I wanted to shout out to two fellow writers before I move onto my shameless plug... First, kudos to Kristen Fischer, whose book, Creatively Self-Employed: How Writers and Artists Deal with Career Ups and Downs, just went on sale. Read my interview with Kristen here, and buy her book from Amazon. Seriously, people, I haven't read it yet, but I'm sure it's chock full of useful information for all of us. Also, Deb Ng's fabulous blog, Freelance Writing Jobs, is having a Google rankings issue. I got an assignment based on one of her leads just this morning, so it truly is a great resource and deserves tons and tons of traffic!
And now time for Susan's monthly Query Challenge update... This month I sent out a total of twenty-one queries and received four assignments with one possible assignment for the summer. Doesn't sound like a lot, but sometimes it still feels like "uh oh, now I actually have to write 1,200 words on X topic. Do I even have 1,200 words to write? I guess I got caught up in query fever." (Coming from a PR background, queries are fun for me to write, but don't worry, I always have stuff to say when it comes down to it.) However, I don't think those numbers tell the whole story. For starters, one of the magazines I queried had stopped publishing but still had "2007 writer's guidelines" posted on their website. A men's magazine editor was really jazzed about my ideas for a dating column... that is, until he discovered that I live in Boston and couldn't "just pop by" his Manhattan office later that day. C'est la vie!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Have a Wonderful Lie
Lately I've been on an essay reading kick, so I picked up a recommendation from one of my book club buddies. It's a Wonderful Lie: 26 Truths About Life in Your Twenties is a delightfully sarcastic homage to life in your twenties: finding a job and apartment, dating, drinking, and more. Some of my faves so far include Jill Kargman's "Letter to My Crappy One-Bedroom" (which inspired me to write about my adventures in urban real estate), Alison Pace's "Hired, Fired, and What I Wore" (has she been following me with hidden cameras ala TLC's What Not to Wear? it's like she's inside my closet), and Cara Lockwood's "Breaking Up (with MasterCard) Is Hard to Do." Special kudos go to Leanne Shear and Tracey Toomey for their take on post-Sex and the City feminism in "Girls Can Do Anything!." In fact, Leanne and Tracey are appearing as my featured muses this Thursday, so check that out.
The one thing I didn't like so much about the book it is the homophony of voices. After a while, the essays start to sound like the same 24-year old writer struggling to find her voice and find a boyfriend. I've been there, I get it, but can we please talk about something else? Twentysomething Essays by Twentysomething Writers reflects a much more diverse sampling of young writers and experiences. But I still love It's a Wonderful Lie, too. If you're trying to get your own essays published (and good luck to you, it's tough!), check out Allison Winn Scotch's post on that very topic. I'm pleased to report that since I started my Q & A with The Urban Muse, writers and publicists have actually started sending me galleys of their books. My primary goal has always been to further my knowledge and that of my fellow writers, but if I get to read some new books in the process, then so much the better!
The one thing I didn't like so much about the book it is the homophony of voices. After a while, the essays start to sound like the same 24-year old writer struggling to find her voice and find a boyfriend. I've been there, I get it, but can we please talk about something else? Twentysomething Essays by Twentysomething Writers reflects a much more diverse sampling of young writers and experiences. But I still love It's a Wonderful Lie, too. If you're trying to get your own essays published (and good luck to you, it's tough!), check out Allison Winn Scotch's post on that very topic. I'm pleased to report that since I started my Q & A with The Urban Muse, writers and publicists have actually started sending me galleys of their books. My primary goal has always been to further my knowledge and that of my fellow writers, but if I get to read some new books in the process, then so much the better!
Sunday, February 25, 2007
I'd like to thank the Academy...
Seriously, though, these past few weeks have been a little frantic at times, and I couldn't have gotten through them without the help of a few wondeful people. Thanks to my tech-savvy friends, I have a functioning computer instead of an over-priced doorstop.
Thanks to Vista Print, I have stylish new business cards AND a new website. It took me a while to settle on a design template and color scheme (kinda like when I tried to decorate my apartment but couldn't decide between earth tones or jewel tones, classic or contemporary furniture, silk curtains or shears), but their customer service was fantastic at answering all my questions. Even though I do a lot of design at work, I still think that playing with fonts and adding some colored boxes does not a designer make. Regardless, I'm pretty happy with the results.
Thanks to Media Bistro for offering fabulous weekend classes (just took their class on Copywriting Basics yesterday). So far all the pitching guides through AvantGuild have been great, and I'm headed to their media party on Wednesday, so thanks for all the good times (strictly media-related, of course).
I'd also like to thank James Blunt and John Mayer for keeping me company during the long, lonely nights at my computer and Hershey's white chocolate for making it all possible!
Thanks to Vista Print, I have stylish new business cards AND a new website. It took me a while to settle on a design template and color scheme (kinda like when I tried to decorate my apartment but couldn't decide between earth tones or jewel tones, classic or contemporary furniture, silk curtains or shears), but their customer service was fantastic at answering all my questions. Even though I do a lot of design at work, I still think that playing with fonts and adding some colored boxes does not a designer make. Regardless, I'm pretty happy with the results.
Thanks to Media Bistro for offering fabulous weekend classes (just took their class on Copywriting Basics yesterday). So far all the pitching guides through AvantGuild have been great, and I'm headed to their media party on Wednesday, so thanks for all the good times (strictly media-related, of course).
