away from your article. It doesn't usually matter if what you have to say is earth shaking if you articulate poorly.

[faithincowboys]

Thanks.

I actually have in mind writing a piece that is a satirical take on one of the Dem candidates. I'd like to think I am funny in a Jonah Goldberg sense.

Is launching a worldnetdaily or newsmax the most practical way to get started?

[MHGinTN]

Never been paid for a letter to the editor, but had an Op-ed which Wall Street Journal Paid for, but it was bumped for more vital news material at the last minute. An example of one or more 'L to Ed' can be found in my links section of my profile page here at FR.

[Corin Stormhands]

From the FR Guidelines

Do keep it clean - A bruise or two between Freepers is tolerable, but refrain from abusive attacks, engaging in senseless flame wars, and using profane language. Considering the range of topics we discuss, it's hard to be a family site, but that's what we aim for when at all possible.

That said (and there's a point), your best bet is to write to your local publications (newspapers, magazines, etc.). Especially if you haven't done this before. And yes, I've been published, both locally and nationally.

The point about the guidelines is you wouldn't have said "Maybe your dreams have all gone to s#!t..." I'm not offended. But Jim does ask us to keep it clean.

To apply that to your question, you MUST read the guidelines and rules for any publication to which you wish to submit your work.

Good luck. We need more strong voices out there.

[faithincowboys]

Excellent.

$200 bucks each-- not bad!

How did you compose your query letter?