Linda Formichelli has an enviable list of publishing credits: everything from Business.com to Family Circus to Writer's Digest. You may know her as co-author of wildly popular freelance books The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to Freelance Writing Success and The Renegade Writer's Query Letters That Rock. I've had this interview in the works for a few weeks, and, by shear coincidence, the Renegade Writer blog today features a question from yours truly. Must be kismet! Read about Linda below...
Urban Muse: What is the biggest lesson that you want readers to get from The Renegade Writer?
Linda: That there are no rules. Saying there are rules that every single writer has to follow for every single query and article presupposes that editors are identical robots instead of normal, thinking humans with varied needs and their own likes and dislikes. You can't read an editor's mind. All you can do is try different things; if something works for you, stick with it, and if it doesn't, chuck it and try something else. For example, I had one e-mentoring student who kept sending out queries that I would have done much differently, and guess what? She landed all kinds of assignments with those queries. Some things are common sense, of course -- like acting professionally and not stalking editors -- but for many things, you have to go with your gut.
UM: Why help other writers through the blog and e-mentoring? Why not focus on your own writing?
L: It always bothers me to see how much misinformation is out there confusing and frustrating new writers. I'm happy to have the chance to set things straight in our blog and my e-course/e-mentoring. Not to mention that I absolutely love hearing from writers that my advice has helped them break into freelance writing or crack their dream markets.
But I'm not totally altruistic. The e-course is part of my writing business, and the blog is a great promotional tool for the Renegade Writer books.
UM: You and Diana seem to work really well together on the books and blog. Any tips on writing collaborations?
L: I think that we work well together because our writing styles are so similar. In fact, when I read the books now, I sometimes have trouble remembering who wrote what. I can imagine that if you and your co-author have wildly different styles, you'll have one heck of a terrible time trying to make the book flow well! So I suggest trying to find a writer you really mesh with. Also, make sure you have a contract that spells out who does what and who gets what.
UM: I’ve heard other freelancers say they miss the social interaction of an office setting. How can writers combat feelings of isolation if they work from home?
L: Luckily for me, my husband is also a freelance writer, so I never feel isolated. Also, I have some local friends who are also freelancers of different types (writers, interior designers, etc.), so we get together for lunch every so often. But if you don't have this built-in network, I suggest looking for a writer's group in your area. You can often find groups on craigslist.com and meetup.com. And if you don't find a group in your area -- start your own! You can also post in writers' forums asking if anyone there lives near you, and set up a coffee date.
UM: You’ve written for a variety of publications and interests. What is your favorite article topic?
L: That's a good question. My favorite topic varies depending on the time of the day, what I had for breakfast that morning, and the phase of the moon! For a while I was really into writing personal development articles, and recently I've been enjoying writing about business and marketing. But my favorite recent assignment was to test and write about natural face masks and peels.
I may sound scattered, but switching topics often is probably what keeps me from getting totally burned out. For example, if I get sick and tired of writing about health, I start targeting business magazines instead.
Thanks, Linda. Keep up the great work!
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
What I'm Reading
One of the (only) benefits of spending two hours a day commuting is that I get tons of reading done on the train. And the warmer the weather, the more I can justify reading fluffy fun beach reads (hey, if I can't be on the beach, at least I can escape with a good book).
Here's what I've been reading lately:
Here's what I've been reading lately:
Eat, Pray, Love. This was my book club's pick for May and so far appears to be the universal favorite of the group. It's about a newly divorced journalist who goes to Italy to enjoy the food, India to study yoga, and Bali to learn from a medicine man. Chronicling her journey of self-discovery, this memoir could make even the most apathetic couch potato yearn to travel. We disagreed about which section was the best (it's divided into thirds to denote each third of her trip), but I found the characters in Bali to be the most vivid and interesting, while the sensory descriptions of Italian food made my mouth water (which says a lot because I don't eat meat).
Party Girl. If James Frey had written chick lit, it would probably read a lot like Party Girl (and he wouldn't have had that Oprah debacle over whether he'd fabricated his story because then we'd know it was fiction). It has that page-turning quality of A Million Little Pieces combined with a heavy dose of Hollywood gossip. This debut novel by Anna David is loosely based on David's own experiences as a celebrity journalist and recovering party girl. I read David's hilarious essay in "Modern Love" a few months ago, so I was super-excited when her publicist contacted me about the book. In fact, I'm interviewing Anna next Wednesday as part of 5 Q's, which brings me to...
What I'm reading next...
Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys. If Anna's essay is any indication, then this anthology of essays about straight women/gay men friendships is going to be great. Heck, what modern woman hasn't known the exquisite agony of a smart, good-looking man who prefers other smart, good-looking men to smart, fabulous you? The only thing more fabulous would be if my personal essay about going to senior prom with my high school's only openly gay man as we both crushed on the prom king were to be published. How about a second edition: Riding in Cars with Boys... Who Like Boys?
Eleven Minutes. This is the June book club pick. My roommate loves Paulo Coelho... That's about all I know... Anyone else read it?
Thursday, May 24, 2007
How Creatives Deal With Criticism
Lately I've been thinking about the different ways people internalize and externalize feedback. I know I tend to rationalize critiques. (Ex: "This is how my boss said to do it" or "I intended this to be more poetic than literal...") OK, I make excuses. BUT there's actually good reason for that... See what I mean?
I spent eight years studying singing, and for a long time I planned to pursue a career in musical theatre (yeah, I took acting and dancing too). But it was too hard for me to get criticism and not feel totally deflated. I'd spend hours and hours in my room perfecting each nuance of a song and working towards the interpretation that my director wanted, but sometimes in performance I'd go into auto-pilot and revert back to old, easy habits instead. And then I'd feel like a complete failure for not incorporating the director's notes. I still sing, but it's more fun now that it doesn't define me.
I know a lot of writers get those same failure feelings when someone critiques their work, but thankfully I don't. Writing is a healthier outlet for me than performing, because even though I consider myself a writer, I see my writing as external. It's something I do (and do well, in my opinion), not what I am. If someone enjoys it, great. If not, we can still be friends. Poets & Writers has a great article this month about evaluating criticism. It's geared towards (duh) poets and writers, but I think it applies to anyone in a creative pursuit. Enjoy, and as my Dad would say, "Don't let the bastards grind you down!"
