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#118 Reflections on Writing for Next Avenue/PBS with Managing Editor Julie Pfitzinger

Freelance Writing Direct with Estelle: Conversations with authors, journalists, agents, novelists, memoirists, niche writers, publishers, writing teachers, assigning editors and media experts.

Release Date: 12/19/2024

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Julie Pfitzinger has been with Next Avenue, a digital publication of Twin Cities PBS, for seven years and is the Managing Editor and Senior Editor for Features. She has worked as a writer and editor for more than 25 years; her work has appeared in publications including the Star Tribune and Minnesota Parent. For several years, she was a managing editor for the community lifestyle magazine group at Tiger Oak Media in Minneapolis, where she also served as writer and editor for Saint Paul Magazine and other Tiger Oak publications. 

 

In this episode:

  • Julie’s 25-year career in writing and editing [2:33]

  • What types of articles Next Avenue publishes [3:47]

  • The changing demographic of Next Avenue’s readers [4:37]

  • The topics the publication covers, including retirement, health, volunteering, money, caregiving, relationships and lifestyle [4:37]

  • How and where to pitch observational personal essays and articles [6:49]

  • The way that Next Avenue prefers to cover parenting in stories and why the holidays is such a key time  [6:57]

  • When humor pieces work [9:51]

  • What makes an older story relevant? [10:23]

  • The pandemic’s impact on older generations and what kinds of pitches on COVID work [15:40]

  • The specific (but easy) pitching portal, word count, pay and rights [20:41]

  • Why Next Avenue doesn’t do roundups [24:07]

  • Criteria for writing about travel for the publication [24:14]

  • Julie’s joy at working with writers [37:22]



Connect with Julie

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/julie.pfitzinger?mibextid=LQQJ4d

 

Connect with Next Avenue

Next Avenue Submission Guidelines

https://www.nextavenue.org/submission-guidelines/

 

Pitching Portal for Next Avenue

https://airtable.com/apppNGXCs7kzbdiJr/pago2SiOjXEVW7s7E/form

 

Stories Mentioned in This Episode

 

The Founding Mothers of NPR

https://www.nextavenue.org/founding-mothers-of-npr/

 

My Parenting Strategy Was Too Effective

https://www.nextavenue.org/it-turns-out-my-parenting-strategy-was-too-effective/

 

Sorry Nobody Wants Your Parents’ Stuff

https://www.nextavenue.org/nobody-wants-parents-stuff/

 

Lying for Love: The Psychology of Catfishing

https://www.nextavenue.org/lying-for-love-the-psychology-of-catfishing/

 

Two Adoptions, One Family: A Story of Two Brothers

https://www.nextavenue.org/two-adoptions-one-family-a-story-of-two-brothers/

 

Don’t Tell Me To Stop Saying ‘Don’t’

https://www.nextavenue.org/dont-tell-me-to-stop-saying-dont/

 

Estelle’s new Essay on Next Avenue

Lessons from a Babysitter with a Restless Spirit

https://www.nextavenue.org/lessons-from-a-babysitter-with-a-restless-spirit/



Connect with Estelle Erasmus

 

Apply to be on Freelance Writing Direct in a coaching episode: email [email protected] and state three of the issues you are dealing with that you would like Estelle’s help with.

 

​​FREE PITCHING GUIDE: Find out more about this episode at 

https://estelleserasmus.com/podcast. You also get a free pitching guide if you sign up for her newsletter.

 

Sign up for Estelle’s Personal Essay Class for Writer’s Digest 

https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/writing-the-personal-essay-101-fundamentals

 

Sign up for Estelle’s NYU Classes

https://www.sps.nyu.edu/professional-pathways/faculty/e/1068-estelle-erasmus.html

 

Get Her Book 

Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published: https://rb.gy/5ihwp0

 

Order Her Audiobook:

https://shorturl.at/4uG2P

 

Sign up for her Substack https://estelleserasmus.substack.com (with craft advice and writing opportunities). Paid subscribers receive opportunities for pitch reviews, plus bonus clips from Freelance Writing Direct guests

 

Follow Estelle:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/EstelleSErasmus

TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@EstelleSErasmus

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EstelleSerasmus

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/estelleserasmus.bsky.social