Editor: Michael A. Casano
Publisher: George Giokas/StaffWriters Plus, Inc.

Welcome to -30-, found exclusively at the StaffWriters Plus Web site. One of the most common challenges faced by freelance writers today is keeping up with the latest trends within the industry and the changing needs of their customers. This is where -30- will help. Each installment of -30- will deal with a topic or issue of interest to the freelance community, from ideas on how to grow your current client base to techniques that can enhance the quality of your work. We hope you find -30- a useful tool in your pursuit of new business.

We also look forward to hearing from you. Please submit your messages and thoughts for future articles to (info@staffwriters.com).

IN THIS ISSUE:

In this issue of -30-, we take a closer look on the skills necessary to be a strong health and fitness writer, featuring an interview with an experienced writer on the subject, John Hanc. Our resident freelancer Melanie Hauser gives us the real scoop on what happens at a local writer’s conference. Finally, we introduce a new segment,

"... Just Down from Swampoodle Road," where Corene Johnston provides some recipes for freelance writers on the go.

ABOUT OUR NAME:

Reporters used the symbol -30- at the end of their typewritten copy to indicate to editors that they have reached the last word. It was adapted by the pencil press from teletype operators who used the symbol to indicate the end of a transmission.

By Michael A. Casano

Be honest: when it comes to your knowledge of nutrition and fitness, do you feel you have more in common with Regis Philbin than Richard Simmons? I know I do (and that is my final answer).

I couldn’t tell you the first thing that separates a complex carbohydrate from a simple one, or for that matter whether a half-hour on the treadmill is better than 15 minutes swimming in a pool. That’s why, like most people, I rely on the one true expert, the health and fitness writer.

Health and fitness writers keep very busy writing about the latest trends in exercise, nutrition and general fitness. In many ways, they act like personal trainers -- giving advice and encouragement, providing information on the latest health-related issues, and supplying information on upcoming events that may be of interest to their readers.

"The New Year's period is a busy one for fitness writers because of resolutions," said fitness writer John Hanc. "That’s where I hope somebody [who reads one of my articles] takes away at least one piece of information to use, whether it’s something small or a major concept."

A professional writer for 20 years, Hanc writes fitness columns regularly for Newsday as well as freelance articles for a number of magazines including Men's Health, Runner's World, Weight Watchers, and Men's Fitness. Also an associate professor of communications at the New York Institute of Technology, Hanc’s fifth book, to be published by Random House, focuses on exercise and cancer.

Hanc believes there is tremendous opportunity for writers interested in health and fitness, especially with the continuing efforts of people trying to live a healthier lifestyle and the advent of new health-related magazines and web sites. "Fifteen years ago, there was no such beat as a fitness writer," Hanc said. "Now, almost every major newspaper has somebody who covers fitness or personal health."

Although an avid runner and self-proclaimed "gym rat," Hanc did not begin as a fitness writer. Instead, Hanc concentrated his first writing efforts on internal and marketing communications.

"A lot of [my early work] involved public relations and advertising," Hanc said. "But at some point, I became interested in doing more feature-type writing. So, it was just natural to meld one of my personal pursuits with my professional interests."

Even with his knowledge of public health, fitness, and nutritional issues, Hanc does not consider himself a complete authority on all health-related matters. Depending on the assignment, he has a strong network of health experts he can call on at any time to confer with, ask questions and gain more insight.

Like any reporter, Hanc keeps focused on the intended audience of any article. "If I'm doing a story for Runner's World Magazine, the audience is going to be different than if I'm doing it for Newsday," Hanc said. "Ultimately, this [type of writing] is service journalism. Anybody who's reading one of my fitness features is reading it to take away something and apply it to his or her own life. It’s what [renowned freelance writer] Robert Bly terms, ‘Your orientation.’ What will you, the reader, get out of this? How will this benefit you? By realizing that, it makes writing a bit easier."

Because of the amount of fitness-related companies on the market today, Hanc sometimes faces the ethical dilemma of whether to mention a product or company in a specific article. In these cases, Hanc uses basic common sense. For example, if a company is sponsoring a certain health event, he has no problem mentioning the company in the article since he is only speaking of the event and not the company’s product line.

Hanc believes that situation becomes a bit different if he is asked to recommend a certain brand of nutritional supplement, and the company has sent him a lifetime supply. There, he abides by certain guidelines, both personally and with his employer, not to put himself in a position to be questioned on his ethics.

Another example Hanc faced recently was with an entrepreneur who started a fitness-related web site on Long Island. "He wanted me to be a paid advisor, but I told him I couldn't do it," Hanc recalled. "It wasn’t a reflection on how good the web site may be. It was a Long Island based operation working in a geographical area I write for. That’s an obvious conflict. But it’s interesting how many companies don't understand that."

To break into the health and fitness market, and for that matter any other field of interest you may want to pursue as writer, Hanc suggests brainstorming topics that you believe your peers would be interested in discussing. That should then lead you to develop some good story ideas to pitch to interested publications.

