Announcing Reader Appreciation Month!

The 5 Q's feature is going on hiatus in preparation for February, which I've declared Reader Appreciation Month. So far, I've gotten a ton of great ideas for blog posts, so thank you to everyone who emailed me. I've been trying to respond in a timely fashion, but I had Lasik last Thursday (all went well, thank goodness), so I'm a little swamped and I'm still wading through email.

 

Unfortunately, I also discovered a few more emails that got caught in my spam filter (ooops!). So, if you emailed me about guest blogging, and I haven't responded, please leave me a comment, so I can track down your email. Stay tuned for more on Reader Appreciation Month!

Meme: Getting Around Productivity Roadblocks

Michelle over at Writing the Cyber Highway tagged me for a meme on Procrastination Roadblocks and How to Get Around Them. Here are my seven tips on beating procrastination.

1. Do your research and get your questions answered as early as possible. It's easy to put off writing because "my editor hasn't gotten back to me on the number of sources" or "my source isn't answered her phone." Those may be legitimate excuses, but they're also kind of lame. Knowing that it could take awhile to get an answer, you should ask questions early and avoid a last-minute scramble.
2. Get physical. Walking or jogging usually helps me focus my ideas and think up even more. Afterwards I'm rejuvenated and ready to write. Plus, it's a healthy way to work through stress.
3. Reward yourself for reaching mini-milestones. It's like dieting: if you deprive yourself of all the things you crave (eating French fries or checking facebook), eventually you're going to cave in and have a major binge. After I've completed an assignment (or just written for a designated time period), I allow myself to check the forums and surf my favorite blogs.
4. Take a hike. Sometimes I find impossible to write at home, because I'm always finding a surface that needs dusting, a shirt that needs mending, or a thank you card that needs addressing RIGHT NOW. Getting out of my apartment and into a new setting helps me refocus and avoids all the lame excuses that surround me at home.
5. Unplug. By temporarily disabling your internet or unplugging your power supply (assuming you have a laptop), you can get a lot more done. When I can't plug in my laptop, it forces me to stay focused and write everything down before the battery dies and my computer goes into hibernate mode. I have a lot of trouble writing long-hand, but that's another option.
6. Write on topics that interest you. Yes, sometimes we all have to write things that don't interest us to pay the bills. But if you carve out a niche writing about things you like, it shouldn't be hard to pull yourself away from the TV long enough to finish your assignment.
7. Branch out. Even if you're doing #6 right and sticking to topics that you love, too much of the same thing gets boring. So take on a variety of assignments to keep things interesting. If you're blocked on the travel article, shift gears and write that blog post instead. At least you're getting something done, even if it's not the piece you planned.

I have a hard time keeping track of who's been tagged and who hasn't. So, if you'd like to blog about this meme, then feel free to leave a comment and tag yourself!

Why I Still Use Blogger

Over the past several months, many of my fellow bloggers have been buzzing about switching to WordPress. Many have already transitioned to the other blogging platform. Take, for example, Kristen at Inkthinker, Beth at Shenanigans, and Deb at Freelance Writing Jobs. Michele at Writing the Cyber Highway was also contemplating WordPress a few months back, but right now she's still using good ol' Blogger like I am.

The usual reasons for switching to WordPress are as follows:

1. Hosting your blog on your own domains produces better traffic (and more professional credibility*) than a .blogspot.com or .livejournal.com URL.
2. WordPress is more customizable, so you can add an "about this blog" page, set posts to automatically publish in the future, and add a whole bunch of really cool plug-ins.

Sounds great, right? Call me crazy, but this blog will be staying with Blogger for the foreseeable future. Here's why:

1. Actually, as of a year ago, Blogger does allow you host to your blog on your own domain so the first point is moot.
2. WordPress' endless options for plug-ins, upgrades, and widgets can cause a lot of headaches, too.

Trust me, I use WordPress at work, and I've spent a big chunk of the last three months with the IT department trying to unravel a laundry list of WordPress problems. There's a mysterious afflication we call "Blank Box Syndrome" (or BBS for short) that makes adding links a huge hassle. There's the ginormous amount of memory that WordPress sucks up that makes my computer (new as of April 2007 and with a major memory upgrade since then) function at the speed of my family's first computer (circa 1992). There's also the issue of permalinks, which we improperly configured when we first set up the blogs and still haunt me to this day.

