So, admittedly this post is a bit self-serving but I have a question for anyone willing to answer.
Being a diabetic, have you ever tried writing about your experiences for various publications in a freelance role? Are there any places you’ve found that are more receptive than others? (Obviously magazines and websites about diabetes care probably are more interested than ones that aren’t, but even among those, have you had much luck writing with any?)
Here’s my story – I have been diabetic since I’ve been 13 years old. I’m currently 33 and am trying to make it as a freelance writer. It hasn’t been easy. I have 7 years of newspaper writing experience and a journalism degree. I also used to be a copy editor. Dealing with my diabetes has been a bit of a struggle, too, but I’ve found TONS of helpful people here willing to give me some advice, which I’m trying to implement the best I can into my day-to-day life.
I’m open to the idea of writing about things I’ve gone through as a person with diabetes and how I’ve dealt with them and maybe someone else can glean some kind of benefit from it.Or, if there’s a range of topics on diabetes that I can write about to help people, I’d be down with that too.
Anyhow, I’m rambling now, but, any kind of advice/help/stories would be much appreciated!
HI JAkewriter1,
I’m actually a science writer and though not diagnosed with Type 1 myself (my child is), hopefully my take is helpful. I would say your personal experience is invaluable if it is a window into some larger phenomenon. So, let’s say, there’s a new diabetes trial and you’re a part of it, the fact that you have access to the researchers and personal experience with it could be a boon. Or if you’re writing about a larger trend in the diabetes community, having that personal experience and potential access to the key people who are central to the story could be of benefit. But personal stories are basically hooks or entries into the larger topics, at least in my field (the science writing arena).
Honestly, freelancing is SUCH a struggle no matter who you are. It really takes time in the beginning to establish trust and connections with editors and you may have a stellar idea that they simply won’t take a chance on because they don’t know you. Once you get a foothold, it gets a lot easier. It also involves so much hussling and self-promoting, which doesn’t necessarily come naturally to all journalists.
Good luck and I’ll keep my eye out for your byline!
I am no writer and have no degree been a soldier all my life in one way or another. Spent 22 years in the military. Most of this was during the SA forgotten war. I ran reconnaissance missions with the bushmen. I left the military and went into the private security world and was involved in the diamond business for a number of years.
I then ends up in Iraq, Afghanistan Libya and a number of other not so friendly places. Currently I have been back in Iraq for the last 3 years. Okay so what do I want to say. Well it is simple everybody is always telling me write a book. O I foot to say the last 5 year I have been diabetic and nobody knows.
So while you have the talent and time WRITE A BOOK. Don’t give up your day job but you will be surprised how many would find your story amazing and at the same time educational.
Maybe look at your problem from a different angle it is amazing how the problem then looks, it might just be an opportunity you never know
Another thought . . . it goes without saying that every writer carries around a portfolio of some kind, real or virtual, containing samples of their work. You might consider doing some blogging about diabetes and using the blogs as examples of the kind of writing you can do on that specific subject. Aside from being a no-cost way to establish samples of your work, it’ll probably help to mentally clarify the type of thing you want to say, and provide an experimental testbed for developing ways to say it effectively.
I have to tell you, while we all think it is a huge diabetes world out there, in my view it is small world for paid diabetes publications. And despite having diabetes you are competing against lots of others including people from healthcare and very experienced writers who freelance. And on-line sources are flooded with free content. Just look at how much people blog. If you want to talk with someone in the field, our fellow member @Kelly_Rawlings is the editorial director for Diabetes Forecast and @Michael_Hoskins is a trained journalist and writes professionally for DiabetesMine.
That’s just it, too. The competition for finding writing assignments has never been more fierce, it seems. I suppose writing about diabetes is still a relatively niche topic with only so many opportunities out there, plus there’s tons of experts in the field, as you mentioned.
I guess what keeps me hopeful is that not everyone is willing to put in the work just for the chance to get a job. Still, though, I’m not under any assumption that once I start deciding to write about diabetes that editors are going to be lining up for me to write for them.
Anyhow, thank you for the realistic outlook. I’ll try reaching out to Kelly and Michael, too. I appreciate it!
What type of stories are you pitching? Which newspapers and magazines have you written for, and do you have any contacts at the magazines you’d like to write for? How are you pitching? Are you doing cold pitches or are they solicited?
