Meghan O'Keefe

This is the first FAQ I’m doing, but I wager it won’t be the last. Enjoy. Or scroll on.

Okay, I get a bunch of messages via email, tumblr and through personal Facebook messaging about my writing, and when I say I get questions about my writing, what I mean is I get questions about how I got published on a certain site and how much dough I’m raking in. No one ever wants to discuss the finer points of my prose (unless Ryan Gosling is involved).

Here’s how I got published on:

• The Apiary: They had a general call for writers in May 2010 and I submitted. And then I followed up. And then I wrote. And then I rewrote. And then I submitted and followed up and wrote and rewrote again.
• RealCityNy: I wanted to add TV recaps to my resume so I found them listing on CraigsList. I submitted. And then I followed up. And then I wrote. And then I rewrote. And then I submitted and followed up and wrote and rewrote again.
• Splitsider: I wanted to write for them so I submitted an idea. And then I followed up. And then I wrote. And then I rewrote. And then I wrote. And then I rewrote.  And then I wrote. And then I rewrote. And then I submitted and followed up and wrote and rewrote again. 
• OverthinkingIt.com: A couple of my best friends from Boston are editors on this site. I waited until I had a good idea and I submitted. And then I wrote. And then I submitted and wrote again. There’s less following up and rewriting and more deadline dashing when you’re pals with the editors. Sad, but true.
• The Hairpin: I wanted to write for them so I submitted an idea. And then I followed up. And then I wrote. And then I rewrote. And then I wrote. And then I rewrote.  And then I wrote. And then I rewrote. And then I submitted and followed up and wrote and rewrote again.
• Hello Giggles: I wanted to write for them so I submitted an idea in the open contributions section. Then I submitted another idea. A month later I was told they liked the second one. A month later it was finally published. Then they told me over twitter they wanted me to contribute regularly. Then I followed up. I followed up again. And again. And again for about six weeks until they offered me an official spot. Then I wrote. And I wrote. And I wrote. And I wrote. And I rewrote. And I wrote.

What I’m saying is it’s a lot of writing, rewriting, following up and just plain hard work. 

How much did all of these websites pay me? Nothing. 

I did all of this for free because I knew coming from an office job with an English degree and no professional writing experience, I would never get a job writing professionally for a publication. I had to prove myself as talented and hard working by starting at the bottom and building the kind of resume that could blow someone who has a journalism degree, an internship at TV Guide magazine and two years writing generic Gardening articles for pay out of the water at a major online or print magazine. I’m still working on it and since this summer have I started fielding offers for paid work.

“But Meghan, that seems ridiculous that you would work so much for free.”

I know, right? But I’m finally (since “Dear Ryan Gosling”) at a point where I can start looking for paid work. Now it’s only a matter of easing myself off of my previous website commitments and into the world of paid only writing.

Writing for free has its perks, though: I can write WHATEVER I WANT WHENEVER I WANT. I’ve gotten to work with an incredible group of writers and editors. My work has been read by a wide audience. Also, I’ve had the freedom to develop my own online voice that’s determined by my own interests, and not the interests of whomever will pay me. 

That is my honest response to anyone and everyone who asks. And it’s also an explanation for why in 2012, I probably won’t be writing as much for most of the sites I listed. I’m at a point where making writing deadlines is overtaking my stand up and improv obligations, so I have to make some tough choices soon.

(p.s. I personally reached out to Molly McNearney, Jessi Klein and Sara Schaeffer for interviews for Splitsider and The Apiary, respectively. After I reached out a bunch, comics started reaching out to me. Just food for thought.)