my advice? be nice.

A writing colleague emailed last week to get my feedback and some quotes for an ebook she's working on (on how to freelance...imagine that!), and I was more than happy to help. I truly enjoy working with her--not just because she also serves as editor for one of the publications I write for regularly but because I've found that writers are the most friendly, most accomodating group of wonderful people in the world.

She liked my comments (I commented on how to find assignments, working with editors and something else that escapes me now) but I want to tell her one more little piece of info I forgot to mention in the section on how to find assignments/markets:

Be Nice.

Yes, in caps. Mom said (says) it never hurts to be nice and when it comes to writing, it can get you in doors you didn't even think were doors...LOL. I've gotten more than one assignment by just sending a note to the editor about something I've enjoyed in their publication--an article, the way the theme was rounded out, the type of magazine they put out, etc--and casually mentioning I'm also a freelance writer (sometimes I mention ideas, sometimes not) then they contact me about my ideas or if I'd be willing to write something for them.

I love it when that happens--because those notes go to editors of publications I'd really like to write for (Sports Illustrated, are you reading this??!)

And, lucky me, it happened again yesterday. In working toward my serious goals for the serious writing girls (new goal set yesterday: ten circulating queries in the (e)mail at all times), I sent a nice note/query to an editor of a magazine I just picked up and really liked a bunch. I thought one of the ideas I've been toying with for like, five years (hey, writers, don't deny you've had ideas that continue circling in your head for more years than you might own a pair of underwear...), might be a good fit for her publication--which resulted in her emailing back that she liked the idea and wants to talk about it.

So, Cheryl, if you're reading, :), copy my "be nice" comment from the "working with editors" section to the "how to find markets" section. Not that we have to tell writers that--but it never helps to try it in places you might not suspect!

beth

oh, and I forgot...

In my excitedness (yes, a word...remember the english teacher's permission to create new words)about the fiction story, I forgot to mention the editor from the RWR emailed the me the contract for the April article. Already faxed it back and am working on a few more ideas to propose with the thank you note.

Should be out in the April issue. Tentatively: From Ficiton to Freelance In 5 Easy Steps (she was really excited about how good it looked in layout when she emailed, which only increased my own excitedness)

Test on new words Friday.

Beth

happy-trot

just a little happy dance (maybe more like a happy-trot...lol).

Got a note from the editor yesterday who's had my short story since January. She likes it (she likes it!). Says the premise is "fresh", but that she'd like to work with me to make it "sparkle" before they offer me a contract.

Way cool. Especially since I *love* sparkly things.

On another good/bad note, I didn't meet the goals with the seriouswriter girls for this three weeks. Yeah, I know. Fork over the money, honey! Just got hit with one of those mid-winter depressions from the weather (the snow is melting...I see the shingles of my neighbor's roof!)

The good part of that is that the new goal is to have, in three weeks' time, 10 queries in the (e)mail. Ten, whoa! That means I actually have to SEND the queries I write, huh? LOL. Cheated a little. I sent one out this morning (official new goals don't go into effect til tonight). I think the girls will cut me some slack!

Get back to writing...
Beth

joking..but seriously...cut a girl a break...

One question I frequently get from non-writers when I introduce myself to them as a writer (amazing conversations that spawns, by the way) is "where do you get your ideas?"

I wish the question were "where don't you get ideas?" Of course, I couldn't answer that in a proper-english-grammar-kinda-way, because it sounds illiterate to say "i don't not get ideas anywhere."

Ok, so more simply, I say "Everywhere." Literally. I read the newspaper, I get ideas. I watch Superbowl commercials, I get ideas. I listen to Barry Manilow songs, I get ideas. (Yeah, those kind of ideas too). There used to be a few sacred places in my life where ideas for articles and stories didn't hound me around every corner...yoga class (defeats the purpose), doing dishes (ever wondered the proper way to load a dishwasher? There's an article in that), emptying trashcans (which breed bacteria like my empty mind breeds article topics) and, the most sacred of spaces to everyone the world over: the bathroom.

Yeah, well, that was last week. Over the weekend, I went to the bathroom (just the thing you want to share in a blog, right?!) and after washing my hands, thought I'd put away the clutter on my sink. Toothbrushes, a few scrunchies, a jar of eye cream and two tubes of toothpaste. Not that one isn't good enough for my family, but one was a travel-size I hadn't yet put away from my recent weekend out west. Naturally, the colors on the front of each tube, drastically different mind you, caught my eye. I started reading and discovered that one guaranteed less plaque while one guaranteed whiter teeth...when they're both basically the same. Kick in the writer's brain, who demanded research on which five toothpastes actually whiten best and which five toothpastes actually clean better.

