Friday Speak Out!: Writing Prompt: If you could write the definitive book on any topic, what would it be?

by J. Green

Don’t think that this definitive book has to be non-fiction. For those fierce fiction writers, what would be your genre-defining book? What would its title be? Who would be the major characters? Where would it take place? For the non-fiction writer-goddesses out there, what is your main area of expertise? What topic keeps you up at night? What story did you see in the New York Times or the local paper that you just can’t help thinking about during a quiet period in your day?

I’ll tell you about my (imaginary for now) book that I can only hope one day defines a sub-niche of a sub-niche of a genre. Twenty years ago, I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. Schizoaffective disorder shares many of the symptoms of schizophrenia (voices, hallucinations, delusions, social isolation), but it also includes an affective (mood disorders) component. After my diagnosis, I read many of the most popular memoirs written by women who dealt with at least one mental health issue. An Unquiet Mind (Jamison), The Center Cannot Hold (Saks), Prozac Nation (Wurtzel), Marbles (Forney), I read them all.

The one thing that was missing from this treasure trove of hard-fought experience and wisdom were the tales of women of color with a mental health issue. Yes, women of color have written about their battles with mental health over the years. But when most people who have knowledge on this topic get asked about the best mental health memoirs written by female authors, the same names inevitably come up: Kay Redfield Jamison. Elyn Saks. Elizabeth Wurtzel. Susanna Kaysen. Jenny Lawson. Carrie Fisher. None of them look like me. Most of them have financial resources and support from loved ones that I could only dream of.

There are plenty of mental health memoirs by WOC that are more than worth reading. But the women who read these memoirs (I include myself in this number) have to do a much better job of seeking out new and different perspectives. I’m not saying that a mental health diagnosis won’t devastate a cisgender woman who’s white, wealthy, and well-educated. But we need to hear from authors from all walks of life. I hope to one day be an author that puts her book into the ring of mental health memoirs written by strong, unflappable women.

My Must-Read List: Mental Health Memoirs by Women of Color

1. Willow Weep for Me: by Meri Nana-Ama Danquah (depression)
2. My Body Is A Book of Rules: by Elissa Washuta (sexual abuse, bipolar disorder)
3. Not All Black Girls Know How to Eat: A Story of Bulimia - by Stephanie Covington Armstrong
4. 72 Hour Hold: by Bebe Moore Campbell (bipolar disorder)

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J. Green has worked as a freelance writer for over eight years. She is a Massachusetts native, born and raised. An aspiring memoirist and novelist, J. devotes a lot of her free time to discovering new literary voices, developing her own artistic voice, and trying not to sweat the small stuff. What J. hopes to accomplish with her non-fiction work is to inspire more people of color to write about their battles with mental health issues.
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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Localize Writing and Cash In

Dreaming of your big break? Waiting to see your byline in The New York Tmes or Washington Post? Maybe seeing your name grace the pages of Cosmo or Ladies’ Home Journal or Sports Illustrated keeps you motivated.

Until you break into those national markets, smart writers localize and cash in.

Think regional publications, local websites, area newspapers.

I was lucky. When I began freelancing full-time, I broke into a national sports and fitness magazine. Within two months of my initial conversation with the editor-in-chief, I received contracts for three feature pieces.

And, I received payment up front.

At the same time, I knew if I wanted my writing career to grow, I would have to work hard and find other publications to supplement my income.

Besides, it never hurts to have a steady income stream.

How did localizing help?

I landed a steady gig at a regional newspaper, a state-wide magazine publishes a couple of my articles each year, and I launched a newspaper column geared to small weekly newspapers.

Don’t overlook the neighborhood newspaper or budding website promoting a local business. You can snag local writing gigs by keeping these points in mind.

• Develop your expertise. I’m a history nut and I enjoy current events. I’ve parlayed my interests into multiple magazine and newspaper articles, photo layouts, blogging gigs, and website writing.
• Establish relationships. So, you don’t know the editor of the local press? Go introduce yourself! Network!  I didn’t know the editor or staff of a regional magazine, but once I pitched a story and spoke with him on the phone, I made a point to learn the hierarchy of their editorial staff. Now I know not to send a query to the assistant editor. I would not have know that if I hadn’t taken a vested interest. 
• Fine-tune your pitch.  Don’t count out any ideas. A friend who is an avid reader landed a book column in a local newspaper! One trick that helped land a steady assignment was analyzing what was covered in-house and what work was farmed out to freelancers. Once you see what needs a publication has, you can adapt your platform to fit their needs.

I still haven’t ended up in The New York Times or the Washington Post, but I will eventually. Each article I investigate for a local market builds my resume and adds exemplary clips to my portfolio.

What local markets have you pitched?

by LuAnn Schindler. Read more of LuAnn's work at her website. Graphic by LuAnn.

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Leave a Comment expertise, local, local stories, localize, LuAnn Schindler, networking, personal experience, pitching editors, regional markets