Writer-In-Progress

Ok, I’ve been tossing around an idea in the old noggin for the last few days but am not sure I have thought it all the way through.

I’m having fun (yes, honestly) challenging myself by getting queries in the mail, and wondered if other freelancers might be interested in coming along for the ride. I just read an article in a previous The Writer magazine (forget the issue) where, in the column on how I broke in, the girl interviewed mentioned that she had no fewer than (I believe) 18-20 queries in the mail at a time. Once one was rejected, she reworked it and sent it off to another potential publisher.

So now I’ve been thinking…what if…a small group of freelancers interested in a fun little challenge all came together to try and get 20 (or another arbitrary number) queries into the mail (or email) in a certain period of time? Maybe even have a little prize for the winner?

Personally, given my competitive nature (so they say…lol) I think it’d be fun.

What about you? If you’re a freelancer, would you be interested? Fiction writers…sorry about your luck, but this one wouldn’t really apply. I hate to think you have twenty queries in the pipeline for one story…!!

Think about it, zip me a note or post a comment and let’s see what we can come up with. Anything in the name of writing!

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Two queries out, one assignment in.

I sent the initial query for the writing article and got the assignment the next day. The editor liked the second idea (there’s why you send two at a time after you get to know the editor), so that’ll be a fun summer project, out in October.

The first idea from that query letter is something she felt the magazine had done to death, but I like my spin on it, so I’m going to dust it off and send it to another writing magazine I think it fits well with. I’ll do that tonight or tomorrow.

Reading one of my many market ezines yesterday, I found a new market I liked a lot (after visiting their web page) and had (I’m not lying here!) seven instant ideas for their niche. I went with the one that seemed most fun and unique. Scribbled out a query over lunch, sent it when I got home. Don’t expect to hear back until next week sometime, but I am trying a new “thing” when I get rejections that I read from a prolific freelancer: after the editor sends a rejection, I’m going to have another idea/query to zip off to him. I didn’t initially send two ideas in this first query letter because the magazine is a major one, and I’ve researched enough to know they like detailed queries..which is what I sent.

In reading the Saturday paper, I also found four more new story idea possibilities for trade magazines. Maybe I’ll work on that tomorrow. Today is the day I get this office space settled once and for all….

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Alright, let’s start with the not-so-good (it doesn’t qualify as “bad” because it could be worse, but it ain’t peachy-keen):

Emailed an editor at a publication who’d accepted an article of mine (on a near and dear subject to my heart: diabetes summer camps) last summer. I did get paid (a plus, and I’m lucky–I’ve heard horror stories) a tidy little sum, but the article was being pushed from late autumn to mid-winter. No problem, but I just had a nagging sense that things weren’t going well.

The editor informed me today that the magazine isn’t currently being published (money woes) and that she’s not with them anymore. Shame–it was a very good magazine. Different, fresh, dynamic. Ah well. Might see if I can get back the rights to sell it somewhere else (it’s a damn good article, and features my brother and best friend. What’s not to like?!)

So the good news is that the editor I mentioned in the previous post liked my second idea and wants to go with it for the October issue (August deadline). Woohoo! This idea is a cool one–one I came up with on a whim during spring break–and hoped to be able to work into an article. I’m excited. I’ll have to do some research for it, but it’s focused on genre-specific writing, so that’ll be fun. Very cool, and it leaves the first idea free to be pitched elsewhere (I did say I’d do that tomorrow, right?)

I should have time in the morning. I’ve got a fun trip to the endodontist planned for 10:45 for a root canal. Did I say wooooo–hoo? You know, happy gas always gives me some good ideas too…got a great novel idea when getting a filling once. Maybe tomorrow is my lucky day (all over again!)

Oh, and I’ve come up with a fun little plan: for the next ten days, I’m going to send out a minimum of one query per day. Let’s see how things shape up (and if I can actually *finish* my goal!)

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I love query letters. No, I really mean that. Something about being forced to write short, tight and succinct really gets me going.

Since spring break I’ve been toying with two article ideas for writers. Well, one, to be honest, but the first rule of query writing is never send a query with just one idea (unless it’s to the big-league magazines, who often like lengthier and more in-depth queries). So I spent a little time, thought about another article idea that’s been lurking in the depths of my brain, and put together an outline to get my idea straight.

Just zipped off the query to an editor who is truly one of my favorites to work with. I sense her love of editing through her emails and that’s something I really admired. She’s also respectful of replying–no ‘falling off the earth into the bowels of rejection’ for her–if she doesn’t think an idea suits her publication, she’ll let you know.