I know there's a market somewhere, but honestly. Can't a girl get a little peace for a few minutes a day? It's like the toddler knocking on the door...never a moment alone. (I actually kinda like it!)

Beth

what's the word....?

I think this is a rhetorical question, but I want to know the word that defines that specific period of time between the moment you send your article, book, short story--any piece of writing you're hoping to get published--to the editor and the time they get back with you. You know, the span of infinite waiting that seems to drag on longer than an episode of Friends where all we get to do is watch Rachael whine? The duration of time where we ask ourselves "Will she like it? Will she buy it? Did I use periods? Did I write in English?" like a mantra?

I want to know the name for that period of time. If anyone knows or is able to create something creative, I'm all for it. Being an English teacher, I do have the default ability to create new words, so if you've got a suggestion, bring it on.

Just sent in the article yesterday to the RWR. My lag time (?!) wasn't long--the editor--a wonderful lady I enjoy working with--sent back a quick note of approval within the same day. That's writing karma for you.

Not so much karma on the workshop end of things. Got two (when one just isn't enough) rejection letters from RWA stating that they're not interested in my freelance workshop (solo) or my dialogue interaction workshop (with soon-to-be-published friend Donna MacMeans). Ah, well. Just means I'll have to sell more freelancing to be able to afford the conference fee. I'm not passing up Dallas...

Back to the writing. A day off school...queries call!

Beth

a day away

With that self-imposed deadline of Friday for the article due on Monday, you'd think I spent last night slaving over punctuation and tearing apart sentences, but you'd be wrong.

I did nothing.

Well, not exactly nothing. I conducted my first phone interview ever (as a writer) with an entertaining guy who conducts the most fascinating research on gender-specific marketing (to support the article idea brewing in my mind), but I didn't do a tootin' thing with the freelance article. Not that I needed a break. I just think fresh eyes (as fresh as two days can be) will give me better perspective. I won't get to it tonight, either, as I've got a new yoga class til nine. Three days should be better than two, right?

Actually, I'm not that far away from it. There's one sentence driving my mind batty (transitions from the intro don't usually suck this bad) and I'm playing with it in infinite directions so this is my time to nail that baby down.

A writer's mind never stops, does it?

Beth

Draft #2

Finished the second draft last night of the article due Feb. 5th. For all intents and purposes it's complete--my second drafts are for adding quotes, transitions, making sure all names and author information is correct. Yesterday I received responses from two more fiction/freelance authors, so I added in a quote from each. I think it's 98% done. Just need that fine-toothed editing comb to tighten and activate my words...the funnest part of writing. (Yeah, I know. I'm allowed to use "funnest").

Even cooler is that, unlike every day of my past three years, I don't have to put my writing on a shelf to get back to the grad research--I get to write again! Next up is a short (comparatively, anyway--1500 vs. 3000 words) article on female spies in the Civil War. Due Feb. 15th. I could really dig this freelance writing stuff...learning about things I didn't know existed.

And speaking of fiction, still awaiting editorial word if the short short was accepted. We'll see.

Beth

How Rough is the rough draft?

Pretty rough, but more importantly...DONE.

I've had a weird relationship with this article (on helping fiction writers transition into freelancing). I love the idea--I've had so many people ask how to get into freelancing and I love helping them get started that idea really created itself. I was psyched when the editor requested it, and I get wound up each time I think about the info in the article.

But for some reason, putting my butt in the chair to write this one was an adventure in procrastination--something I've battled, slayed and thought I'd overcome. I used to be the world's #1 procrastinator but grad school taught me the value of planning ahead. I don't like the feeling of procrastinating now (obviously not enough) but this piece didn't listen to that. It's due on the 5th of February and, well, it's obvious how long I've put it off.

Luckily, it's done. Longhand, 15 pages or so. Ready to be typed tomorrow. As I said...
DONE!

Beth

Mystical Alignment

I don't know if it's the alignment of the planets or what, but the writing is going so well lately it almost scares me.

I've been toying with a few queries, editing a short story I've had for about a month, and gathering together interviews to write an article due on Feb 5th. All nicely writing related, going at an even pace. Got an unexpected gift yesterday when school was canceled, and decided to pretend to be a writer all day.

Finished the short story, sent off a query and synopsis only to have the full requested by the afternoon. Haven't had fiction requested in eight years (well, haven't submitted fiction in eight years, either). Sent it in pronto.

Just waiting, now, to get the verdict. Isn't waiting the worst part of writing? Some say it's brainstorming, other say editing. I say waiting. I'm impatient.

Beth

In the groove...

It's true I've been gone a while. And it's also true I've not been on top of my game with the whole writing thing. Life intervenes, saps energy, drains creativity, sucks away precious time.