Admittedly, I'm a bit of a technophobe, and I was blissfully unaware of all these potential problems until I started using WordPress. Blogger sets up the permalinks for you using your headline and the publish date (WordPress's default uses numbers, which is not as search engine-friendly). Blogger makes adding links really simple, and, aside from a few schedule Blogger maintenance times, I have no complaints about slow response times in Blogger. It's true that in Blogger you can't post-date and publish in the future, like if you were going on vacation, but the post via email feature offers a bit of a compromise.

Yes, I'm aware of the benefits of hosting your blog on your own domain, and that's something I plan to explore in 2008. (What do you think: should it be an extension of my professional website? Or on its own domain?) In any case, I'm sticking with Blogger.

If you'd like to explore more on the WordPress vs. Blogger debate, then check out these posts from other bloggers:

Best Blog Software for Writers
Making That Switch from Blogger to WordPress
Migrating Your Blog from Blogger to WordPress

*Ironically, that post came from a Blogger user, who writes the opposing viewpoint here.

5 Q's with Kim MacGregor

Kim MacGregor is the author of Be... a Woman, a beautiful book combining photography and prose to celebrate woman of all ages and shapes. Here, Kim talks about writing, publishing, and finding inspiration.

Urban Muse: Tell us about your inspiration for Be…a Woman.

Kim: That's a loaded question – my inspiration comes from so many sources. My mother and my three little girls are definitely at the top of my list. My mother battled breast cancer at forty-two and lost her battle with colon cancer at fifty-three. Her courage, encouragement and unconditional love through all of life's challenges gave me a marvelous foundation. My little girls teach me about the beauty in the world, about non-judgment and about love and acceptance. My husband has inspired me to believe in the power of forgiveness and friendship found through love. I am deeply moved by the way life's tribulations force me to look for the lesson - the truth in what's happening and to grow through it, rather than resist it. I see beauty in the face of every woman, at all the various stages of evolution in each woman's journey. My friend and business partner in this book, Arline Malakain, inspires me through her visual genius and her spiritual quest. I am inspired by a smile, a hug and understanding – by the complexities we create and the simplicities we discover, along the journey of life.

UM: Did you find an agent or a publisher first?
K: We had a fabulous literary agent in New York who loved our book concept. She pitched the heck out of our proposal. We got two great bites but turned both down. In the first deal, the publisher wanted to sell it exclusively to one corporation. In the second offer, the publisher wanted to turn it in to a Mother's Day book. The rest didn't think it was sexy enough or quirky enough and they were right. We were creating something that shows women what makes them ALL beautiful – it wasn't supposed to be out of a magazine – it was supposed to be TRUTH. We self-published and have a new lit agent now.

UM: What was the best writing advice anyone has ever given you?
K: My mentor, Dave Chilton said, "Writing is rewriting!"

He also said, "The success of a book is directly linked to your passion for the topic." Arline and I are extremely passionate about this topic!

UM: What other writers inspire you?

K: I love Marianne Williamson, Maya Angelou, Mitch Albom, Paulo Coelho, Charles Dickens, and William Shakespeare, among others. (ed. note about Mitch Albom: the bf and I watched the movie version of Tuesdays with Morrie this weekend, and I cried the entire time - such a moving story!)

UM: What's next for you?

K: Creating awareness about Be…a Woman is my primary focus. The effect the book is having on women is so powerful. It feels great when women "get" our message and look at themselves and each other with a softer gaze, increased confidence and acceptance. We are working on creating a way to honor extraordinary, ordinary women every month. Not for MBA's, CEO's or Pulitzer prize winners only – it is for any woman who is amazing in that quiet, modest but powerful way. We are also working on jewelry, t-shirts, and a web show. Lots of exiting stuff. Thanks so much for asking!

Thank you, Kim! For more information, visit www.be-awoman.com or contact Kim MacGregor .