I'd also like to thank James Blunt and John Mayer for keeping me company during the long, lonely nights at my computer and Hershey's white chocolate for making it all possible!
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Good News for Susie Co-Ed?
My friend Lyn sent me a link to "The Romantic Life of Brainiacs" in last week's Boston Globe Magazine. We rejoiced in the author's conclusion that a Harvard MBA hasn't kept many Mass. women from finding a mate. Michael Noer over at Forbes would disagree. The New York Times covered this supposed trend (women staying unattached longer - ever heard of Queen Elizabeth I?) last month. They later admitted that their statistics may have been a little skewed in the aptly titled Can a 15-year old be a 'woman without a spouse'? Perhaps in some parts of the antebellum South, but here in Boston in 2007, you're not an old maid unless you're wearing high-button shoes and using phrases like "gentleman caller" (theatre productions of "The Glass Menagerie" do not count). Or at least that's what I tell myself, because there's another wedding of high school friends this weekend. Here's to smart women everywhere!
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Real Women Eat Beef
Just got home from a book reading by Tracy McArdle, author of Real Women Eat Beef. Honestly, I was initially drawn to the event just on the basis of her catchy title (not that I agree, but I was intrigued nonetheless). However, when I discovered that the book is about a non-meat-eater whose Boston advertising firm assigns her to rebrand beef, I was HOOKED! What could be funnier? (Sidenote: the novel that I don't have time to write also takes place in Boston. That's about all I know at this point.) Tracy's reading of the scene where her heroine meets the good ol' boys of the beef industry was hilarious. Now there's an author who can milk a scene for maximum comic effect!
I definitely plan on reading the complete novel and her debut novel, which is cleverly titled Confessions of a Nervous Shiksa, but perhaps the juiciest portion of the evening came when Tracy talked about her writing process. She emphasized that regardless of how funny or true a scene is, if it doesn't develop the characters or the plot, it doesn't belong in your novel. I think a lot of writers (myself included) struggle with this problem. We find a few lines of dialogue or an idea that we're madly in love with, but we can't get enough distance to see that it's not contributing to the bigger picture. This is where it helps to have a good editor friend to bring us back to earth. She also talked about reading versus analyzing, e.i. taking a book and, instead of getting carried away by the well developed characters and setting, really looking at what makes it work. I think this works for non-fiction as well. And, of course, what book reading would be complete without someone asking totally off-topics questions about Norman Mailer or the logic behind physical attraction? Being a savvy PR person, Tracy handled it like a pro.
I definitely plan on reading the complete novel and her debut novel, which is cleverly titled Confessions of a Nervous Shiksa, but perhaps the juiciest portion of the evening came when Tracy talked about her writing process. She emphasized that regardless of how funny or true a scene is, if it doesn't develop the characters or the plot, it doesn't belong in your novel. I think a lot of writers (myself included) struggle with this problem. We find a few lines of dialogue or an idea that we're madly in love with, but we can't get enough distance to see that it's not contributing to the bigger picture. This is where it helps to have a good editor friend to bring us back to earth. She also talked about reading versus analyzing, e.i. taking a book and, instead of getting carried away by the well developed characters and setting, really looking at what makes it work. I think this works for non-fiction as well. And, of course, what book reading would be complete without someone asking totally off-topics questions about Norman Mailer or the logic behind physical attraction? Being a savvy PR person, Tracy handled it like a pro.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
"Oh, for the love of language..."
I had a writing professor in college who hated the word "the." She instructed us to strike "that awful, unnecessary word from your vocabulary." I still haven't mastered The Art of Writing without Articles, but I suppose we all have our quirks.
I have a coworker who hates it when writers talk about "journaling" instead of "writing in a journal." My Dad doesn't like it when people say "ain't" (do people still say that? who are these people?). This girl hates it when others abuse fonts. Call me Miss Snark, but I cringe when someone asks "where're you at?" Ugh! What words or phrases makes your skin crawl with indignation? I know we all have our linguistic pet peeves, so let them out!
I have a coworker who hates it when writers talk about "journaling" instead of "writing in a journal." My Dad doesn't like it when people say "ain't" (do people still say that? who are these people?). This girl hates it when others abuse fonts. Call me Miss Snark, but I cringe when someone asks "where're you at?" Ugh! What words or phrases makes your skin crawl with indignation? I know we all have our linguistic pet peeves, so let them out!
Monday, February 19, 2007
Why I Blog
I have been tagged by Shanna at Write from the Beginning to write about why I blog. Here goes...
Like many people, I don't have a very interesting day job, so blogging is my release. Here I can be my sassy, irreverant self and most days I can't wait to get home and unleash my inner muse on the blogosphere. No one can pester me about Oxford commas or question my word choice (or wardrobe choice, as is so often the case), because this is my creative outlet. Here are a few more reasons:
Like many people, I don't have a very interesting day job, so blogging is my release. Here I can be my sassy, irreverant self and most days I can't wait to get home and unleash my inner muse on the blogosphere. No one can pester me about Oxford commas or question my word choice (or wardrobe choice, as is so often the case), because this is my creative outlet. Here are a few more reasons:
- To connect with other writers. This is my calling card so that when I comment on other people's blogs, they know I'm not just a psycho with a penchant for overusing parenthesis.