"You may not be able to go to the top magazines in the health and fitness category right away," Hanc said, "but at least you can think about approaching your local community paper, or a regional sports or enthusiast magazine. And it’s worth it. What a wonderful opportunity it is to take what you're interested in and then be lucky enough to have the skills and talent to communicate your enthusiasm to others."

For Hanc, that enthusiasm ultimately turns into a number of encouraging responses from readers. Hanc has received many letters over the years, often testimonials from people who benefited from a health program that he described or advice he has provided.

"That's when you really know you've succeeded," Hanc added. "I've had people write me and say, ‘I read your article about training, and it inspired me to do it.’ When readers have taken the information that you've provided and used it as inspiration or as a source to make a positive change in their lives, that's really the greatest feeling as a writer."

Copyright © 2000 Michael Casano

Inside a Women’s Conference: Check, Please!

By Melanie Hauser

Note: The author briefly kept a journal in which to record her thoughts, deep or otherwise, regarding her creative endeavors. She also used it to jot down grocery lists on occasion. Oh, and once she ran out of Kleenex when she had a really bad cold and — well, you don’t really want to know about that.

The following passage from her journal is the true story of a bright-eyed, young writer and her shattered dreams. (OK, so her dreams weren’t really shattered, although that sounds really dramatic, doesn’t it? Let’s just say she completed her journal entry a little less idealistically than she began it.)

Tomorrow I attend my first writer’s conference. It is called Women Who Write, and possesses all the requirements I seek in a conference: it’s cheap and close to home. Have noticed strong tendency to tell all my friends, with an exaggerated air of resignation, that tomorrow, "I have to go to a conference." Have also noticed equally strong tendency to omit the fact that the only qualification to attend is a registration check that doesn’t bounce.

Arrive at the train station dressed up in my best "serious author" outfit: black dress, black tights, and black shoes. I excitedly purchase a cup of coffee at the coffee shop, and wait for train, feeling very important sipping my coffee with my (new) briefcase slung over my shoulder. Unfortunately, spill coffee all over briefcase while trying to board train.

After arriving in the city, walk endless miles until I reach small university where Women Who Write conference is being held. Join hundreds of other women dressed in black, as we line up in order to receive conference pass and multiple handouts advertising local editorial services. There are several tables set up selling books of famous authors who are to speak at conference (have actually heard of only one of them, whose books I already own).

Upon inquiry, discover that women’s bathroom is "Out of Order." Contemplate irony of this happening during a Women Who Write Conference. Naturally, men’s bathroom is just fine.

Attend lecture by famous author, the one I’ve heard of, and instantly perceive that conference should have been titled, Angry Feminists Who Write. While author is funny at times, am shocked to hear of apparently evil presence of men in the publishing industry. Upon reflection, forced to admit that famous author’s male characters invariably met untimely, gruesome death in the books I’ve read.

Now uneasily aware of rising sentiment around me, and perceive many women proudly sporting female symbol on chains around their neck. Consult my conference brochure in some confusion, but see no reference at all to male genital dismemberment, although famous author is gleefully advocating this practice.

Relieved when lecture is over, and "open mike" event is announced. I rush outside to sign up, because I have heard that a locally famous agent may be attending conference. Previous to conference, agent requested part of my cherished manuscript. Wish I knew what agent looks like, so I could see if she is in audience for "open mike."

After enduring endless poems about male genital dismemberment, and one entire short story about a young woman and a doll to which she confides her dreams of male genital dismemberment, I get up to read from cherished manuscript. I give title, and read one sentence. Suddenly, a young assistant grabs microphone from me and announces it is time for lecture from second famous author (the one I’ve never heard of).

Disgusted, I leave room, reflecting it is probably a good thing I didn’t read, since male genitals are, for the most part, kept intact in my book. I wander around, talking to the occasional angry feminist, until it is time for the workshop. I overhear a whisper that the local agent may be attending.

Workshop is on the topic of Publishing and the Internet. Small classroom is about one-third filled. There is a panel of several women seated in front, all sipping from Evian water bottles. There are, to my great surprise, a couple of men in audience. I breathe a silent prayer for their safety.

Small, tired-looking woman begins workshop by describing herself as an editor of an academic publishing house. She tells us all why her house will never publish the types of books we write. She then spends a very long time lamenting how the Internet is causing her academic house all manners of headache and strife. Perceive quite evident lack of sympathy for her from audience.

Another woman, a representative from an unfamiliar writer’s union, tells us that nothing is certain about author’s publication rights on the Internet, but we should all join the union which will, in time, protect us.

After asking, I think, a very intelligent question about payment scales for articles published on the Internet, I am forced to admit that I write for an esteemed Internet publication, and receive payment for it. This immediately establishes me as the sole authority in room, to dismay of distinguished panel.

After fielding many questions, and recommending certain well-known web sites (none of which panelists have heard of), I start to feel my money may have been better spent on a new cartridge for my printer.

This feeling reinforced upon emerging from the workshop, and hearing one conference leader tell another, in a disgusted tone, that the locally famous agent never did show up.