Email as Comic Relief

I'm starting to think that perhaps "From the Mail Bag" could become a regular feature on this blog, a bit like 5 Q's. Lately I've been getting a lot of email. Some of it is from editors assigning stories. Some of it is from editors rejecting stories. A lot of it is spam. Then there's the "other" category. Here's a glimpse into what I mean...

Hi Susan,
I'd like to include your article on [X] in my upcoming book. You won't be compensated for your work, but I'd like you to cut the word count in half, sign my release form, and send both items back to me within the next 48 hours. Thanks for your help!
Sincerely,
Slightly Clueless Book Author

Dear Clueless,
Sorry - I'm getting Lasik surgery in 48 hours, so that won't be possible. Plus, I generally get paid for reprints. Thanks for thinking of me, though!
Best,
Busy (and Slightly Blind) Writer

Dear Susan,

Since you write a blog geared towards new or expectant mothers, I though you might be interested in... [I didn't bother reading the rest because I was too busy laughing]

Signed,

[a publicist at a rather large publishing house that we've all heard of but I won't mention here for obvious reasons]

I did not respond to this one for (again) obvious reasons.

Too all those who emailed me about guest blogging, of course I wouldn't be catty enough to include you in this category. You're all fabulous, and I'm working on a personal response to all of your emails. In fact, I plan to make February "Guest Blogging" or "Reader Appreciation" Month (haven't decided on that exact wording). Stay tuned!

Calling All Guest Bloggers!

I'm planning a little vacay in February, so I thought that would be a good time to open up The Urban Muse to some guest bloggers. Whether you're a seasoned blogger who'd like to share your insights with a wider audience or you're a newbie who'd like a little taste of the blogosphere before you jump in, this is your chance.

All I ask is that you keep it between 250 and 750 words (or thereabouts) and focus your post on some aspect of writing. Since the guest post is for exposure, I'll even post something that has already appeared elsewhere or will appear elsewhere in the future provided you own the rights and don't publish it on the same day (how disappointing would that be for readers to eagerly click on a link to your blog only to find the same exact content as they just read?). That brings me to my final point... I'm happy to include a link to your blog, website, MySpace page, or other site provided it's appropriate for a general audience.

Email me for more information.

Clips: I Enjoy Being a Girl

Guys, you may want to sit this one out, because these two writing clips are decidedly feminine:

At Home Bar Basics
Mega Byte

Meme: 3 Tips on Writing

Thanks to Kathy for including me on the meme, “I am writer, hear me roar!” The concept here is to list three tips for writers and nominate five more writers to continue the string. Here goes…

1. Make friends with other writers. No man (or woman) is an island, and writers especially need a support system of friends and fellow writers. These kind souls will warn you about bad editors, swap tips about new publications, and generally commiserate about the writing experience. In short, freelance friends rock, and every writer needs them to keep sane and get ahead.
2. Take risks in your writing. Some of my best writing was created in a fit of frustration or passion, not when I was following a carefully outlined story idea. You know you’ve created something that has your unique writer’s stamp when you’re a little hesitant to share it because it exposes emotions you’re not sure you’re supposed to have. I’m a big believer in trusting your muse, even when it leads you to unexpected places. That's the stuff that really moves people!
3. Follow-up like it's your job (because, frankly, it is). Last year, I landed assignments with three dream writing markets. All three of them resulted from follow-up emails or (gasp) phone calls. That’s right… I flew in the face of conventional advice and actually called an editor (repeatedly, in fact). Had I waited for the editor to respond, I might never have broken in. I’m not encouraging writers to be pests, but sometimes editors need a little nudge.

Now I'd like to tag the following blogs:
Write to Travel
Something She Wrote
Hell or High Water
CatalystBlogger
Words on a Page

Guest Blog Post on Brazen Careerist

Yesterday, my guest "Twentysomething" blog post went live on Brazen Careerist. It's a little different from what you'll read here on The Urban Muse, but so far a lot of people have said it resonates with their experiences, too. Check it out.

5 Q's with Wendy Tokunaga

Continuing our series of interviews with other writers, Wendy Tokunaga's novel, Midori by Moonlight, debuted last September. Here, Wendy shares her thoughts on writing, publishing, and choosing an MFA program...

