Comments on: Can Writers be Purple Cows? http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2006/12/02/can-writers-be-purple-cows/ Living and loving the freelance life—on your own terms. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:46:01 +0000 hourly 1 By: Writer’s Residence Blog » Blog Archive » Can Writers be Purple Cows? http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2006/12/02/can-writers-be-purple-cows/comment-page-1/#comment-127026 Writer’s Residence Blog » Blog Archive » Can Writers be Purple Cows? Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:55:27 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=168#comment-127026 [...] added to this in an recent comment on Renegade Writer, where he suggests “If I could offer one idea, it would be to become [...] [...] added to this in an recent comment on Renegade Writer, where he suggests “If I could offer one idea, it would be to become [...]

]]> By: LindaFormichelli http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2006/12/02/can-writers-be-purple-cows/comment-page-1/#comment-4110 LindaFormichelli Tue, 05 Dec 2006 04:58:40 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=168#comment-4110 Hm, so maybe it really is, at least partly, as simple as doing a good job, on time. I got that same 10% figure from two of my editors. Cal, good point. We magazine writers can think about packaging our articles instead of just writing them; for example, I often suggest formats (like charts or Q&As) for my articles, and sometimes include a sidebar even if I wasn't asked for one. Hm, so maybe it really is, at least partly, as simple as doing a good job, on time. I got that same 10% figure from two of my editors.

Cal, good point. We magazine writers can think about packaging our articles instead of just writing them; for example, I often suggest formats (like charts or Q&As) for my articles, and sometimes include a sidebar even if I wasn’t asked for one.

]]> By: Cathleen Loud http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2006/12/02/can-writers-be-purple-cows/comment-page-1/#comment-4106 Cathleen Loud Tue, 05 Dec 2006 02:59:44 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=168#comment-4106 I have to agree with Brian that professionalism equals purple. But, it's not just any kind of professionalism that will make you go far. I'm talking about sincere, stick-to-your-word type of professionalism mixed with a healthy dash of spirit. When you meet deadlines, work with your clients or editors until they are happy, give it your creative all AND infuse the business of writing with spirit, your clients and editors reap the benefits as much as you. I have to agree with Brian that professionalism equals purple. But, it’s not just any kind of professionalism that will make you go far. I’m talking about sincere, stick-to-your-word type of professionalism mixed with a healthy dash of spirit. When you meet deadlines, work with your clients or editors until they are happy, give it your creative all AND infuse the business of writing with spirit, your clients and editors reap the benefits as much as you.

]]> By: Kristen King http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2006/12/02/can-writers-be-purple-cows/comment-page-1/#comment-4101 Kristen King Mon, 04 Dec 2006 22:28:58 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=168#comment-4101 I heard a panelist at a writing conference say once that approximately 70% of submissions are completely inappropriate for the publication (eg, pitching a piece on healthy pregnancy to Maxim) and another 20% are utter dreck, so it you write even remotely competently and perform even cursory market research, you'll make it into the potentially acceptable 10% that's left. And if you're good on top of all that, well you'll "rise to the top of the idiot pile" immediately. Not quite how I would have put it, but you can't argue with logic like that. :] Kristen www.inkthinker.blogspot.com I heard a panelist at a writing conference say once that approximately 70% of submissions are completely inappropriate for the publication (eg, pitching a piece on healthy pregnancy to Maxim) and another 20% are utter dreck, so it you write even remotely competently and perform even cursory market research, you’ll make it into the potentially acceptable 10% that’s left. And if you’re good on top of all that, well you’ll “rise to the top of the idiot pile” immediately. Not quite how I would have put it, but you can’t argue with logic like that. :]

Kristen
http://www.inkthinker.blogspot.com

]]> By: Cal http://www.therenegadewriter.com/2006/12/02/can-writers-be-purple-cows/comment-page-1/#comment-4093 Cal Mon, 04 Dec 2006 15:45:25 +0000 http://therenegadewriter.com/?p=168#comment-4093 For me the purple cows will be the ones able to provide a complete multimedia package -- photos, video clips, podcasts. Here's one really strong example http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5624896 For me the purple cows will be the ones able to provide a complete multimedia package — photos, video clips, podcasts. Here’s one really strong example http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5624896

]]>