Jackie Dishner’s Tips for New Writers

I first met Jackie about a year ago at a Phoenix CVB luncheon for the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association. After that, I was pleased to interview her in this blog. Jackie was kind enough to share some tips for “New Writers.” I personally think new and established writers can benefit from these. It is easy to forget sometimes, things we know, but don’t think about.

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Important tip for newbies:

• Learn to love rejection. It means an editor noticed you in some way. Often, freelancers (of all kinds, not just travel) are ignored. So that reply, even if it’s a no, means you were noticed.
• That should remind you of the next tip: Don’t give up. Keep pitching your ideas. Be willing to change the angle or do a rewrite or make some kind of change, even if only minor, to help that idea fit in the next market you approach. Find the sources to support your new ideas.
• And a third: Focus on a goal. What is it you’re trying to accomplish (enough clips to create a specialty area, break in to a certain market, sell stories from an upcoming trip)? Whatever it is, take the action steps that will help you reach that goal–and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Maralyn D. Hill, President
International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association
Books By Hills Success With Writing Where & What in the World
Member: Society of Professional JournalistsFinalist in the Writing and Publishing category of the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, “$uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book,”