Urban Muse: Any tips for first-time novelists?
Wendy: I would make sure that you have trusted readers for your novel soyou'll get useful, constructive feedback. You want critique partnerswho know what they're talking about and will be honest in a helpfulway. It can sometimes be illuminating to get advice from a manuscriptconsultant. This could be a writing teacher or published author whooffers this type of service. You should also expect to revise yourmanuscript a number of times and to put it aside for a while so youcan look at it with fresh eyes.

UM: What was harder--finding an agent or finding a publisher? Why?
W: I never approached publishers directly. I knew that the best way toreach my goal was to find an agent, but getting an agent was difficultfor me. MIDORI BY MOONLIGHT, my debut novel, is actually the fifthnovel I have written. One other (NO KIDDING) I self published throughiUniverse in 2000 after being rejected by many agents. I did get anagent for my third novel through a connection from a writer friend,but he could not sell the book and we parted ways. With MIDORI Ifinally found my wonderful current agent, Marly Rusoff. After I signed with her, it only took about six weeks before I had a two-book dealwith St. Martin's.

UM: How do you deal with rejection?
W: Rejection is hard and I don't think anyone ever gets used to it. WhenI kept sending out my manuscripts to agents and continued to getrejected the only thing that kept me going was that I eventually sawprogress as I got more positive comments from agents. I could tell Iwas getting closer. I kept writing, kept trying to improve my craft.The important thing is that I didn't give up. It took a while, but itfinally happened. But you really have to love to write, be passionateabout your work, and you have to be open to criticism and to improving.

UM: You are currently in an MFA program in writing. What are the pros and cons of pursuing this path?
W: Yes, I am currently in the MFA in Writing program at University of SanFrancisco and I will graduate in the summer of 2008. I am really enjoying this program a lot and feel privileged to be able to studythe techniques and styles of great authors and workshop my own writingwith some very talented professors. However, this path may not be foreveryone and it certainly isn't a prerequisite for getting published.An agent seeing in a query letter that a writer has an MFA may get youout of the slush pile, but most programs are quite expensive so thatshouldn't be the sole reason for applying. I applied to the programbefore I had an agent or book deal because I finally had theopportunity and it was a way I felt that I could keep seriouslypursuing writing. Right after I started I signed with my agent so it was kind of an unusual situation.

UM: Any advice on choosingsuch a program?
W: There are many different types ofprograms out there -- even ones where you are only on campus for a fewweeks out of the year. These are called "low-residency" programs and they work well for people who have full-time jobs and who want to attend schools that are far from where they live. Since I'd spent thepast eight years doing freelance writing from home, the USF program appealed to me because I would be on campus interacting with students and teachers face to face full time. I suggest that those interestedin perhaps pursuing an MFA pick up a copy of Poets & Writers magazine,which has many ads and info on MFA programs all over the country.

Thanks, Wendy! For more on Wendy and her books, check out her website and blog. She also has some tips for writers (including the query letter she used to land an agent) here.

5 Characteristics of Great Editors

Yesterday I covered 5 Tell Tale Signs of a Bad Editor. Yes, we’ve all been there, but hopefully you’ve worked with some good ones, too. Here are some of the traits that I appreciate in my favorite editors.

1. They give clear instructions (and a writer-friendly contract) before you start writing. It’s hard to fit someone’s “editorial vision” when you don’t know what it is. My favorite editors understand this, and they don’t expect me to be a mind reader. Instead, they send me their style guide, outline their expectations for the article, and give me a contract up-front.
2. They come to you with assignments and may even suggest sources (when appropriate). I love it when an editor emails me and says “we have this idea and I think you’d be perfect for it!” Talk about validation! Plus, when an editor gives a few suggested sources, it starts me on the right track and gives me an idea of what she’s looking for.
3. They allow you enough time to turn in a good article. Good writing takes time! Obviously, there are times when you need an article in a hurry, but in order for me to do my best work, I need time to research, interview, write, and rewrite. I’m a busy girl, so I appreciate at least a week of lead time, although I often make exceptions for "special editors" (meaning those I like).
4. They edit to improve, not obscure, your writing. How many times have you eagerly waited to read an article you were really proud of, only to find your editor’s words interjected among yours, causing abrupt (and totally inappropriate) shifts in tone? Too many, I’d imagine. There’s an editor I work with who sometimes tweaks a turn of phrase here or adds a little modifier there, but it always sounds smarter and sharper than what I submitted. I generally agree with her edits, because it enhances my voice, rather than removing it.
5. They make sure you get paid on time and notify you when the article goes public. I hate having to track down a check or beg for a contributor's copy, because that's time that I could be writing. Great editors know that you're a busy professional and they treat you accordingly.

