Not long ago, I was reviewing submissions to this newsletter (which also go on my blog), and something happened I’ve never had happen before. Every single one of them fell short of an acceptance. After a marathon review session, I rejected nine submissions in one day. Nine submissions may not sound like a lot; however, that reviewing process took me well over an hour, closer to ninety minutes. And at the end of it, I’d expended all that time with nothing to show for it. There I was unpaid for my time with slots still open in my newsletters and blog. Some writers might say that rejection is worse for them than me, but when you consider the editor has to read through all these, offer feedback, then have nothing to use . . . the editor has lost income and wasted time. These are the steps in my review process. Assuming submissions meet the word count and requested topics (see www.fundsforwriters.com/submissions) and write as if English was their first language (breaking either of those rules merits instant rejection), then I begin the following: I read them. I do a mini-edit to try to make them work. I determine whether the time More
Is There Something Else You Can Write About?
/ 2021-02-12We often hear write what we know. There is some merit in those sage words, but is there a market for what we know? Absolutely. The first thing you need to do is make a list of what you know. What are your passions? As a writer of historical fiction, fantasy, creative nonfiction and memoirs, I’ve accumulated a lot of published credits, but that’s not all I write. Perhaps my greatest passion is creative nonfiction, or rather, writing stories about peoples’ lives, and, there are a lot of paying markets out there to support this passion. Where? For me, it’s been small, local publications, like Curious Tourist Guide. This is a local guide for the Georgian Bay and southwestern Ontario region of Canada and, having grown up in that geographic area, I have plenty of stories to suit the niche. Not the biggest paying market, but the best part is the byline which advertises my books. Study freebie guides in your local area and see what opportunities there might be for your stories. Another passion I have is gardening. When I’m not writing, or reading, and when the weather is good (mostly spring and summer), I’m in my garden. When the More
Finding Your Writing Pleasure
/ 2021-02-12But pleasures are like poppies spread, You seize the flow’r, its bloom is shed; Or like the snow falls in the river, A moment white—then melts forever. –Robert Burns (1759–96) Mankind is forever in search of pleasure, and writers are forever seeking some sort of sweet spot of success that works forever. I know, that sounds a little Nirvana, but it is true. When I was traveling to signings and conferences, some of the most common comments I received were: 1) When I get done with fill-in-the-blank, I will write full time and really enjoy myself. 2) I hope to one day be like you and travel to events with my own work. 3) I keep trying to finish my book, but once I get fill-in-the-blank out of my way, I intend to dive into it. Read Robert Burns’ poem above. Pleasures are like poppies or like snow. In both cases, the moments are fleeting. In the case of snow, you wait around, hoping for another delivery. Might be days, weeks, a year, even several years, but you look forward to that pleasure. In the case of poppies, you touch the flower, enjoy it, then it’s gone. But also in More
Five Wisdoms About the Middle Grade Market
/ 2021-02-05When approaching a new market, the more familiar you are with the particularities of that market, the greater your chances of success. Writing for middle grade readers is no exception – this market has its own nuances and best practices just like any other. If, like so many of us, you are interested in writing for this special age group, there are a few things you should know. Voice is queen What are middle grade editors and agents looking for above all? Voice. That ineffable je ne sais quoi that sets your work apart, your own particular and individual nuance and timbre that nobody else can imitate even if they tried. Big ideas and high concepts are as splashy in middle grade as they are in any other market, but even in a quiet story, if your voice sings, editors and agents will take notice. Less is more Middle Grade novels were already on the short side (check out this old but still remarkably relevant word count gauge) and the trend is getting even shorter. (You can check out the AR Bookfinder to find the word count of your recent favorites.) Many in this age group tend to be more willing More
Freelance Writing Teams
/ 2021-02-05This day and time, writing “teams” are making appearances across social media and emails. I get inquiries from them at least every other day. Sometimes they come across as individuals. Other times they openly state they represent teams. As an editor, I have a problem with them, in whatever guise they present themselves. Today, this is my rant. Recently one individual pitched a piece about writers capitalizing on Pinterest. As I usually do, I Googled the writer. She indeed understood the subject and had been published as a freelancer, to include about this topic. So I told her I was interested. A couple weeks later, she said the holidays put them behind. Them? She went further to explain that she had a team who edited pieces before they went out. Finally she sent the piece, and made mention of “the writer” and “the team,” and I put on my brakes. I asked who this person was who actually wrote the piece, because I needed to vet them. I had only vetted her. She explained that she was part of a team that functioned this way. I said I still had to vet the writer. She instead pulled the piece, not wanting More
Want to Make Money Writing? Try Social Media Management
