Six Ways to Make Your Editor Happy and Get More Story Assignments

Six Ways to Make Your Editor Happy and Get More Story Assignments Frequently writing coaches teach how to break into the magazine market, but not how to build a relationship with an editor well enough to become a regular contributor. After freelancing for eight years (including regular columns for several publications), I accepted the position of editor for a regional lifestyle magazine. Since joining the magazine staff, Ive come to wish every freelancer could spend enough time in an editors shoes to learn both sides of the business. Editors generally give new writers a chance with a short, front-of-the-book piece to see what they can do. Some never get a second chance. Others lose their foothold after several stories. If you struggle to develop a long-term relationship with the publications you wish to work with on a regular basis, see if any of these tips apply to you. Be punctual - Think this is self-explanatory? You wouldnt believe how many times Ive had to email a writer to ask for a late assignment. Late assignments clog the flow of everything, from copyediting to layout to printing. If your stories frequently hold up progress, expect your future queries to fall on deaf ears. Know your reader - Magazines generally have a demographic that encompasses education level, economic means and geographic location. As highly as we like to think of our own writing, remember the average American reads on a seventh grade level. If you are writing for the typical consumer magazine, nix the words nefarious and ubiquitous and speak the language of the people. If you see ads in the magazine for Rolex watches and Saks Fifth Avenue, dont assume the reader will want to read how to score big at Goodwill. Also, dont pitch articles to regional publications highlighting attractions outside of their geographic area. Be a servant - Freelance writers provide a service for the publication. That makes them servants, not celebrities, divas or gods. My first week on the job as editor, I had an irate writer demand a retraction for the edits I made to her story. She never respectfully questioned my changes. She demanded and threatened because, as a self-proclaimed prominent member of the community, she was embarrassed that the end product wasnt her work. Unfortunately, her work read like a list of facts, lacking life and quotes from real people. That said Provide life - Never turn in a story for which you havent interviewed a real person, in person. Dont tell me about those five places to go canoeing, let the man in the canoe tell m - in his words. Avoid emailing interview questions. You miss the opportunity to get random comments and the tone of voice, posture and facial expressions that prompt you to dig deeper. At least use the telephone. Make technology your friend Editors do not have the time, nor the desire, to teach you how to download a contract and sign and return it - electronically. If you cannot handle the technology required to become a regular contributor to the publication, the editor will not invite you to become one. Keep your emails organized When submitting a query, create a fresh email with your topic in the subject line. Then, when you follow up with questions, your editor wont have to search for 15 minutes to find the original query. I could go on. But if you can master just these few tips, and your writing is clean and your ideas are fresh, I guarantee any editor would love to have you on board.