Yeah, you get the point. After finishing my thesis three days before it was due, I happily claimed my diploma in December with grand plans of jumping right back into writing where I left off. I didn't count on the fact that I needed to get myself back into prime writing condition. Takes time to start waking up at 4:30 on a regular basis (even with the impatient whining of my lovable dog Omar demanding her morning walk).

I'm glad to say--I think I'm back in the groove. None too soon, either. I've got a major deadline coming up--Feb. 5th for an April article--and haven't started yet. I've brainstormed and have a working outline which, for all intents and purposes, serves as my first draft. (Maybe I should translate that to my fiction writing...hmm....). Planned to put BICHOK into action yesterday but it just didn't get done. No worries...my self-imposed deadline isn't for another week and a few days.

One cool note is that I'll be teaching an online course at the Hearts Through History RWA site this summer. Entitled "From Fiction to Freelance in 8.2 Seconds", it's meant to help give fiction writers a solid foundation for using all that acquired knowledge to break into the freelance market. I'm really excited and looking forward to it.

Hearts Through History offers some killer workshops for writers. Took one last year on sensuality in writing and it was a gem. If you're interested, here's their main class list:
http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/class.htm

and here's mine:
http://www.heartsthroughhistory.com/freelance.htm

Here's to meeting all those lofty 2007 writing goals...
Beth

Feedback, Or Why I Love To Write

With feedback like this, who wouldn't want to be a writer?
(I edited out the non-pertinent stuff)
==========

Dear Beth:

I just read you review of THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER, and needless to say, I was thrilled. But what I really want to say is that after dozens of reviews, yours is absolutely the most creative, the most original. Not that one thinks of reviews as a contest for originality (-; , but how could anyone want not to check it out and pass it on.

I must send you big thanks and hugs.

This is quite an amazing review--quite unlike anything I've ever received or seen! (-:

Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Author USA Book News' Best Professional Book and Book Publicists of Southern California's Irwin Award Winner, THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER: HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON'T

============

Wanna see the review for yourself? (amazing book!): (yeah, shameless self-promo--too bad!)

http://www.writer2writer.com/frugal.htm

Ahhh...I love writing for writers. They always get it.

Beth

End in sight...

Thesis is due next week (at least the final presentation is due, so the project should probably be due, too). I've set my own personal deadline of being done by Weds this week. So far, so good. Keep your fingers crossed.

Just because I've not been posting (and have had my head buried in research, tables and the APA Style Manual) doesn't mean I've not been working on writing. One of the coolest things I've got going is that I"ll be teaching an online course this summer through an RWA group who offers online courses. I think it's June (it's in my agenda) and it'll focus on how to help fiction writers (especially romance writers) use all their knowledge & research to break into freelancing. Just another facet of my proposed presentation to RWA National and the RWR article due in Feb (that I've not yet started).

I've also had a request for an article on goal setting for a local newsletter so I'll be cranking that out soon, too.

As for NaNoWriMo, at least I did more than procrastinate this year. Didn't get anywhere past those 8 pages I mentioned earlier but small steps are good steps.

Here's to keeping the sanity through the holidays by writing...

Beth

Of fiction & freelance

Let's see...an update.

Well, I've not freelanced much lately. Putting together my thesis has sapped my logical, informational brain center and I find it difficult to string together words that explain. I'm still coming up with ideas, not as compulsively as usual, but any idea is a good one--proof that the old noggin is still kicking.

What I have been writing is fiction. Signed up for NaNoWriMo and challenged myself not to the full novel-length work in 30 days but to hit at least 50 pages. I should be there now, shouldn't I...but not yet. I think I managed 8 pages in the last week or so--nothing to sneeze at, especially when I think the beginning of the story (the one set amongst the Mayan pyramids at Chichen Itza in the Yucatan jungle of Mexico) is a keeper. Dynamic and my heroine comes to life.

I need to get my act together and start gathering research for the next RWR article (if you're a published romance writer and you've been published in nonfiction/freelancing, drop me a note...I'm always looking for quotes....). It's chomping away in the back of my mind...and with the holidays right around the corner (and the article due in Feb though I want to turn it in in Jan), it's never too late...

Ok. Back to the fiction writing. Maybe.

Beth

Fingers

Do your fingers ever do bad things while you just watch?

 

I had a week like that last week. Finished proofing the anthology article (sent it off Friday) and thought I'd have a few days to catch my breath before starting the research for the next RWR article. Cracked open an issue of a writer's ezine I've been reading for some time only to find a note that their internet resource columnist is moving on and the position is open. Before I could remind myself that I have far too many things I want to write myself, I'd whipped up a letter of interest and copy/pasted a sample article. (Reminds me of one of my favorite songs...John Mayer's "My Stupid Mouth" except in this case it's "My Stupid Fingers") And sent it.