- To practice writing short and pithy pieces. It can be harder than it looks, but magazines are always in need of front-of-book (FOB) pieces about the same length as a blog post.
- To build my personal brand. My hope is that when I send editors here they will appreciate my chatty, girly style and think "this is the kind of girl who could write about dating/Gen Y/travel/money for my women's magazine." You never know...
- To track my progress as a writer. I've tried keeping a journal, but I find myself crossing out, drawing arrows, and generally over-editing myself. Blogger does all that for me. And I can already see a greater sense of confidence and progress since I started this blog last November.
All right, time to pass the torch. Why do you blog? Liz and Alicia, you're next!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Budgets and Blazers and Belts, oh my!
Starting a contest is a great way to boost interactivity on your blog and one of my faves, The Budget Fashionista, has done just that. All you budding fashion writers out there should take a stab at her guest blogger contest running until February 20. Read about it here. Good luck!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
5 Q's with Jenny Rough
In less than two years, Jenny Rough has gone from lawyer to freelance writer, contributing to Self, Whole Life Times, The Washington Post, and the newly launched ezine Portovert. On top of having an impressive resume, Jenny is a sweet, self-effacting California gal who blogs at Roughly Speaking. What's the secret to her success? Read on...
Urban Muse: Could you share a little of your strategy for breaking into publishing?
Jenny: My strategy was to quit my legal job out of the blue and announce that I was becoming a freelance writer. I don't recommend that route! I mistakenly thought switching industries would amount to a lateral move, but I had to dig a basement for myself in the journalism field and work my way up from there. When starting out, I do recommend the old adage: write what you know (for me that meant legal articles). I also recommend taking a job as an intern or assistant editor at a magazine. I accepted a part-time position at a sustainable living publication, and it made my transition to freelancing so much smoother because it allowed me to meet editors, build clips, and carve a niche for myself in a new area.
UM: You have a JD from when you practiced law. Do you think successful writers need an advanced degree in publishing or a specialty area?
J: The upside – and the downside – of freelance writing is that there are no barriers to entry. You don't have to earn a JD, pass a bar exam, or pay a license fee. It's a free-for-all frenzy! Law school sharpened my writing and research skills and taught me to work hard. Other graduate programs would do the same. But I don't think an advanced degree is necessary. Successful writers need two things: the ability to write and the ability to build good relationships with editors. At least, I think that's what it takes – I'm still new at this, so ask me again in ten years.
UM: It can be tough to find a market for personal essays, but you've done really well in that area. Any general comments about querying/publishing personal essays?
J: Whenever I come across articles offering advice about personal essay, the piece almost always mentions the same three columns: "Modern Love" in The New York Times, "My Turn" in Newsweek, and "Lives" in The New York Times Magazine. These are wonderful venues – I certainly hope to break into them one day – but the editors for these columns receive tons of submissions each month. There are other personal essay markets looking for good work. Check every magazine you pick up – you'd be surprised how many run first person pieces. Even my alumni magazine prints a back page essay, and my law school magazine prints a memoir column. In newspapers, the Style or Leisure section often prints personal essay, as well as the Travel, Home, and Food sections. Literary magazines are another idea, as are webzines. Sometimes online publications don't pay, but if you can publish in one that is respected and that gets a zillion hits a day, it can be a great way to get your name out there. I'm actually compiling a list of personal essay markets that I plan to post on my website (ed note: I'll be sure to link to that later). Finally, I treat personal essay different than standard feature articles in the sense that I usually write the piece in advance. Maybe that'll change as I become more established, but I tend to send a one paragraph pitch along with the essay pasted right into the e-mail.
UM: Congrats on your article in this week's Washington Post! Was it tough to sell yourself to a DC-based publication?
J: Thanks... While it's true I started my writing career in LA, I moved to the DC area a few months ago. But my bet is the editor didn't know where I lived when I submitted my piece. The challenge is not so much selling to a regional publication, but finding them (especially the ones with limited circulation). If a local publication does require its essays to specifically reference the area, you'll have to figure out how to work geography into the article, but the beauty of the genre is that those ties can be loose. The real focus of personal essay is moving people on an emotional level.
UM: And because I always include at least one totally irrelevant question: what is your favorite beach read?
J: Let's see . . . I'm going to Mexico on a travel assignment in a few days (ed note: lucky girl, she's missing the crazy Northeaster!) and I'm hoping to steal a little beach time. At the risk of sounding trite, I'll probably pack the 2006 edition of The Best American Essays, but I'm anxiously awaiting the release date of Rebecca Walker's Baby Love. When it comes to reading, I almost always gorge on memoirs.
Thanks, Jenny! Read the 5 Q's archives here.
Urban Muse: Could you share a little of your strategy for breaking into publishing?
Jenny: My strategy was to quit my legal job out of the blue and announce that I was becoming a freelance writer. I don't recommend that route! I mistakenly thought switching industries would amount to a lateral move, but I had to dig a basement for myself in the journalism field and work my way up from there. When starting out, I do recommend the old adage: write what you know (for me that meant legal articles). I also recommend taking a job as an intern or assistant editor at a magazine. I accepted a part-time position at a sustainable living publication, and it made my transition to freelancing so much smoother because it allowed me to meet editors, build clips, and carve a niche for myself in a new area.
UM: You have a JD from when you practiced law. Do you think successful writers need an advanced degree in publishing or a specialty area?
