James Banyard
@jamesbanyardwriter.bsky.social
Freelance Journalist, Writer, Comedian, Green Party Councillor, Exeter. Email me: jamesbanyardwriter@outlook.com Portfolio: https://jamesbanyardwriter.wordpress.com Imprint https://tinyurl.com/3aztmwju Substack: https://pitchfailclub.substack.com/
Pinned
Pitch Fail Club: Guest Post from @markffisher.bsky.social
Mark warm-pitched an editor and shares the full pitch, the feedback, and what he learned.
pitchfailclub.substack.com/p/the-post-m...
Got a failed pitch? Email pitchfailclub@outlook.com for a shot at a free annual sub.
Mark warm-pitched an editor and shares the full pitch, the feedback, and what he learned.
pitchfailclub.substack.com/p/the-post-m...
Got a failed pitch? Email pitchfailclub@outlook.com for a shot at a free annual sub.
The Post-Mortem: Guest Post by Mark Fisher, Journalist and Theatre Critic
The Pitch That Was Ignored. Until It Was Too Late.
pitchfailclub.substack.com
June 5, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Pitch Fail Club: Guest Post from @markffisher.bsky.social
Mark warm-pitched an editor and shares the full pitch, the feedback, and what he learned.
pitchfailclub.substack.com/p/the-post-m...
Got a failed pitch? Email pitchfailclub@outlook.com for a shot at a free annual sub.
Mark warm-pitched an editor and shares the full pitch, the feedback, and what he learned.
pitchfailclub.substack.com/p/the-post-m...
Got a failed pitch? Email pitchfailclub@outlook.com for a shot at a free annual sub.
New from PFC
“I want to write about...” is not a pitch. It’s a crumb. No editor sits down for a crumb.
🔗 pitchfailclub.substack.com/p/the-craft-...
👀 On Thursday: A Post Mortem from a national broadsheet theatre critic, and a reply that came too late.
#FreelanceJournalism #Pitching #WritingTips
“I want to write about...” is not a pitch. It’s a crumb. No editor sits down for a crumb.
🔗 pitchfailclub.substack.com/p/the-craft-...
👀 On Thursday: A Post Mortem from a national broadsheet theatre critic, and a reply that came too late.
#FreelanceJournalism #Pitching #WritingTips
The Craft: How to Turn A Half-Baked Idea into a Pitch
Supermarket car parks, huh? That’s not a story until you ask why the cashier’s acting like a parking attendant.
pitchfailclub.substack.com
June 2, 2025 at 9:26 AM
New from PFC
“I want to write about...” is not a pitch. It’s a crumb. No editor sits down for a crumb.
🔗 pitchfailclub.substack.com/p/the-craft-...
👀 On Thursday: A Post Mortem from a national broadsheet theatre critic, and a reply that came too late.
#FreelanceJournalism #Pitching #WritingTips
“I want to write about...” is not a pitch. It’s a crumb. No editor sits down for a crumb.
🔗 pitchfailclub.substack.com/p/the-craft-...
👀 On Thursday: A Post Mortem from a national broadsheet theatre critic, and a reply that came too late.
#FreelanceJournalism #Pitching #WritingTips
1/5 🚨 LAUNCH DAY: Pitch Fail Club is live! 🚨
Freelance Journalists: Your freelance pitch gets rejected. Again. No feedback. No explanation. Just a 'We’ll pass on this,' or more likely, silence.
Sound familiar? 😫
#PitchFailClub #FreelanceJournalism pitchfailclub.substack.com
Freelance Journalists: Your freelance pitch gets rejected. Again. No feedback. No explanation. Just a 'We’ll pass on this,' or more likely, silence.
Sound familiar? 😫
#PitchFailClub #FreelanceJournalism pitchfailclub.substack.com
May 29, 2025 at 8:54 AM
1/5 🚨 LAUNCH DAY: Pitch Fail Club is live! 🚨
Freelance Journalists: Your freelance pitch gets rejected. Again. No feedback. No explanation. Just a 'We’ll pass on this,' or more likely, silence.
Sound familiar? 😫
#PitchFailClub #FreelanceJournalism pitchfailclub.substack.com
Freelance Journalists: Your freelance pitch gets rejected. Again. No feedback. No explanation. Just a 'We’ll pass on this,' or more likely, silence.