Architecture of the Rich and Famous in Palm Springs

Architecture of the Rich and Famous in Palm Springs Mid-Century or Midcentury? Any way you spell it (and both are correct), the modern designs of world class architects from the middle part of the 20th century continue to define Palm Springs, California. Nestled in the Coachella Valley and surrounded by mountains and deserts, Palm Springs, California is only a few hours drive from the bustle and tinsel of Hollywood. As the entertainment industry enveloped the Los Angeles area during the 1900s, Palm Springs became a favorite getaway for the many starlets and socialites who were making money faster than they could spend it. Palm Springs, with its abundant year-round sunshine, became a refuge for a game of golf followed by cocktails around the swimming pool - a fast-lane lifestyle of the rich and famous. The 1947 Sinatra House, with a swimming pool shaped like a grand piano, is but one example of the architecture from this period. Architectural Styles in Palm Springs The building boom in the United States after World War II enticed LA architects to Palm Springs - architects go where the money is. Modernism had taken hold throughout Europe and already immigrated to the US. Southern California architects adapted ideas from the Bauhaus movement and the International Style, creating an elegant yet informal style that is often called Desert Modernism. As you explore Palm Springs, look for these important styles: Desert ModernismArt ModerneSpanish EclecticGoogieTiki Fast Facts: Palm Springs Every year Modernism Week celebrates the many mid-century modern houses in Palm Springs, located about 100 miles (2 hours) east of Los Angeles, California.Original settlers were Cahuilla Native Americans, called Agua Caliente or hot water by Spanish explorers.California became the 31st state in 1850. U.S. surveyors first described the area of palm trees and mineral springs as Palm Springs in 1853. John Guthrie McCallum (1826-1897) and his family were the first white settlers in 1884.The Southern Pacific Railroad completed an East/West line in 1877 - the railroad owned every other square mile surrounding the tracks, creating a checkerboard of property ownership seen today.Palm Springs became a health resort, its mineral springs a sanitorium for the treatment of tuberculosis.Palm Springs was incorporated in 1938. Singer/celebrity Sonny Bono was the 16th Mayor of Palm Springs from 1988 to 1992.As early as 1919, Palm Springs was used as a ready-made set for many Hollywood silent movies. It quickly became a playland for people in the movie industry, because of its proximity to LA. Even today Palm Springs is known as The Playground of the Stars. Architects of Palm Springs Modernism Palm Springs, California is a virtual museum of Mid-Century Modern architecture with possibly the worlds largest and best-preserved examples of elegant homes and landmark buildings constructed during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Here is a sampling of what youll find when visiting Palm Springs: Alexander Homes: Working with several architects, the George Alexander Construction Company built more than 2,500 homes in Palm Springs and established a modernist approach to housing that was imitated throughout the United States. Learn about Alexander Homes. William Cody (1916-1978): No, not Buffalo Bill Cody, but the Ohio-born architect William Francis Cody, FAIA, who designed many homes, hotels, and commercial projects in Palm Springs, Phoenix, San Diego, Palo Alto, and Havana. Check out the 1947 Del Marcos Hotel, the 1952 Perlberg, and the 1968 St. Theresa Catholic Church. Albert Frey (1903-1998): Swiss architect Albert Frey worked for Le Corbusier before moving to the United States and becoming a Palm Springs resident. The futuristic buildings he designed launched the movement that became known as Desert Modernism. Some of his must-see buildings include these: 1949-1963 (with Robson Chambers): Tramway Valley Station1957 (with John Porter Clark, Robson Chambers, and E. Stewart Williams): Palm Springs City Hall1963: Frey House II1963-1965 (with Robson Chambers): Tramway Gas Station, now the Palm Springs Visitors Center John Lautner (1911s of his work in Palm Springs include: 1968: The Arthur Elrod House1979: The Bob and Delores Hope House Richard Neutra (1892-1970): Born and educated in Europe, Austrian Bauhaus architect Richard Neutra placed dramatic glass and steel homes in rugged California desert landscapes. Neutras most famous home in Palm Springs are these: 1937: Grace Lewis Miller House, the winter home of the St. Louis socialite1946: Kaufmann House, the same Kaufmanns who commissioned Frank Lloyd Wright in 1935 to build Fallingwater in Pennsylvania Donald Wexler (1926-2015): Architect Donald Wexler worked for Richard Neutra in Los Angeles, and then for William Cody in Palm Springs. He partnered with Richard Harrison before establishing his own firm. Wexler designs includes: 1961-1962: Steel Development Houses constructed by the Alexander Construction Company1961-1962: The Royal Hawaiian Estates, tiki style condominium complex in Palm Springs1965: Palm Springs Airport Original Terminal Building Paul Williams (1894-1980): Los Angeles architect Paul Revere Williams designed more than 2000 homes in southern California. He also designed: 1937: International Style clubhouse for the Tennis Club on Baristo Road, Palm Springs1954: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz home E. Stewart Williams (1909-2005): The son of Ohio architect Harry Williams, E. Stewart Williams built some of Palm Springs most significant buildings during a long and prolific career. Must-see: 1947: House for Frank Sinatra1954: The Edris House1960: Coachella Valley Savings and Loan (now Washington Mutual)1963: Tramway Upper Station1976: Palm Springs Desert Museum (now the Palm Springs Art Museum) Lloyd Wright (1890-1978): Son of the famous American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, Lloyd Wright was trained in landscape design by the Olmsted brothers and worked with his famous father developing the concrete textile block buildings in Los Angeles. Lloyd Wrights projects in and near Palm Springs include: 1923: Oasis Hotel, a distinctive Art Deco building with a 40-foot tower. Desert Modernism Near Palm Springs: Sunnylands, 1966, in Rancho Mirage, by architect A. Quincy Jones (1913-1979) Travel to Palm Springs for the Architecture As the center of Mid-Century Modernism, Palm Springs, California hosts many architecture conferences, tours, and other events. Most famous is Modernism Week held in February each year.   Several beautifully restored hotels in Palm Springs, California recreate the experience of mid-twentieth century living, complete with reproduction fabrics and furnishings by major designers of the period. The Chase HotelStudio rooms that recreate the 1950s.The Orbit InTwo sister inns, the Orbit In and the Hideaway, with a retro flair.RendezvousNostalgic 1950s theme rooms and gourmet breakfasts. Hotel History and DetailsLHorizon HotelDesigned by William Cody in 1952. Hotel History and DetailsThe Movie Colony HotelDesigned by Albert Frey in 1935. Hotel History and DetailsThe Monkey Tree HotelA 16-room restored boutique hotel designed in 1960 by Albert Frey. Sources History, City of Palm Springs, CA