I spent eight years studying singing, and for a long time I planned to pursue a career in musical theatre (yeah, I took acting and dancing too). But it was too hard for me to get criticism and not feel totally deflated. I'd spend hours and hours in my room perfecting each nuance of a song and working towards the interpretation that my director wanted, but sometimes in performance I'd go into auto-pilot and revert back to old, easy habits instead. And then I'd feel like a complete failure for not incorporating the director's notes. I still sing, but it's more fun now that it doesn't define me.
I know a lot of writers get those same failure feelings when someone critiques their work, but thankfully I don't. Writing is a healthier outlet for me than performing, because even though I consider myself a writer, I see my writing as external. It's something I do (and do well, in my opinion), not what I am. If someone enjoys it, great. If not, we can still be friends. Poets & Writers has a great article this month about evaluating criticism. It's geared towards (duh) poets and writers, but I think it applies to anyone in a creative pursuit. Enjoy, and as my Dad would say, "Don't let the bastards grind you down!"
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
5 Q's with Penelope Trunk
Known for her candor and unconventional approach to business, Penelope Trunk’s new book arrives in bookstores on May 25. Brazen Careerist: The New Rules for Success offers insight into the modern workplace, from dealing with sexual harassment or a difficult boss to striking a balance with work and outside interests. Penelope has given me helpful advice on my career and my writing, so here she offers advice to others.
Urban Muse: Since you moved recently, how did you stayed organized and focused on writing during the chaos of moving and navigating a new city?
Penelope: Our move was one of the most chaotic times of my life. We had been planning to move out of New York City, but we had not planned to move when we did. It turned out that our whole building was infested with bed bugs. Getting rid of bed bugs is very, very difficult and very expensive and we would have had to live in a hotel for a month. So we left the city with no notice. We had to leave almost all our belongings because they were infested by bugs and we would have had to have a separate moving truck and storage for everything with bugs. My husband and I were totally traumatized. It was so bad that during the move, I developed a psychosomatic rash that looked like bed bugs but wasn't.
The only thing that kept me sane was that I wrote twice a day, every day, at morning and at night. It was my only routine, it was the only thing I was doing that I knew I was doing a good job with. Everything else seemed uncertain to me. I remember days, when we woke up in Madison with almost no belongings, nowhere to live, and no car to get around, and I said, "I have to spend three hours working, I can't fall behind." I am not sure if I would have fallen behind that much, but I worked to keep myself sane. I had also just started blogging a few months before we moved, and I blogged every night before I went to bed. It's during this time that I fell in love with blogging. I loved the routine and the connection I felt to the world, no matter where I was.
UM: You mentioned how different blog-writing and book-writing are. How did you make the switch?
P: I thought that writing a book would mean putting a bunch of columns in a pile and binding them. But when I did that, my publisher rejected the manuscript. After many months of hubris, I agreed to take direction from my editor and write a book the way she wanted it written. I learned so much about thinking in big ideas instead of column-length ideas. I know a lot of people say their editor did nothing for them. My editor taught me how to connect smaller ideas into bigger ideas. She also told me to be useful. All the stuff where I am telling stories but not being that useful she cut out. The impact of this is that when I wrote about the bed bugs, above, I went back and asked myself if I am giving people something useful in that story or just blabbing about bugs. Frankly, it's questionable. So it's good my editor isn't reading.
UM: If a writer decides that perhaps full-time freelancing isn't for them, how is the career outlook for re-entering the 9-5 world?
P: The 9-5 world has a big need for writers. So as long as you have some good clips, it seems reasonable to go back to office life. Most businesses are struggling to figure out how to get noticed more among their demographic. A writer who has been pitching stories to editors has a good sense of how to get someone's story noticed.
In terms of writing, I am trained to write fiction, not marketing copy. But I realized quickly that if I want to work in corporate America, I need to learn how to write copy that sells things. A lot of being employable is making the mental shift to sales.
UM: Some of the comments in response to your Yahoo! Finance columns are very critical. How did you develop a thick skin for dealing with naysayers?
P: I have been getting disgruntled comments for years, from my column. In general, it's important to read the comments to know what people think -- to learn more about the topic, so I write better next time. Also, a lot of times I respond to very angry comments in a nice, conversational appreciative way, and then the person writes back very cordially.
That said, I think that many of the comments on Yahoo are not so much critical as mysongenist. Each week a few people write about whether it would be good to have sex with me. A man would never receive this type of comment on Yahoo. The same thing happened on TechCrunch, where the one woman who was writing for them had to deal with misogynist comments and she quit. It's a significant problem online and I don't think people talk about it enough. We shouldn't have to have Kathy Sierra getting death threats in order to have the conversation about this.
UM: And for the curveball... since you write about business, what is the most unusual job you've had?
P: I worked on a French chicken farm. I have an extensive farm vocabulary in french that is totally useless in my life. The family thought I was nuts, and I thought farm life was nuts, but I had no money and they had no farm help, so we needed each other. It was a very bad situation, punctuated by terribleness like the six-year-old saying rude things about me because she thought I didn't understand, and the fifteen-year-old telling me he was gay when the family, I am sure, did not even know the word for it -- in French or English. That said, I learned a lot about what I want in a job, why interpersonal skills matter the most, and why any job is a learning experience, no matter how absurd it is.
Thanks, Penelope. Good luck with the book!
Urban Muse: Since you moved recently, how did you stayed organized and focused on writing during the chaos of moving and navigating a new city?
Penelope: Our move was one of the most chaotic times of my life. We had been planning to move out of New York City, but we had not planned to move when we did. It turned out that our whole building was infested with bed bugs. Getting rid of bed bugs is very, very difficult and very expensive and we would have had to live in a hotel for a month. So we left the city with no notice. We had to leave almost all our belongings because they were infested by bugs and we would have had to have a separate moving truck and storage for everything with bugs. My husband and I were totally traumatized. It was so bad that during the move, I developed a psychosomatic rash that looked like bed bugs but wasn't.
