Did I give this student the right advice?

Plus: How to work with me. Also: Pitching Power Hour is back!

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Last month, I worked on a pitch for a new-to-me subject: storm chasing! Here’s the result.

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This week, I had the wonderful opportunity to speak with a student who is considering a career in writing and editing. We connected via a colleague who helps young people navigate life’s early career choices and they came prepared with excellent questions (sign number one that you’re gonna be great in this field!) As I pondered her sharp questions and how I’d like to respond, I realized that they’re all thoughts which are well worth reflecting on at every stage of our careers.

What skills do you consider crucial for success in writing and editing?

Understand that when you pitch a story to an editor and that editor says “no”, they aren’t rejecting you. They’re telling you they can’t take the story so that you – a colleague and a fellow professional – can pitch it elsewhere. A lot of people frame this as ‘needing a tough skin’ or ‘being good at rejection’ but it’s really about being able to understand that personal stories, once pitched, are a business decision.

You need to keep all things in balance. Writing is not just about writing. It’s also about organization/admin/finance, marketing/branding, and research/development. If you’re going to be a freelancer, you have to tackle those three things in addition to the writing and editing itself. You’re going to have to find a balance between them as they’re constantly in flux. And you’re going to have to know when to bring on skilled help (say, if you need to hire an accountant) and when you just need to suck things up and get on with it (you can minimize networking, for instance, but you can’t completely avoid it).

Finally, you need a keen sense of curiosity. Whether you’re a generalist or a specialist, you cannot do this job if you’re not intensely curious about people and their stories. You have to love digging into things and follow that passion.

Are there any specific experiences or projects you recommend for developing these skills?

Pitch constantly. Think of this portion of your brain as a muscle and you need to exercise it constantly. The only way to improve on anything, to make it more efficient, and make the tough parts of it less tough, is to practice, practice, practice.

Find your tribe, like a small online writers group or entrepreneurship group of likeminded people who are mostly in the same stage of their journey. You can support each other and share resources, lessons learned, etc….

Read. Read constantly. Every now and then attend free webinars on super-niche topics (like fireflies or growing herb gardens). Dedicate time in your schedule for exploration and experimentation. Practice writing in unusual environments.

I’d love to hear what you think? What skills would you add to this list!