Sound familiar? 😫
#PitchFailClub #FreelanceJournalism pitchfailclub.substack.com
Freelancers, ever feel like your pitches are loading... and then stalling? 😫 Coming soon...a new community to help you get past the error messages. Pitch Fail Club is Launching May 29th, 2025 with very special guests. #PitchFailClub #FreelanceJournalism #Pitching #Substack #WritingCommunity
May 22, 2025 at 7:55 AM
Freelancers, ever feel like your pitches are loading... and then stalling? 😫 Coming soon...a new community to help you get past the error messages. Pitch Fail Club is Launching May 29th, 2025 with very special guests. #PitchFailClub #FreelanceJournalism #Pitching #Substack #WritingCommunity
Reposted by James Banyard
btw, at VAN, we have updated our pitching guidelines! welcoming submissions from freelancers and new friends of the magazine van-magazine.com/contact-us/s...
How to pitch VAN
VAN welcomes story pitches on all topics from journalists and critics as well as musicians, industry professionals, academics, and students. Please take a look at our archive to familiarize yourself w...
van-magazine.com
May 13, 2025 at 5:31 PM
btw, at VAN, we have updated our pitching guidelines! welcoming submissions from freelancers and new friends of the magazine van-magazine.com/contact-us/s...
Hey, I wrote this! So pleased to be making by debut in VAN Magazine. Thanks so much to @mbetteridge.bsky.social for his time last week.
Manchester-based composer Michael Betteridge on why co-creation rather than individual composition is at the heart of his practice, the difference between big “C” and little “C” composers, and whether the future of opera is as precarious as people think.
van-magazine.com/mag/michael-...
van-magazine.com/mag/michael-...
Useful Music
Michael Betteridge on why co-creation rather than individual composition is at the heart of his practice, the difference between big “C” and little “C” composers, and whether the future of opera is as...
van-magazine.com
March 13, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Hey, I wrote this! So pleased to be making by debut in VAN Magazine. Thanks so much to @mbetteridge.bsky.social for his time last week.
Reposted by James Banyard
We're bringing our event 'Travel, flying and the climate crisis' to Exeter!
Hear from @jamesgyke.bsky.social, @vipulpatel.bsky.social, @sarahfinch.bsky.social & more about campaigning, justice, offsetting, travel...
Register to attend in person or online: www.tickettailor.com/events/fligh...
Hear from @jamesgyke.bsky.social, @vipulpatel.bsky.social, @sarahfinch.bsky.social & more about campaigning, justice, offsetting, travel...
Register to attend in person or online: www.tickettailor.com/events/fligh...
February 13, 2025 at 9:50 AM
We're bringing our event 'Travel, flying and the climate crisis' to Exeter!
Hear from @jamesgyke.bsky.social, @vipulpatel.bsky.social, @sarahfinch.bsky.social & more about campaigning, justice, offsetting, travel...
Register to attend in person or online: www.tickettailor.com/events/fligh...
Hear from @jamesgyke.bsky.social, @vipulpatel.bsky.social, @sarahfinch.bsky.social & more about campaigning, justice, offsetting, travel...
Register to attend in person or online: www.tickettailor.com/events/fligh...
Quirk's Christmas show at the Exeter Phoenix is stunning, and hilarious. Review up now!
www.theprsd.co.uk/2024/12/16/d...
www.theprsd.co.uk/2024/12/16/d...
Dayzee and the World of Tomorrow | a giggle-your-socks-off good time from Quirk - the PRSD
Quirk Theatre have produced a Christmas show that excels in message, meaning and mirth. James Banyard saw Dayzee and the World of Tomorrow
www.theprsd.co.uk
December 16, 2024 at 11:05 AM
Quirk's Christmas show at the Exeter Phoenix is stunning, and hilarious. Review up now!
www.theprsd.co.uk/2024/12/16/d...
www.theprsd.co.uk/2024/12/16/d...
Great to meet the guys from Wandering Tiger today - Ben, Luke and Charlie - as they prepare for this year's production of Humbug at St Nicholas Priory
Starting with a small @exetercouncil.bsky.social arts grant in 2017, they’ve grown into a key fixture in the region’s culture.
Starting with a small @exetercouncil.bsky.social arts grant in 2017, they’ve grown into a key fixture in the region’s culture.
December 11, 2024 at 2:19 PM
Great to meet the guys from Wandering Tiger today - Ben, Luke and Charlie - as they prepare for this year's production of Humbug at St Nicholas Priory
Starting with a small @exetercouncil.bsky.social arts grant in 2017, they’ve grown into a key fixture in the region’s culture.