The only thing that kept me sane was that I wrote twice a day, every day, at morning and at night. It was my only routine, it was the only thing I was doing that I knew I was doing a good job with. Everything else seemed uncertain to me. I remember days, when we woke up in Madison with almost no belongings, nowhere to live, and no car to get around, and I said, "I have to spend three hours working, I can't fall behind." I am not sure if I would have fallen behind that much, but I worked to keep myself sane. I had also just started blogging a few months before we moved, and I blogged every night before I went to bed. It's during this time that I fell in love with blogging. I loved the routine and the connection I felt to the world, no matter where I was.
UM: You mentioned how different blog-writing and book-writing are. How did you make the switch?
P: I thought that writing a book would mean putting a bunch of columns in a pile and binding them. But when I did that, my publisher rejected the manuscript. After many months of hubris, I agreed to take direction from my editor and write a book the way she wanted it written. I learned so much about thinking in big ideas instead of column-length ideas. I know a lot of people say their editor did nothing for them. My editor taught me how to connect smaller ideas into bigger ideas. She also told me to be useful. All the stuff where I am telling stories but not being that useful she cut out. The impact of this is that when I wrote about the bed bugs, above, I went back and asked myself if I am giving people something useful in that story or just blabbing about bugs. Frankly, it's questionable. So it's good my editor isn't reading.
UM: If a writer decides that perhaps full-time freelancing isn't for them, how is the career outlook for re-entering the 9-5 world?
P: The 9-5 world has a big need for writers. So as long as you have some good clips, it seems reasonable to go back to office life. Most businesses are struggling to figure out how to get noticed more among their demographic. A writer who has been pitching stories to editors has a good sense of how to get someone's story noticed.
In terms of writing, I am trained to write fiction, not marketing copy. But I realized quickly that if I want to work in corporate America, I need to learn how to write copy that sells things. A lot of being employable is making the mental shift to sales.
UM: Some of the comments in response to your Yahoo! Finance columns are very critical. How did you develop a thick skin for dealing with naysayers?
P: I have been getting disgruntled comments for years, from my column. In general, it's important to read the comments to know what people think -- to learn more about the topic, so I write better next time. Also, a lot of times I respond to very angry comments in a nice, conversational appreciative way, and then the person writes back very cordially.
That said, I think that many of the comments on Yahoo are not so much critical as mysongenist. Each week a few people write about whether it would be good to have sex with me. A man would never receive this type of comment on Yahoo. The same thing happened on TechCrunch, where the one woman who was writing for them had to deal with misogynist comments and she quit. It's a significant problem online and I don't think people talk about it enough. We shouldn't have to have Kathy Sierra getting death threats in order to have the conversation about this.
UM: And for the curveball... since you write about business, what is the most unusual job you've had?
P: I worked on a French chicken farm. I have an extensive farm vocabulary in french that is totally useless in my life. The family thought I was nuts, and I thought farm life was nuts, but I had no money and they had no farm help, so we needed each other. It was a very bad situation, punctuated by terribleness like the six-year-old saying rude things about me because she thought I didn't understand, and the fifteen-year-old telling me he was gay when the family, I am sure, did not even know the word for it -- in French or English. That said, I learned a lot about what I want in a job, why interpersonal skills matter the most, and why any job is a learning experience, no matter how absurd it is.
Thanks, Penelope. Good luck with the book!
Monday, May 21, 2007
Speaking of Craig's List...
Deborah Ng's weekend discussion last Saturday offers suggestions for weeding out "bad ads." Check it out and join the debate.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Off-topic: the Great Roommate Debate
It’s that time of year again. Days are longer, flowers are blooming, and Susan is searching for yet another apartment. (You may recall that my current abode was originally dubbed “The Dream Apartment” but thanks to rising costs and a very persistent mouse that is no longer the case).
Here’s the deal: I know what neighborhoods I like, I’ve learned my lesson about trusting a real estate agent (at least the ones who deal in my price range), and I’m a pro at scanning ads on Craig’s List. The problem is not a lack of funds or available rooms. It’s narrowing my list. I know what to look for and what questions to ask, but everyone gives the same stock responses. “Mice? No mice here!” “I’m a non-smoker and I only drink on weekends.” “I think you’ll find that I’m a very considerate roommate. I’m pretty quiet.” “Our landlord is great. We’ve never had a problem.” Yeah, right!
I recently calculated that I’ve had thirteen different roommates since I moved out of Mom and Dad’s house. I’ve lived with friends, strangers, acquaintances, classmates, etc. And I know that statistically, not everyone is really as easy-going as they claim (heck, I’m not, but if I owned up to my neurosis from the beginning, I’d be stuck with a studio). So how do you choose between strangers? Any ideas?
Here’s the deal: I know what neighborhoods I like, I’ve learned my lesson about trusting a real estate agent (at least the ones who deal in my price range), and I’m a pro at scanning ads on Craig’s List. The problem is not a lack of funds or available rooms. It’s narrowing my list. I know what to look for and what questions to ask, but everyone gives the same stock responses. “Mice? No mice here!” “I’m a non-smoker and I only drink on weekends.” “I think you’ll find that I’m a very considerate roommate. I’m pretty quiet.” “Our landlord is great. We’ve never had a problem.” Yeah, right!
I recently calculated that I’ve had thirteen different roommates since I moved out of Mom and Dad’s house. I’ve lived with friends, strangers, acquaintances, classmates, etc. And I know that statistically, not everyone is really as easy-going as they claim (heck, I’m not, but if I owned up to my neurosis from the beginning, I’d be stuck with a studio). So how do you choose between strangers? Any ideas?
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Query Challenge Recap
Well, I just sent out my 121th query and finished the 2007 Query Challenge earlier this week. Here's the breakdown (updated on 5/18/07):
Yes, we want your article: 29
No, we've published something similar/our calendar is full/it's not for us: 43
No answer: 46
Other (later discovered that the website or mag was defunct – darn!): 3
How I did it: I started out with a list of queries in WordPerfect (that's right, I didn't even have MS Office when I started the challenge). But once I upgraded to MS Office 2007 (so worth the $$, by the way) and started using Excel, things became a lot more streamlined. I'm happy to share my template with anyone who needs or wants help getting organized, but basically I created columns for date of query, publication, idea, contact person, mode of communication (email, online submission, Craig's List, carrier pigeon, etc.) and yay, nay or nada.
