The Writing Coach Podcast 102: Mother tongue

WCP102 Mother tongue with Beatriz Miranda, Agnieszka Pikulicka- Wilczewska, and Yolisa Qunta

Today we’re looking at the challenges and opportunities for multilingual writers. We speak with freelancers from Brazil, Poland, and South Africa, who have all used their locations and language skills to build relationships with editors overseas. This is a fascinating discussion for everyone interested in developing a better understanding of international coverage.

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MENTIONED ON THIS EPISODE

Today we’re looking at the challenges and opportunities for multilingual writers. We speak with freelancers from Brazil, Poland, and South Africa, who have all used their locations and language skills to build relationships with editors overseas. This is a fascinating discussion for everyone interested in developing a better understanding of international coverage.

-Centering local stories for foreign audiences (i.e. not allowing an “othering” or so-called exotic gaze) and making sure that editors understand the cultural significance of story angles

-Working as a fixer with a foreign correspondent and networking to find freelance gigs

-Building confidence with language skills and leaning into an understanding of local topics

-Crafting different angles for editors in different countries

-Challenging stereotypes about who can be and who is best suited for covering news in foreign countries, e.g. a non-Western perspective

MASTER THE ART OF THE PITCH

Today’s podcast guests are all alumni of Freelance Writer Bootcamp, where they learned to improve their pitches. In my small group coaching program, you’ll learn the same proven processes that have helped Bootcamp alumni break into the New York Times, the Guardian, Bustle, Nat Geo Travel, the BBC, Outside, and many more.

Apply for the September session of Freelance Writer Bootcamp: www.FreelanceWriterBootcamp.com

MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Beatriz Miranda is a Brazilian freelance journalist covering her country for The New York Times, New Internationalist, Ozy, OkayAfrica, The Rio Times, and others. Her stories are born where Brazil’s culture and social issues intersect.

Beatriz Miranda on Twitter: https://twitter.com/beatrizhmiranda

“A Black Pianist Helped Birth Bossa Nova. His Story Is Rarely Told” in the New York Times

Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska is a freelance journalist based in Uzbekistan, a former editor with New Eastern Europe magazine and a fellow with the Coalition for Women in Journalism. She has written on migration, human rights, and the far right, mostly focusing on the post-Soviet space, Afghanistan and Lebanon. Her articles appeared in Al Jazeera English, the Guardian, the Moscow Times, The Diplomat, Voice of America and other media. She is currently working on her first reporting book on Uzbekistan which will be published in 2021 by Wydawnictwo Czarne (Poland).

Agnieszka Pikulicka-Wilczewska on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aga_pik1/

Yolisa Qunta is a published author, freelance writer, editor and researcher. Her first book was chosen for Exclusive Books Homebru in 2016. Her subsequent non fiction writing has been published in Australia, Britain, America and South Africa. In 2018 Yolisa was shortlisted for the Iceland Writers Retreat.

Yolisa Qunta on Twitter: https://twitter.com/yolisaq

Grammarly.com

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Break into your dream publications and earn more money while covering stories that matter.

Today’s podcast guests are all alumni of Freelance Writer Bootcamp. In my small group coaching program, you’ll learn the same proven processes that have helped Bootcamp alumni break into the New York Times, the Guardian, Bustle, Nat Geo Travel, the BBC, Outside, and many more.

Apply for the next session of Freelance Writer Bootcamp: www.FreelanceWriterBootcamp.com

🎤 Listen to more episodes of the Writing Coach Podcast here.

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