So, how do you get in good with these "golden" editors? Check out 5 Ways to Wow an Editor. As always, please leave your comments below!

5 Tell Tale Signs of a Bad Editor

We’ve all suffered through nightmare editors: the kind who make outrageous demands, sit on your article for months before requesting a million rewrites, and never seem to know the ETA on your paycheck. I tried to compile a list of warning signs to avoid this type of shady character altogether, but instead I came up with some signs that you may encounter as you get further into the editing process.

1. They give you a vague direction on your story angle, then ask twenty billion clarifying questions after you’ve turned in the article. I try to avoid this by anticipating any issues before they happen (yes, this is hard, especially when you’re first starting out). I’ve even been known to email an editor to approve a source before I do an interview: “just wanted to check in and make sure this is the type of source you had in mind.” A thorough editor appreciates this because it saves them from asking you to rewrite later and possibly delay printing.
2. They give you a topic and word count that are totally incongruous. For example, a 150 word piece on the history of Greece or a 2,500 word feature on Uggs (can you say Ugh?!). I was once asked to write a multiple-choice quiz in fewer than 250 words. I can be succinct when I need to be, but 250 words is REALLY short! I asked the editor to expand the word count, but she never got back to me, so she ended up with the World’s Shortest Quiz and I had a clip that was practically useless. I didn’t work with said editor after that. Good editors understand what a reasonable word count is, rather than making you a slave to layout or budgeting concerns.
3. They make assignments and update their writers via mass email (and don’t even bother to use bcc). I’ve cut most of these editors out of my life, thankfully. Half the time I used to email them back and the story topics were all snatched up! If an editor wants to make an assignment to me, she can email me directly and not her complete list of fifty-some-odd writers.
4. After they make an assignment, they don’t send a copy of their pub’s style guide and ignore all of your style-related questions. Not all websites or magazines have their own style guide, but the editor should certainly know whether they favor past or present tense for quotes and if they use the serial comma. A response like “whatever you think is best” rubs me the wrong way, because it shows a complete lack of respect for language.
5. They are not sure when the article will run or when you might see your check. In fact, they’ve stopped responding altogether! It’s one thing if you’re paid on acceptance (and “acceptance” is often defined a bit too liberally for my tastes), but if you’re getting paid on publication, it’s not fair to string you along. I also hate it when you're writing for a publication that's not available on newstands and they "forget" to send you a contributor's copy. Sorry, but these editors aren’t worth my time or yours!
6. UPDATE: They actually make your article worse by inserting factual errors and typos or distorting the meaning of the article. Dawn rightfully pointed out that this is another gripe that writers (including me) sometimes have. Even though I listed #1 as a pet peeve, I'd rather they ask me to clarify than commit textual homicide.

To be fair, there are some great editors out there, too. Check back later this week for the flip side of this topic.

Q & A: how do you get people to see your website?

After the article in the Boston Globe last Sunday, I got several emails from other aspiring writers asking for my advice. Though I'm still building my freelance business, I thought it might be helpful to share some of the advice here...

Q: Do you have any tips on where to start building a website or a blog like yours? After making a website, what would you suggest I do get people to look at it?

A: Of course! I've already blogged about promoting your blog here and here, so this time I'll focus on websites (ideally, you'd host your blog on your website's domain, but I don't do that yet, so who am I to judge?). First you’ll need to find a web-hosting service or enlist the help of a designer who can take care of that for you. I chose VistaPrint because the small business package fit into my budget and offered my own domain name (which costs a bit more but creates a more professional impression than an AOL or Yahoo member page) along with several different templates so I wouldn’t have to design the website from scratch. Here are a few other options: Globat, Writing.com, Hosting4Writers, and iPowerWeb. (If you prefer, MediaBistro also has a Freelance Marketplace where you can post clips without setting up your own website.)