Recently I started writing notes on the right hand side to indicate when I should follow-up and if the editor ever sent me a nice rejection note with feedback. I also bolded any queries that I intended to follow-up on as a note to myself. Obviously, Excel is vastly superior to WordPerfect and it helps to sort according to publication or date to see when it might be time to try again. (I could have used a column for deadlines, but I keep those in a separate document to track invoices and all that jazz.)
What I learned: Persistence, patience and practice, practice, practice. I still haven't cracked what I consider to be the "top-tier" markets (getting very close, though, stay tuned), but I've made some cash, added some new pubs to my list of credits, and gotten some good clips in the process. I've noticed that even though the experts encourage writers to follow-up with an editor, I haven't netted any assignments that way. I plan to continue following up as a matter of due diligence and so I can get closure in some cases, but it hasn't been hugely helpful thus far. However, it has been helpful to respond promptly with a new idea when an editor indicates that she likes my writing style but isn't sold on the idea (or some variation of that). That's also how I racked up so many queries so quickly!
Moving forward, I want to spend more focusing on querying the glossies and less time chasing after piddly little assignments on Craig's List. It's a big time suck because those often don't name the publication so I can't do the appropriate research or follow up later (and although I've landed assignment from it, a disproportionate number of no answers were from CL). Still, I remain optimistic that a few more of the no answers could turn into assignments.
Postscript: I wanted to mention that for others who are working towards the Query Challenge and need some inspiration or guidance, Linda Formichelli (co-author of The Renegade Writer) will be appearing in 5 Q's in a few weeks. Her e-course starts up on Monday and I would love to sign up if I weren't swamped with a million other things, like, oh, apartment-hunting again (more on that in another post). Keep up the great work, queriers!
Yes, we want your article: 29
No, we've published something similar/our calendar is full/it's not for us: 43
No answer: 46
Other (later discovered that the website or mag was defunct – darn!): 3
How I did it: I started out with a list of queries in WordPerfect (that's right, I didn't even have MS Office when I started the challenge). But once I upgraded to MS Office 2007 (so worth the $$, by the way) and started using Excel, things became a lot more streamlined. I'm happy to share my template with anyone who needs or wants help getting organized, but basically I created columns for date of query, publication, idea, contact person, mode of communication (email, online submission, Craig's List, carrier pigeon, etc.) and yay, nay or nada.
Recently I started writing notes on the right hand side to indicate when I should follow-up and if the editor ever sent me a nice rejection note with feedback. I also bolded any queries that I intended to follow-up on as a note to myself. Obviously, Excel is vastly superior to WordPerfect and it helps to sort according to publication or date to see when it might be time to try again. (I could have used a column for deadlines, but I keep those in a separate document to track invoices and all that jazz.)
What I learned: Persistence, patience and practice, practice, practice. I still haven't cracked what I consider to be the "top-tier" markets (getting very close, though, stay tuned), but I've made some cash, added some new pubs to my list of credits, and gotten some good clips in the process. I've noticed that even though the experts encourage writers to follow-up with an editor, I haven't netted any assignments that way. I plan to continue following up as a matter of due diligence and so I can get closure in some cases, but it hasn't been hugely helpful thus far. However, it has been helpful to respond promptly with a new idea when an editor indicates that she likes my writing style but isn't sold on the idea (or some variation of that). That's also how I racked up so many queries so quickly!
Moving forward, I want to spend more focusing on querying the glossies and less time chasing after piddly little assignments on Craig's List. It's a big time suck because those often don't name the publication so I can't do the appropriate research or follow up later (and although I've landed assignment from it, a disproportionate number of no answers were from CL). Still, I remain optimistic that a few more of the no answers could turn into assignments.
Postscript: I wanted to mention that for others who are working towards the Query Challenge and need some inspiration or guidance, Linda Formichelli (co-author of The Renegade Writer) will be appearing in 5 Q's in a few weeks. Her e-course starts up on Monday and I would love to sign up if I weren't swamped with a million other things, like, oh, apartment-hunting again (more on that in another post). Keep up the great work, queriers!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
5 Q's with Jennifer Belle
Actress-turned-writer Jennifer Belle is the author of Little Stalker, a comic novel about a thirtysomething Manhattan woman on the verge of a breakup. To celebrate the book's release (which is tomorrow, by the way), Jennifer will be at the Barnes and Noble in Chelsea to promote the book. She'll also be appearing on May 22 at Newtonville Books near Boston, on May 29 at Third Place Books (coincidentally, my fave West Coast book store) outside of Seattle, WA, and (perhaps) at a book store near you. This is her third novel, so she clearly knows a thing or two about writing.
Urban Muse: Tell us where you got the inspiration for Little Stalker. I understand many of the characters and situations are drawn from your own life?
Jennifer: I think I was obsessed with being jealous of certain writers who could write and do anything and not care what anyone thought of them, in other words I think I was obsessed with men. Their ability to justwork, write, create, quickly, no matter what else was going on aroundthem. So I think I thought of this girl, my main character, Rebekah, feeling stuck and looking outside herself for help. All I know is I set out to write my most autobiographical book, about a writer, and it ended up being me least autobiographical with this strange plot about a girl writing letters to the director she's obsessed with. I've never written a fan letter in my life.
UM: What advice do you have for aspiring novelists or essayists?
J: My advice to anyone who wants to write a novel is to not worry about having a big plot or idea or even something important to say. All you need is the desire to express yourself. I say, pick a character whois as close to you as possible and, working in scenes, make thatcharacter have adventures. Start in the middle, not at the beginning, and think of these scenes or adventures as bricks that you aregathering, that you will gather for a long time, long before you startto put up your house. I think the big plot will come, the ideas, the themes. But just start somewhere and keep going.
UM: Your publicity materials mention that "the term chick lit has setwomen writers back hundreds of years." Care to explain?
