I’ve mentioned in passing my two writing gigs, but I thought I would dedicate a whole post to the both of them since the reality is that they take a good amount of my time.

If you’re wondering what is it exactly I do at HAND/EYE Magazine here’s your chance to learn how I spend my days. I am the online editor. So what the hell do I do apart from writing articles for the online version? Well, I edit stories from other freelance writers. I research topics and reach out to artists to potentially feature them. Sometimes I ask them to byline their own stories (and most of the time I have to finesse the language), other times I ask questions and ghost write it for them, but  the majority of the time I conduct an online interview with the artist then write the story. In addition, I ask for images, caption them, fiddle with the size if needed, etc. In addition, I have to come up with an editorial calendar, keep it up to date, schedule the stories, and so on. Basically that’s what takes about 85 percent of my time. I don’t deal with any of the tech issues at all. In other words, I don’t frig around with Drupal (I’ve been told not to touch it since it’s so glitchy. Although I have a feeling I could figure it out because I am a dweeb when it comes to figuring out software).

Ten percent of my time is administrative. I’m in charge of updating the subscription list and to mail out copies of the magazine. It’s a dirty job, Keith did it before me, and now it’s my baby. I’m hoping that when we’ve become a huge media conglomerate, I can give this job to someone else. Actually, it’s not that bad. It’s one of those tasks that’s nice to have so I can rest my brain.

Another five percent is trying to come up with ideas of how to increase our subscriber base. We talk about this, I would say, every couple of weeks, but I think between word-of-mouth and FaceBook, we’ve grown a little (or so it seems to me as I input the names of new subscribers on the spreadsheet).

I haven’t been involved with the print issue. YET. But I know that I might have one article in the next one on Haiti (I think it may be an expanded piece on Franz Zepherin).

For a small publication that prints two issues per year, but publishes online 48 weeks, I can say that we are BUSY. VERY BUSY. Lucky for me, though, I can make my own hours and work from home (or at the “office” if I have the desire to have a change of scenery.) I tend to put in my hours from 9 until 5, but I do take breaks here and there (post office, bank, grocery store, walk the dogs or take 30 minutes to exercise). Tonight is an exception. I’m working on a bunch stuff (this is one of those breaks) and I’ll probably call it quits around 10 pm. Do I work on weekends? Yep, pretty much. I usually write an article or two. This weekend looks like I’ll be writing at least three.

The second job is my book review column Dan’s Papers. It’s pretty straightforward. I read a book, and I review it. So far I’ve reviewed four books, and I have one coming up for Monday. Oops, make that four articles to write this weekend.

So that’s it in a nutshell. I write. A lot.  And now it’s time to work on some photo captions.

Dear Publicists,

Having sat on the same side of the desk as you at a recent point in my professional career I know you all are very busy, but I have a bone to pick.

Look, I know what it’s like to pitch dead-end stories to mean-spirited editors. I understand what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a snotty reprimand from your supervisor, the client, and the editor. I know that many of you want to hide under your desks and wish away the day, go home, and forget that you’ve sold your soul to Satan to make a decent living. I have empathy for you. Really, I do. But I also know when you have a GUARANTEED placement, you don’t ignore the editor’s request or questions.

Now that I’ve jumped to the other side of the desk and write for a living there are times that I have to deal with publicists. For the most part, it has been disappointing. I’ve had to email repeatedly for press materials, request interviews and images.  And yet, no response. Not even, “I got your email and I’m putting everything you asked together.” Nothing. Bupkis. Nada. Zip.

Listen up, this is a bird in the hand. You got the placement. We’re running the story, but we need more information. That’s all. So do your job, and get back to me in a prompt manner. Believe me, everyone will be happy and that means your client, your boss, you, my editor, and, finally, me.

Thanks for reading.

I haven’t been posting as much as I would like because I managed to get freelance gig with Hand/Eye Magazine. I’ve been pretty busy with editing and writing articles, mailings, and brainstorming how to increase our traffic and subscriptions. On a scale of 1 to 10, this is an 11 job. It was exactly what I was looking for!

Yesterday, my second bylined article appeared in the online issue. It’s about a male quilting bee that meets twice a year in Woodstock. I first learned about the group last year via my friend Jeff Rutherford’s FaceBook page. I always thought it would make an interesting story, and when Keith Recker, the publisher and editor of Hand/Eye, told me we were doing a “Guy” issue, I thought about these quilters and pitched him the idea. He told me to go for it, and I did.

You can read all about these very creative men by clicking on QuiltGuys.

Now that I’ve committed myself to write a daily blog post, I have to come up with topics. So far, it hasn’t been too hard since it’s only 6 days into 2010, but what will I write, say, by the end of the month or by day 345? This same question also applies to freelance writing. What do I want to write?

A few years ago I met up with a friend who was having job woes and wanted to quit. She wanted to write, but what topics? So we took a sheet a paper and listed all her interests for possible article ideas.

And here I am in the same boat. There are numerous subjects that intrigue me, but what can I say differently that has a fresh hook that will grab an editor’s attention? I suppose that’s the $1 million question all new freelancers ask.

My project for tomorrow is a library visit and flip through all the magazines that interest me (I like all the health and fitness pubs) and read the most recent articles. I suspect I’ll be looking at numerous variations of the same topic, and honestly, I don’t know how many times you can write Lose 20 pounds by Valentine’s Day and make it different, but every year you see some derivative of that same idea.

You know, fiction is much easier. You make up a scene in your head and then you run with it.

Speaking of which, I have to fix a scene in Julius.