Lu-Hai Liang

This is a byline.

In the beginning, when the world was fresh and ready for the taking, a byline was the most coveted thing. Every rookie journalist trades in bylines, viewing them as a currency in which to get minted. This currency can’t buy you anything except prestige and status; self-worth, plus the envy of your peers; and career advancement.

When I read multimedia journalism at Bournemouth University I was obsessed with getting bylines, especially if they were associated with top-level publications. Through this obsession, and vanity, I was determined to be published in a national newspaper in the first year of my degree. I’d go online and find the switchboard phone numbers of editors of national newspapers and call them up. I’d cold-pitch the editors over the phone (they’d invariably reply with, “oh, send me an email”).

I was eventually published online and in print in The Guardian in my first year and I was happy. But one byline is never enough. You want more and more.

Later, when I moved to Beijing, the obsession continued. I was eager to spread my name as widely as possible. So, I’d pitch titles I’d never worked with before. I’d aim for the biggest names. The Atlantic. Aljazeera. CNN. Daily Telegraph. New Statesman. Etc.

Looking back, I think this strategy has its pros and cons. It is perhaps the fastest way to jump-start your freelance journalism career. If you have some clips in first-rate publications commissioning editors will be assuaged of your competence. And be more likely to give you the greenlight. But it’s not as important as you may think. In my experience a lot of editors are willing to give novice writers a try as long as they see signs of your sanity and competence and are piqued by whatever story idea you’ve pitched them.

But really, a successful freelance career is not about collecting bylines, as such, but about collecting good editors. Making, and cultivating, good relationships with editors is very important. Developing a relationship with publications is important. You can get a lot of work from publications this way. And these editors will move on to other media, and if you’ve worked with them well, they will remember you, and possibly bring you with them.

For journalists starting out, I’d advise you to gain those bylines, for sure, but after having gained some, to also think about what kind of things you want to write about and which editors, and publications, you’d like to develop a relationship with. Relationships, ultimately, underpin almost everything we do in life.

My writing life

I’ve recently been running more and trying out new routes  

I have two big commissions on which I am still working hard. And, I added another. But I’ve been able to finish two others. I’ve been tired and my brain capacity and bandwidth are overloaded. But I feel an almost contented numbness. But the tiredness is there; the mental exhaustion.

A top tip: don’t reduce exercise during these times. I’ve increased my running sessions because I know that the physical exertion actually unknots some of that mental tiredness. I would prefer to swim as I’m a keen swimmer but running is simple. The release of putting on my trainers and kicking away.

Recent bylines

Business Insider — Meet Colin Huang, who just stepped down as CEO of $100 billion Pinduoduo

BBC Worklife — Why China Skipped Email

Nikkei Asian Review — British Chinese, long low-profile, worry about place in UK society

I’ve had two new bylines and another byline in the BBC. The latter did quite well online, with a lot of interest. It’s all gratifying but I keep sailing on. And I also finally finished an essay, a piece of creative nonfiction, that I worked on for several months, for a literary journal. Writing is the gift that keeps on giving!