 

Oh, but that wasn't enough. In the midst of reading another great ezine and saw they had--even better--an opening for a volunteer editor. Now--this zine is by far and away one I admire greatly. Since I consider myself qualified, I zipped off another note of interest, got the job specs and sent in my name for consideration.

 

It's like the synaptic connection between my brain's logical center and my fingers has either disconnected or taken on a Frankenstein-like connection where I"m just an innocent bystander. I just hope I have all the words (and stamina, but that's greatly helped by caffeine) to keep up with what my fingers think I'm capable of.

 

Happy Writing...

Beth

First Conference Goodie

No notes yet--haven't had time. Finishing two articles requested for the anthology and wrapping up the proposal for the RWA conference next year in Dallas, but my friends Lori & Tony Karayianni (who write as Tori Carrington) posted some wonderful photos from the conference on their site (they're just sooooooo fun!) and I wanna share.

 

Visit the photos in the blog on their site at: http://www.toricarrington.net/indexblog.htm

 

(I'm in the one titled "A shot of our conference table". Third row, middle photo. That's me in the Buckeye cardigan. (I'm insanely superstitious. And it worked. We beat Michigan State...)

 

Anyway..check out all the good-looking writers there.

 

More soon.

 

Back to writing....

 

Beth

Follow Ups

....doing a (quick) happy dance...

 

Just got a reply from the RWR editor and she likes one of my (two) proposal ideas I sent along with the thank-you note after receiving the contract (You send those follow up ideas, right? Strike while the iron's hot my friends...)

 

This time it's for the April issue. I can make that, just hoping I can target the topic as she wants. Gonna email her and find out...will let you know....

 

Beth

Refilling the Creative Well

Something mystical about the way writing conferences refill your creative well.

 

I don't know if it's the people, the topics, the invisible karma generated when a bunch of creative-types gather, but after returning from my writer's group annual conference (Central Ohio Ficiton Writers) I'm full of the belief that I can--no---will! be back working on fiction (and simultaneously freelancing) in no time.

 

So many excellent speakers with such good advice and ideas....I took lots of notes and plan to post some of them here for those who don't have the luxury of getting to a conference soon. Great advice from great authors (Jenny Crusie & Bob Mayer, Tori Carrington (aka Tony & Lori),) excellent agents and editors...I'm inspired.

 

So what am I doing here and not writing?!

 

Notes soon...

 

Beth

Relapse, Part II

Is there a word for a second relapse of larger proportions than the first relapse? Because, if so--that's me.

 

First fall off the freelancing wagon all I did was write a little fiction. Honest. A paragraph or two, a few first lines, a couple of character names and plot twists...easy enough to scoop myself up and get tough the next day, leaving my notebook in the dust.

 

But that little taste sparked a big idea that woke me at 4:30 am the next morning and had me not just writing a few notes but a damn short story. (it's my blog, I can curse). Yeah, no lie. Started at 4:30, had it done by 6. About 1,000 words but the entire story came pourrrrrrrrrring out. Beginning, middle, end, structure, character, plot, details...wow. Almost in publishable form, too. Did some market research and have three places to submit. Hey, that's bringing it full circle back to freelancing, right?.......

 

Beth

Relapse

Ok, I admit it. I'd planned to keep it hush-hush but I might as well update the blog with the truth:

 

I wrote fiction.

 

Yeah, it's true. Not a bunch--just about two pages of brainstorming for a story that's been nagging from the back of my mind. Happened at that one weak moment of the day, right before bedtime when I was exhausted after a day of presenting a workshop and didn't have the willpower to put down the notebook and fountain pen. Notebook is still on the floor as a reminder of my downfall.

 

Strangely, I don't feel the need to overindulge myself (like with chocolate) or obsess over it (like with a query letter). I really feel relief. Like I got stuff out, my creative, fiction brain still works but isn't on overdrive with the guilt that accompanies a fiction story I can't finish fast enough for my own high standards. Just a nice, fiction-inspired peace.

 

Even more strange is that it inspired me to finish a proposal for RWA's national conference next year and an anthology submission I've been dragging my feet on. As Stephen King so masterfully says: Writing begets writing..(no matter what kind it is).

 

Back to the story..erm...article....

 

Beth

Proof

Quick story to those of you who believe editors don't reply to your submissions (fiction or freelance) out of spite or because they don't like you personally

 

(you do know that's an excuse on your part, right? Editors are wonderful--the reason we're published).

 

My friend Katy--one of the Serious girls--received a rejection today for a submission she'd sent some time ago--January of 2002, to be exact.

 

You read that right. Coming close to five years and she just received a reply.

 

That's an award-winner. Can anyone top that?

 

Here's hoping my recent queries get accepted (or rejected, but we must think positively) by 2010....

 

Back to the writing....

Beth