Writing up the Holidays – How Valentine’s Day Articles Get Noticed

Posted by Marci Hotsenpiller Feb 10, 2009

One thing we see at Suite101 is the holiday “rush.” Leading up to popular holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Mothers Day, and Halloween we see an increase in the number of people searching for holiday-related information. (No surprise really!)

For online writers who earn revenue when people read their work, this “rush” presents obvious opportunities. Some of the most successful Suite writers start posting holiday articles months in advance. Curious online searchers find them, as do editors looking for experts to quote about holiday topics. In some cases, print and online news publications ask Suite101 writers if they can republish their work.

Michael Vyskocil, our Suite101 Recipes Feature Writer, knows about this. An editor in Detroit read his Valentine’s Day recipes and asked permission to reprint them. Michael was thrilled. How else does this holiday “rush” influence his writing? Here’s what Michael said:

Do your holiday articles get the most interest on Suite, compared to others?

I've noticed they receive a fair amount of traffic, but any articles that are seasonal-based also receive interest. The caramel apple pie recipe is one seasonal article that receives a large number of page views in the autumn. I've also noticed Halloween articles generate a significant amount of interest.

Where do you get your story ideas?

From a variety of sources. I have a comprehensive recipe file at home, and many times I'll find inspiration by flipping through recipes I've collected. Other times, I'll read about a subject in a book or magazine and get the desire to find out more. This happened with the recipes I shared on Suite last October from Lynne Rossetto Kasper. Lynne is the host of The Splendid Table, a radio program broadcast in the U.S. on National Public Radio. I saw Lynne years ago on television demonstrating her Italian recipes. One advantage of the Internet is that contact information for individuals like Lynne is more accessible than it used to be. It was so much fun chatting with Lynne last June about her new cookbook and radio program. And since I also photograph many of the recipes that appear on Suite101, I had great fun preparing some of the dishes featured in the article series

In your opinion, what would be the ideal meal for Feb 14th?

For Valentine's dinner, it would be a simple meal the whole family can enjoy. Penne Pasta with Sausage and Peppers is a great dish with splashes of red provided by the peppers. A favorite side salad featuring red bell peppers cut in the shape of hearts with a cookie cutter is also appropriate and easy to prepare. Finally, for dessert, a rich chocolate soufflé is elegant and delicious, but if you have kids and want to involve them, you can have them help prepare Valentine Heart Sandwich Cookies.

How long have you been writing for Suite101?

Since 2003, so about 5 1/2 years. Thanks to my experience writing for Suite, I've landed writing assignments for national and local magazines. It's a privilege to be part of this dynamic site.