Wondering what the day to day experience of working at Fodor's.com is like. I have just graduated and am looking to start my online writing/publishing career. Any insight would be definately be most appreciated.

The first bit of advice, Melanie, if you want to go into writing/editing/publishing is: DEFINITELY learn to spell!

Dear Melanie:
Noname is giving you good advice (at least, learn to use a spellchecker).
I'd add one more thing: START WRITING! No matter how hard you try, getting published is difficult unless you write.

Second bit of advice, Melanie: Edit your copy more carefully before submitting, e.g., "Any insight would be definately be most appreciated.

Oops, I left off the last quotation mark! How embarrassing!

Thanks for all the writing tips. I was looking more for a response on what the day to day experience of working at
fodorss.com nothing more. Thanks

I would guess that the day to day experience of writing or editing for Fodors.com involves taking a great deal of care with one's words, spelling correctly, completing one's thoughts, and paying attention to grammar. Certainly my job as a writer and editor does.

If you're that interested in getting involved in publishing, pay attention to the basics of the craft or you'll never need to worry about what the "day to day experience" of a related job is like.

(Sorry if I seem a bit testy. It's frustrating when you put a great deal of care into your work only to see people who can't be bothered to pay attention to grammar, spelling, and basic construction of a coherent thought assert that they want to start their writing careers. Would you try to become a doctor without knowing the first thing about biology?)

If by chance you're going to be within reach of NYC this coming Sunday, there's an informal get-together of Fodorites (forum participants) taking place for brunch at a restaurant in the theater district. A Fodor's forum editor has indicated that she'll also be attending - that might be a great place to start - she could share her experience and also give you other contacts in the organization.

Melanie,
As the Senior Website Producer at Fodors.com I can honestly say that it's a great place to work. The work is challenging, the environment relaxed and friendly, and we get to talk about travel every day! What more could you ask for.

BTW if you are serious about wanting to work here, check out our job opportunities section in About Fodors.com. The listings change quite frequently so keep an eye out. Good luck!

Aisling Brennan
Senior Website Producer

Right on, Gina and Noname. As a writer and editor, I say to Melanie: "Do not underestimate the significance of what they are saying!" Think of what the reaction would be to a resume with typos!
And, as I'm sure the Fodor employees would agree, writing and/or editing for a travel company (such as Fodor's) may be fun, but a lot of the work is very mundane!

Melanie,

Remember that few employers hire applicants who cannot spell the company's name. Few employers appreciate workers who cannot take constructive criticism and improve when they make errors. If you wish to work online, you must understand that you must project a good image, even over the Internet.

Good luck.

John, Gina, and Noname are so right to advise you to pay attention to your spelling and grammar.

As a writer, those skills should be your staple, a given skill--not something to overlook. Early on in my career, a very wise English professor said to me and a class of chartered accountants that if you want to be taken seriously in your position and profession, and gain respect from your colleagues, you need to communicate effectively. Making obvious errors in spelling, grammar, and sentence structuring obstructs the message that you're trying to get across. No matter how talented you are and how creative you may be, all that can easily be hidden in text riddled with errors. Good luck, Melanie, in your endeavours!

Melanie,

The best of luck to you. Please do not be put off by the comments from other fodorites--they truly mean well even if they sound mean-spirited. You seem quite motivated to me. I for one knew nothing about bioloy before embarking on my medical career! What I did have was the interest. And, it sounds like you are very interested in writing. So practice, practice, practice! If I was an online writer--Fodor's sounds like a great position. Interesting topics and smart, fun people. Good Luck!

Alisa--

We're not being mean-spirited, simply honest and realistic. I receive resumes all the time from people applying for staff writer/editor positions at my association, and basic spelling and grammar errors in the resume or cover letter mean that I don't consider the applicant further.

And I'm sure you meant to say that you knew nothing about biology before *studying* medicine, yes? No one embarks upon a medical career--i.e., begins to work as a physician--without a knowledge of biology. That's exactly what we're advising Melanie if she's interested in a writing career: *study* writing. Learn the craft, become good at it. You can't just simply say, "I want to be a writer," and then go do it without learning the basics of how to write well first. Of course anyone can "embark on a writing career" without knowing much about writing, if by "embarking" you mean starting to learn about writing. But just as you can't practice medicine without knowing biology, you can't work as a writer without solid language skills.

Alisa -- it's not so much mean-spiritedness as utter frustration at how BAD the writing skills of the population have become and how LITTLE people seem to care about being qualified for jobs they think they're entitled to get. What we're trying to tell Melanie is that spelling and grammar DO COUNT! They are not just little points of habit that editors try to use, in some sort of power trip over writers. They have everything to do with the "power" of communication. If it's spelled wrong or expressed poorly, it may be confusing and it will definitely (!) make the writer look too stupid to know what he/she is talking about.

(And on that point: it's "if I _were_ an on-line writer . . . ")

I think she gets the point, already. Some view forums as a place where they can discuss things in a conversational manner without having to worry about a misplaced comma or an occasional typo. Give the girl a break.

Gina and Fowler are right. The world has too many "writers" as it is. It's easy for editors to separate the wheat from the chaff by looking at a writer's skills and at the knowledge of his craft. Editors immediately weed out those who have inadequate spelling skills and do not understand basic grammatic principles.
(And don't count on help from Microsoft Word; that program was born brain-dead.)

I meant to say "his or her" butthe posting got away from me.

What a subtle way you have of showing how a typo can just slip right through your fingers (pardon the cliche). Nicely said gaerdener.

I think I've been spoiled by machines: this forum needs a spellchecker!