Let It Snow -- Snow-sports writers wanted

It's almost time for snow sports! The Examiner.com seeks writers to cover a variety of winter activities for Examiner.com's Recreation channel. Share what gives you self-fulfillment, pride and satisfaction with people like yourself on Examiner.com. Examiners are passionate local insiders who come from all backgrounds but have two main things in common: they have a lot of knowledge about a specific topic AND they are solid writers.


Description:

Snow Sports Examiners can cover their local skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing or general winter recreation scene. They can cover just one facet of snow sports, a single ski resort, or the entire range! We’re looking for writers who want to give their readers reliable, timely information on their local snow scene, including reports on gear, best runs, etc.

Available topic titles: (may differ based on city)

* Cross Country Skiing Examiner
* Figure Skating Examiner
* Ice Climbing Examiner
* Ice Fishing Examiner
* Skiing Examiner
* Skiing Lifestyle Examiner
* Ski Resort Examiner
* Sledding Examiner
* Snowboarding Examiner
* Snowmobiling Examiner
* Snowshoeing Examiner
* other outdoor titles also available


Examiners are given their own pages on our site, complete with their photo and bio which may also include links to their personal/​business site. Your work on Examiner.com can help you increase your credibility, establish & enhance your own brand and reach a broader audience and expand your client or fan base.

More details HERE.

Bike and snow experts: here's one for you!

AllAboutBikes and AllAboutSnow Magazine is on the prowl for a staff writer. Strong writing and editing skills, ability to conceptualize new and innovative story angles is a must. Some travel involved throughout the year. Must have some knowledge of the motorcycle, snow,and luxury industry. We don't need an ex-racer or pro snowboarder, but you have to know what you're talking about in order to connect with our audience.

Position includes updating web content, writing feature articles for our national print publications, and developing and researching cool new story ideas. We're the leader in unique content on the web and in print. The editor must be able to think out of their comfort zone and create original ideas that can be transformed into exciting and informative pieces.

Submit resume and writing samples to the above address. NOTE* Writing samples should be relevant to our market, or at least a loose parallel. If you don't have any lifestyle type of articles relating to motorcycles, golf, luxury, or snow, please create a 200-300 piece preferably relating to the motorcycle industry. This is a Full-Time, in-house position.

visit www.allaboutbikes.com, www.allaboutsnow.com for more information on our magazines.

* Location: Sewickley
* Compensation: 24k per year.
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Post-Turkey Joy: Written/Spoken Reading Tuesday, Nov. 30 features Stacey Waite

The 2010-2011 Pitt-Greensburg Written/Spoken Reading Series continues with November speaker Stacey Waite on Tuesday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Coffeehouse.

After receiving her MFA in poetry in 2003, Waite has published two collections of poems, both of which were recognized with awards. Her poetry collection “Choke” won the 2004 Frank O’Hara Prize in Poetry, and her collection “Love Poem to Androgyny” was the winner of the 2006 Main Street Rag Chapbook Competition.

Waite’s most recent work has been published in “The Cream City Review,” “Interim,” “Knockout,” and “Black Warrior Review.” Her newest collection of poems, “The Lake Has No Saint,” has just been released from Tupelo Press. In addition, her poem “Trans,” which appears in the anthology “I Go to the Ruined Place: Contemporary Poems in Defense of Global Human Rights,” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize.

Originally from New York, Waite currently teaches courses in Composition, Women’s Studies, Literature, and Creative Writing as a PhD Candidate at the University of Pittsburgh. Her full length collection “Butch Geography” will be published by Tupelo Press in 2012.

Opening readers for Stacey include UPG poet Kim Wolff and nonfiction writer Montana Miller.

The Written/Spoken series offers readings on the last Tuesday of every month, and brings local and nationally-known poets and writers to campus for readings and workshops. The series is sponsored by the University’s writing program and is free and open to the public. All readings in the series begin at 7 p.m. in the campus coffeehouse, located in Village Hall. Book signings and receptions follow all events.

