Happy Thursday!
In case you missed it, Joni Sweet and I are hosting a Holiday gift guide Zoom. We both write for Forbes and other publications. We’ll discuss holiday gift guides in general, what we personally look for when curating guides for Forbes, affiliate links, and answer your questions. This event is exclusively for paid subscribers to both of our Substack newsletters. Even a 1-month subscription is enough to get you a spot. We think we’re worth it! Please sign up here.
Also, I plan to do monthly Zooms for paid subscribers solo. So, if you're not a paid subscriber yet, there’s never been a better time.
Sourcing For The Following Articles
I’m writing something like 40 articles (could be 38, could be 42) in October, with at least 25 for Real Simple. Here are five of my most recent assignments. I’ll have way more next week.
Also, I’m always looking for kids' products to review for Today’s Parent. So if you are pitching me those, put Substack in your subject line.
Please use "Substack + Article Title" as the subject line.
Fall 2024 Handbag Trends (according to stylists) - Deadline: 10/1 at 9:00 AM PST
I need stylists to comment on fall handbag trends. No specific links are required (or wanted—my editor’s choice not me)—just a style, an explanation of why it’s popular, and a few tips on how to wear it.
Home Tasks to Do Before Daylight Savings Time Ends - Deadline: 10/2 at 9:00 AM PST
I’d love to hear from organizers, DIYers, or handy people.
Things You Should Never Do in a Nail Salon - Deadline: 10/4 at 9:00 AM PST
I’d love to hear from nail pros. What’s the etiquette? What should or shouldn’t you ask for? Give me all the faux pas.
Things You Should Never Store Outdoors in the Winter - Deadline: 10/4 at 9:00 AM PST
I’d love to hear from pro organizers.
Top Paint Trends for Winter 2024 (according to designers) - Deadline: 10/4 at 9:00 AM PST
Need picks from designers. Can be shades or even specific color examples.
Exclusively Over It
I touched on this earlier this week, as did my friend Dahvi on TikTok (also, why aren’t you following me there and on IG?). She will also be discussing the same topic on her Substack. So here we go—enjoy!
Like many writers, hate being offered exclusive articles. Here are some thoughts that come to mind when I’m pitched exclusives:
I have to answer your email quickly because I feel like you're on a tight deadline, but I don’t have time to get into this right now.
This is stressing me out.
Why is this even an exclusive?
Before I completely shut it down, let’s go over what should be an exclusive:
Celebrity or public figure interviews
Celebrity or public figure house tours
Crazy shit that involves a newsticker thing on a screen
Other than that, I don’t think it serves anyone to have a story in one outlet when it could be in five or ten. The anniversary of something? The opening of an envelope? Why are you offering an exclusive?
I mean, I do know why…
It’s exciting for your client to be featured in Forbes (I get it).
If I say yes, then you don’t have to reach out to anyone else, and your job is done. It looks awesome that your client is in Forbes, and you can move on with your life and order some DoorDash.
Here’s the problem…
A lot of this isn’t actually newsworthy or exciting, nor will it get much readership.
That said, so I don’t sound like a total asshole, I understand that what you pitch isn’t always your idea. You’re just doing your job.
Here’s another thing:
I don’t want to be offered an exclusive that requires me to leave my house. This is a big one.
“Do you want to come see this store? It’ll only take your entire afternoon, and then a few more hours to write about it.”
Very few people will willingly go to dusty construction site, wear a hard hat, or deal with traffic, especially in LA. And this isn’t just coming from me as a mom with less time than I used to have. It’s coming from me as a person. Are you seriously asking me to take an afternoon off and then write an article?
(This also kind of applies to coffee meetings aka meetings that don’t involve any sort of alcohol, but maybe I’ll write about that next week.)
Obviously, it’s different for an event because there’s a fun social aspect and usually a gift bag involved (who doesn’t love a gift bag?). But pitching it as a privilege to kill an afternoon makes me wonder what planet you live on. And it’s not just me and LA traffic—I'm sure NYC-based writers feel similarly.
Honestly, these asks are a bit of a turn-off because I feel like you don’t value my time.
A Quick Tip
If you’re going to offer a writer an exclusive, check out their most recent articles and social media. If someone hasn’t written on that topic in a while, or they seem knee-deep in diapers or serious life stuff, maybe take that into account before making a big ask.
I’ll also note that social media doesn’t tell the whole story, but a quick look certainly can’t hurt.
One More Thing
Nothing is set in stone for anyone (did I just contradict myself—maybe) and if there’s a brand I really love, I’ll make an exception because I like what they’re doing, but at least for me, it probably won’t happen in October.