'You've got your hands full'

Write Away: Advice for freelance journalists on negotiating rates

THERE was a fabulous response to my Write Away post last week which explained some basic advice for anyone starting out in freelance writing.

Thank you everyone who commented and thank you to Josie whose question prompted the advice - and who went on to blog that she was increasingly convinced freelance writing wasn't for her.

I don't know if my advice this week will end up helping put anyone off but it does touch on a rather tricky area.

Joanne Mallon from Parentdish raised the question: "What do you say when an editor asks you how much?" as she suspected this would be of interest. Joanne has written extensively on how to be a successful freelancer and has some excellent advice of her own at Journalism.co.uk. I hope my input may also be helpful. 

Ten reasons I don't comment on your blog

1. YOU don't let me  - or ask me to register.

2. You ask me to use a Google or Blogger account - which I have but for reasons too complicated to explain, can't access.

3. It's too difficult and your site keeps telling me there is a problem. (This happens a lot with Blogger sites) or I can't read your Captcha code thingumajig and I give up

***Edit: This happens with Typepad too, I know, um sorry about that!

4. Your post is brilliant but it looks like the conversation is finished

5. You don't respond to comments

6. You don't respond to my comments

7. If I comment, there's no way to see where I am from because it doesn't produce a link  

On turning the air blue in the supermarket and other adventures up the aisles

Photo by daveknapik on Flickr

EVER wondered what goes on behind the scenes to bring you your weekend news?

Once this involved me standing by the satsumas in Sainsbury’s yelling "cock".

I'm surprised I didn't get arrested - or escorted off the premises at the very least.

A message from Great Ormond Street children's hospital...

...OR, what does Melissa's dance teacher have in common with Simon Cowell?

Some may have other answers, but mine is, they are both backing Great Ormond Street children's hospital.

Our local dancing school has donated thousands of pounds over the years and now telly's biggest mugging-for-the-cameras-cum-sobbing-cum-hard-luck-stories fest* is also lending its weight to support the world famous hospital.

Media request: Are you in favour of the swine flu vaccine? MyChild wants to hear from you

MyChild editor Amy is looking for parents who want their children to be vaccinated to comment in a piece about the swine flu vaccine.

Wordless Wednesday: Rollercoaster pictures, Walt Disney World, Florida. Spot the UK mum blogger

Write Away: Advice for aspiring freelance writers - getting started

WELCOME to the first Write Away advice slot!

I've started this regular feature in response to bloggers contacting me asking for guidance about freelance writing.

Thanks to Josie from Sleep is for the Weak who sent me some queries to get the ball rolling. My answer is very long but in Josie's 'one' question, there were a few. 

She said:

There seems to be plenty of opportunities to do 'freebie' writing work online, but how, as a writer with very little experience, do you actually go about getting your first paid contract?

Are jobs advertised online and where? Who do you need to to approach? What opportunities are there realistically?

Do you need a specialism? Or is just a desire to write and a willingness to throw your hand at anything enough?

Media request: Family tips needed - not just baby ones

JOURNALIST Tamsin Kelly says: "I'm urgently looking for practical tips on the ups and downs of family life for the family page of a women's magazine.

"In particular, I need advice that will span several generations or involve members of the extended family such as uncles or grandparents...not simply baby advice.

Chosen tips receive a £25 thank you from the magazine."

Children and bereavement: Families share experiences and advice

Photo by D Sharon Pruitt on Flickr

LIKE millions of others, I watched Children in Need through a mist of tears as two young sisters told an interviewer how much they loved their Daddy, before a caption revealed he'd since died.

I recently worked on a project involving research on how to help bereaved children. As it's not online, I thought I would rewrite and edit it, as well as adding in some bloggers' wisdom. I've pulled together posts that touch on this most delicate of subjects. I hope this may be useful to someone out there sometime.

Tales from a Travelling Mum out now - with a bit from me...

I'VE just updated Have a Lovely Time with this so thought I'd add it here too. Hooray.

I'm one of the mums, along with Gail Mowat from the wonderful Big Beluga Baby who has contributed to travel writer Alice Griffin's new book.

How exciting. I hope this inspirational mum finds plenty of support in the blogosphere. Go Alice!

My contribution is about how much I love family holidays and breaks in the UK, what fun there is to be had and an explanation of why we wanted to set up Have a Lovely Time.

But most of all, of course, Tales from a Travelling Mum: Navigating Europe with a Babe-in-Arms is Alice's story of adventures across Europe with her baby daughter.

It sounds absolutely brilliant and I can't wait for my copy to arrive. Once I've read all about what Alice has been able to get up to, she's also kindly agreed to be interviewed for Have a Lovely Time.