Its All Write

Hello there! Welcome to your go-to newsletter from your friendly neighborhood source. If I had a rupee or a bright 100 Rs note for each person who reached out to me on social media with questions about freelancing, I might not need to freelance at all! It's a funny thought, but honestly, I'd probably earn more than what many Indian publications pay for a single article. Raise your hand if you’ve received any of these messages as a writer: “I want to start freelancing; what should I do?” “Could you share the editor's contact for XYZ [insert name of the publication that’s notoriously hard to pitch to, requiring two years of persistence]?” “I love to travel. Can I become a travel writer?” This newsletter is here to tackle some of those inquiries, and hopefully, provide you with helpful insights. I’ll do my best to keep it friendly, but if it’s the end of the month and my freelance payments haven’t come through, be prepared for some honest advice. Quick writing tip: keep your sentences short; editors prefer it that way!

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Chapter 55

4 weeks ago | joannalobo.substack.com | Joanna Lobo

Dear gentle reader,Welcome to the hottest month of the year! Anyone else using the heat as an excuse to stay away from those looming deadlines? No…it’s just me then? This has been a hectic month that seems to have disappeared in the blink of an eye. Work has been relentless and I am looking forward to a break next month. On a related topic, how does one say ‘no’ to work? I’ve been through many dry patches in this freelancing journey.
Chapter 54

1 month ago | joannalobo.substack.com | Joanna Lobo

Dear gentle reader,Can you believe that we are almost two months into the year 2025? Is this year giving you strange 2020 flashbacks, or is it just me? As some of you know, I used to have an offshoot of this newsletter called Ask Jo, where you could pick my brain for 15 minutes (and above) about freelancing. I wish to bring that back. I don’t claim to be an expert in this but if talking to me can help you in any way, I would be happy to get into a conversation.
Chapter 53

Jan 13, 2025 | joannalobo.substack.com | Joanna Lobo

Dear gentle reader, Wishing you a gentle, kind and productive new year 2025. If you, like me, have had a tough 2024, here take some cake. The legendary Virginia Woolf's 1931 New Year’s resolutions included: “to have none. not to be tied. to be free & kindly with myself. sometimes to read, sometimes not to read. to go out, yes—but stay at home in spite of being asked. as for clothes, I think to buy good ones”Do you have any freelance resolutions for 2025?
Chapter 52

Oct 28, 2024 | joannalobo.substack.com | Joanna Lobo

Dear gentle reader,Happy Diwali! Here’s wishing your year ahead is full of light and happiness (and no crackers!). My goal when restarting the newsletter was to send it out monthly, but that’s proving difficult. So far, the newsletters seem to be going out at festive times…so hopefully, they add some sweetness to your lives!This newsletter has an interview with Krystelle Dsouza from The Better India + pitch calls + other opportunities. Ready? Let’s begin.
Chapter 51

Sep 8, 2024 | joannalobo.substack.com | Joanna Lobo

Hello dear writers, Happy Chaturthi! Have an extra modak on me, please. I hope the last few weeks have been mindful and demure (as spoken by the gods of Tiktok)! I do realise this newsletter is a month late but I trust it will be worth it. I am aiming to send it out monthly but life gets in the way (though I am not complaining). If you have the time, do check out a story that is dear to my heart and which took me a year (from pitch to publication) — it is about Goa’s seaweed queen.
Chapter 50

Jul 28, 2024 | joannalobo.substack.com | Joanna Lobo

Dear gentle reader,I reached a half century! It feels like quite the achievement (I am at the stage in my life where I am celebrating any kind of win). Work has been keeping me busy along with bouts of imposter syndrome that have me wondering if I am a good writer. I feel like I’ve spent the last month just reworking articles (sometimes more than once). It’s quite a kick in the gut, I must say. But, I am reminding myself that this is temporary.
Chapter 49

Jun 21, 2024 | joannalobo.substack.com | Joanna Lobo

Dear writers, I have to say, I am a little overwhelmed by the response to my last newsletter. It made me really happy, and I hope you all find these newsletters helpful. This is a slightly delayed newsletter (I was hoping to publish earlier in the month) because I have been travelling and work has been piling up. This edition has an interview with Payel from Luxebook + pitch calls + lots of job opps + other resources. If you find this useful, please share with your friends? Ready? Let’s begin.
Chapter 48:

Apr 30, 2024 | joannalobo.substack.com | Joanna Lobo

Dear gentle reader,It has been a long time, hasn’t it? I had big plans for this newsletter, even tried using a new platform, but life got in the way. Through these years, I have been touched by the number of people who’ve come up and told me how much they liked the newsletter. I am really glad it was beneficial, and I am hoping to carry on that legacy. Here, I am essentially picking up from where I left off. I figured my birthday week is a good time to restart…a gift, of sorts, to myself.
The 'How to Pitch' guide

Apr 24, 2024 | joannalobo.substack.com | Joanna Lobo

Dear writers, If you are starting out on your freelance journey, this guide is meant for you. A PITCH is one of the foremost tools you need in your freelance life, and this newsletter aims to answer your questions about it. The guide includes1) What is a pitch + how to write one2) Dummy pitches 3) Post-pitching process4) FAQReady? Let's begin. There’s much to say about the process of pitching so the focus here is on basics: what is a pitch + how to write it.
Everything you needed to know about IAW

Apr 18, 2024 | joannalobo.substack.com | Joanna Lobo

Hello to old and new subscribers, This newsletter aims to answer all/ any questions you may have about IAW. The newsletter is free at the moment. As part of the Pitch Clinic events conducted earlier, I offered to review participants’ pitches and I believe they have benefitted from my feedback.