Tuesday: So much going on this week! New AMA in the works, pending stories, and more.
ALSO: Upcoming travel + job leads + here's how to grab the recording from last week's holiday gift guide workshop event!
Good morning!
…and suddenly it was September!
I am gleeful to share I did positively no work this weekend and spent about 80% of it cuddling with pups. It was just the mental health break this anxiety overachiever needed.
Speaking of pups, thanks so much to everyone who sent gifts for baby Tony and his beautiful older sister Lily in the past week. We’ve been sent toys and treats and so much more — we’re so touched and so grateful!
But there’s a lot to get done now — it’s a new week, I have another AMA coming up in a few days (those of you who RSVP’d will get your zoom link by tomorrow!), and there’s much work to be done.
PS: Do I have any subscribers in the Temecula area? I’ll be there mid-month for the greater part of a week and I might have some free time to grab a drink or a coffee — drop me a note if you happen to be nearby and I’ll tell you where to find me!
Grab the full recording of last week's Virtual Everything You Need To Know About Pitching Holiday Gift Guides Workshop!
Thanks SO MUCH to everyone who came to our holiday gift guide pitching AMA workshop last week, which I co-hosted with my very favorite gals (and fab lifestyles journalists) and . We had an amazing group of attendees who came armed and ready with truly engaging questions. I think everyone came away really primed and feeling more ready for a productive and exciting holiday gift guide season.
If you missed out — no worries. We do have a recording of the session available for for free (yes, free!) as an exclusive benefit to anyone who is a paid subscriber of all three of our newsletters.
(It’s almost like downloading an intensive course taught by three industry experts, just in time for the must crucial of testing times!)
If you want to opt in to receive this recording right in your inbox, please scroll down below the paywall at the bottom of this email, and fill out your name and email address at the bottom of the opt-in form we created (this is actually the same form we used to RSVP for the session itself, so scroll beneath the thick black line to add your name for the recording link!).
In OTHER AMA news…
Coming up on Thursday afternoon, September 5 at 4:30 PM - my next Zoom AMA event - this one is with award-winning journalist, author, and instructor at New York University, Estelle Sobel Erasmus. We’’re going to chat the world of freelance writing and how it’s evolved in the decades we’ve been at it (and how to use Substack to streamline your work -- it's a gift!), as well as topics ranging from finding a niche in writing, time management to the secrets to building sustainable relationships…and so much more.
This one is open to all subscribers of either our newsletters — RSVP by emailing me at alywalansky@gmail.com and we’ll send you the Zoom link after the holiday weekend!
If you were as obsessed with my RPZL headband and bow collection as I was, I have good news for anyone needing a stock up: They are doing a huge summer sale that runs through tonight (Tuesday night, September 3). I’m talking 50% discount off plush clips, bows, headbands and so much more — including some of my fave pieces. Don’t miss out!
Job leads
Green Olive Media is seeking a Social Media Manager. If you have 4-6 years of social media experience in an agency setting (preferably in the hospitality industry), and like to travel, eat and drink while digitally storytelling for hotel, food & beverage clients across the country, they want to talk to you. Competitive salary, 401k, insurance, and flex hours. This is a full-time position for an Atlanta-based Social Media Manager. (Remote friendly.)
If you apply to any of these job leads, be sure to tell them you saw the opportunity in Aly’s newsletter!
Do you have a job listing to share? This newsletter goes out daily and has connected tons of amazing people with fantastic opportunities. Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com.
Newly published or freshly updated
Since people are often asking about the status of stories from a while ago, and I only share stories in this newsletter that were published or updated in the current week, I have created a list of my author pages at various publications to which I contribute. Bookmark it and make your life a bit easier.
This list will live on my Substack URL and be updated as necessary. That way, you can see what I’m doing at any publication, at any time, from types of stories to general structure of stories to even volume and frequency of my content at that outlet.
This can also help you to target pitching a bit better. That makes your job easier, and mine too!
Travel & Leisure: 50 Best Madewell Labor Day Sale Deals 2024
Forbes: 30 Great Dishes To Try In Honor Of National Cheeseburger Day
Apartment Therapy: The One Thing You Always Travel with That’s Actually Disgusting (And How to Keep It Clean)
Travel & Leisure: I Tried Amazon’s ‘Magical’ Sleep Mask on a Long-haul Flight — and Now It’s the Most Important Item in My Bag.
Travel & Leisure: I Travel Solo Frequently, and This $18 Gadget Makes Me Feel Safer in Hotel Rooms
Southern Living: : How To Tell If Your Steak Has Gone Bad
Southern Living: Here's How To Store Bell Peppers So They Last Longer
Southern Living: Can You Freeze Feta Cheese?