J: The term chick-lit degrades literature written by women, causes usto be taken less seriously once again, and to make less money. If it continues we'll have to start writing under pseudonyms again. I knowI'm a little too intense on this topic, but Jane Austen, Sylvia Plath,Virginia Woolf, Jean Rhys would be called chick-lit today.
UM: What was it like negogotiating film rights for your first book with Madonna?
J: Well, I was a huge fan. Huge, huge, as they say in Hollywood. I'dbeen to see Truth or Dare in the theater three times. There were four other producers bidding, but when I got a call from her just as I got out the shower in my tenement apartment, I just couldn't not go with her. I met her in LA when she was pregnant with Lourdes, and she gaveme the news that she wanted me to write the screenplay, and she was going to direct, and we would be working closely together in her apartment in New York. I've never met anyone more intuitive, like she had hundreds of tentacles all over her body. She wasn't analytical, or logical, yet she was always right. I'd say it was one of the happiest times of my life, coming home to my answering machine with messages from Con-ed and the phone company saying I was being turned off, and from Madonna telling me to see this movie or that movie or asking me to call her. One weird thing was I always wore my best bra and panties when I met with her. I don't know why. It wasn't that I thoughtsomething was going to happen...I guess with Madonna you just want to be prepared for anything.
UM: What writers inspire you? Why?
J: I love the women I mentioned, plus Nabokov, Salinger, Chekhov, filmmakers like Charlie Chaplin, Woody Allen, Noah Baumbach. And ofcourse, old television sit coms, I Love Lucy, Mary Tyler Moore, I think I learned a lot about writing from that.
Thanks and congrats on the book, Jennifer! Check back next week for more fabulous writers.
Urban Muse: Tell us where you got the inspiration for Little Stalker. I understand many of the characters and situations are drawn from your own life?
Jennifer: I think I was obsessed with being jealous of certain writers who could write and do anything and not care what anyone thought of them, in other words I think I was obsessed with men. Their ability to justwork, write, create, quickly, no matter what else was going on aroundthem. So I think I thought of this girl, my main character, Rebekah, feeling stuck and looking outside herself for help. All I know is I set out to write my most autobiographical book, about a writer, and it ended up being me least autobiographical with this strange plot about a girl writing letters to the director she's obsessed with. I've never written a fan letter in my life.
UM: What advice do you have for aspiring novelists or essayists?
J: My advice to anyone who wants to write a novel is to not worry about having a big plot or idea or even something important to say. All you need is the desire to express yourself. I say, pick a character whois as close to you as possible and, working in scenes, make thatcharacter have adventures. Start in the middle, not at the beginning, and think of these scenes or adventures as bricks that you aregathering, that you will gather for a long time, long before you startto put up your house. I think the big plot will come, the ideas, the themes. But just start somewhere and keep going.
UM: Your publicity materials mention that "the term chick lit has setwomen writers back hundreds of years." Care to explain?
J: The term chick-lit degrades literature written by women, causes usto be taken less seriously once again, and to make less money. If it continues we'll have to start writing under pseudonyms again. I knowI'm a little too intense on this topic, but Jane Austen, Sylvia Plath,Virginia Woolf, Jean Rhys would be called chick-lit today.
UM: What was it like negogotiating film rights for your first book with Madonna?
J: Well, I was a huge fan. Huge, huge, as they say in Hollywood. I'dbeen to see Truth or Dare in the theater three times. There were four other producers bidding, but when I got a call from her just as I got out the shower in my tenement apartment, I just couldn't not go with her. I met her in LA when she was pregnant with Lourdes, and she gaveme the news that she wanted me to write the screenplay, and she was going to direct, and we would be working closely together in her apartment in New York. I've never met anyone more intuitive, like she had hundreds of tentacles all over her body. She wasn't analytical, or logical, yet she was always right. I'd say it was one of the happiest times of my life, coming home to my answering machine with messages from Con-ed and the phone company saying I was being turned off, and from Madonna telling me to see this movie or that movie or asking me to call her. One weird thing was I always wore my best bra and panties when I met with her. I don't know why. It wasn't that I thoughtsomething was going to happen...I guess with Madonna you just want to be prepared for anything.
UM: What writers inspire you? Why?
J: I love the women I mentioned, plus Nabokov, Salinger, Chekhov, filmmakers like Charlie Chaplin, Woody Allen, Noah Baumbach. And ofcourse, old television sit coms, I Love Lucy, Mary Tyler Moore, I think I learned a lot about writing from that.
Thanks and congrats on the book, Jennifer! Check back next week for more fabulous writers.
Monday, May 14, 2007
This One's For the Girls
Lately I've been writing a lot of what my roommate would call "girly" articles. Well, if that's wrong, then I don't want to be right! I enjoy being a girl, thank you very much. And writing from a fun, feminine perspective is well... fun. Here are a few of my recent clips:
- Depart with Dignity - a slightly sarcastic piece about leaving your job
- See Jane Write - a book review for Chick Lit Review
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Thinking Blogger Award
Harmony at Writer in the Making gave me a Thinking Blogger Award last week (thanks, Harmony), and I've been so swamped that I'm just now getting around to passing it on. I admire so many bloggers that it was tough to choose a successor, but I think Beth at Shenanigans is definitely worthy for her fun sense of humor and initiative at freelancing writing. So, Beth, you're next...Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Ready, Set... Network!
Today after work, despite the overwhelming urge to frolic in the sun, I headed to a MediaBistro event to mingle with some fellow freelancers and to meet a certain new editor. As I hovered near said editor, waiting for my opportunity to inject myself into the conversion, I chatted with a young woman nearby who had some excellent networking advice.
She handles sales for a TV program, so I was interested in how she works the room and what types of connections she makes. She whispered that her secret is to befriend the hosts and ask to see the guest list. "That way I know who's here and how long I want to spend looking for them," she explained. Way smarter than my strategy of talking up people in front of the table of free food!
Then she handed me another nugget of gold. I mentioned that my apartment is near her office, and she added "Mr. Editor is looking to move there." So, naturally, when I had my chance to wow him with my dazzling conversation skills and witty repartee, I already had a good conversation starter: offering insider info about the local restaurants and hang-outs instead of blabbering about my publishing creds. He immediately handed me his card, and we've already started exchanging emails...