Once you're happy with your website, it's time to show it off! To get people to look at your website, you can include it in your email signature line, business cards, and any profiles on facebook, LinkedIn, or other sites. You might also do some article marketing to position yourself as an expert in your niche and include your website in your bio line (Jennifer at Catalyst Blogger goes into more depth on this topic here).

Lastly, doing some search engine optimization can improve the likelihood that your site will come up in Google and the other search engines, so be sure to include relevant keywords. Wordtracker Keywords can show you how often people search a certain term and suggest related keywords, too. I know there are tons of great ideas I'm missing, so leave a comment if you have more suggestions for this reader!

5 Q's with Judy McGuire

Judy McGuire contacted me when I was working on a dating article. I had way more sources than I could ever use in a 900 word article, but then she told she her book, entitled How Not to Date, was coming out in early January (*cue the lightbulb*) and I figured she'd make a great 5 Q's subject...

Urban Muse: How did you get started as a relationship columnist?
Judy: I’d been a writer and editor for a bunch of years when I hooked up with an animator named Richard Mather and we started working on a TV pitch called “Dategirl.” It was about a sex & love advice columnist who lived in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Much to our great shock, we got a development deal with MTV. We were so excited! In fact, I was in such a tizzy that I quit my job working as a heroin ethnographer and took a temp job working as a fact-checker at Allure magazine.

We went through nine months of development with MTV and then, just as we were going to pilot, they pulled the plug, saying they never really understood the main character. I was pretty devastated. I’d derailed a career in academia and was spending my days calling cosmetics PR agencies to double-check the spelling of some fugly new blush. It was a low point.

Then, Richard Martin, an editor from the Seattle Weekly I’d met while he was vacationing out here, emailed and asked if I was interested in becoming the character I’d pitched to MTV. The paper was looking for a new sex columnist and he thought it’d be funny if I wrote it. That was in 2000 and I’ve been doing it ever since. It’s also run at various times in the NY Press and Men’s Fitness.

UM: Do you ever get questions that you’re not sure how to answer?
J: I’m kind of a know-it-all, so that rarely happens. The only one I can think of is when a pedophile wrote me, saying he was having trouble controlling his urges to touch little girls. That was pretty horrifying; especially after he turned up on the news a year or two later.

UM: How long did it take for How Not to Date to go from conception to bookshelves? Did anything surprise about the publishing process?
J: It was actually a fairly quick process—I got an email from an editor at Sasquatch Books, asking if I’d be interested in writing a book. Uh, yes, please! I had about three months to write it and it’s coming out this Thursday (ed. note: that's tomorrow, folks!).

There were a couple surprising things about the publishing process—first, I’m really horrible at pitching myself, so it was nice to have an editor approach me. Another surprise is how vulnerable and sort of horrified I am at certain aspects of it being out there. The possibilities of bad reviews don’t particularly bother me, but learning that family members have been ordering copies and will now know about some truly humiliating parts of my life is kind of horrifying.
Does my Aunt Eileen really need to know that I had sex with a giant-cocked, support-hose-wearing Lithuanian in a lame attempt to make his roommate jealous? Probably not. Holidays at my house are never going to be the same.

UM: Any new projects coming up?
J: I’m working with a production company on some television pitches and rewriting my memoir proposal. One of my biggest failings as a writer is pitching, so I’m going to try and remedy that this year.

UM: What other writers do you admire?
J: I love memoirs. Mikal Gilmore’s book, Shot in the Heart—I must’ve read it five times. I also loved Jeannette Walls’ Glass Castle and Girlbomb by Janice Erlbaum. I’m anxiously awaiting memoirs by Felicia Sullivan and my old friend, Valerie Frankel.

Curtis Sittenfeld’s Prep was great and I adored Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home. Redmond O’Hanlon, John Waters, Merill Markoe and Cynthia Heimel crack me up, as does the universally beloved David Sedaris. I’m also a fan of tough guys like Pete Dexter (God’s Pocket is one of my all-time favorites), Dennis Lehane, Nick Tosches and early James Ellroy.

Thanks, Judy! Congrats on the book release.

