The key rules of first person pitching
By Jenny Holliday (formerly Stallard), founder of The Freelance Media Network.
As a journalist I have pitched first-person articles for over two decades. They ranged from writing about my obsession with early-days Facebook, to trying out different diets or exercise regimes, all the way through to writing about dating and my love life. Now, at 49, I write a lot about my experiences of perimenopause and midlife.
The experience of writing about yourself never changes - there will always be nerves and anticipation when a commission is accepted, through to the excitement and thrill of it being published. I always chose to write about my life, my feelings and my experiences in the hope that I would entertain and inspire other women, or readers. I hoped that by telling my story, and sharing the realities of my life, I would help others in a similar position.
It’s safe to say I have learned a lot about the process and also what makes a good pitch. I am now sharing this in a regular workshop in The Freelance Media Network, on first person pitching. Here are some insights, and if you are interested in attending the workshop, you can join the Network and the workshop will be free as part of your membership. At the end of this blog is a discount code for 50% off your first month until the end of September.
Be sure of your angle and your opinion when pitching a first person piece as a journalist
When you pitch a first person or opinion piece, it needs to stand out. Often a strong opinion is the one that will win a commission because it’s something that an editor knows readers will want to read. You may think ‘Am I pitching clickbait?’ but it’s more about pitching an idea that a reader will think: “yes! I have to know more about this!”
If you’re working on a pitch, ask yourself if the angle or opinion you are pitching is the strongest, or, if you dig a little deeper, there is something more you can add, an extra bit of ‘oomph’ to the line you’re pitching and the angle you’re going in on.
You also need to be sure of your angle as, when it’s commissioned, you will be asked to go deeper into the detail, so it needs to be firm and strong so there is enough for you to write hundreds of words about it. Are you clear on what you’re pitching, and the opinion you want the world to read?
Be prepared for the emotions!
Writing about yourself is emotional - there’s no escaping it. The process of writing, filing copy, and being edited, is also quite emotional. While your pitch will have elements in it that you are sure about, an editor may come back with more personal questions, or a different angle they feel is more pertinent.
Going over your experience can bring up feelings you might not expect. Be prepared for this, and trust that it’s your story, so nobody else can tell it. You can also request a readback if you would like to hear the copy before it’s published - not every publication does this, but many do. It’s worth noting, though, that you’re unlikely to get headline approval, even as a journalist.
Choose your publication wisely
When you are writing about yourself and your life, you want, ideally to see the piece in a publication which is in line with your values, and that you like. Be candid about where you will send the pitch. Yes, of course, you want to be paid for the commission, but you also want to be sure that you are happy to see your story in the pages of a newspaper or magazine that you like and respect.
Celebrate, share and re-purpose if you can!
Once your piece is out, make sure you share it - on your website (as a link), on LinkedIn and other socials (be careful about sharing images or pdfs, but you can speak about it on Stories, for example, or write a LinkedIn post). You can also add any links you have to ‘featured’ on LinkedIn.
Celebrate this moment where you’ve shared something personal as part of your writing career!
You may also be able to re-purpose the pitch for another publication. For example, I have written on the subject of ‘never being told I love you’ for Fabulous, Red and Huffpost.
Consider whether it’s a first person piece, or a longer feature or a report?
Often, you might come up with an idea which you feel is a first person piece but, on reflection, is more of a wider feature, or a report piece. This can happen with something medical, for example, or an experience which you have gone through which is also mirrored in the news agenda, news cycle, or in the world of celebrities. If your first person pitch feels like it lacks that ‘certain something’, it’s worth considering if you can re-nose it into a feature pitch, or a report piece.
Come and join our next First Person Pitching Workshop in The Freelance Media Network. It’s on October 15th, 12-1.30. The workshop is free for members. To join and get 50% off your first month, head to our sign up page, fill out the typeform and when you get to the Stripe checkout, add FMNFOUNDERMONTHLY. This code expires at midnight on Sept 30th.