She handles sales for a TV program, so I was interested in how she works the room and what types of connections she makes. She whispered that her secret is to befriend the hosts and ask to see the guest list. "That way I know who's here and how long I want to spend looking for them," she explained. Way smarter than my strategy of talking up people in front of the table of free food!
Then she handed me another nugget of gold. I mentioned that my apartment is near her office, and she added "Mr. Editor is looking to move there." So, naturally, when I had my chance to wow him with my dazzling conversation skills and witty repartee, I already had a good conversation starter: offering insider info about the local restaurants and hang-outs instead of blabbering about my publishing creds. He immediately handed me his card, and we've already started exchanging emails...
5 Q's with Allison Winn Scotch
Marie Claire calls The Department of Lost and Found “smart and well-written.” Booklist says its “an impressive debut." I say it’s a pageturning, pitch-perfect novel about cancer and coming into one’s own. I was so enthralled by her use of details and quirky characters that I devoured the book in just a few days. Thus, it’s an honor to chat with first-time novelist and veteran freelancer Allison Winn Scotch. Most of you already know her as Ask Allison. So without further ado, here’s… Allison!
Urban Muse: Since TDFL was inspired by your friend's battle with cancer, was it difficult to write about the topic?
Allison: It was and it wasn’t. It was because I often put myself in my friend’s position to tap into emotions that she may have felt while going through her battle, and it was often really painful to realize and accept the fear and anguish she must have felt. So, in that way, my heart broke for her all over again while writing it. But at the same time, writing TDLF really gave me a sense of power against cancer, even though it was a fictitious power. When Lizzie was diagnosed and fighting the disease, I think everyone around her felt a complete loss of control – all we could do is try to cheerlead from the sidelines – and when I was writing, I was able to assume the reigns back over the disease. And in that sense, as odd as it might sound, it really helped me cope with my grief and the loss of losing her.
UM: Any hints about your second novel?
A: Ah, the fated second novel! This one is proving a tad more difficult than TDLF, which I’ve heard is pretty standard for authors. But it’s about the complications of becoming an adult: how we adjust to life when adulthood is thrust upon us and we don’t quite feel ready for it. That’s probably the overall theme, and then within that, it deals with the entanglements of female friendships – why we tie ourselves to certain people and when is it time to let go?, as well as the complexity of marriage – how you sustain love when there are so many obstacles that might pull you away from it. Sounds like a really upper, right? LOL. No, as with TDLF, I’m trying to bring some levity to heavier issues.
UM: Do you think your background as an actress has helped with character development in your fiction writing?
A: Definitely. I think for fiction to read true, you have to find a way to really dig into your characters, much like an actor does for his roles. Bad fiction, to me at least, is when you get the sense that the author knew that the characters should be feeling one way, and thus describing this feeling in words, but not really understanding the motivation behind those emotions. The writing often comes out as flat or clichéd or just uninteresting. Often times, I’d find myself sitting at my computer so immersed in Natalie, my protagonist, that I really was completely lost to everything else going on around me. And I hope that this sense of immersion translates to the book and thus to the reader.
UM: What is the most commonly asked question on Ask Allison?
A: Hmmm, probably how people can get their start in magazine writing. To a newbie, it seems like such a daunting task, and the national mags are so formidable, that people don’t even know where to begin. But you start small and chip away at it until you land bigger things. Building a freelance career is a snowball effect, and you can’t expect it to happen immediately. If instant gratification is your thing, freelancing is not. And if you have a thin skin, I’d also suggest looking for a different way to channel your writing aspirations. It’s a tough career, but with persistence and strong writing skills, it can definitely happen.
UM: What are your plans to celebrate the book launch?
A: Well, I was going to throw a big party in NYC, but the truth of the matter is that I’m the mom to two small children, and I just don’t have the energy! How sad is that? But I am doing a big book signing at Borders in NYC, and all of my friends and family will turn up for that. We already celebrated when the book sold, actually. My husband planned an elaborate surprise dinner at a fabulous restaurant for me…only he accidentally forwarded me an email with an RSVP on it a week before the dinner. Oh, poor guy. He was crushed that he ruined the surprise. But it didn’t matter: we had a fabulous evening with friends and family, and that was celebration enough for me. We’re also going away over Memorial Day weekend – without the kids – to Sonoma for a wedding, so that should be a nice way to indulge. Massages here I come!
Thanks so much, Allison, and congrats on yesterday’s book release! Order your copy here.
Urban Muse: Since TDFL was inspired by your friend's battle with cancer, was it difficult to write about the topic?
Allison: It was and it wasn’t. It was because I often put myself in my friend’s position to tap into emotions that she may have felt while going through her battle, and it was often really painful to realize and accept the fear and anguish she must have felt. So, in that way, my heart broke for her all over again while writing it. But at the same time, writing TDLF really gave me a sense of power against cancer, even though it was a fictitious power. When Lizzie was diagnosed and fighting the disease, I think everyone around her felt a complete loss of control – all we could do is try to cheerlead from the sidelines – and when I was writing, I was able to assume the reigns back over the disease. And in that sense, as odd as it might sound, it really helped me cope with my grief and the loss of losing her.
UM: Any hints about your second novel?
A: Ah, the fated second novel! This one is proving a tad more difficult than TDLF, which I’ve heard is pretty standard for authors. But it’s about the complications of becoming an adult: how we adjust to life when adulthood is thrust upon us and we don’t quite feel ready for it. That’s probably the overall theme, and then within that, it deals with the entanglements of female friendships – why we tie ourselves to certain people and when is it time to let go?, as well as the complexity of marriage – how you sustain love when there are so many obstacles that might pull you away from it. Sounds like a really upper, right? LOL. No, as with TDLF, I’m trying to bring some levity to heavier issues.
UM: Do you think your background as an actress has helped with character development in your fiction writing?