Food Network: 16 Back-to-School Restaurant Deals and Freebies
Food Network: Starbucks’ PSL Is Back. And It’s Coming With a New Apple Chai Drink
RetailMeNot: 7 Ways to Save More on DoorDash
Plate Magazine: A Traditional Israeli Street Food Inspired This Shawarma-Meets-Foie-Gras
Today.com: The best drugstore eye creams to tackle wrinkles, dark circles and dryness, according to experts
Forbes.com: 9 Delicious Ways To Enjoy Avocado
Apartment Therapy: I Sent a Pro Organizer a Photo of My Messy Kitchen Junk Drawer — Here’s How She Fixed It
RetailMeNot: Which Stores Are Open and Closed on Labor Day 2024?
Yahoo Life: The best cooling fans of 2024, tested and reviewed
Travel & Leisure: These Arch Support Sandals Are the Only Shoes I Wear in the Summer — and They’re Only $47
RetailMeNot: Why Costco Is the Ultimate Place to Shop (And Save) on Spices
Apartment Therapy: I Sent a Pro Organizer a Photo of My Cluttered Medicine Cabinet, and Here’s How She Fixed It
Travel & Leisure: You Don't Want to Step Foot in a Waterpark Without These 18 Essentials From Just $9
If you or your client are featured in any of these stories, I super appreciate any social media shares! Please remember to tag @alywalansky and the outlet.
Here’s what I’m working on:
Be sure to read the below list carefully. Many are stories I posted about yesterday, but some of yesterday's stories are no longer listed and a few new ones have been added since yesterday. This (below) is everything that is still a currently open opportunity as of today.
Please remember when pitching me: Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com - do NOT just hit reply on this newsletter, or there’s a good shot your email will be lost in the heap. Give your email a subject line that makes it clear which story you are pitching me for — it’ll help you in the long run.
Please consult my industry insights guides on submitting expert commentary, sending emails that will catch a journalist’s attention, how to craft pitches journalists will say ‘yes’ to, and the right and wrong way to submit photos, if you need any extra guidance before sending your pitches.
Saatva
Are You a Light Sleeper? Here's What to Do About It: Would love to chat with a sleep expert for this one as well, as far as the concept of being a light sleeper and how to deal with it, what causes someone to be a light sleeper, how to manage being a light sleeper, etc.
Apartment Therapy
I’m working on a story on managing my cord clutter in my apartment, and organizing/managing what I currently have in a way that’s neater and safer and easier to organize. I’m going to be taking before/during/after progress shots and have gotten professional organizer tips as to how to go about it, and am open to being pitched surge protectors, cords/cables/chargers, cable ties, cable cord storage organizers/bins, cable sleeves, cable management box, cable clips, etc, to be incorporated into this project/story.
Forbes
I’m rounding up unique lobster dishes National Lobster Day. ANYTHING pitched for these stories MUST exist on the menu at a bar or restaurant. Please keep in mind the following parameters: Name of dish, name of restaurant (city, state, URL), description, quote about dish (and who to credit for the quote), and an image (with photo credit) — via dropbox link, not as an attachment. (Please make sure to have ALL these components before pitching.)
I’m rounding up fun cocktails for Emmy Awards viewing parties. Let me know if you have anything! Same parameters as above, please — that means the cocktails must exist on a bar or restaurant menu (there seems to be a touch of confusion about this in my inbox currently).
You may have recently seen my pieces about celebrity chef airline menu partnerships and everything from high tea to caviar service inflight. To that end, I’m also researching for a Fine Dining At 30,000 Feet roundup with the most luxurious dining options on different airlines. Please email me if you represent an airline and have something that may be a fit!
Plate Magazine
I’m putting out bites/drinks of the week feelers, which is sort of a drink/dish spotlight piece. (Some examples are this Peruvian-inspired sweet potato in Savannah and a molecular banana daiquiri in Chicago.) Basically if you are pitching me something for this, think along the lines of: Is this dish/bite something new? What interesting techniques are used to make it come together? If the technique is simple, what’s the hook? An interesting ingredient? Something being made in house or in an interesting way? What’s the story behind the dish? What inspired it? Is there a cultural/family story behind the dish? An ingredient the chef got their hands on? Love to hear what you might have for me!
I’m looking for “imperfection” pitches…unexpected substitutions that worked better than the original plan for the dish, what have chefs learned from their failures, “ugly” dishes and second-market produce..
I’m looking for salty pitches…as far as savory pastries, saline cocktails, and salt cooking techniques…maybe turn this on this nose in a different salty way, lessons that should be taken with a grain of salt…hit me!
Looking to up your affiliate marketing game?
Affiliate marketing is complicated, and it seems that the landscape keeps changing. If you are looking to be prepared for gift guide season and all other shopping-related content, you may want to try the Ultimate Masterclass and Introduction to Affiliate Marketing for Publicists. It's a brilliant course and it'll answer all your questions (including some you didn't know you had!)
<3
aly