J: The upside – and the downside – of freelance writing is that there are no barriers to entry. You don't have to earn a JD, pass a bar exam, or pay a license fee. It's a free-for-all frenzy! Law school sharpened my writing and research skills and taught me to work hard. Other graduate programs would do the same. But I don't think an advanced degree is necessary. Successful writers need two things: the ability to write and the ability to build good relationships with editors. At least, I think that's what it takes – I'm still new at this, so ask me again in ten years.
UM: It can be tough to find a market for personal essays, but you've done really well in that area. Any general comments about querying/publishing personal essays?
J: Whenever I come across articles offering advice about personal essay, the piece almost always mentions the same three columns: "Modern Love" in The New York Times, "My Turn" in Newsweek, and "Lives" in The New York Times Magazine. These are wonderful venues – I certainly hope to break into them one day – but the editors for these columns receive tons of submissions each month. There are other personal essay markets looking for good work. Check every magazine you pick up – you'd be surprised how many run first person pieces. Even my alumni magazine prints a back page essay, and my law school magazine prints a memoir column. In newspapers, the Style or Leisure section often prints personal essay, as well as the Travel, Home, and Food sections. Literary magazines are another idea, as are webzines. Sometimes online publications don't pay, but if you can publish in one that is respected and that gets a zillion hits a day, it can be a great way to get your name out there. I'm actually compiling a list of personal essay markets that I plan to post on my website (ed note: I'll be sure to link to that later). Finally, I treat personal essay different than standard feature articles in the sense that I usually write the piece in advance. Maybe that'll change as I become more established, but I tend to send a one paragraph pitch along with the essay pasted right into the e-mail.
UM: Congrats on your article in this week's Washington Post! Was it tough to sell yourself to a DC-based publication?
J: Thanks... While it's true I started my writing career in LA, I moved to the DC area a few months ago. But my bet is the editor didn't know where I lived when I submitted my piece. The challenge is not so much selling to a regional publication, but finding them (especially the ones with limited circulation). If a local publication does require its essays to specifically reference the area, you'll have to figure out how to work geography into the article, but the beauty of the genre is that those ties can be loose. The real focus of personal essay is moving people on an emotional level.
UM: And because I always include at least one totally irrelevant question: what is your favorite beach read?
J: Let's see . . . I'm going to Mexico on a travel assignment in a few days (ed note: lucky girl, she's missing the crazy Northeaster!) and I'm hoping to steal a little beach time. At the risk of sounding trite, I'll probably pack the 2006 edition of The Best American Essays, but I'm anxiously awaiting the release date of Rebecca Walker's Baby Love. When it comes to reading, I almost always gorge on memoirs.
Thanks, Jenny! Read the 5 Q's archives here.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Love is in the Air
"Remember back in junior high when you filled out a bubble sheet with questions like "how do you eat your Reece's?" and "which character from Fraggle Rock do you most identify with?" Then for a mere two dollars, the student council told you who should be your Valentine. Even then, I was unlucky in love. My little brother appeared at the top of my list with 88% compatibility."
~Excerpt from my (still) unpublished essay,
"Confessions of a Former Online Dater"
~Excerpt from my (still) unpublished essay,
"Confessions of a Former Online Dater"
Thankfully, a few things have changed over the last ten years. I wrote this other article that did get published, and since it has a Valentine's Day theme, I thought I would shop it around for some reprints. Unfortunately, I started too late for this year, but it's on my calendar to try again in the fall. Note to fellow writers: make notes in your little black book or whatever calendar you use to remind yourself to query seasonal story ideas well in advance. In fact, this website will help you brainstorm ideas year round. I learned that April is National Volunteer Month, and March 8 is International Women's Day!
Here are a few more Valentine-themed articles from around the world:
Whether you're single, married, engaged, divorced, widowed, separated or still trying to figure out "what the heck are we?" I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Of Mice and Mentors
The mouse has returned to Apartment 2. Lovely... Anyway, last night I had dinner with Rachel, my writing buddy and mentor. We traded tips about our blogs (read hers here), chatted about editors, and discussed the potential merits of the being the female dating expert for a men's magazine (one word: research).
She also took a look at an essay I've been querying around for the last few months. So far, I have tons of great ideas (in my opinion) for personal essays but none of them have sold. It could be for any number of reasons (maybe the editor prefers excerpts from books instead of up-and-coming writers, I'm targeting the wrong publication, or they don't think my youthful voice will appeal to high-end advertisers). Instead of giving me an encouraging "this is really cute! keep sending it out!" as many people do, she had some good insights on where it veers off on a tangent (my specialty) and where it needs bulking up.
Another thing I love about her is her ability to find a story in virtually everything. I'll share an anecdote about a bad date or a recent trip and she'll jump in with "that's great! start with that and write about how men do X" Brilliant! Now if I could only find the time to flesh out all these essay ideas floating around in my head... How do you, my fellow writers, juggle paid writing assignments with your personal ones?
UPDATE: I just sold a personal essay!! Details to follow...
She also took a look at an essay I've been querying around for the last few months. So far, I have tons of great ideas (in my opinion) for personal essays but none of them have sold. It could be for any number of reasons (maybe the editor prefers excerpts from books instead of up-and-coming writers, I'm targeting the wrong publication, or they don't think my youthful voice will appeal to high-end advertisers). Instead of giving me an encouraging "this is really cute! keep sending it out!" as many people do, she had some good insights on where it veers off on a tangent (my specialty) and where it needs bulking up.
