Q. I was wondering if you knew of any seminars or conferences coming up. I wish I could get advice from my paper, but I can't.
I have asked for advice now for several months. The paper won't pay for me to go anywhere to get help, and none of my bosses have really sat me down to evaluate my progress after I've asked repeatedly.
I have been told I have regressed in some areas as a writer, but don't tell me, show me. Ya know? I want to get better. So, it's time to take matters in my own hands. Any good books? Anything? I appreciate your help.
A. There are many, many ways to get help. Your newspaper and your editors could be of great help, but they are not essential and, in the end, you are the one who is most responsible for your own growth and the one who benefits most from it.
Your first training investment should be in setting a direction. Get specific. Don't seek generic or random writing training. What do you need? Although you say your editors have been of no help, think about what they have said in the editing process and how your copy has been changed. While your editors may not have said anything formal, I bet you have some clues.
Be judicious about seeking the training you need, rather than the training you want. Sometimes, journalists seek high-end training in areas like narrative writing before they have nailed down the basics. Get the fundamentals down before you advance.
Once you have chosen an area, set an objective so you can measure your progress. Get the baseline of where you are now and set objectives for the improvements you want to see.
Then, get busy online. Look for workshops you can attend in person, tutorials you can take online and books you can read. Seek out a coach or mentor on that skill in your newsroom or another one. The method that will work best for you -- in-person, hands-on, reading, listening, etc. -- will depend on your personal learning style. Most of us use more than one learning style, so I suggest you do, too, choosing the ways that have been most effective for you in the past.
Coming Wednesday: This freelancer has been asked to sign a contract that would have her surrender "all rights" to an essay to the online publisher. Should she sign?
