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I was just pointing out on the writers room that having been reading NB for a few years i know comedy names don't go down well. It reminded me that I started coming here having read this: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5355820.stm and that was 5 years ago. But it wasn't until earlier this year that I thought about having a go myself.
I know some of you have been posting from the start, but were any of you "long time readers, first time posters" like me?
A couple of years I think. Then the standard briefly dropped enough that I thought I had a chance of getting some stuff used.
Clearly it hasn't recovered...
Stan Laurel
offlineMember
I posted after a week of discovering Newsbiscuit. Took three months solid graft before my first FP, then another four months until my second.
waylandsmithy
offlineMember
I kind of plunged straight in. Anyone else reading this who hasn't submitted anything but is thinking about it should do the same, only one way to find out how it'll be received. Nothing to lose. Unless you're a mental, obviously.
'Plucked up the courage' probably isn't really the right term for me. Never really lacking in self confidence I thought 'I'll have a go at that, I'll be bloody brilliant at it', but took ages to get round to actually writing anything. My first sub was awful and I realised I wasn't brilliant at it, but then my second sub hit the FP and I was hooked.
Strangely enough I probably have less confidence in my writing now despite some success, maybe I'm getting less arrogant as I get older.
Midfield Diamond
offlineMember
Probably a couple of weeks. Someone sent me the link to the FP with 'NATO to bomb FIFA' which I thought was excellent and also made me think 'I can do that'. I'd been writing football fanzine fodder for a while, full of in-jokes and abuse about other teams, etc but have certainly found it more difficult to write to a wider audience. Not sure if I'm getting any better at it but enjoy the challenge anyway and the occasional bit of praise massages the ego very nicely thank you.
Oxbridge
offlineMember
Saw a copy of Isle of Wight Gets Ceefax (too tight to buy it, mind), looked up the site and thought 'I used to do that'. It's been emotional. Newbies - don't hesitate, plunge straight in, accept there's an element of luck in it and ignore the sarcastic comments by Rikkor. If you're good enough, your stuff will be used.
Stan Laurel
offlineMember
Button, in answer to your question, I've no idea how many full subs it took before my first FP, but it seemed like hundreds. Hit rate is a little better these days.
godly1966
offlineMember
I didn’t take long to start coming up with one line headlines, but actually writing text to go with the headlines is far more difficult than it looks. Everyone should have a go even if it only makes you appreciate how good some of the regular contributors are.
charlies_hat
offlineMember
I read NB for about 18 months before I thought about a sub. Have stuck with lazy one liners ever since.....
Immunis
offlineMember
I wrote my first headline after a couple of days and was lucky to hit a ticker on my second attempt, today I have my first short story on the page and it will encourage me to do more and get better. What I can say is that some sharp editing done by the site overlords is both gratefully received and is a good learning experience.
I am not a regular writer outside of news biscuit so I am still getting to grips with how to pace and tone the most basic of stories.
I've gained an appreciation for one-liners that I didn't have before I started writing. I find it much easier to write a full article than a ticker, and now think that there isn't less skill involved (which I used to think), but just a different skill.
So charlie - don't call them lazy one-liners, just keep them coming.
charlies_hat
offlineMember
VCG - I hear what you're saying, although I don't have the 'blueprint' of a sub in my head yet, so when I've had the time to attempt to form an idea into a sub, it takes too long. Maybe I'll spend some holiday time getting the 'snappy headline, strong 1st para, relevant quote, tie up para, kicker last line' thing to gel a little - that said, I sometimes think for ages about a single line to try and get two or three meanings into 6-8 words !
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