This can be a tough time of the year. So many holidays, so much to do, and maybe just maybe you’d like to squeeze in time to write. One thing that can help is to spot the opportunities all around you.
Five minutes. You can do amazing things in only five minutes a day. Work on your novel for five minutes daily throughout the holidays. I did that this fall when I was completing a nonfiction job. The 4000 words I wrote in six week were not beautiful but they were 4000 more than I had before. Use your five minutes to increase your word count or do the pre-writing needed for a new project. Or you can compile a number of shorter pieces to finalize later on.
Activities. The holidays are full of activities and so are many magazines and newsletters. Do you have a recipe that was passed down from your grandmother? A decorating project you and your daughters do every Christmas? Or a family game that you play with your nieces and nephews? Maybe you’ve come up with a way to save money on buying gifts. You may not have time to market it right now but draft it while it is fresh in your mind.
Those sweet moments. Like Crystal Otto pointed out in her recent post, we are in the season of Advent. When you have one of those sweet, inspirational moments, write it down. You may very well have a devotional or a short essay on your hands. One of my writing buddies is a champion at turning these moments into prayers. Another uses them to craft poetry. Use what touches you to draft something poignant to share.
Research. I am part of a family of readers ranging in age from 2 months to 80 years. The holidays are a great opportunity for me to do market research. What books do parents want for their kids? What books does my teen niece want to find under the tree? I can also check out my mother-in-law’s reader to see what she has recently downloaded from the library.
Drama Queens, Smoking Ovens and Other Little Disasters. Those moments that you’d just rather forget? The ones we here in Missouri call “interesting,” because our Moms would be super mad if we said what we really thought? They make great essays. Angela Mackintosh taught me that after I described one family encounter. Okay, first she apologized for laughing herself silly, but she was right. Griswold family moments form the basis for many essays.
Whether your holidays are perfect or chaotic, don’t berate yourself for not getting more writing done. Instead find five minutes to jot down whatever has moved you. Before toasting Auld Lang Syne, you’ll have either a number of short pieces ready to take to final or a considerable amount of progress on your longer project.
--SueBE
To find out more about Sue Bradford Edwards' writing, visit her blog, One Writer's Journey. Sue is also the instructor for Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults. The next session begins January 8th, 2017.
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Build a platform. Specialize. We’re told to do this so we can build an audience and carve out a niche for ourselves in the world of publishing. And it isn’t bad advice.
But I’d like to suggest that you try something new. Say yes to opportunity. You might just surprise yourself and make a sale. After all, it’s how I built my writing career.
Although I started off writing picture books, it didn’t take me very long to start writing nonfiction. A writing buddy signed on as a magazine editor. She needed writers. I needed credits. I could drop her a note and she’d tell me what she needed. Then I’d bounce a few ideas off her and she’d say yes or no. Before long, I had built a short resume.
Then I saw a market update from READ magazine. The editor needed nonfiction so I pitched an article on distance swimmer Gertrude Ederle. “Can you write it as reader’s theater?” I could have said, “No, I don’t know anything about reader’s theater.” But that’s not how I operate. I said, “Sure!” Then I had to learn how to script a piece of reader’s theater. I studied how many parts there are for students, stage directions, and more. It sold and I had a new market to add to my resume.
The moral of the story: When an editor asks you to make a big change, give it a try. You might surprise yourself.
A few years ago my friend’s editor needed writers. “You’re good at nonfiction. You should give it a try.” The problem was that this was a book editor. I’d never written anything that long. This time my “yes” was a bit more reluctant. But their instructions were clear and I got to put my degrees to work. My first assignment came out in 2015 and I have ten more books in print.
The moral of the story: When someone with an in offers to help you out, give it a try. You might surprise yourself.
Most recently, I was asked to help organize a series of workshops in 2017. I very reluctantly said yes even though the first one was on the poetry in picture book writing. Poetry! Help! I wanted to have a clue what I was getting into so I read through several issues of Highlights Hello! which always features children's poetry. Reading on the treadmill, I got a feel for the rhythm of these super-short poems. By the time I was done rowing, I had an idea for a humorous piece called “Tiger Cat.” It sold this spring to none other than Highlights Hello!
The moral of the story: Don’t write off a form of writing you’ve never done. You might surprise yourself.
I’m not saying that every attempt is going to be met with success. But if you are still struggling to find a place for yourself in the world of publishing, try saying yes. Otherwise, you might miss the niche that's a perfect fit.
Of course, my husband has made a suggestion. “What about trying a block buster series?”
–SueBE
To find out more about Sue Bradford Edwards' writing, visit her blog, One Writer's Journey. Sue is also the instructor for Writing Nonfiction for Children and Young Adults. The next session begins January 8th, 2017.
Read More »
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