News from the Muse

Welcome to Boston Globe and Brazen Careerist readers! Thanks for checking out my blog. In case you're curious what The Urban Muse is all about, I've compiled a list of some of my "greatest hits" to get you started:

5 Ways to Promote Your Blog
5 MORE Ways to Promote Your Blog
Beating Burnout
How Creatives Deal with Criticism
5 Ways to Manage Information Overload
Query Challenge Recap

You can also read (semi)weekly interviews with other writers in the 5 Q's archives.

Now, onto the new stuff... As usual, I've been writing up a storm. Here are the most recent additions to my writing portfolio:

Living the Dream: Ligaya Tichy
Quiz: What Does Your Office Say About You?
Preserving Your Passion
Do's and Dont's of Online Dating

Why Freelance Friends Rock

Writing can be kinda lonely: all those hours hunched over a computer, searching for the perfect word or phrase and churning out stories by the hour. Though some writers actually prefer it this way and worry that swapping tips could encourage the competition, I am not one of them.

I need outside stimulation, and I need to know that other people can relate. Which is why I find friendships with other freelancer writers so vital and invigorating. Here are a few more reasons.

They know people. When I’m stumped about finding an editor’s email address, there’s usually someone in my Gmail contacts who’s written for that editor and will often pass on their information. Plus, they’re good about warning me when a certain pub is habitually late on payment or generally being a PITA (of course, it feels good to pass on that info when I have it, too).

Their success is (partly) your success. When I hear that one of my writing pals has broken into a big dream market, it’s almost as exciting as hearing she’s just gotten engaged or promoted at work. And I think, if she can do, maybe next time it will be me! Plus, swapping editorial contacts and hearing that someone got an assignment based on your recommendation is pretty validating.

They’ll look out for you. I have a few freelance friends who can actually recognize my articles just based on the headline – talk about being tight! Plus, they make me laugh and share the ups and downs of writing.

They get it. My real life friends are a pretty ambitious crowd: we have a law student, a medical resident, several PhD candidates, and the like. But unless they freelance themselves, it’s difficult for them to understand the intricacies of writing a query or negotiating first serial rights. My freelance friends understand what’s at stake when I email a major editor asking for more money or discover that the magazine I’ve been contributing to is going bust. They get why it’s necessary to obsess over headlines and second-guess story angles, because they’ve been there.

See also: finding sources through social networking.

What do you love about your fellow freelancers? Leave a comment and let me know!

Self-Discipline and Self-Fulfillment

Earlier this week, career columnist Penelope Trunk emailed me saying she needed a source for an article on self-discipline and asked if I'd be available the following day for a photo shoot with the Boston Globe. Uhh... yeah!

"I hope you're doing something more interesting than typing away on your computer," she said.

"Well, I was gonna go to the gym," I admitted, "but I could probably find something more exciting to do."

"No," she said, "gym is perfect. Are you someone who should be photographed at the gym?"

I told her I work out several times a week and I have no issues being seen in a workout attire (bikini is another story, but Penelope said the Globe likes their subjects fully clothed anyway).

The bf had been privvy to the whole conversation, so when I got off the phone he asked me, "Are you sure you want to be photographed at the gym? I mean, isn't there some other setting that might be more flattering?"

"No," I told him, "this is journalism. It's not supposed to be glamorous, it's supposed to show me in my natural habitat. And I can still look cute at the gym."

But on January 2, when my gym filled up with sweaty resolution-makers and I started to get a little nervous, I realized why both of these people had asked the question. It's not so much an issue of size as an issue of sweat. I get really flushed when I workout, so after about 10 minutes, my makeup had all rubbed off and I felt about as cute as a wet rat.

But I do like the clever title of the article: Exercising Self-Discipline. Notice I was not chosen as the poster child for work/life balance or office diplomacy. But I was included in the Personal Development and Happiness Blog Carnival, so you might check that out, too!

5 Q's with Kelly L. Stone

When I read that Kelly L. Stone had written a book called Time to Write: Professional Writers Reveal How to Fit Writing into Your Busy Life, I knew she was the perfect 5 Q's subject! In fact, the multi-talented and gracious Ms. Stone responded to my email request within the hour and the rest is history. In addition to contributing to several anthologies, publishing novels, and working as a licensed counselor, she also written for Writer's Digest, Family Circle, and other magazines. Here is her advice on finding time to write...