Many angry feminists gather, and suggest removal to local bar around corner. I politely decline, and instead walk many more miles back to train station, where I buy candy for my children, a fashion magazine for myself (by now, am positively starving for sight of clothes in any color but black), and take my seat.

Conclude my journal, momentarily angry at thought of entire day wasted, a day that I could have spent in more profitable pursuits, such as polishing my cherished manuscript or watching cartoons.

Then I realize, there may be some good material here, and determine to use

it when writing column for esteemed Internet publication.

Onto next column.

Copyright ©2000 Melanie Hauser

Soup for Those Deadline Munchies

By Corene Johnston

Editor's Note: With her poet husband, John Haag, Corene Johnston lives just down from Swampoodle Road, in the Pennsylvania Appalachians, where she molly-cuddles goats, cats, dogs, wildlife and the occasional human. She works as a freelance nurse practitioner, jewelry crafter and writer.

Well, if you must know, I don't make my living as a freelancer. At the moment, I'm a parasite upon my husband's income. And for one who has supported herself since late adolescence, financial dependence is a pretty squirmy situation. But I've outgrown my need for alcoholic boyfriends and wayward teenaged wards at about the same rate I've outgrown my tolerance for working within the confines of "The System."

And I've worked within a lot of systems: health care, newspaper, academic. Despite the apparent diversity of their goals and practices, there are more similarities than differences, many of them frustrating. So John offered a deal. Since this house and mountain land were mine when we married, he'd be happy to buy groceries and other necessities if I wanted to regroup. (I didn't choose that moment to bring up veterinary bills, or the frequency with which I run amok in thrift shops.)

I could rearrange my life to accommodate what is called on the talk shows, "a mid-life career change." That meant I'd try freelancing as a nurse practitioner, a writer, or a metal craftswoman. Never one to overlook the virtues of hubris, I decided to do all three. Freelance: no vacation time and no retirement plan.

It took a while though, before I could let go of my independence enough to cut back my clinical time to where I no longer qualified for my agency’s health insurance. And then I had to transfer to John’s policy. Whew! -- Scary stuff for an uppity woman.

With that hurdle behind me, I replaced my old IBM Selectric with a word processor, then a computer. Now I could produce clean copy without paying a secretary to work from my drafts. I could even submit copy electronically, like a grown-up. And I listed my name in the yellow pages under, "Health Consultants."

Maybe I'd better start messing with mousetrap architecture, though, ’cause no one's really beating a path up our steep lane to the back door. I just invested most of my small inheritance in a studio for metalwork. There's a goat door and pen built in, so my two pygmies, Esther and Adelina, can come and go and keep me company while I work. Last week, I got an order for a sterling silver wedding headpiece.

This is all very cozy and satisfying. Too much so, probably, for I find I dawdle about, enjoying my time and space, and producing less than I plan to of freelance, marketable consultations, articles or necklaces. I get lost in the process and forget the product.

It's a freelancer's hazard, I guess. Time management is not easy when there's no 8:30 a.m. deadline for showing up, and no limit to the length of my lunch break. In fact, time disappears, in a way it would never do in a florescent-lighted office, when I become deeply engrossed in the project I'm pursuing. And 5 p.m.?

I panic when, an hour or so in either direction, I notice it's already five... or already was. Or soon will be. Oh Lord, what about supper? The freelancer's dilemma is no less than that of the "9 to 5"ers on this score.

That’s why soup is really a freelancer's dream food. You can make wonderful things from seasonal or canned produce, both of which are kind to what my mother used to call a "chicken one day, feathers the next" budget. You can whip up a really tasty and healthful potage quickly when you're on deadline. In fact, If you put enough veggies in the soup, you can even forgo the salad. Just arrange orange sections or apple slices in a sunburst around the soup bowl on its plate.

This month, I pass along my recipe for "Quick Creamy Corn Soup." Try it and see if it solves your own special freelancer’s dilemma.

In the future, I’ll share some more soup recipes that can fit into an independent writer’s lifestyle. And I’ll let you in on my own freelance adventures…just down the road from Swampoodle.

QUICK CREAMY CORN SOUP

6 servings

Ingredients:

* 4 cans (14 3/4 oz. ea.) cream style corn

* 2 - 4 Tbsp. dried onion flakes

* 1 - 2 tsp. chili powder

* 1 Tbsp. vegetable bouillon powder (If you have it. If not, don't worry. It's useful stuff to keep around, though.)

* 2/3 cup dried chopped sweet pepper, or 1 large sweet pepper, finely diced

* 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen, chopped green beans, thawed

* 1 cup (approximately) water

* 1/2 - 1 can skimmed, evaporated milk (Depending on the soup texture you prefer.)

Instructions:
Put everything but milk into a large pot and bring to a simmer. Cook uncovered, stirring every few minutes, for about a half hour while you make a salad, and/or cut slices of good, crusty bread. Lay bread out on a baking sheet, spreading your favorite mustard on each slice, Top with Monterey Jack cheese (lowfat, if you wish) with or without jalapenos, and melt cheese under broiler. While the open-faced sandwiches toast, stir milk into soup.

Copyright ©2000 Corene Johnston

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