Apostle Paul and the Law Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Apostle Paul and the Law - Research Paper Example What does seem clear is that the traditions of Mosaic Law have been placed outside of Christian life is distinguished from its Judaic heritage by replacing ritualistic worship to that of faith based worship. The place of the Law within Christian life, however, seems to have much less definition to modern readers. The following paper will first discuss the ways in which the life of Christ exemplified an ‘otherness’ that was difficult for new Christians to grasp without the condition of Mosaic Law to create ritual and order. The discussion will then focus on the Epistle to the Galatians and then the Epistle to the Romans in order to define what Paul said in relationship to law for the Church. Finally, an examination of the issue will bring to light how the letters written by Paul can be related to the Gospel revelations of the nature of Christ and his teachings to his followers. Through a look at faith based Salvation and the need for order through Law, the writings of Pau l can be used to help uncover Mosaic Law traditions in relationship to the new responsibilities and freedoms of the followers of Christ. Social Differentiation, ‘Otherness’ and the Discussion of Law Defining individuals through social structures that place them into groups has been a long remembered method of defining the population across the world ‘Otherness’ was a problem in that the openness with which Christ taught was incongruent with the way in which people saw one another. Christ gave examples in order to show that he embraced all people for their differences, their faults, and even for their sins. When pressed to define who was a neighbor He made a Samaritan into the hero of the story at a time when Samaritans were looked down upon with contempt. After Jesus had left the world, however, the social differentiations that existed began to emerge as an issue where practices and traditions infiltrated the nature of the message that Paul gave in how to w orship. Paul found that he had to dampen the belief in old ways so that the new could thrive in a world in which ritual was a strong part of life. Ritual still defines how people find structure in their life. Through the acts of ritual, order is established. It is far easier to do something than to simply believe in something. Paul saw that the need for ritual was clouding the message that he had brought to followers, the belief that in doing certain acts that followed Mosaic Law salvation could be gained. People rather naturally fall to doing to express what they feel rather than feeling what is needed to create faith. Faith is a difficult concept even in its simplicity. Faith means to believe, but there is a great deal of baggage between knowing and believing which can get in the way. People tend to fall to doing rather than devoting their time to belief as faith has such a deep emotional context that it can be hard to maintain. Culture and the Law tend to be an issue. As people t ake comfort in the rituals that build the familiar, the show of enacting the Law was outside of the practices of worship that Paul had given to followers. It was not the rituals themselves that were a problem but that he was afraid that they were using ritual in place of belief. In reading the work of Thompson

