Archive for February 9th, 2008
Writing has always been a dream that I have had. Even in grammar school, I wanted to write. My first story, “Snoopy and the Pineapples,” was a fruited retailing of “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” and a huge hit with my sixth grade teacher.
In high school I even worked up the nerve to send a story into a teen magazine, but since there was no cover letter, no query letter, and no information about the author (other than the byline on the story) I got a rejection. The sad part was that I didn’t know WHY I got the rejection. There was no one to help me understand the industry.
Flash forward in my life to just five years ago. I attended my first writer’s conference EVER! I went to the event fully expecting someone to tell me how great my writing was and to give me the steps to making a successful career out of writing. I didn’t get either. After lots of study, research, and interviews with other writers, I have come up with some steps to help anyone become a full time writer.
1. You have to write. It may seem silly, but there are people out there that want to write one article or novel and make a million dollars or land a full-time gig. It might be possible, but it is highly unlikely. The more you write, the better your writing will get.
2. Show your writing. This doesn’t mean you should ask mom and dad to read it. Give it to someone who will be honest about what you should do. Having a writing mentor online is great. There is a certain anonymity to the internet that makes honesty easier.
3. Submit your writing. Start local and work your way up. Or find your niche and bombard publications with your work until the acceptances out number the rejections.
4. Go job hunting. Decide what you will and will not write and then find the jobs you are willing to do. Value your work, though. Many people are taking jobs for one or two dollars just to have their name in print (online anyway). In the end, it’s not worth it – to you or to any other writer out there.
5. Stretch yourself. All the veteran writers that I have spoken with say that writing outside your genre is critical. If you write novels then submit some article ideas. I would expand that and recommend that you write outside your knowledge zone. If you write about family issues then write some animal articles. The internet provides you with the ability to research any subject at anytime. If you can find the information then there is no reason you can’t write the article.
6. Make it a business. Treat your writing like any other job. Set aside a certain number of hours to write and put in your hours. Make a schedule of what you need to do and when it needs to be done and then get it done ahead of time.
7. Always, always, always keep learning. It doesn’t matter where you are in the industry (or what industry that is for that matter). There is always something else you can learn or a technique you can perfect. Keep pushing yourself to get better. Take classes and courses. Join groups. Attend seminars and conferences. Make yourself a better you than you were yesterday.
Becoming a professional (i.e. paid) writer is just like anything else out there. It takes time, effort, practice and patience. Find your niche in the industry and then go for it.
February 9th, 2008
Our family is one of many words. We play word games, we play off other peoples words, and we play of words of songs. It’s always amusing to see which family member will be the first to pounce on a particular word or phrase – and the whole family gets a smile from the moment.
There is just something about a good pun (and by that I mean a bad pun) or bad or simple joke that makes me smile. Maybe it is the reaction of the people around me – the ones who have been sucking on lemons all day and just don’t get it. It could be that I’m easily entertained – an old boyfriend once said that if he hung a mobile over the vent and got me a kitten I would be entertained forever.
Most likely it is that I like a good word play. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy many of the British shows (some of which you can see anymore) and Psych (great word play there). Good comedy is about a quick and sharp wit – plain and simple.
I’ll confess that much of the word play around our table is not always brain surgery. But it is always fun. Try a little yourself, you might just find that you like it. I’ll get you started.
Q: Why did the TURTLE cross the road?
A: To get to the SHELL station!
Not exactly a pun, but you have to start slow and work your way up. Before long, you and your family will be sitting around the dinner table exchanging puns like pros and having a great time to boot.
February 9th, 2008
My husband often complains that I spent $40,000 (probably much more once you figure in interest and misc. expenses) getting a degree and all I have to show for it is a diploma on the wall. Try as I might, I never seem to get him to see how my BS in Leisure Services (yes it’s a real degree) helped me run the house, teach the kids, and do all of my extras stuff (like garden clubs and women’s groups).
Even though I don’t have a “real” job, I still find plenty of ways to put my degree to work and now I’m even making some nice money along the way.
1. Birthday parties – I spent my internship and many of my college years planning social activities. It just naturally rolled over into the children.
2. Grants – Part of my education involved learning about grants (how to research and write them). Today I am using that knowledge to help others (for a small fee 
).
3. Fund raising – During my college years, there were many times I had to call companies to ask for discounts, donations or contributions. Asking for help is more comfortable because of my past experience.
4. Internet content writing – Leisure Services (yes it’s a real degree) requires a wide variety of information. Now I have a lot of bits and pieces that wander around my brain. It’s perfect for short, quick articles that I can use or sale online.
5. Making connections – Meeting with the Dean of Students, leaders of companies and officers in the military made me comfortable talking with people of position and people I did not know. Today I use that to get new clients for my grants or writing and to make connections for other needs as well.
My husband was deluded into believing that if you go to college and get a degree you will get a good job. That’s one of the main reasons he complains about me not “using” my degree – or I should say he DID complain. Over the last few months he has been around to see how my degree is put to use daily and how it is adding income to our bank account.
When you are stepping out in life (or pushing your children in that direction) make sure you encourage them to go to college for the educational opportunity and not for the degree. With education under your belt you will be able to do anything you set your mind to do. With a degree you will just have another picture on the wall.
February 9th, 2008