Another thing I love about her is her ability to find a story in virtually everything. I'll share an anecdote about a bad date or a recent trip and she'll jump in with "that's great! start with that and write about how men do X" Brilliant! Now if I could only find the time to flesh out all these essay ideas floating around in my head... How do you, my fellow writers, juggle paid writing assignments with your personal ones?
UPDATE: I just sold a personal essay!! Details to follow...
Friday, February 9, 2007
It's Always Something, Isn't It?
Several fellow bloggers have written about money woes recently. I don't claim to have all the answers, but since I opened a small business account and starting keeping track of my writing expenses separately, things have run more smoothly and I feel comfortable knowing I'm not eating away at my savings.
My issues are computer-related. I don't need a financial planner (yet), but I do need tech support on call 24/7. I was totally irresponsible and let my anti-virus software lapse, so when I had a virus scare last week, I immediately dipped into my freelance fund and renewed it. Turns out I don't have a virus, but I'm out of memory (joy). It took over an hour to download the updated anti-virus software, then things came to a screeching halt.
Another computer shortcoming: I've hidden it well for the past year and a half, but my Dell laptop only came with WordPerfect. It's a huge nuisance, because every time someone sends me a spreadsheet or a Word document with graphics, I have to go to the library to open it. So a few weeks ago I decided "I'm a working writer, I should invest in basic writing software" (basic meaning $200+!) MS Office was going to be my next computer purchase. Nope. Now I need more memory just to function normally.
I called my boyfriend (who has an engineering degree, by the way) to ask him about it. "How do I check my computer's memory? I don't know what to do!" I moaned. It's ironic, really, because at my first post-college job, I was the IT person (it was a non-profit, we wore many hats). His guess was as good as mine, because he's a fan of antiquated software and still works in Windows '97. Thankfully, one of the people I volunteer with (a brand new theatre company that needed PR consulting) has more tech sense than I do and offered to advise me on purchasing and installing more memory. I did a little research and discovered that a memory upgrade for my sad little Dell will run $80+ plus another $40 for installation. After shelling out $50 for virus protection and anticipating the eminent need for MS Office, I'm wondering if it's time to abandon ship. Hopefully my new best friend the IT guy will be able to talk some sense into my laptop.
Now, if you'll excuse me, this soul-sucking work week has left me exhausted. So instead of going out for a Grey Goose martini to bring on the weekend, I'm going to watch Grey's Anatomy. That's right, I'm a huge nerd and I'm not ashamed to admit it!
My issues are computer-related. I don't need a financial planner (yet), but I do need tech support on call 24/7. I was totally irresponsible and let my anti-virus software lapse, so when I had a virus scare last week, I immediately dipped into my freelance fund and renewed it. Turns out I don't have a virus, but I'm out of memory (joy). It took over an hour to download the updated anti-virus software, then things came to a screeching halt.
Another computer shortcoming: I've hidden it well for the past year and a half, but my Dell laptop only came with WordPerfect. It's a huge nuisance, because every time someone sends me a spreadsheet or a Word document with graphics, I have to go to the library to open it. So a few weeks ago I decided "I'm a working writer, I should invest in basic writing software" (basic meaning $200+!) MS Office was going to be my next computer purchase. Nope. Now I need more memory just to function normally.
I called my boyfriend (who has an engineering degree, by the way) to ask him about it. "How do I check my computer's memory? I don't know what to do!" I moaned. It's ironic, really, because at my first post-college job, I was the IT person (it was a non-profit, we wore many hats). His guess was as good as mine, because he's a fan of antiquated software and still works in Windows '97. Thankfully, one of the people I volunteer with (a brand new theatre company that needed PR consulting) has more tech sense than I do and offered to advise me on purchasing and installing more memory. I did a little research and discovered that a memory upgrade for my sad little Dell will run $80+ plus another $40 for installation. After shelling out $50 for virus protection and anticipating the eminent need for MS Office, I'm wondering if it's time to abandon ship. Hopefully my new best friend the IT guy will be able to talk some sense into my laptop.
Now, if you'll excuse me, this soul-sucking work week has left me exhausted. So instead of going out for a Grey Goose martini to bring on the weekend, I'm going to watch Grey's Anatomy. That's right, I'm a huge nerd and I'm not ashamed to admit it!
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Doh!
I had this really long eloquent post all written with news and tidbits and such, but blogger ate it, so this will have to suffice for the evening. Next time I'm writing it in Word and pasting into here. That's all, folks.
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Cue the Lightbulb
Last weekend I interviewed the founder and PR person at Brooks Pond, a local business that creates upscale accessories for children. I admit I was a little daunted when my editor called me with the assignment, because, in case you didn't get the memo, I don't have children. The closest I've come is my adorable second cousin once removed who lives in Baltimore (her name is my middle name, so we share a special bond). I was on the phone with my mother beforehand going "what kind of questions should one ask about baby blankets? what does one even look for in a baby blanket? Not flammable? Check." Someday when I have kids, I'm going to need around-the-clock supervision. Not for the kids. For me.
All in all, the interview went well.
