Writing

[allegroconbr]

Hi there,

in every magazine and newspaper I can read about the authors "she also writes for The Times/The Mail/Comsmo... etc., etc."

My question: how can I get there? What can I do to get my foot in the door for the first time. I know, I CAN write.I have been a journalist in Germany before. I am new in Britain and really want my career to take off.

I am grateful for every enlightening answer.

[Harry Nuttal]

There is no money in journalism these days. Try something else. It's the first law of economics: Supply and demand. "Universities" are churning out thousands of media graduates (ho, ho ho!) into a dwindling market. Newspapers can, and do, get away with paying washers. How old are you? Past the mid-20's I'd certainly say: Forget it? Start at the bottom like everyone else does (unless your old man is an exec on, for instance, The Mail: that seems to work). Offer to work on your local paper for nothing, just to get some experience and to get your foot in the doot. But start off with a hefty bank balance or a rich dad.

[allegroconbr]

Hi Harry,

first of all: thank you for honouring me with an answer, although there seems to be some kind of profound misunderstanding. Your comment seems to be one of the oldest speeches in the book, aiming at any fluffy-brained wannabe in order to scare the pink dreams out of them. Nothing wrong with that, basically. I have come across it time and again when I took my first steps into earning money with writing in Germany. But these times are long gone. I am well past my mid-twenties and have lorryloads of work experience. The only new thing is Great Britain, where I want to get started and where I am looking for contacts and advice. I have read some answers from you on the site that convince me that you are an educated and intelligent person. I would appreciate, if you had any real tips for me. If not: thanks anyway and see you on the site.

[Harry Nuttal]

I suppose my answer was a bit on the cynical side. But it was heartfelt. I'm on the semi-retired list now after close on 45 years in journalism so cynicism goes with the territory. I've waded through dozens of hopefuls over the years; some haven't merited a second glance; others I have willingly taken under my wing. These were the ones with some bottle who weren't afraid to kick in a few doors and who had a good shorthand note. They realised that they weren't going to get a features job on Vogue unless they were very lucky. They were happy to start at the bottom and fight their way up the ladder. My point about knocking on the door of your local paper and offering to work for nowt is excellent advice. But even better advice was: Try something else. The market is flooded. I presume you can speak German. Excellent. Try something where you might make use of that; Brussels, perhaps.