/ 2021-01-29When old friends ask me what I do now, I laugh. No one’s more surprised than me! I fell into social media management by accident. Back when I promoted my books online, I noticed opportunities. Then a local cafe owner and I started kicking around ideas one afternoon, and it happened—she hired me for a monthly fee to manage her social media. But the opportunity shouldn’t have been so surprising. As writers we already have many of the skills required to transition into online marketing. For example, we already know how to write beginnings, middles, and endings. Social media copy has the same structure. We know how to write with an authentic voice and to keep it consistent. The truth is, a social media account is like a character. Have you ever read a post and thought that it sounded out of character for the person you’re following? That’s called unauthentic. As writers—especially in fiction—we already juggle different voices and characters. The posts that I write for my Mediterranean restaurant client are sunny and vibrant with mouth-watering photos. But the content I post for my supplement store client is punchy, informative, and often highlights the benefits of one product against More
Writing What You Know
/ 2021-01-29We hear that phrase all the time. Some say it is the basis of good writing, especially for new writers. Others claim it’s false, that writers should be able to write anything, or they are at their best when having to dig down and research. But there’s more to writing “what you know” than to reference the education, history, experience, hobbies, and profession of a writer’s life. I recently ran across this quote from Virginia Woolf in an essay in The New Yorker. “Let us record the atoms as they fall upon the mind in the order in which they fall, let us trace the pattern, however disconnected and incoherent in appearance, which each sight or incident scores upon the consciousness. Let us not take it for granted that life exists more fully in what is commonly thought big than in what is commonly thought small.” ~Virginia Woolf Writing what you know isn’t necessarily from a macro viewpoint. In other words, not necessarily from a big picture or factual knowledge aspect. Writing what you know could be defined as how well you picture life. In other words, you don’t necessarily see a boat on the water. You see the spray leaving drops More
Want Publicity? Go Local
/ 2021-01-22Writers appreciate that reviews are golden, but self-promotion is also key. Sometimes that means promoting ourselves through guest blog posts or interviews with a podcaster. But in addition to all the work to reach a wider audience, it’s also important to remember where we came from, or where we are. I found as a writer that home, whether my hometown or the place I currently live, will always support my work, whether through a local newspaper article or a talk at the library. When promoting, go local as well as far and wide. I’ve come up with a few tips and ideas that have helped me in my search for local exposure. No Matter How Big the City, There’s a Local Somewhere When I published my last literary novel, The Beekeeper’s Daughter, I lived in New York City. I asked the Barnes and Noble on the Upper West Side if I could do a reading there as a local author. They told me there were no fewer than 500 “local” authors within a five-block radius, but even in New York I managed to find a local angle. I taught at an all-girls school in the Bronx and realized that the headline “Bronx More
An Annual Rant about the Art of Critique
/ 2021-01-22Critiquing has an etiquette all its own, but way too many people have never been taught those manners or do not care to follow them. As a result, they impact their own character. They will argue that character does not play into the equation; however, critiquing, like any human interaction, comes with best practices. The person who boldly steps outside those rules is often remembered, and not in a good way. Worse, even though they might have the best of intentions, the party upon which they heap their criticisms will not only remember them in a bad light, but will also not heed the criticism. Thus, time wasted for all. Excellent and famous writers recall fondest memories of mentors. And they often remain attached to those mentors over the years. That is because there is a fondness infused into the lesson. There is a respect for the writer woven into the delivery. If we’ve learned anything during these times of pandemic, it should be a respect for humankind. After a year of teeth gnashing and condemnation of anything spoken in public, we are beginning to feel like we might be settling down a tad. That effort should include critiquing. I recently More
The Daring and the Tentative
/ 2021-01-16The difference between the tentative and the daring is that the tentative ask too many questions beginning with BUT or WHAT IF. The daring, however, are too busy forging ahead, diagramming how they will arrive at success. The daring and diligent are focused. The tentative are scouting for obstacles so they are not blindsided. The daring push forward, willing to make mistakes. The tentative hunt for ways to not make mistakes. Thomas Jefferson said, “Act! Action will delineate and define you.” All too often we study and study and never get around to applying ourselves. I know authors who have 30 how-to books on their shelves, afraid to put pen to paper until they’ve read all there is, to avoid any and all mistakes. Others, however, start writing and choose to learn from the doing. The truth is, when you believe something is doable, you find ways to make it so. You accept the challenges, which, according to Bette Davis, is the key to life. Then there’s this piece of advice, which I absolutely love: “I don’t run away from a challenge because I am afraid. Instead, I run towards it because the only way to escape fear is to trample More