Are there any other freelance arts/culture writers struggling to gain commissions, or...?
For the past five months, I've been pitching to arts and culture magazines with little to no success.
I've cold-pitched to 40+ magazines, (even trying some I know who 'don't pay writers') and literally have had a handful of replies; all rejections. I've tried large publications (ArtReview, Its Nice That, i-D etc), and small ones (Emergent, Why Now etc) with all the same results.
I've responded to open pitch calls, sent current/timely exhibitions, publications and topics, sent follow-up emails, rang offices for direct email addresses, contacted everybody from the masthead top to bottom, sent multiple pitches, sent single pitches, sent my rates, omitted my rates, pitched 'myself' alongside the topic... everything I can think of. I have 10+ years of experience, have a website, I've been published, I've self-published— it's all a little baffling/depressing.
I just wanted to perhaps try and hear from some other freelance arts/culture writers, to see if this is perhaps a general industry issue (i.e. the editorial market is over-saturated with writers), if the current economy is a factor, or if it's just my work not being right for them all. I've always been fully aware of how far the power of contacts can take you vs. cold hard experience, but I really don't want to believe that that's what the editorial world has become in its entirety.
Feel free to email or message me directly if you would prefer that.
P.S. Creative Lives in Progress was a cool resource on finding some ideas when things aren't working creatively.
https://www.creativelivesinprogress.com/
Replies4
- @Alexandra (Lex) Hearth Thanks for your response and for sharing— nice to know that I'm not the only one experiencing this. It seems that now more than ever the power-dynamic between publications/editors and contributors/freelancers is more disproportionate than ever, so alternatives like Substack are intriguing. Cheers.
- Hey Dorrell,Just to extend my sympathies! Its so painful when you're doing everything right and still not seeing progress. I have only ever dabbled in pitching or commissioned writing, but from conversations with other writers I do think that what you're experiencing is a reflection of both the economic climate and changes in the publishing industry. I've recently started writing on Substack - lexonthedecks.substack.com - reason being that its well set up for subscription models, so while you have to do a lot of leg work upfront, once you start building your audience, you have access to income which you can be in control of. Hope that helps, Lex x
- Hey @george crisp, thanks for sharing— yeah it really seems that way. Nice to hear another perspective on it all.I'll be sure to check those out— much appreciated!D
- i think it's all the things you mention; a lousy economy and, alas, cultural pages being cut back, everywhere it seems.though you probably have already done this, you might wish to open a submittable account.https://manager.submittable.com/signupalso check out poets & writers.https://www.pw.orgmore north american but they also go into other anglophone markets. good luck.
You must sign up or log in before you
add a comment.