The Girl's Guide

Issue 113: Do The Write Thing (feat. Freda Donnelly)

Welcome back to The Girl’s Guide! If you missed the most recent issue, find it here.

I’ll be doing weekly newsletters for the month of June because I have so many great interviews for you! So don’t be surprised when you see me in your inbox again next Friday. I’ll return to a biweekly schedule in July and plan to take a break starting in August when Baby Boy Solheim arrives!

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Do The Write Thing

Are you interested in becoming a published writer but don’t know where to start? I polled some of my favorite writers and editors about this topic to bring you a wide variety of tips and tricks. Enjoy!

This could be you.

Start By Reading, Not Writing

“Read widely — and not just in politics. See how other writers use sentence structures and evaluate their word choices. Especially see if they've made a logical argument (which is rare these days).” - Mike Sabo

“Journal as much as possible. Read books written by columnists — Charles Krauthammer, Tucker Carlson, Boris Johnson, Ann Coulter.” - Patricia Patnode

Get Over Your Fear of Rejection

“Just send the pitch — getting ignored or rejected stings, but you’ll survive. As Michael Scott is famously quoted, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” But learn from the rejection, and even ask for feedback if you think the editor isn’t totally annoyed with you yet.” - Sarah Wilder

“Don't be afraid of taking chances when it comes to pitching. Unless you have a really bad pitch that's communicated poorly, the worst they can say is, ‘No.’ Get yourself an editor (or two) who understand your type of writing and your brain.” - Freda Donnelly

“Just because a pitch doesn’t work in one place doesn’t mean it won’t work elsewhere. Give them a deadline of a week before you move the article elsewhere.” - Kylie Thomas

Work Your Way Up

“Start SMALL. I can’t count how many people I hear pitching nonstop to The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times when they could be building out a way better portfolio with publications hungry for content.” - Alina Clough

Keep It Simple

“Bottom line up front! I hate having to dig for information — I deal with folks sending me writing and events all the time and just having the basics (where, when, who, what, time/date) up front is so critical.” - Katie Johnson

Be Smart on Social Media

“If you're using Twitter, don't ever just post an article link with like ‘Hey, I wrote this!’ People are lazy, so either summarize a bit in thread form and add a ‘But wait, there's more!’ at the end, or if there's a specific point you really want to promote, screenshot that section! Photos and snappy quotes are highly retweetable, article links just aren't.” - Alina Clough

Be Original

“Thorough original reporting will set your work apart especially if you’re young and trying to break in to a specific journalism genre. If you’re someone who wants kids and to freelance, make connections with editors and publications early in your career because you won’t have as much time to!” - Marlo Slayback

Sometimes, You Have To Break the Rules

“Listen to your own instincts instead of conforming to arbitrary rules if it isn't working for you. I did a big freelance writing no-no. The thing everyone tells you NEVER to do or else risk being blacklisted from the publication.

The thing I did was re-pitch the same story to the same publication but to a different editor. Caveat: my original pitch garnered keen interest from an editor at the publication who then ghosted me and never replied to any of my subsequent emails. I had to let it go. I tried pitching it elsewhere but couldn't get it accepted. Then I just had a feeling and went with it, so I tidied up my pitch and sent it to an editor from that publication who had put out a pitch call in the niche my original pitch was in. I included a full disclosure at the beginning of the email that I had pitched this to an editor before who showed interest but who I never heard from again and that I know this is a big no-no, but I’m sending it through since it fits the niche of her pitch call. She accepted it the same day! If I followed online advice, this wouldn't have happened.” - Jaimee Marshall

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If you missed my previous newsletters with tips for freelance writers, check out Part I and Part II.

Interview with Freda Donnelly

Today’s interview is

Freda Donnelly

, who wears many hats, including as the host of the video podcast Finding the Faith! Follow Freda on Twitter and Instagram, and find her show on Rumble. I’ll be joining her show soon so keep an eye out for those details!

What does your life look like right now?