For more information about the series or about Waite’s visit, contact Lori Jakiela, associate professor of English, at 724.836.7481 or email loj@pitt.edu

Post-Gazette Races to Publish Rachel's "Shoes"`

Great news! The Post-Gazette's "In Person" column will soon feature our very own Rachel Kuskie's piece about her lucky racing shoes. You'll remember this terrific piece from our class assignment a few weeks back. Huge congrats to Rachel! Those shoes might be lucky, but I think it's pure talent that took this one over the finish line. Burn it up, girl! (O.k. The racing puns will stop now. Stop! Ha!)

Patch.com Hiring

Patch.com -- Aol's new and growing local news organization -- is looking for reporters, photographers, videographers and columnists to cover Moon, Pa. Contributors will be paid per contribution and have the opportunity to cover a variety of stories, including news, features, sports and commentary.

Candidates should reside in Greater Pittsburgh and have a familiarity with news reporting. Photographers and videographers should have their own equipment.

Please send resumes to Local Editor Jenna Staul.

* Location: Moon, Pennsylvania
* Compensation: $50-350 per assignment
* This is a part-time job.
* OK to highlight this job opening for persons with disabilities
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial
interests.

*****************

Patch.com is coming soon to Cranberry. Its mission: To be a hub of news, information and commentary for the community ... and we need you!
Owned by AOL, Cranberry Patch (cranberry.patch.com) will launch live in early December and will be devoted to everything about Cranberry including news, features, opinion, sports, school, arts & entertainment and government/politics. The online site will be updated frequently and we are looking for a variety of freelancers, including a sports reporter/editor to cover the Seneca Valley School District. Qualified freelancers will be given regular assigments and weekly columns (subject is your choice) also are available to interested freelancers.

Here's what we need:
Creative, dependable writers who are familiar with the communities and bring experience and quality journalism to the site.
Photography and videography skills.
Adherence to deadlines.
Reliable transportation.

If this is you, send your resume and 2-3 writing samples with the subject "Cranberry Freelancer Application" in the subject.


* Location: Cranberry Twp.
* Compensation: $25-$300 depending on story length/detail.
* Telecommuting is ok.

Hot Links to Hot Markets

Writers Digest Top 100 Markets

Poets & Writers

Writers Market

Best Online Literary Magazines

Newspaper Op-Ed Submissions Database

Op-Ed Guidelines by Newspaper

A Few Good Websites for Freelance Writers

Query Letter Essentials (lecture re-cap)

Queries allow an editor to determine, quickly, whether you:
• Can write effectively
• Have a coherent, well-thought-out idea that fits the publication's content
• Have a basic grasp of grammar and spelling
• Have read the publication
• Have the credentials or expertise to write the article
• Are professional in your approach to writing

Queries save you time by ensuring that you don't invest time and energy into writing an article that won't be accepted. They can also be gateways to other assignments.

Five Components of a Query Letter
• The hook (first paragraph – attention-getter; problem/solution, question, etc.)
• The pitch (what you’re offering – how long the piece is, what your angle is, etc.)
• The body (details about the article – interview sources, structure, etc.)
• The credentials (your writing background)
• The close (say thank you)

Sample of a Successful Query Letter

Sample from Reader's Digest here.

Schedule for Long Pieces

Today we'll be going over how to write a query for your long piece. At this point, you should have much of your basic research well underway. You should have a good idea of your angle and your story's hook. You should know which magazine(s) you'll be pitching to and what audience you're writing for, and you should know how your piece will fit into the commercial landscape/market.

****

Schedule

Tuesday, Nov. 16 -- Query letter due (hard and e- copies to class)
Tuesday, Nov. 23 -- Sidebar to long piece due (hard and e- copies)
Tuesday, Nov. 30 -- First draft of full piece due in class (hard and e- copies)
Tuesday, Dec. 7 and Thursday, Dec. 9 -- Workshop of second drafts (hard and e-copies)
Final pieces due by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 16

Your long pieces will be heavily weighted in your grade for the course. I'll be looking for the following things, among others:

* Technical proficiency
* Good sense of audience/demographic
* Evidence of knowledge of the marketplace (hook, comparison pieces, etc.)
* Good background research
* Effective and thorough use of sources
* Fresh angle
* Basic AP Style