American Society of Journalists and Authors

Writer, content strategist, and FreelanceSuccess.com cohost Liam Carnahan explains LOI alternatives at the 2026 ASJA conference, shown here with moderator and ASJA member Allison Joyner.

This article was written by one of the dozen independent journalists who received scholarships to the

2026 ASJA virtual conference speakers (left to right): Jennifer Chowdhury, Peter Shankman, and Ryan Fonseca (screen capture by Elissa Odeh).

This article was written by one of the dozen independent journalists who received scholarships to the 2026 AS...

Memoirist and radio journalist Kate Chow (upper right) shares a family photo during a session on memoir she presented at the 2026 ASJA virtual conference (screenshot by Mika Travis).

This article was written by one of the dozen

My first job was as a transcriptionist. I was 14, making $4.50 an hour with a pedal-operated audiocassette player and typewriter.

As a grown-up writer, transcribing interviews myself was the bane of my existence, yet hiring help has sometimes ended in disaster. One person rephrased everything in his own words. Another, after giving me sunny false updates for weeks, ...

Randy Dotinga moderated the books pitch slam at the 2026 conference, featuring literary agents (shown clockwise from the upper right) Georgia Bodnar, Isabelle Bleecker, Marisa A. Corvisiero, and Katharine Sands.

This article was written by one of the dozen