How Can Writing a Syndicated Newspaper Column Change my Life?

GENERAL QUESTIONS

·	What is a “Syndicated Newspaper Column?“

·	How is an “Article” different than a “Column?”

·	How does one get syndicated?

·	Should I “syndicate” or “self-syndicate?”

·	How does Market2Editors work?

·	Which do editors prefer - e-mail or snail-mail?

·	How will my syndicated newspaper column be presented to editors?

·	Does Market2Editors send to ALL newspaper editors?

·	Are there any Newspaper Columns Market2Editors turns down?

·	How can I be sure my syndicated newspaper column isn’t seen as spam?

·	How will newspaper editors contact me?

·	What are my chances of getting published?

·	Does Market2Editors guarantee you will sell your newspaper column?

MONEY MATTERS

·	How much money does a syndicated columnist make?

·	How much should I charge for my syndicated newspaper column?

·	What are the benefits of writing a syndicated newspaper column?

·	How else can writing a syndicated newspaper column change my life?

WRITING YOUR COLUMN

·	How do I craft my syndicated newspaper column?

·	Is my column’s topic of interest to newspaper editors?

·	Do you need to be an expert to write a newspaper column?

·	Should my newspaper column be daily, weekly or monthly?

·	How many words should my newspaper column be?

·	Any tips for editing my own writing?

·	How important is my newspaper column’s title?

·	How do I write a compelling query letter?

MANAGING YOUR NEW CAREER

·	Do you have a sample contract for newspaper columnists?

·	How do I bill editors for my syndicated newspaper column?

SUBMITTING YOUR WORK

·	How many columns do I need to write to get started?

·	What are the prices and how do I order?

How Can Writing a Syndicated Newspaper

Column Change my Life?

My newspaper column, “Ask Rat Dog,” was syndicated by King Features in 1993. It ran in over 60 newspapers including The Dallas Morning News, The Chicago Sun Times & The Denver Post. I went on to successfully self-syndicate for over a decade.

It started with an ad to promote my business . . .

Don’t be embarrassed. Call Rat Dog Dick, the skiptracer who finds people like a rat dog finds rats.

That’s it to your right. With a much more reachable phone number, of course.

What happened? Initially, nothing. As it turns out, a lot of attorneys don’t have much of a sense of humor. Who knew?

It took about two months before anyone even called. The reason, I now know, is that it takes up to eight exposures before you even reach someone’s consciousness.

But eventually, I did get jobs. About that same time, the local media started to take notice. The result was a lot of local publicity about “Rat Dog Dick,” the young woman who turned the sinking of her houseboat into a colorful and viable business. I owe the success of “Ask Rat Dog” to a variety of ingredients. A funny name. A woman in a “man’s profession.” A “glamour job.” The “Are you putting me on?” factor

THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER COLUMN:

I could not help but notice that when I got written up in newspapers, I made more money. But how could I be assured of continuing to get newspaper exposure on a regular basis? By writing about myself, of course! And so I began writing a newspaper column called, “Ask Rat Dog” for our neighborhood newspaper, The Marina Times.