Stuck on Paste.

My visit to Paste Magazine was this past Friday (November 4) and despite our mildly late arrival, the trip was a success. Upon entering the gloriously open and laid back office I was instantly relieved that places like this, truly did exist.

We had a short conference with Palmer Houchins the New Media Marketing Manager for the publication before taking our tour and he gave us some insight on pitching stories as freelance writers to get our names out and build up a resume. I know this is a PR blog, but I definitely feel as though plenty of the advice he gave can be applied to pitching a campaign, and you never know when money will get tight and you have to find a little bit of extra work to keep the food on the table, right?

The following are the notes I jotted:
- Always over e-mail.
-- No one will answer your phone call.
-- Address the editor by name.
-- Identify yourself.
-- How long is the story?
-- When can you have it in?
- Keep the pitch to a paragraph or two.
- Don't pitch doing a feature on someone you know.
- Consition is a virtue.
- Do it in a style and a voice that fits the publication.
- Subject and publication should reflect in the tone.
- Always be yourself.
- Don't be afraid to hear "no." You will hear it a lot.
- Just because you hear "no" once doesn't mean you are banned for life.
- BELIEVE IN THE WORK THAT YOU'RE DOING.

Hope this proves to be helpful.

*Please pardon the gush sesh: Paste Magazine headquarters are where it's at. There's music and a good positive energy everywhere. Everyone seems to be really laid back and into what they are doing. There isn't a single cubicle in the whole place and the dresscode all about what you're comfortable in. drooldrooldrool*

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