The two women were smart, savvy, and after I'd asked all my questions about "how does this work?" and "what's a Baby Bjorn?" they asked me about my writing. I tried to sum up all the random assignments and unrelated projects I was working on, and then I realized something. I like writing about money. I've written stories about budget travel, budget beauty, budget gifts, and budget decorating. I've interviewed the founders of Dormaid, Spark Crafts, and now Brooks Pond. I may not always follow my own advice (I think I once bounced a check in 2002), but talking about business plans, budgets, and 403Bs gets me excited, especially when the other person is excited, too. Not that I'm going to drop everything to go work for Business Week (I'm no finance whiz and I think they might frown on my history of bouncing checks), but it's nice to know that I have a go-to subject that I'm good at (yes, I'm that annoying friend who bugs you to enroll in your company's 401k and reminds you that generic Cheerios cost $1.50 less than the regular ones) and excited about. In fact, I just sent off a few more queries on this very topic... wish me luck!
All in all, the interview went well.
The two women were smart, savvy, and after I'd asked all my questions about "how does this work?" and "what's a Baby Bjorn?" they asked me about my writing. I tried to sum up all the random assignments and unrelated projects I was working on, and then I realized something. I like writing about money. I've written stories about budget travel, budget beauty, budget gifts, and budget decorating. I've interviewed the founders of Dormaid, Spark Crafts, and now Brooks Pond. I may not always follow my own advice (I think I once bounced a check in 2002), but talking about business plans, budgets, and 403Bs gets me excited, especially when the other person is excited, too. Not that I'm going to drop everything to go work for Business Week (I'm no finance whiz and I think they might frown on my history of bouncing checks), but it's nice to know that I have a go-to subject that I'm good at (yes, I'm that annoying friend who bugs you to enroll in your company's 401k and reminds you that generic Cheerios cost $1.50 less than the regular ones) and excited about. In fact, I just sent off a few more queries on this very topic... wish me luck!
Sunday, February 4, 2007
When to "Just Say No"
Harmony at Writer-in-the-Marking must be psychic when she tagged me to write a self-contract, because I had planned on posting about a similar topic this weekend (by the way, if you haven't already taken my AvantGuild poll, please do so here. I could really use other writers' input). Here goes...
Several weeks ago, I walked away from a web client that had given me tons of assignments and decent-sized checks during 2006. Why? you wonder incredulously. Because it just didn't fit into my goals as a writer. I started writing for them early in my freelance career, generating enough anonymous blurbs and story ideas that my editor had offered me a regular column. But she left and her successor had other plans, so rather than go back to writing lots of short, time-consuming pieces for little money and no byline, I decided to move on. And don't think for a second that I regret it, because now I have more time for projects I really want to write.
For all you writers who are in the place where I was six months to a year ago, don't think that you have to graciously accept every assignment you're offered if you're not happy with the pay, the topic, or you're just flat-out too busy to do a good job. Editors will still respect you if you have to decline. Keep the door open with something like "I'm flattered that you thought of me, but I'm focusing on some other projects right now. Let's touch base next month." And onto my self-contract...
I, Susan Johnston, pledge to the blogosphere and myself that I will uphold the highest standards of writing and research. I will agressively pursue projects that are financially and personally meaningful, and I will not accept substandard payment except for projects that advance my personal goals or those of the charities I support. I will strive for a variety of assignments and bylines while staying true to my writer's voice, but I will not sacrifice my sleep or my sanity in the process.
Now I'm tagging Beth at Shenangians next.
Several weeks ago, I walked away from a web client that had given me tons of assignments and decent-sized checks during 2006. Why? you wonder incredulously. Because it just didn't fit into my goals as a writer. I started writing for them early in my freelance career, generating enough anonymous blurbs and story ideas that my editor had offered me a regular column. But she left and her successor had other plans, so rather than go back to writing lots of short, time-consuming pieces for little money and no byline, I decided to move on. And don't think for a second that I regret it, because now I have more time for projects I really want to write.
For all you writers who are in the place where I was six months to a year ago, don't think that you have to graciously accept every assignment you're offered if you're not happy with the pay, the topic, or you're just flat-out too busy to do a good job. Editors will still respect you if you have to decline. Keep the door open with something like "I'm flattered that you thought of me, but I'm focusing on some other projects right now. Let's touch base next month." And onto my self-contract...
I, Susan Johnston, pledge to the blogosphere and myself that I will uphold the highest standards of writing and research. I will agressively pursue projects that are financially and personally meaningful, and I will not accept substandard payment except for projects that advance my personal goals or those of the charities I support. I will strive for a variety of assignments and bylines while staying true to my writer's voice, but I will not sacrifice my sleep or my sanity in the process.
Now I'm tagging Beth at Shenangians next.
Calling All Muses!
I've been mulling over joining Media Bistro's AvantGuild for a few months now. Someone I met yesterday (more on that later) raved about it, so now I'm thinking it's time to get my butt in gear, pony up $49, and join. I already have a subscription to Writer's Market 2007, but Media Bistro has some great articles about pitching. What do you think?
Thursday, February 1, 2007
5 Q's with Kristen King
Those of you who are participating in the 2007 Query Challenge probably know Kristen King as an enthusiastic cheerleader for writers everywhere. But the Query Challenge is just one of many projects for this writing dynamo. Here's some advice from the Inkthinker herself:
Urban Muse: So, Kristen, your recent involvement with LivelyWomen is the talk of the blogosphere (at least my blogosphere). Could you tell us a little bit about how you got involved with b5media?
