Expert: Amanda J Evans - 1/22/2010

Question
Hello!


I am 21 years old, and just starting out on what I hope will be a successful freelance writing career!  I especially enjoy biographical articles, and I recently interviewed and wrote an article about a classical music composer.  I submitted the article to a magazine, and the editor replied that he was interested in the article!  However, he said, "there's no news hook to the piece. Focusing on the new CD of Mozetich's music might work in that regard. What has been the critical reception to the disk? Where is it available? That would give the reader more of a sense of what Mozetich is all about."  The article I had written was strictly biographical.  So, in an effort to revise as he asked, I started out the article with about 120 words on the new CD release, then added the biographical info I felt was most 'essential'.  Is that what I should have done?  Or was the editor asking for the ENTIRE article to talk about the new CD?  I was not exactly sure what he meant by "news hoo!
k".  Also, the editor asked for the critical reception to the disk.  Mozetich is not extremely well known, so I can find little information on the reception to the CD, except for some comments on various websites about the CD, but none of which would be considered 'authoritative' sources.  If I don't include a lot of info in that regard, would I be wrong to do so?  Finally, I thought of writing the editor and ASKING about the questions I have, but I am afraid that would appear unprofessional.  Do I need to wait until I am 'sure' I have the kind of article he wants before I contact him?  I really don't know if it is acceptable to write an editor and ask about an article.  I appreciate so much any help you could give me!


-Sarah :)


Answer
Hi Sarah,

Many thanks for your questions and congratulations on getting an editor to accept your proposal.  I am afraid that I am not going to be of much help to you as I do not write for magazines or have any personal knowledge in this area.  Reading what you have written here and what the editor is looking for it seems as if he wants to put more of a news angle to the article which is why he is including the CD.  If you have read some reviews of the article it will be easy for you to say that the CD has been well received or not if the reviews are bad.  I think adding this to the top of your biographic piece should be what he is looking for.

As I said I am not an expert in the area of magazine writing so I would suggest that you ask one of the other writers on this website.  I'm sure one of them will be able to give you a more knowledgable response.

Again congratulations on getting an editors response and I wish you the best of luck with your article and your freelance writing career.

Kind regards,

Amanda