Both of my ideas are good, and one in particular has the potential to be a workshop, report or online course. I love those most. If they don’t suit her, I’ll spiffy ‘em up and send to another editor. We shall see…fingers crossed…(must be this new purple wallpaper inspiring my creativity…)

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I really don’t have any reason to entitle this post “limes” other than the fact that (bear with me): limes are the opposite of lemons, idiomatically speaking. Limes are less sour, a little more likeable than lemons, a sparkling shade of green, and, interestingly enough, the best garnish for a margarita (on the rocks, double salt, please)…which is the long way to say…things are looking up.

The wallpaper came last night, but that’s not why I’m feeling better. The sun comes up earlier and stays out later, but that’s not why I’m feeling better. Ate junkfood and ice cream with my mom and sister yesterday after shopping, but that’s not why I’m feeling better.

I’m feeling better because I feel like writing. I feel those creative urges to get out paper and a pen and start scribbling. I have to temper my desire to start a new word document at work with ideas for articles with the fact that I have to finish some observations and school visits (so I compromise by writing article ideas on a post-it pad in my observation notebook). I *literally* get article ideas everywhere I look (a profile for a new store going in on the corner I drive by every day; a series of articles for parents on how to get cooking with your kids after a casual conversation with a friend).

If you’re a writer, you know exactly what I’m talking about. There is truly nothing in life more exciting or consuming than being in the beginning stages of a new writing project. Now, if I could just get a pill to keep that excitement and motivation going…maybe I should flavor it with a little lime…

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I’ve been getting a lot of those, career-wise,lately. Not the writing career but the classroom one. Long story short, I’m headed back to the classroom.

What’s fascinating is that, amidst the chaos and uncertainty, I never truly worried about getting something better. It was a shock to find out people (only a few)I have come to know, trust and love like family were really gossiping, spiteful, easily-deluded people (and this just in the last month of life), but if this had happened to me five years ago, it would have devastated and derailed me mentally for months.

Not this time. This time I took it all in stride and used it to springboard my thoughts and actions toward something I know will never let me down: writing. Winter in Ohio has a way of dropping doldrums all around and spring is always a refreshing change. This year, moreso than ever.

Not only am I purging old files, tossing old contracts and getting rid of research used for articles years ago, I’m completely renovating my office from top to bottom. The hubby helped by removing the most *hideous* cabinet from the ceiling of my room, I ordered new wallpaper and am remodeling the closet to be the desk center. Instead of the 1972 seafoam walls, I’ll be retreating to a calm, relaxing lavender, purple and daisy-decorated haven guaranteed to inspire. The promise of something fresh is helping energize my writing as well. I’m fleshing out several different projects, from workshops to articles and creative coaching endeavors. I’m so excited I can hardly sit still.

There’s nothing like new digs to breathe life into your life…in whatever area it may be. And there’s nothing better to temper the sour taste of lemons with than the sweet smells of success.

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…writing, of course. (what else?!)

I’m just taking a quick break. This week I’ve tried something a little different with the writing time: I’ve created a schedule. Ok, not a rigid and staunch measure of my time, but rather a general goal-oriented list of 8 things I need to do this week to work toward my quarterly goals (April to June, remember?)

Here’s what I’m working on:
1) Freelance work: send out six queries this week (I have about twelve good ideas)
2) Come up with a blog schedule to let you know when and what I’m going to post on a regular basis (five days are filled in…)
3) Flesh out two ideas for writing workshops I was asked to create (I have the ideas, just not the “flesh” part..lol)
4) Start an ebook idea list (I have tons of little post-its floating around with my ebook topic ideas)
5) Buy a big calendar from Staples to put on my wall to fill it up with all my workshops, meetings, etc.
6) Get the hub to help me take down this hideous “cabinet” on the ceiling of my writing office so I can repaint & remodel the room (I’d do it myself but it’s immense and heavy, solid wood)
7)Clean out the closet in this office and put the organizer here in the hub’s garage so I can get a small desk area to put there (and repaint it from the 70′s seafoam green that it is now…ugh!!)
8)Update my website to create a page listing my creative/writing coaching service (having lots of fun with that aspect).

I’ll check back in on Sunday and let you know where I stand. I will say having the list has helped my focus. If I could just get a seatbelt to help my productivity…!

How about you? What is your writing “to-do” list this week?

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