Kristen King: I was in the right place at the right time with the right skills. I’ve been doing really well with my Inkthinker blog and enjoying it, but it takes up a ton of time and I’m not making any money with it. Several of my friends, including Anne Wayman, who blogs for b5media, are professional bloggers, and I’d been thinking to myself, “Hey, I could do that. Heck, I’d be good at that,” so I decided to check out their companies and see if there were any openings. I e-mailed the Science & Health Channel editor to express general interest, and the timing was just kind of perfect because they had literally just started looking for a new host for LivelyWomen. The gig was a perfect fit, so badda-bing badda-boom, I was in. It’s definitely been one of the best moves I’ve made as a writer.
UM: What are your other main writing projects and at what point did you decide it was feasible to go full-time freelance?
KK: I tend to wear a lot of hats, so I typically have several projects in the works at one time. LivelyWomen.com and Inkthinker are my big daily commitments, and the work for which I seem to get the most publicity. I also write for a trade publication for practicing oncologists and a Chicago-based advertising firm. I’m on the editorial board for Science Editor, which is the journal of the Council of Science Editors, and I do some writing for them as well. And because life would not be complete if my red pen didn’t get a good workout, I do a ton of editing, everything from scholarly journal articles (I specialize in oncology — don’t ask me how that happened!) to individual authors’ novels to meeting programs to websites and everything in between.
Before I started freelancing full time, I was working full time as a medical editor at a fantastic non-profit association in Alexandria, VA, which is about 55 miles from my home. I’d been freelancing on the side for close to 2 years before I quit my job. It just so happened that at about the same time that I decided that I’d rather stab my self in the eye with a pen than make the daily commute anymore, I started consistently receiving enough freelance opportunities that accepting them all would have made for a full-time job plus overtime. Plus, I’d just sold my Jeep and had an extra $4,000 floating around. I put in my notice and headed out of the office for the last time on April 28, 2006. My boss was then and continues to be incredibly supportive of my choice, which is awesome because I loved working for him, and I do a lot of freelance work for the association, pretty much on a weekly basis.
UM: Any tips on staying motivated as you work from home?
KK: Sure, I would love some! Oh, wait, you mean do I have any? I adore freelancing, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. My biggest problem is staying focused on my work. Right now, I have a large cat on my lap and a puppy standing up against the side of my chair barking and hitting my arm with her paw while she tries to get the cat to jump down and play with her. I just got five e-mails, the laundry is ready to be switched into the dryer and the dry stuff folded, and my husband needs me to vacuum before he gets home so he can shampoo the carpets tonight and give the shampooer back to the guy who lent it to us. Oh, and did I mention that I have ADHD? Sometimes it’s hard to remember that I’m at work right now. Sometimes I’m bored and I just don’t feel like working because, hey, it’s sunny out, and I could really go for some Starbucks. It helps to get dressed every day (rather than working in PJs, which I really try to avoid) and make a to-do list each morning. It also helps to keep a large clock where I can see it so I can keep track of where I am in my day and how much time is passing. I’ve learned to say no to answering the phone or the door unless I’m expecting someone, and to give myself permission not to do housework during the workday just because I’m home.
Probably the single biggest motivator is that I never, ever want to commute again. I hated it. If my business fails, I have to go back to commuting. That. Is. Not. Happening. Also motivating is that my house is too small, and if I want to move to a bigger one (rather than making my future children sleep in dresser drawers), I need to have a successful business that will allow me to finance that endeavor. And speaking of future children, I want to be able to stay home with my kids, which means establishing my freelancing career now so I can make my family my priority in the future and still maintain a successful business.
UM: Now, onto the Query Challenge... how important is it for writers to have an online support system?
KK: Having a support system is critical for writers. The work we do is often a very solitary pursuit, and it’s hard to maintain perspective when you basically spend your days talking to yourself on a computer. I’m active in a couple of online forums and a dozen or so e-mail discussion lists, and those folks have been invaluable in my freelance career. They’re a fantastic source for information, encouragement, and inspiration. I mean, the only people who truly understand the freelance life and the challenges and joys that go with it are those who live it.
My goal with the Query Challenge is to give writers, myself included, encouragement (and some professional guidance) to help them actually do the things they’ve always wanted to do, and to make it fun. The trick is to turn the desire for the end result into the desire to achieve the end result. In other words, it’s turning wishing into acting. A lot of people just need someone to tell them that they’re capable of living their dream, that they have the right and the ability to be successful in doing the things that make them happy. Once they get that affirmation, they’re off and running. That’s what I’m hoping to give people through the Query Challenge. They’re a fantastic source for information, encouragement, and inspiration. I mean, the only people who truly understand the freelance life and the challenges and joys that go with it are those who live it. Folks can sign up for the challenge at any time. Info is available here.
UM: And for my final question, what are you reading for fun these days?
KK: I’m one of those people who can’t read just one book at a time, so I usually have three or four going at once. Right now, I’m working on:
Urban Muse: So, Kristen, your recent involvement with LivelyWomen is the talk of the blogosphere (at least my blogosphere). Could you tell us a little bit about how you got involved with b5media?
