A few years ago, I started keeping a folder on Pinterest of headline examples that boost my writing morale - for whatever reason.
These headlines give me some pep in my writing step and remind me that I’m often my own worst enemy when it comes to shooting my shots.
Here are eight headlines that inspire me to pitch my self-perceived silliest ideas:
Five things to toss in June for a more organized summer – Southern Living
This is a perfect example of something I actually do seasonally - purges - but would think is too simple to pitch… Southern Living is a dream publication, as well.
The “song of Summer” is dead. Thank God for that. – Time.
This is an example of an idea I’d get while on an adrenaline high - while I’m driving and vibing, out on a walk, or on a thrifting adventure. But then when I crash, I think lies, like - No one will like that…
Is 2025 the summer of the sensitive girl? – Self
Ditto for this one… AND both Time and Self are also dream publications…
8 low-effort ways to make spooky season feel cozy and festive - NPR
Okay - not only is spooky season my jam, but so is being cozy AND festive; this is a prime example of an article I come across and think, I could have (pitched and then) written that.
And then I (figuratively) kick myself real hard.
Plus - NPR? I would die happy if I ever got published at NPR.
How butter became the emotional and culinary star of the holidays - Authentic Food
Okay - this is one of those adrenaline ideas, where I’d talk myself out of pitching it… but what a great article idea.
I try dozens of cookbooks every season – here are the ones that truly stood out this year - Real Simple
Guess who also tries dozens of cookbooks every season? That’s right - me. And I even review cookbooks on my personal blog… so why wouldn’t I pitch something like this?
Because my internal dialogue lies again and says something like, “You’re not qualified enough to pitch that idea.”
12 cozy recipes right out of Nancy Meyers’s movies - the Everygirl
This checks so many of my boxes - food, coziness, and books!?
And I’ve read The Everygirl for a decade; didn’t even know it was possible to pitch them…
The poison of a positive attitude - itsmevox.substack.com
Some of the best writing I’m reading is coming from Substacks; this particular writer captured something I’ve been trying to put into words since college.
This headline is the kind that makes me want to be braver in my writing.
Random things I had to look up while writing:
I was working on a historical piece and wanted the proper term for the time period between the late 1800s and early 1900s.
I could have said “turn of the 20th century,” which refers to the transition period surrounding the year 1900, typically encompassing the late 1890s through the early 1910s. This era marked the end of the 19th century and the dawn of the 20th century.
But I landed on “the Gilded Age.”
Writing about PBJs?
Well, the proper term is “PB&J,” while “PBJ” is informal.
Writing resources:
The Baltimore Review kindly passed on one of my submissions, but I thought it was really awesome of them to share their “long lists of other publication possibilities.” Here’s the list - exactly as they shared it:
http://newpages.com/
https://www.newpages.com/writers-resources/young-writers-guide
http://www.pw.org/literary_magazines?&perpage=*
http://www.everywritersresource.com/literarymagazines/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/35517751475/
https://discover.submittable.com/
https://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/
https://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com/
https://chillsubs.com/
https://heavyfeatherreview.org/calls/#journals
https://www.clmp.org/programs-opportunities/calls-for-submissions/
https://duotrope.com/
Recent work:
We are planning a no-spend Christmas in July this year… and an end of summer staycation before going back to school; I’m referencing my own articles - oldies but goodies, I think.
I wrote about adjusting your pace - in writing and life - for Author Mag; here’s my piece on “Season Syncing.”
I stumbled upon Josefina’s Empanadas and pitched a feature to Beyondish; I learned about traditional brisket empanadas, but what impressed me most about Josefina Perez is her commitment to building up the other female small business owners around her; in a capitalist culture that encourages competition, Perez is doing the opposite and fostering connection.
What I’m reading…
Here’s an amazing piece from Substack on Botox - that I wish I could have been brave enough to even attempt articulating.
I stumbled upon this find: the ACLU’s Know Your Rights; it’s on my wish list.
Reading: Could there be anything more eerily dystopian than this scenario?
Let’s end on a prompt:
A variation on the following prompt caused a whole tenth grade class to crash out, when I asked them to write an essay claiming whether or not the Great Gatsby was a “good” person; enjoy.
What makes a good person “good” ?
Write on,
Ashley
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