Monkey in the Mirror Essays Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Monkey in the Mirror Essays - Essay Example But there are several things that mark us as being different from many of these other animals. Some of them are purely physical – for instance we have bipedal motion that is absent in the rest of apes (Tattersall, 2002 p. 89). But we also have many metaphysical qualities that mark us as different from our ancestors, such as the creation of music, art and culture. There is no one single thing that can truly account for all the ways in which we are different, but there are a few pieces that had to come together. One of which is our brain, which is by far the largest brain compared to body mass of any animal in the history of the world (Tattersall, 2002, p. 151). This probably had to develop in conjunction with a lot of other developments to be useful – for instance, larger brains would not have been useful if we were not already prehensile apes who were adapted to living in trees, and could thus use our prehensile hands to create and use tools (Tattersall, 2002 p. 69). Bu t probably one of the single things that sets humans apart from other animals the most is the development of speech. A change in our voice box and brain simultaneously occurred at some point in the evolution of homo sapiens, which allowed humans to differentiate themselves from previous iterations of humanity (or pre-humanity), and begin to do things that are truly novel in the animal kingdom Tattersall, 2002). One of the things that makes language so important is that it augments our innate intelligence, so that instead of things that become created instantly dying out when the person who created them dies, they can pass on the teaching to succeeding generations. This creates culture, which is probably the one biggest things that separates humans from other primates and other animals. If Gould and Tattersall were to have a conversation with each other, they would probably come to cross roads. Gould tended to entirely

The Boston Photographs Essay Example for Free

The Boston Photographs Essay The Boston Photographs Stanley Foreman, a journalist for the Boston Herald American, captured three famous photographs of a fire rescue case which reminded me of my grandmothers tragedy, displayed the themes of tragedy and anger, parallels to the movie World Trade Center, and aligns with my opinion that Foreman published the photographs rightfully. Foreman snapped the camera thinking to take heroic shots of a brave fireman successfully rescuing a woman and a child. Little did he know, he would capture the collapse of final hope as a woman fell into the gateway to death. A fire immersed a Boston building in the 1930s. A fireman desperately attempted to save a woman and a child from the inferno, and almost came to success. However, the fire escape the three stood upon crumbled from the arm of the building just before the fireman could hoist them onto the ladder of the firetruck. The fireman managed to jump to safety onto the ladder as the ledge broke. Unfortunately, the woman could not cling tightly enough to the fireman, therefore, her and the child dropped stories high onto the solid ground. The woman died immediately from impact, but the child fell onto the cushion of her corpse and managed to survive. The treacherous scene showed on three photographs and became published in over four hundred newspapers across America. Understandably, this raised controversy as the public fired back with complaints of the gory pictures. Some argued that it contributed in, â€Å"Invading the privacy of death,† while others said it took responsibility in â€Å"Assigning the agony of a human being in terror of imminent death to the status of a side-show act† (Ephron, 658). Ephron states her opinion in this essay saying, â€Å"Death happens to be one of lifes main events. And it is irresponsible—and more than that, inaccurate—for newspapers to fail to show it † (Ephron, 662). This essay brought me back to my youth with replaying images of what I imagined the scene of my grandmothers death to look like. Honestly, it fell nothing short of a horror story, especially through the eyes of a muddled, vernal nine year old. I will not go in detail regarding the exact scene, for I find it inappropriately morbid, but I feel willingly to introduce a small, surfaced outline. A fire swallowed her house, eating from the core and dispersing to the edges like a rotting apple. She lay in mid afternoon nap when awakened from the smoky air, but the fire had managed to block almost every exit. She made her way to the only door not already inflamed, but it she could not get it open. The story does not end here, but this sums up all I feel the need to tell. The casket remained closed at the funeral, so I never saw her body again. She rested at age fifty-seven, too young to leave, and too beautiful to have her body disintegrated into ashes. Why did it have to happen like that? Nine years old and having to trust in God for strength proves a hard and strange thing to do, but a life lesson some never learn, and one I would need for the journey on. Ephron wrote this essay to bring forth the readers inner emotions as well as to show the emotion felt by the characters in the story. The themes of tragedy and anger serve as two of the major themes of the essay. The bravery and hope shown to us at the beginning of the story help accent these themes. The author gives us these points to push a sense of reality into the readers, and to present a real event as well as its repercussions. Bravery showed from the fireman who risked his live to save these people. Hope came from the woman and child trapped inside fighting with optimistic longing to make it through. Tragedy and devastation overcame as the story twisted from what looked a promising victory to a deadly reality. The pictures then became published and taken offensively by readers bringing on a strong feeling of anger. The subject of reality also carries through in this essay. It pictures as quite melancholy, and therefore brings its readers to awareness of a true story with thoughts and opinions of witnesses of the scene and readers of the numerous articles of the event. This event has parallels to the events of September 11, 2001, which has been demonstrated to us through the movie World Trade Center. The movie begins by showing the attacks of the buildings and the violence it brought to those inside. It focuses in on the firemen risking their lives to save the victims, however, as the second building crashes upon them, they become  victims themselves. The firemen demonstrate the similarities of bravery and hope to make it out of the fallen building alive, and the movie as a whole brings its viewers to the tragic reality, just as The Boston Photographs does. Personally, I felt moved by the twisted feelings and solid impact of the essay. It made me have to stop to process my thoughts, because I could not believe what I read. It hit me hard with horror and disbelief. I like essays like this that bring us to a since of reality, for I feel as if they are hardly told. Most stories today become glamorized by positive attributes as dark grueling details are masked away leaving us with what our minds desire to believe instead of the harsh truth. Joy and promise turn to need and tribulation instantaneously in reality, which this essay highlights. The catastrophic story of the photographs taken of the sudden death of a woman hit me hard with a flashback of my grandmothers death and also showed the predicament of the firefighters in World Trade Center, as both of these brought the themes of tragedy and anger to the story and farther pushed my opinion that the pictures became rightly publicized. The essay exhibits sensibility and brings the readers to actuality, therefore, I feel it may stand out to readers over other essays. Real stories like this have the ability to teach us something valuable and hit our life experiences bringing a strong impact of emotion to our thoughts, which is why I feel the pictures should have been publicized. Although it displayed a horrific accident, the scene rightfully deserved telling.