Kristen King: I was in the right place at the right time with the right skills. I’ve been doing really well with my Inkthinker blog and enjoying it, but it takes up a ton of time and I’m not making any money with it. Several of my friends, including Anne Wayman, who blogs for b5media, are professional bloggers, and I’d been thinking to myself, “Hey, I could do that. Heck, I’d be good at that,” so I decided to check out their companies and see if there were any openings. I e-mailed the Science & Health Channel editor to express general interest, and the timing was just kind of perfect because they had literally just started looking for a new host for LivelyWomen. The gig was a perfect fit, so badda-bing badda-boom, I was in. It’s definitely been one of the best moves I’ve made as a writer.
UM: What are your other main writing projects and at what point did you decide it was feasible to go full-time freelance?
KK: I tend to wear a lot of hats, so I typically have several projects in the works at one time. LivelyWomen.com and Inkthinker are my big daily commitments, and the work for which I seem to get the most publicity. I also write for a trade publication for practicing oncologists and a Chicago-based advertising firm. I’m on the editorial board for Science Editor, which is the journal of the Council of Science Editors, and I do some writing for them as well. And because life would not be complete if my red pen didn’t get a good workout, I do a ton of editing, everything from scholarly journal articles (I specialize in oncology — don’t ask me how that happened!) to individual authors’ novels to meeting programs to websites and everything in between.
Before I started freelancing full time, I was working full time as a medical editor at a fantastic non-profit association in Alexandria, VA, which is about 55 miles from my home. I’d been freelancing on the side for close to 2 years before I quit my job. It just so happened that at about the same time that I decided that I’d rather stab my self in the eye with a pen than make the daily commute anymore, I started consistently receiving enough freelance opportunities that accepting them all would have made for a full-time job plus overtime. Plus, I’d just sold my Jeep and had an extra $4,000 floating around. I put in my notice and headed out of the office for the last time on April 28, 2006. My boss was then and continues to be incredibly supportive of my choice, which is awesome because I loved working for him, and I do a lot of freelance work for the association, pretty much on a weekly basis.
UM: Any tips on staying motivated as you work from home?
KK: Sure, I would love some! Oh, wait, you mean do I have any? I adore freelancing, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. My biggest problem is staying focused on my work. Right now, I have a large cat on my lap and a puppy standing up against the side of my chair barking and hitting my arm with her paw while she tries to get the cat to jump down and play with her. I just got five e-mails, the laundry is ready to be switched into the dryer and the dry stuff folded, and my husband needs me to vacuum before he gets home so he can shampoo the carpets tonight and give the shampooer back to the guy who lent it to us. Oh, and did I mention that I have ADHD? Sometimes it’s hard to remember that I’m at work right now. Sometimes I’m bored and I just don’t feel like working because, hey, it’s sunny out, and I could really go for some Starbucks. It helps to get dressed every day (rather than working in PJs, which I really try to avoid) and make a to-do list each morning. It also helps to keep a large clock where I can see it so I can keep track of where I am in my day and how much time is passing. I’ve learned to say no to answering the phone or the door unless I’m expecting someone, and to give myself permission not to do housework during the workday just because I’m home.
Probably the single biggest motivator is that I never, ever want to commute again. I hated it. If my business fails, I have to go back to commuting. That. Is. Not. Happening. Also motivating is that my house is too small, and if I want to move to a bigger one (rather than making my future children sleep in dresser drawers), I need to have a successful business that will allow me to finance that endeavor. And speaking of future children, I want to be able to stay home with my kids, which means establishing my freelancing career now so I can make my family my priority in the future and still maintain a successful business.
UM: Now, onto the Query Challenge... how important is it for writers to have an online support system?
KK: Having a support system is critical for writers. The work we do is often a very solitary pursuit, and it’s hard to maintain perspective when you basically spend your days talking to yourself on a computer. I’m active in a couple of online forums and a dozen or so e-mail discussion lists, and those folks have been invaluable in my freelance career. They’re a fantastic source for information, encouragement, and inspiration. I mean, the only people who truly understand the freelance life and the challenges and joys that go with it are those who live it.
My goal with the Query Challenge is to give writers, myself included, encouragement (and some professional guidance) to help them actually do the things they’ve always wanted to do, and to make it fun. The trick is to turn the desire for the end result into the desire to achieve the end result. In other words, it’s turning wishing into acting. A lot of people just need someone to tell them that they’re capable of living their dream, that they have the right and the ability to be successful in doing the things that make them happy. Once they get that affirmation, they’re off and running. That’s what I’m hoping to give people through the Query Challenge. They’re a fantastic source for information, encouragement, and inspiration. I mean, the only people who truly understand the freelance life and the challenges and joys that go with it are those who live it. Folks can sign up for the challenge at any time. Info is available here.
UM: And for my final question, what are you reading for fun these days?
KK: I’m one of those people who can’t read just one book at a time, so I usually have three or four going at once. Right now, I’m working on:
- Mankind’s Search for God
- The Bible: God’s Word or Man’s
- The Unabridged Journals of Sylvia Plath
- The Doctor’s Wife
I recently finished Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life, which I’ve been recommending to everyone I talk to, so go pick it up if you haven’t already. I’m also a compulsive blog reader, and I’ve got more than a hundred blogs in my Google Reader. I try to hit each of them at least twice a week, and I link to all of the writing- and editing-related ones I read regularly in my Inkthinker blogroll, so check it out.
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