A: Definitely. I think for fiction to read true, you have to find a way to really dig into your characters, much like an actor does for his roles. Bad fiction, to me at least, is when you get the sense that the author knew that the characters should be feeling one way, and thus describing this feeling in words, but not really understanding the motivation behind those emotions. The writing often comes out as flat or clichéd or just uninteresting. Often times, I’d find myself sitting at my computer so immersed in Natalie, my protagonist, that I really was completely lost to everything else going on around me. And I hope that this sense of immersion translates to the book and thus to the reader.
UM: What is the most commonly asked question on Ask Allison?
A: Hmmm, probably how people can get their start in magazine writing. To a newbie, it seems like such a daunting task, and the national mags are so formidable, that people don’t even know where to begin. But you start small and chip away at it until you land bigger things. Building a freelance career is a snowball effect, and you can’t expect it to happen immediately. If instant gratification is your thing, freelancing is not. And if you have a thin skin, I’d also suggest looking for a different way to channel your writing aspirations. It’s a tough career, but with persistence and strong writing skills, it can definitely happen.
UM: What are your plans to celebrate the book launch?
A: Well, I was going to throw a big party in NYC, but the truth of the matter is that I’m the mom to two small children, and I just don’t have the energy! How sad is that? But I am doing a big book signing at Borders in NYC, and all of my friends and family will turn up for that. We already celebrated when the book sold, actually. My husband planned an elaborate surprise dinner at a fabulous restaurant for me…only he accidentally forwarded me an email with an RSVP on it a week before the dinner. Oh, poor guy. He was crushed that he ruined the surprise. But it didn’t matter: we had a fabulous evening with friends and family, and that was celebration enough for me. We’re also going away over Memorial Day weekend – without the kids – to Sonoma for a wedding, so that should be a nice way to indulge. Massages here I come!
Thanks so much, Allison, and congrats on yesterday’s book release! Order your copy here.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
How Profnet Saved Me from Disaster
Last week I had an article due and I was starting to panic because my sources still hadn't come through. I have never missed a deadline, but it looked like I would either have to write the story sans sources (not ideal) or wait for an email that might never arrive (even less ideal).
Enter ProfNet to save the day. I sent out a query for experts on my topic and suddenly I had twice as many options as I needed. A friend asked me how to use it. Here's how simple it is:
Enter ProfNet to save the day. I sent out a query for experts on my topic and suddenly I had twice as many options as I needed. A friend asked me how to use it. Here's how simple it is:
- Register as a journalist.
- Create a short profile listing email addy, publishing creds, etc.
- Write a source query explaining your interview needs and filter according to geographical region, professional affiliation, subject area, etc. You can also do a search and target specific people but that's more limiting.
- Wait a day or two and (depending on your preferences) your email box will be flooded with eager PR people and sources vying to be interviewed.
- And here's the hard part... choosing who to interview for your article. Not that I've done this (or have I?), but it's a little like when you first register on Match.com and you're overwhelmed by all the options. Of course, not all of the responses will fit your needs so choose carefully!
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Let's Hear it for Kristen King!
You may recall that I interviewed Kristen a while back for my 5 Q's feature. Well, I thought she had a lot of great insights into self-marketing, so I expanded that interview for the May issue of WOW - Women on Writing. Read the interview here, and check out WOW for an all-around awesome writer's resource. I'll be checking in with several of other 5 Q's writers for updates in the coming weeks.
PS I'm a guest blogger on Inkthinker today (Monday, May 7th), so check out my article, "Double Your Query Power."
PS I'm a guest blogger on Inkthinker today (Monday, May 7th), so check out my article, "Double Your Query Power."
Friday, May 4, 2007
Writing for the Web
A week into my new role as copywriter and project manager and I'm immersing myself in Persuasive Online Copywriting, which is unfortunately out of print, but our CEO recommended the book and leant me his copy. I find it applicable for improving my personal site and writing copy for my company. Here's what I've learned so far:
- Shorter copy is not always best. The topic and approach should dictate length, so don’t shortchange the message.
- Formal language (“Dear Resident, we regret that we are unable to procure the item you requested”) doesn’t work online. Content should feel one-to-one instead of an entity addressing the masses. Companies need to develop a personality based on the product and goals.
- People buy based on emotion, so tap into emotions rather than logic. Show features rather than listing benefits (“our lipstick stays put all day long” instead “this lipstick contains Compound X”). Copy needs to be customer-centered (more “you” than “we” or “our”).
- Increase online revenue by increasing traffic and conversation rate and upping merchandising.
For more on improving your website, check out these common mistakes.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
The Paperwork Behind Publication
I attended a panel discussion last night and the topic was the paperwork of writing. It's actually a pretty broad topic: invoices, queries, galleys, emails back and forth with editors, etc. This echoes my earlier post on wowing editors, but I thought I'd share a few of the points that stood out:
Most editors are or were writers, so they understand how hard it is to submit your magnum opus and get rejected. (In response to the stock phrase, "I just wasn't passionate about it," one panelist retorted, "I don't want you to have sex with my book; I just want you to publish it.")
Biggest faux pas in query letters or book proposals – getting the editor's name or gender wrong, calling your book the next Harry Potter (cut the hyperbole), including irrelevant biographical information ("my proudest accomplishment is my two beautiful children" or "I'm an award-winning bagpipe player") and referring to your "fiction novel" (the phrase is redundant because novels are fictional by definition).
Writers need to be their own advocates. So many are willing to "give away the store" (copyright) just for the privilege of getting published. Often contracts are not writer-friendly because writers don't ask for better terms.
When nailing down the content and tone of your book, often editors don't know what they want until they see what they don't want. Give them options and keep them in the loop.
I asked a question but it fell flat because the panelists were more used to writing for print. Since we're online and most of you are pretty web-savvy I'll pose it here.
"Everyone wants original content. If you retain the rights to resell an article but it's already posted online, what is the incentive for another website to purchase the rights when the article is already online and available to readers elsewhere?
Bueller…? Bueller?"
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
5 Q's with Amber Madison
Amber Madison is a recent college grad like I am and the author of a non-fiction book called Hooking Up: A Girl's All-Out Guide to Sex and Sexuality. I heard Amber speak at a book reading several months back and was impressed by her maturity and candid ability to bring humor to some uncomfortable topics. Here’s Amber’s story…
Urban Muse: How did you balance being a college student and writing a book?