Kyle — my husband, whom I’ve been with for a decade — is my better half in all ways, and inspires me to keep creating and working hard. Finding The Faith and freelance writing have been giving me life. I’m working on wrapping up my university studies, where I’m getting my Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources and a dual minor in Psychology and Project Management. I’m about to start job hunting, which is exhilarating (and nerve-wracking) since I know that I have a breadth of experience and resourcefulness that can make a wonderful impact at the right organization. 

“I wanted to build a show that was for both new believers and long-time church goers.” - Freda Donnelly

What inspired you to start your show Finding the Faith?

I had so many questions, ones that my social circle couldn’t quite answer. It finally got to the point where I begged God for a podcast that does what mine does — explores what matters from a wide variety of doctrinal worldviews and focuses on our relationship with Him first and foremost — but instead of a recommendation, I realized that I needed to fill that niche. What I wanted didn’t exist, so I had to be the one to prayerfully build and curate a show until it reached its desired form. I wanted to build a show that was for both new believers and long-time church goers, one that didn’t infantilize the audience but met them where they are. 

What are your favorite topics to research and write about right now?

I’m fascinated by how we can utilize holistic means to be our best selves and support our loved ones in their journey to be the best version of themselves as well. I believe that true success isn’t merely succeeding on your own, but helping those around you get where they want to go. I truly enjoy reflecting the challenges that women face amidst the backdrop of the culture war, and bringing men in on the conversation to bridge the divide between them. Aiming towards writing that helps everyone feel understood and less alone while we collectively aim to find peace in making the best decisions we can with the resources that we have. I find myself frequently tying in trending topics with life lessons and putting a bow on them, sending it to the editor and hoping it blesses at least one person.

“Kyle — my husband, whom I’ve been with for a decade — is my better half in all ways.” - Freda Donnelly

What's something you wish you had known in your early 20s?

Every “yes” is a simultaneous “no.” Prayerfully discerning your priorities and how they feed into both long-term and short-term goals is crucial. Leading a full life is a juggling act, and some balls you juggle are plastic, whereas others are glass. Dropping some of them have weightier consequences than others, while some are more resilient. You have to be truly cognizant of which balls both are and aren’t in the air, which are a priority, and know that it’s okay for not every era of your life to be a full-blown circus.

What's the biggest lesson you've learned about friendship in your life?

You don’t always have to love everyone up close. Some connections we make are for a reason, while others are simply for a season. Healthy boundaries play an important part of this, as does seeing each other’s inherent dignity. Love people while you can.

The Haps

Here are some links to what I’ve been reading and listening to this week:

• Sneakerheads in Congress grow their footprint (Roll Call): Yes, there is a Congressional Sneaker Caucus, and yes, they did just host the second annual Congressional Sneaker Day.

• Nicole Kidman Confirms She and Sandra Bullock Will Star in the Practical Magic Sequel (People): I think the novel Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman is so cozy, and the 1998 film version was a fun watch. It’s kind of insane to think that these star actresses will reunite for a sequel roughly 25 years later!

• Fairy Tales and Children’s Literature with Dr. Vigen Guroian (The Literary Life Podcast): Guroian discusses how fairy tales shape children’s moral imagination, the metaphor of magic, and more. The podcast has a bit of a slow start but is a must-listen.

• Chasing Gender Euphoria (The American Spectator):

  Mary Frances Myler
  reviews Mary Margaret Olohan’s new book Detrans: True Stories of Escaping the Gender Ideology Cult.

• Ranger Cookies (Magnolia.com): They’re like cleaning out the cupboard cookies, but better.

Bulletin Board

JOB SEARCHING? The American Conservation Coalition (ACC) is seeking an experienced, full-time Content Associate to join our team. The ideal candidate would be a highly motivated self-starter with experience in graphic design, social media content creation, and copywriting. Depending on the candidate’s preference, this position could be remote or based in ACC’s DC office. Read more about this opportunity here.

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