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News & ArtsThursday, June 18, 2009
Books Have You Always Wanted to Write a Column?
Posted by Paul Constant on Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 3:11 PM
Sure, it looks easy, doesn't it? Just complaining about stuff in print on a semi-regular basis. Well, here's your chance: McSweeney's is having a contest to find some new columnists for their website.
1. Form and content is open. We are looking for writers and writing that are engaging and interesting, of the "we know it when we see it" variety. It would probably be a mistake to look at our current columns and try to replicate them. We love those columns, but they came about by authors simply following their own paths. Write about subject matter you're interested in, in the way you find most compelling.
Currently McSweeney's has a column by a librarian and a skateboarder, among others. The top three columnists get $500 bucks and a one-year contract to be a columnist for McSweeney's. That's about as steady a writing gig as you're going to find in this economy.
(Ionic column from Clipart Etc.)
1
I wonder if they'd hire me to write a column about how self-important and pretentious McSweeney's is. I sort of think they might.
5
@4 *Sigh* Yeah. Oh man have I been burned by the "we'd like to try you out" line.
In this sort of situation, I'd only submit something I'd already written - and published - elsewhere, with a short description of what I would like to write for them. Either they like it or they don't, but I'm only out the 20 minutes I spent drafting my email.
And, I wouldn't consider the gig at all if it didn't come with regular pay each time a column is published.
In this sort of situation, I'd only submit something I'd already written - and published - elsewhere, with a short description of what I would like to write for them. Either they like it or they don't, but I'm only out the 20 minutes I spent drafting my email.
And, I wouldn't consider the gig at all if it didn't come with regular pay each time a column is published.
7
Ummm... call me crazy...
But I heard the Stranger has a recent opening?
Or isn't that a steady reliable writing gig in this economy?
But I heard the Stranger has a recent opening?
Or isn't that a steady reliable writing gig in this economy?
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