Amber: I started writing my book the summer after my junior year, and then put it down for most of senior year (until winter break when I worked like crazy on it). I didn't work on it again until after graduating, so really, it was more about the balance of being a cocktail waitress and a writer. Really, I just cared about the book so much that it wasn't difficult to make that a priority. Of course, I procrastinated as much as possible, but when I had to put the pedal to the metal I did.
UM: Tell us about finding an agent and a publisher for your book.
A: I wrote a sex column for my college paper for two years before I started writing my book. My mom would send that column to a whole group of her friends. One of her friends called me up one day to tell me that I just had to write a book, and gave me the name of the agent that her husband used just in case. Once I had enough of my book written I sent it out to agent my mothers friend had given me, and I was lucky to have her accept me as a client. Getting published was tough because I'm not a doctor, and I wrote a book about sex for teen girls (shock and horror). I know that many publishers were scared to publish it because they though it wasn't marketable (parents don't want to admit that their teen daughter might have sex, so will never buy it). I was SO happy that I had an agent to send the manuscript out for me in the face of so many rejections. I would absolutely tell anyone thinking of publishing to try to find an agent first, especially since many houses won't even look at material that comes in from anyone besides an agent.
UM: I particularly enjoyed hearing your humorous story about a yeast infection at the book reading. For the stories that aren't from your own life, where did you find interview subjects and how did you get them to open up about such personal topics?
A: When I was writing my book, I felt really strongly about always keeping it personal so that it didn't feel like dry information. So when I was writing about issues that I have not directly experienced, I thought it was important to get the voice of someone who had. It wasn't too difficult to find women who wanted to write about most of the topics (having an abortion, being a teen mother, realizing one is a lesbian, and being a victim of rape), and the girls were either friends, acquaintances, or friends of friends. I found that the women I approached seemed eager to put their difficult experiences in writing in hopes that it would help other girls. I did, however, have a ton of trouble finding someone who had an STD and was willing to write about it, as you might imagine. That girl was very concerned about her anonymity, and wanted to see chapters of the book before she was willing to commit.
UM: There were some *interesting* characters at the reading. Do you ever get stage fright?
A: I always get nervous before giving talks, doing book readings, or doing TV interviews...REALLY NERVOUS. I mean, sweating, racing heart, you name it. Then I started to realize that only I could tell that I was scared stupid, and that helped me a lot. Really after the first few minutes it goes away. I guess you just get immune to all the people being there, and then it's really fun.
UM: You've already published a book and appeared on The Today Show - what's next for Amber Madison?
A: I've been keeping busy going around to colleges and giving talks to students about sex and sexuality. I am also collaborating with a production company in LA and a web TV company in Boston to start up an Internet TV channel for girls about sex, and that will be up by the beginning of June. (The URL is: www.ambermadison.tv) And, against my better judgement, I'm thinking about writing another book for boys...god knows it's needed. For any more information, you can go to my website.
Thanks, Amber. Next week we’ll hear from the fabulous and talented Allison Winn Scotch about her debut novel.
Urban Muse: How did you balance being a college student and writing a book?
Amber: I started writing my book the summer after my junior year, and then put it down for most of senior year (until winter break when I worked like crazy on it). I didn't work on it again until after graduating, so really, it was more about the balance of being a cocktail waitress and a writer. Really, I just cared about the book so much that it wasn't difficult to make that a priority. Of course, I procrastinated as much as possible, but when I had to put the pedal to the metal I did.
UM: Tell us about finding an agent and a publisher for your book.
A: I wrote a sex column for my college paper for two years before I started writing my book. My mom would send that column to a whole group of her friends. One of her friends called me up one day to tell me that I just had to write a book, and gave me the name of the agent that her husband used just in case. Once I had enough of my book written I sent it out to agent my mothers friend had given me, and I was lucky to have her accept me as a client. Getting published was tough because I'm not a doctor, and I wrote a book about sex for teen girls (shock and horror). I know that many publishers were scared to publish it because they though it wasn't marketable (parents don't want to admit that their teen daughter might have sex, so will never buy it). I was SO happy that I had an agent to send the manuscript out for me in the face of so many rejections. I would absolutely tell anyone thinking of publishing to try to find an agent first, especially since many houses won't even look at material that comes in from anyone besides an agent.
UM: I particularly enjoyed hearing your humorous story about a yeast infection at the book reading. For the stories that aren't from your own life, where did you find interview subjects and how did you get them to open up about such personal topics?
A: When I was writing my book, I felt really strongly about always keeping it personal so that it didn't feel like dry information. So when I was writing about issues that I have not directly experienced, I thought it was important to get the voice of someone who had. It wasn't too difficult to find women who wanted to write about most of the topics (having an abortion, being a teen mother, realizing one is a lesbian, and being a victim of rape), and the girls were either friends, acquaintances, or friends of friends. I found that the women I approached seemed eager to put their difficult experiences in writing in hopes that it would help other girls. I did, however, have a ton of trouble finding someone who had an STD and was willing to write about it, as you might imagine. That girl was very concerned about her anonymity, and wanted to see chapters of the book before she was willing to commit.
UM: There were some *interesting* characters at the reading. Do you ever get stage fright?
A: I always get nervous before giving talks, doing book readings, or doing TV interviews...REALLY NERVOUS. I mean, sweating, racing heart, you name it. Then I started to realize that only I could tell that I was scared stupid, and that helped me a lot. Really after the first few minutes it goes away. I guess you just get immune to all the people being there, and then it's really fun.
UM: You've already published a book and appeared on The Today Show - what's next for Amber Madison?
A: I've been keeping busy going around to colleges and giving talks to students about sex and sexuality. I am also collaborating with a production company in LA and a web TV company in Boston to start up an Internet TV channel for girls about sex, and that will be up by the beginning of June. (The URL is: www.ambermadison.tv) And, against my better judgement, I'm thinking about writing another book for boys...god knows it's needed. For any more information, you can go to my website.
Thanks, Amber. Next week we’ll hear from the fabulous and talented Allison Winn Scotch about her debut novel.
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