A question of would be or any actual jounos

PostieJohn

Would a newspaper print a specific missive written by Mr J Public.

The Sunday Times, my paper of choice, has a weekly cycling column, which seems to be written by the same half a dozen journos/media types.

Having the day off, from cycling today, I decided to put my little fat fingers to work, and have written a first draft for this column.
It's something I have thought about doing for ages, not in a 'god I could write better than that' style, more 'I can also write in a similar theme'.

If it were to be really good (unlikely, but you never know) is it at all likely The Sunday Times would print the work of a rank amateur?

jim453

Post an example of your writing here John.


You're bound to get loads of really helpful suggestions and constructive advice.

PostieJohn

No way, you're already linking me with a level of professionalism I'm not comfortable with!.

You know how it is, in the behemoth that is The Sunday Times, the tiny cycling feature, is the first thing I read.
Today with nothing better to do, I wrote down my musings.

I certainly wouldn't want to, and in all honesty couldn't, write anything beyond occasional relatively short missives on a subject I am passionate about.
I'm merely curious, now draft one is complete, what to do with it, with the obvious likely place for it, being where the inspiration originally came from.

I guess it's a testament to the feature that I would like to contribute to it, hence my original question.

inkyfingers

How about sending it to Rouleur or The Ride magazines

jim453

PostieJohn wrote:

No way, you're already linking me with a level of professionalism I'm not comfortable with!.

You know how it is, in the behemoth that is The Sunday Times, the tiny cycling feature, is the first thing I read.
Today with nothing better to do, I wrote down my musings.

I certainly wouldn't want to, and in all honesty couldn't, write anything beyond occasional relatively short missives on a subject I am passionate about.
I'm merely curious, now draft one is complete, what to do with it, with the obvious likely place for it, being where the inspiration originally came from.

I guess it's a testament to the feature that I would like to contribute to it, hence my original question.

John,

If you can't bear the thought of others scrutinising your work then it's a complete non starter.

The Sunday Times will, almost certainly, never print your work.

In fact, I'm not sure what you expect if you can't share it at this early stage. What makes you think your work is better than experienced journalists paid to do the job?

Start writing your own blog. Others on here have done just that. With very mixed results. Could be a way in.

Le Commentateur

Short answer: no.

I suppose there's a slight possibility they may do so as a letter-to-the-editor response to a particular article.

disquieting_museeuws

If they have a letters section you could send something to that, I've had bits printed by the Guardian and Observer like that.

deptfordmarmoset

I'm not sure if this is the correct term but a paper will have someone with a title close to ''commissioning editor.'' See whether you can trace them and check out the Guardian bike blog too - some of their posts seem to come from outside their professional pool.

Meanwhile, setting up you own blog as a labour of love could be a way forward - it'll get you in practice and provide accessible examples of your writing to any half-interested editor you manage to find.

PostieJohn

Sorry Jim that was my knee jerk reaction to you asking 'for an example of my work'.

I'm not and never will be a 'writer'.
As I said I enjoy the column, love the subject, and cycling is one of the few things hold many views, one of which I'd given serious thought to and composed an essay on.
All very strange for me.

When I polish it up I will put it out there and would love all the feed back, but as for having examples of my work, it'll take a little while before a back catalogue forms .

verylonglegs

PostieJohn wrote:

Sorry Jim that was my knee jerk reaction to you asking 'for an example of my work'.

I'm not and never will be a 'writer'.
As I said I enjoy the column, love the subject, and cycling is one of the few things hold many views, one of which I'd given serious thought to and composed an essay on.
All very strange for me.

When I polish it up I will put it out there and would love all the feed back, but as for having examples of my work, it'll take a little while before a back catalogue forms .

If that's the case then why lower yourself to the Sunday Times?

slowlanejane

Postie, don't be put off.

Submit your article and let them say yay or nay. I worked in print news for years, you can sumbmit freelance stuff anytime, just don't expect a by-line (where your name is printed alongside the article and therefore publically attributable). That comes later adn is a badge of honour. Send it to the regular journo whose article you read, or to the section editor. You can also phone them up for a chat. You'll find contact info either in the paper, on the "flannel panel" - where they list who's who in the journal, or go online.

IMO, bettr to try & fail than not try at all, and never know. The worst they can say is "no thanks" and you are no worse off than when you started.

You go for it!

SLJ

Harry B

Judging by the title of this thread you've got no chance

rick_chasey

Start a blog.

If enough people read it regularly, then it's a good case to go into print. Otherwise, it isn't...

Yossie

Having the day off, from cycling today, I decided to put my little fat fingers to work, and have written a first draft for this column.

Sorry, but no. Correct use of punctuation is always a good starter I believe.

Hoopdriver

Starting with a subordinate clause isn't so hot either

iainment

Yossie wrote:

Having the day off, from cycling today, I decided to put my little fat fingers to work, and have written a first draft for this column.

