Welcome to the ultimate hub for expert advice to help you get your big break (+ move up the ladder). This week I’m nibbling chocolate on The Bottom Rung with my fellow HarperCollins YA pal…
SARAH AYOUB, 27 – journalist and author
Climbing the ladder
Then: Sarah interned at various magazines while studying for her masters. After sending a pitch to Girlfriend magazine, she scored her first paid piece and the rest is history (she’s since clocked up bylines at the likes of Marie-Claire, House & Garden, CLEO and Frankie).
Now: Based in Sydney, Sarah is a freelance journalist, blogger and author of Hate Is Such A Strong Word (HarperCollins, 2013). She is currently writing her second novel.
Here is Sarah’s advice on how to get noticed in the world of writing for magazines…
Dress the part
I love clothes and have a great wardrobe, but I was always really lazy about my appearance. I now know you’re supposed to dress for the job you want! (I cleaned out Zoe Foster’s beauty cupboard once and she sent me home with a load of stuff – she was so lovely and I was in a Rugby League Guernsey- cringe! Thankfully my fashion sense has evolved and the Bulldogs gear only comes out on important game days).
Anything is possible
Be willing and ready to do any task that shows your bosses you’re prepared for legwork (and don’t have a sense of entitlement towards the job!). Internships are beneficial because of the peek they offer you into the industry, but these days, the internet has allowed anyone to be a media maker. You can also start a blog or a YouTube channel and make your success from there.
Go and get it
Interning is a normal part of the industry, but I definitely think interns are being taken advantage of. When you work somewhere for 2-3 years and nothing eventuates from it, it’s time to move on. Go out and make your career yourself. I called myself a freelance writer and BAM, all of a sudden I was!
Keep your eyes, ears and mind open
Read Wordsmith Lane! I regularly talk to authors, journalists, bloggers, editors and other writers about how they got their start in the industry – I started it when I was an emerging writer myself and I have posted a few how-tos on things like pitching, interviewing and invoicing for freelancers. Gabby’s colourful memes are very motivating for writers and give me a giggle, too. Also, talk to authors, journalists, bloggers, editors and other writers about how they got their start in the industry. I also recommend signing up to the mail-outs for your local writers’ centre, following your favourite writers on social media and, most of all, writing to practise your craft.
Thanks again to Sarah for sharing her advice! If you’d love to find out more about her, or her fabulous novel Hate Is Such A Strong Word, say hello on Twitter, on Facebook or via her website.
<The Bottom Rung series is inspired by the release of my debut novel THE INTERN (HarperCollins, out now) and my desire to ‘pay it forward’ with career advice and tips on climbing the ladder. Click here to read more about THE INTERN. Come say hello at Facebook and Twitter– distractions welcome.>
