Labels and Freelancing

I am discovering at this point in my life that health is important. It is becoming somewhat of an obsession for me now, actually. So, I've decided to combine my old, faithful passion of writing with my new passion for health. I will be seeking advice about writing from nutritionists who are columnists or contributors to health magazines, and will share their advice about both wellness and writing on this blog.

I recently picked up an old issue of SHAPE magazine I had saved from 2004 and read a "how-to" article by Amy Paturel about reading nutrition facts labels. Here are some things I learned:

• It's important to check serving size. A 1/2 cup serving of Ben & Jerry's ice cream can have 240 calories, while the same serving of Dreyer's Grande Light vanilla has only 100. The goal is obviously to choose the item with the biggest serving and the fewest number of calories.

• The longer the ingredient list, the more likely calorie count will be higher.

• You can never get too much fiber because it helps you feel full. It's best to choose foods that have 2 grams of fiber per serving.

After reading the article, I scanned down the page and saw Amy's name at the byline. I started to wonder how she was able to write for such an elite magazine. So, I did what any other curious person would do - I googled it.

Sure enough, Amy had written for various health magazines and had two masters degrees in health-related areas. The information page led to her website, which then led to her contact information. Before I knew it, I was e-mailing a successful writer in search of career advice. I was positive she would be too busy to answer an e-mail from a complete stranger, but the next day I found out I was wrong!

Here's what I wrote:

Dear Amy,

I recently read your article in an old SHAPE magazine (2004) I've kept over the years and was quite impressed with your knowledge and writing style. I am currently a journalism student who is trying to find my niche. I am just curious: in what area did you earn your bachelor's degree? If you have the time, I would gladly welcome any advice you may have for an aspiring journalist.

Here's her reply:

Hi, Samantha,

Thank you for reaching out. In my experience, journalists come from every background imaginable! I earned my bachelor's degree in psychology and then went on to pursue masters degrees in nutrition and public health. I didn't set out to be a writer, but here I am!

There are fabulous organizations for freelance writers. I highly recommend that you peruse sites like www.freelancesuccess.com and www.renegadewriter.com. Both offer courses in freelance writing -- specifically query writing. I actually teach a course through Renegade Writer on essay writing.

I would also suggest that you pick up books like Query Letters that Rock, Ready, Aim, Specialize, and the Handbook of Magazine Article Writing (this last one is mostly outdated, but the advice and material within is still very relevant). When I started out, I read everything I could get my hands on about freelance writing. Joining Freelance Success literally catapulted my career. I would highly recommend taking one of the query letter writing classes, too. They are very inexpensive compared to what you will gain in return. In fact, if you sell just one short front of the book piece, you will have paid for the cost of the course.

I hope some of this information is helpful to you. Best of luck!
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