Writing Pointers to “Linda”

Some time back, I had an eager young would-be writer named Linda ask me how I became an established writer, and asked how she could do the same. While my my answer to her, which follows, is no “Yes Virginia There Is a Santa Claus,” I think it may have some salient points for those striving to perfect their craft and (hopefully) to get published:

 

Hello Linda.

I’m sorry to have taken a while to get back to you, but your letter was one that required a little more thought rather than a quickly jotted reply. Your recent soul-searching sounds interesting.

 

I agree that — as late philosopher Joseph Campbell encouraged — “following your bliss” is the way to find real contentment (as well as success in the true sense of the word.) I’ve given a lot of seminars to writers and would-be writers, passing along the tricks of the trade – of which there are many – so it’s difficult to know what would help you the most. But below are a few suggestions I can give you to help in your quest.

 

Setting Goals: The first suggestion I would give is to decide what it is you want to accomplish – or least, what you wish to accomplish first. Is your goal to teach through seminars and workshops? Is your main objective to write articles on current topics in the field? Do you want to communicate through non-fiction books? Or would the subject matter be better suited to the fiction format of a novel or short story?

Your goals can change as you grow as a communicator and develop a “niche” that best suits your message and skills, but you have to have a target – even if it’s a moving one – or you’ll never know when you’ve found your mark.

One more thing on goals: if your goal is to become rich as a writer, I must tell you that most don’t. In fact, most writers earn less than $10,000 a year through their craft. That is not to say it can’t be done. In fact, when I was writing as a full-time freelancer, I earned a very good income. And writers who are also speakers have the added potential of making money through seminars as well as selling their books on the seminar circuit. So, who knows, you may be headed for the best-sellers list!

Read other authors doing what you want to do:  The best way to learn the craft of writing is to read what other successful writers have done before you. Any reading is good for that, from newspapers to novels, but reading in the field in which you wish to write is best.

The key is to study not only what’s being communicated but how, when, where and by whom:

What and When: Review the field of writing in your subject to look for common things, for what’s already been done well. What you want to do is to discover what it is that people want to know about. Look for what themes and styles are popular in both past and current writing. In other words, what is selling. Sometimes when I tell people that, they say, “Well, I don’t care if I ever make money at this, I just want to write.” The problem is, if it doesn’t sell, who’s going to get a chance to read it? You might as well write in a diary if you aren’t interested in what’s selling.

How: How is the material communicated? Are editors more interested in documentation or anecdotal material? Do they want lengthy pieces or short, pithy articles quoting the “experts”? Also ask yourself: How are your proposed readers most likely to come in contact with the information you wish to give them? For the latest information on what’s hot and who’s publishing it, check out Writer’s Digest magazine. It has great articles and solid marketing information.

Who: Not everyone will be interested in what you have to write, so who is?  To find out, you’ll need to do your homework. The Writer’s Digest people put out a yearly directory of all the magazine, newspaper and book publishers and who their readers are and what kinds of material they are interested in (along with the rates the publishers pay.) Get a copy at the library and read through it to get a feel for your market. Then write whatever you are writing as if you are speaking directly to that kind of person. I’ve gone so far as to put a picture of someone who looks like my “typical reader” up on the wall in front of my computer. Then when I’m trying to figure out how to explain my material, I look at the person and “talk” with my fingers on the keys directly to that reader.

Where:  The Writer’s Digest annual and their monthly magazines will also tell you where you are most likely to get your work published. This is important because it also affects the style in which you write. Where it’s intended to be published will determine how it’s written. Imagine a topic on yacht repair, for instance. That topic would be handled an entirely different way in a how-to book for small boat owners that in an article in a high-end, full color magazine for mega-yacht owners. In addition, the Digest will tell you how your intended publisher wants you to submit the work. Some want you to just send them the manuscript. Others want you to send a one-page letter “selling” the piece, along with an outline. Still others will tell you they don’t accept unsolicited manuscripts and you must approach them through an agent. Almost all of them will require that you include an SASE with your submission (that’s a self-addressed, stamped envelope.)

Start writing. Writing takes a tremendous amount of discipline. An author I know once said, “Writing is like giving birth to a bale of barbed wire.” He’s right! It takes a lot of audacity, a lot of courage and a lot of determination to sit down and start writing. Some people work best writing from an outline, others just like to write whatever comes to mind.

But do it. Write anything. If you have trouble getting started, write your name or a grocery list (or even in your diary!), just sit down and write at least something, every day.  If you do, eventually you’ll start writing something others will want to read. 

Develop a Manuscript Submission Plan:  Once you’ve researched your market, picked a publisher, planned your piece, and gotten it written and polished, you’re almost ready to send it off to a publisher. But before you do, go through the Writer’s Market and find from three to ten other possible publishers that might be interested in the same piece.  Why? Because rejection sucks!

If your manuscript is rejected by the first place you send it, your inclination will be to put it back in a drawer along with your dream of becoming a writer. That will be your inclination, but you will have a plan already in place! Immediately put the manuscript into another envelope and send it on to the next publisher on your list. And – should your article be accepted – once it is published, your submission plan will give you several other magazines to which you can submit the article as a “reprint.”

Well, I could go on and on (already have!) But hopefully, this will give you a few things to think about.  I hope it’s been useful. 

Best regards,
Cher Merrill, APR
MERRILLCOM
Taking Your Business in New Directions.
Changing the Way We Communicate.