Urban Muse: You interviewed over 100 writers for your book. How did you keep all of your interviews and research organized?
Kelly: It was a challenge, believe me! I made a separate file folder for each author that included their individual interview, their bio, and any other pertinent information they’d sent me, and I also put all the interviews together in a single word document file on my computer. The interviews came to about 225 single spaced pages. After I had an outline of Time to Write, I read through the interviews and pasted into each chapter the relevant quotes that I wanted to work into the writing. For the research material, I did most of that online, so I made a separate folder in my e-mail where I’d send myself links to various studies and whatnot so that I could easily find them again. A lot of the psychology information came from my old college textbooks that had been stored in the garage. It was nice to have a use for them again!

UM: Many writers do online research and surfing the web makes it easy to get off-track as you check facebook profiles, shop around on Amazon, etc. “just for a minute.” Any tips on cutting out distractions as you research online?
K: The Internet is the bane of many writers, even the professionals I interviewed for Time to Write. There are several ways to combat this problem of getting sucked into cyberspace. Some of the writers I interviewed have a second computer for writing that isn’t connected to the Internet. Some write on an Alpha Smart and then download the day’s work later into their computer. Others simply close out their Internet browsers while they write; bestselling author Susan Grant told me that she actually unhooks her cable box from the wall to eliminate the temptation to check e-mail or surf.

When you get online to do research, exercise self-discipline. Set a timer for however long you think you’ll need to get it done and force yourself to focus only on your research during that time. Last, here’s a little trick many of the writers I interviewed use – reward yourself when you’re done. Each time you get through your writing or research session without checking e-mail, shopping online, or Internet surfing, do something nice for yourself. You can even use those online activities as your reward. Do what works for you. Writing is hard enough without feeling like you have to give up doing the fun stuff, too.

UM: How do you keep from getting burnt out as you juggle your job and writing projects?
K: This is a great question. There are a couple of things I do. First, I write what I love to write. My day job provides my primary income, so I don’t have to take on writing assignments that I’m not interested in just to pay the light bill. I have the luxury of focusing on my long-range writing goals and my Vision of Success, which helps me avoid burn-out. Mostly, I look forward to writing each day (mostly). I also take breaks when I need them; sometimes it’s a day, sometimes it’s a week or more. This is another success strategy that my authors discuss in Time to Write— the importance of taking a breather and how to determine when you really need a break versus when you’re just goofing off. As one writer in my book said, you have to honor the source of your creativity. You have to let the well refill from time to time. How much time is needed for that to happen varies from one writer to the next. Everyone’s process is different.

UM: Should fiction and nonfiction writers apply the same time management strategies?
K: Yes. My extensive interviews with 104 professional writers in all genres revealed that the effective time management strategies that successful writers have in common, no matter what they write, are: setting a writing schedule, adhering to that writing schedule under all circumstances barring illness and true emergencies, creating deadlines for getting the various stages of their projects completed, using some type of “quota” system to ensure that they complete their work consistently-- for instance, writing a certain number of words or pages at each writing session, making a plan ahead of time for dealing with distractions (such as the Internet in question 2), and creating what I call a Vision of Success to help them stay focused and motivated over the long haul. There’s more, but these are the foundation time management strategies of all successful writers. In Time to Write, there’s a chapter devoted to each of the strategies that spells out exactly how successful writers use them in their day-to-day lives, and so it makes it easy for aspiring writers to implement them, too. If you use the techniques that I describe in the book, I guarantee you that you will find time to write no matter how busy you are.

UM: What’s next for you?
K: I’m working on a sequel to Time to Write, I’m polishing up my second novel so that I can present it to my agent, and I have a third novel in the beginning stages.

Thanks, Kelly! To sign up for her Time to Write newsletter, go to her website and click on “newsletter” button on left hand side.

Money Makes the World Go 'Round...

Is anyone else scrambling to figure out their financial picture from last year? Erik Sherman posted some helpful articles back in December about tying up money matters for the year here and here. Enjoy!