Starting with a small @exetercouncil.bsky.social arts grant in 2017, they’ve grown into a key fixture in the region’s culture.
1/ Cashless payments are everywhere.
In Exeter, the Labour council-run leisure centres, like St Sidwell’s Point, don’t accept cash.
Who cares? Most people pay digitally now.
A 🧵 about why the council should accept cash.
In Exeter, the Labour council-run leisure centres, like St Sidwell’s Point, don’t accept cash.
Who cares? Most people pay digitally now.
A 🧵 about why the council should accept cash.
December 9, 2024 at 4:43 PM
1/ Cashless payments are everywhere.
In Exeter, the Labour council-run leisure centres, like St Sidwell’s Point, don’t accept cash.
Who cares? Most people pay digitally now.
A 🧵 about why the council should accept cash.
In Exeter, the Labour council-run leisure centres, like St Sidwell’s Point, don’t accept cash.
Who cares? Most people pay digitally now.
A 🧵 about why the council should accept cash.
Reposted by James Banyard
👂Our survey asking local residents for ideas on the former bus station site in #Exeter found no appetite for Labour's temporary car park plan.
💚 Over 280 responses brought forward many creative ideas for the site.
🥳 This has prompted the Council to consult on possible alternatives to a car park.
💚 Over 280 responses brought forward many creative ideas for the site.
🥳 This has prompted the Council to consult on possible alternatives to a car park.
December 7, 2024 at 9:52 AM
👂Our survey asking local residents for ideas on the former bus station site in #Exeter found no appetite for Labour's temporary car park plan.
💚 Over 280 responses brought forward many creative ideas for the site.
🥳 This has prompted the Council to consult on possible alternatives to a car park.
💚 Over 280 responses brought forward many creative ideas for the site.
🥳 This has prompted the Council to consult on possible alternatives to a car park.
Reposted by James Banyard
We're busy writing our newsletter today ✉️ Sign up to "Letters from Lightbear Lane" to read all about our news and what we get up to lightbearlane.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=... Pls repost @exeterlibrary.bsky.social @bostse1.bsky.social @lalawrighty.bsky.social @jamesbanyardwriter.bsky.social
December 5, 2024 at 10:17 AM
We're busy writing our newsletter today ✉️ Sign up to "Letters from Lightbear Lane" to read all about our news and what we get up to lightbearlane.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=... Pls repost @exeterlibrary.bsky.social @bostse1.bsky.social @lalawrighty.bsky.social @jamesbanyardwriter.bsky.social
Hardworking St David's Green councillors in Haldon Road, Exeter on Saturday. @dianafmoore.bsky.social and me - and a group of residents - cleared weeds, picked up litter, and chatted over tea and biscuits afterwards!
December 2, 2024 at 8:02 PM
Hardworking St David's Green councillors in Haldon Road, Exeter on Saturday. @dianafmoore.bsky.social and me - and a group of residents - cleared weeds, picked up litter, and chatted over tea and biscuits afterwards!
Supporting and understanding Exeter's Muslim population at the weekend with Lib Dem councillor Tammy Palmer and Labour's Jakir Hussein. Such a privilege to see afternoon prayers at Exeter Mosque. @gingernutfox.bsky.social
December 2, 2024 at 10:44 AM
Supporting and understanding Exeter's Muslim population at the weekend with Lib Dem councillor Tammy Palmer and Labour's Jakir Hussein. Such a privilege to see afternoon prayers at Exeter Mosque. @gingernutfox.bsky.social
Behind the scenes with Quirk - I was a fly on the wall during an open rehearsal with a room full of primary school children last week - what could possibly go wrong?
www.theprsd.co.uk/2024/11/18/m...
www.theprsd.co.uk/2024/11/18/m...
Making magic | Quirk Theatre share their rehearsal with experts - the PRSD
Quirk Theatre share magic and imagination in their open rehearsals for their Christmas show. James Banyard joins the creative fun
www.theprsd.co.uk
November 18, 2024 at 7:54 PM
Behind the scenes with Quirk - I was a fly on the wall during an open rehearsal with a room full of primary school children last week - what could possibly go wrong?
www.theprsd.co.uk/2024/11/18/m...
www.theprsd.co.uk/2024/11/18/m...