The Significance of Family and Kinship Essay example -- essays papers

The Significance of Family and Kinship One of the most important and essential things that everyone must have in order to live a great and joyful life is family. One must follow values to be successful in life, and one must also support their family to keep that success advancing toward the future. In David W. McCurdy’s article, â€Å"Family and Kinship in Village India,† it discusses the significance of how a successful family is formed by tradition, preparation, and patience. The article describes how kinship has the power to arrange marriages successfully, make families unite and assist each other, and teach and help one another agriculturally or economically. According to McCurdy, the main ways that kinship organizes â€Å"Bhil† society in Ratakote, India are the terms used to refer to them, the responsibilities that they have toward one another, and the importance of marrying them off properly. Marriage plays a big role in life for the Bhil’s of Ratakote. The Bhil’s follow their tradition of arranging marriages. They feel that by arranging marriages, both of the families of the bride and groom will benefit in many ways. To them, marriage constructs alliances between the families, lineage, and clans. It also gives social strength and security to the families, and their personal reputations depend on the quality and number of their allied kin. The Bhil parents of the bride and groom in question, must first find out if the other family’s worthy of becoming a part of the sam...

Current Event Summary and Reaction – Honors Government – “North Carolina Getting a State Religion? No.”

North Carolina getting a state religion? No. | By: Eric Marrapodi  and  John Blake, CNN A group of representatives in North Carolina have recently been pushing the idea of uniting their government with an established religion. Two Republican representatives in particular filed a resolution that would potentially permit the state to declare Christianity as its official practice of worship. In this case, the North Carolina would reject all federal law and ruling concerning separation of church and state.Although these representatives argue this would protect the county’s commissioners in their freedom of speech, critics say the resolution violates the Constitution’s first amendment. Those in favor of an established religion continue to fall back on the nullification theory, but many agree that because the theory has repeatedly been ruled as incorrect, courts won’t buy it. Personally, I don’t think the courts will buy it either. Putting the specifics and details aside, the concept of separation of church and state is ultimately already decided upon.The way things are now is the way they should be; everyone is free to practice their own religion, including those who are pushing the resolution. I don’t know why one would want to force others to be a member of their religion if they don’t want to be. There is no way to force someone to be devoted to or believe in something. In the article, critics called the argument for a combined church and state â€Å"phony,† and I agree. If most â€Å"Christians† are not truly Christians, Christianity will quickly become a joke, as well as a lie for some.If the state did adopt a conformed religion, what would regulations consist of? I doubt one would be punished for practicing another religion; therefore, there is really no point. If anything, I think those in favor of the resolution should be less concerned about spending time on a pointless argument and be more concern ed about practicing their religion themselves. http://religion. blogs. cnn. com/2013/04/04/north-carolina-getting-a-state-religion-no/