Sorry, but no. Correct use of punctuation is always a good starter I believe.

Isn't that what subs are for?

iainment

Hoopdriver wrote:

Starting with a subordinate clause isn't so hot either

Isn't that what subs are for.

iainment

Give it a go, write the article and submit it. If not used ask why and do another article and so on until you get something published.

Good luck - don't take any notice of some of the condecension you got on here.

Pip pip.

rick_chasey

Hoopdriver wrote:

Starting with a subordinate clause isn't so hot either

Rubbish.

jim453

iainment wrote:

Give it a go, write the article and submit it. If not used ask why and do another article and so on until you get something published.

Good luck - don't take any notice of some of the condecension you got on here.

Pip pip.

But take very careful note of the rest.

Anyway, I bought a football yesterday and kind of like watching the sport. I see no reason why I shouldn't be considered for the upcoming international.

Please don't condescend me by saying that I might struggle to even get on the bench.

iainment

jim453 wrote:

iainment wrote:

Give it a go, write the article and submit it. If not used ask why and do another article and so on until you get something published.

Good luck - don't take any notice of some of the condecension you got on here.

Pip pip.

But take very careful note of the rest.

Anyway, I bought a football yesterday and kind of like watching the sport. I see no reason why I shouldn't be considered for the upcoming international.

Please don't condescend me by saying that I might struggle to even get on the bench.

If you're Scottish you'll be fine. Oh and by the way look at what I wrote I think I mentioned something about giving it a go and if not used get feedback and keep trying. Not you'll win prizes from first attempt.

PostieJohn

jim453 wrote:

Anyway, I bought a football yesterday and kind of like watching the sport. I see no reason why I shouldn't be considered for the upcoming international.

Please don't condescend me by saying that I might struggle to even get on the bench.

Bizarrely enough that highlights the point I was trying, and obviously failing to make, assuming you're not Wayne Rooney!.
Alex Ferguson wouldn't take me on, because I have a ball, Graham Souness might .

Is there any precedent for someone with a pen getting published?

To which the answer is:-

You have a zero percent chance of them including your musings, even on a quiet week.
As no matter how good it is, a small insignificant section of The Sunday Times which isn't even filled weekly, is still way to big to give to a bloke who happens to be bored, one morning.

That's all I wanted to know.

jim453

PostieJohn wrote:

jim453 wrote:

Anyway, I bought a football yesterday and kind of like watching the sport. I see no reason why I shouldn't be considered for the upcoming international.

Please don't condescend me by saying that I might struggle to even get on the bench.

Bizarrely enough that highlights the point I was trying, and obviously failing to make, assuming you're not Wayne Rooney!.
Alex Ferguson wouldn't take me on, because I have a ball, Graham Souness might .

Is there any precedent for someone with a pen getting published?

To which the answer is:-

You have a zero percent chance of them including your musings, even on a quiet week.
As no matter how good it is, a small insignificant section of The Sunday Times which isn't even filled weekly, is still way to big to give to a bloke who happens to be bored, one morning.

That's all I wanted to know.

For goodness sake John don't give up. If you enjoy your writing then write a blog or something. Just keep on self publicising it on cake stop every time you add another bit, that's what everyone else does and it makes me read them. Not bad too, some of them.

However, are you seriously expecting me to believe that you considered the possibillity that the editor of a major broadsheet was just scratching his arse and waiting for a member of the public to post in some feature or other to fill up his paper?

Had you not thought of starting smaller? Local paper? Parish magazine?

Good luck with the blog John, can't wait to read the first instalment.

spen666

jim453 wrote:

PostieJohn wrote:

jim453 wrote:

Anyway, I bought a football yesterday and kind of like watching the sport. I see no reason why I shouldn't be considered for the upcoming international.

Please don't condescend me by saying that I might struggle to even get on the bench.

Bizarrely enough that highlights the point I was trying, and obviously failing to make, assuming you're not Wayne Rooney!.
Alex Ferguson wouldn't take me on, because I have a ball, Graham Souness might .

Is there any precedent for someone with a pen getting published?

To which the answer is:-

You have a zero percent chance of them including your musings, even on a quiet week.
As no matter how good it is, a small insignificant section of The Sunday Times which isn't even filled weekly, is still way to big to give to a bloke who happens to be bored, one morning.

That's all I wanted to know.

For goodness sake John don't give up. If you enjoy your writing then write a blog or something. Just keep on self publicising it on cake stop every time you add another bit, that's what everyone else does and it makes me read them. Not bad too, some of them.

However, are you seriously expecting me to believe that you considered the possibillity that the editor of a major broadsheet was just scratching his ars* and waiting for a member of the public to post in some feature or other to fill up his paper?

Had you not thought of starting smaller? Local paper? Parish magazine?

Good luck with the blog John, can't wait to read the first instalment.

i wouldn't do such a thing