Week 3

A far wiser person than myself, I think it was my father, once said that there are three major components to just about everything in life; hard work, talent and a slice of luck. In this last week, luck has dangled a rope and hopefully through hard work and a bit of talent, I’ll be able to climb it.

I’ve previously stated that I wanted to try my luck with the Bath Chronicle, and having bought a copy I opened the front page to find the masthead. Over the past week or so I’ve been mulling over a few ideas and I wanted to pitch one in particular, about a fairly new website called Freecycle, to the assistant editor. I looked through a list of departments and phone numbers and decided that the best desk to call would be the features desk. Pen in hand I dialled the number; the conversation went something like this:

Features Editor: Hello, Bath Chronicle
Me: Hi there, am I talking to the features editor ?
F.E: You certainly are
Me: Hi there, my name’s Jake Tupman and I’m a freelance writer, I was just wondering if you accept freelance submissions?
F.E: What kind of thing do you have in mind?
Me: Well I’m writing an article about a relatively new website called Freecycle......
F.E: Yes I’ve heard of Freecycle, you’ve got the wrong desk, you need to write to ................. at the news desk, here’s his email address.
Me: Thanks.

(At this point he’s about to put the phone down)

Me: Oh excuse me; I don’t suppose there’s anything that you need doing in the features department? I live in Bath and I’m interested in writing for the Chronicle in any capacity.

(Silence for a moment)

F.E: Well we are looking for someone to review some amateur drama, it’s not the most glamorous job but you’ll get free tickets and twenty quid for each review; assuming you like us and we like you.
Me: That would be brilliant, I’ve studied Drama and I love going to the theatre.
F.E: OK then, send me an email with your name and contact details and we’ll sort something out.
Me: Brilliant.

(He gives me his name and contact details and says goodbye.)

Needless to say, immediately I put the phone down I sent him all my contact details.

A crack in the door to the publishing world; I’m just glad I carried on asking him questions instead of letting him put the phone down. Perseverance pays off. Now all I’ve got to do is wait for an opportunity; and then write a review. How difficult can it be?