Questions?
Got a question about becoming a writer – freelance or otherwise? Ask me here!
I’ll answer any writing, publishing, editing, or book marketing question below — but don’t ask me if you’ll ever get published, because I just can’t reveal what I know 
Seriously, whether your focus is fiction, magazine writing, blogging, or earning money as a freelance or other type of writer – here’s your chance!
Ask your question, and I’ll answer within a few days.
Hello Dave,
If I were you, I’d work on the book I’m most passionate about. Writing a book is a long tough haul – even when you’re in love with the subject! I think it’s smart to start where you’re most eager.
My agent says that epublishing won’t wreck your chances of getting picked up by a publisher. It depends on sales, the topic of the book, and the publisher, of course. A strong sales record can motivate a publisher to pick up your book! It shows that people want to read your stuff.
Regarding rights; what is your agreement with the production company? You can sell them the rights to the screenplay and retain book rights. It depends on the contract, and your goals.
I don’t know if would be a disadvantage if the screenplay had already been optioned by a production company. I doubt it, but I suspect there are no black and white rules!
I suggest writing the book. Don’t worry about how it will get published yet. Just write it, and then pitch literary agents. When you get an agent hooked, he or she will guide you to the best contracts and the best decisions for your book.
Happy writing – keep me posted. I’d love to hear how it goes!
Laurie
Forgot to mention…
If my book was first developed as my own original screenplay… am I correct in saying that a production company would retain the rights to the screenplay while a publisher would retain the rights to the book version?
Would this be a turn off to a publisher if the screenplay had already been ‘optioned’ by a production company?
I’m a new writer, and while I have a number of ideas for a few books… there is one near and dear to me that has become my passion. Would you recommend I work on another book first as a ‘guinea pig’ so that if errors are made it isn’t as important to me so that I can learn from my mistakes while working on my true passion story?
With ePublishing on the rise, am I killing any chances of being physically published if I self publish my book on Amazon? Or let me put this another way… let’s say I finish my book and I ePublish on Amazon… am I killing any chance with a ‘publisher’?
hi laurie i am mamadou and i am very glad u wish u could help. i think i have a problem whin i sit down and try to writa nmy script its just as if i couldnt do something. just as if i was afraid of my scene and i cant stand it. please help
Laurie, wow, thank you for your suggestions and even providing an article for my question. I am very flattered and appreciate your help.
Best,
Mary
Hi Chelsea,
Thanks for your request! However, I’m not an expert in being left-handed. I got all the information for that article from the Toronto Start article, which I cited in the article.
I wish you all the best with your project! I hope being left-handed isn’t a Medical Disadvantage
All good things,
Laurie
Hello!
My name is Chelsea Cappellano and I am a senior at Conrad Weiser High School in Robesonia, PA. One of our tasks as a senior is to present a project on a topic that interests us. My topic is Left Handed: A Creative Advantage or Medical Disadvantage. I noticed that you wrote an article on left handed personality traits and left handed dominance. For part of my project I need expert contacts to interview so I can get a better understanding of my topic. Would you be interested in allowing me to interview you either by phone or email? This would be a big help and I would really be interested in hearing more about the psychological side of being left handed. My email is listed below. I would appreciate your consideration and help in making my project a success.
Sincerely,
Chelsea Cappellano; Cappell1993@aol.com
Dear Mary,
Thanks for sharing your journey here! I’m not a poet, but I know how hard it can be to stay motivated to write after what seems like a constant stream of rejections.
You’re going through a dry spell, my friend. But all dry spells end — and you have to keep writing through it! Don’t let it suffocate your creativity or desire to write poetry.
I think one of the most important tips is to learn how to enjoy the process of writing poetry, without the goal of getting published. Publication is amazing and excellent, don’t get me wrong, but if it’s your primary or only motivation for writing, then your well will run dry if you don’t get published. If, however, your love for writing poetry, your creative spark, or your desire to express yourself is your primary motivation, then you’re less likely to stop writing if you don’t get published.
Here’s a brand new article, inspired by you:
How to Overcome Discouragement and Rejection for Writers
I hope it helps, and welcome your thoughts there or here.
Blessings and confidence,
Laurie
Hello Laurie,
Lately, I’ve been struggling with writer’s block with my poetry. It’s not that I can’t think of any ideas–it’s more of my lack of confidence that’s getting in the way. I have the urge to write, but when I sit down to do it, I just feel defeated and stop after I’ve written a few words.
I really started getting serious with my poetry and sending out submissions my senior year of college a few years ago. I’ve been fortunate enough to get a few poems of mine published in some online literary journals, but for the past year, it’s been nothing but rejections. I look to friends of mine who are my age and are far more accomplished writing-wise than me (awards, publications, etc.)
I know rejection and envy are familiar friends to an aspiring writer, but I’m wondering how to get past this discouragement. I’ve been writing and in love with writing since I was in elementary school, but lately I feel like I’m not skilled or talented enough. And yet, a part of me doesn’t want to give up, so that has to be a good sign.
Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Mary
Hi Jarod,
Introductions can be tough! Here’s a good article on writing introductions, with links to other articles:
How to Grab Your Reader by the Throat – 5 Tips for Writing Strong Introductions
I hope it helps. Keep practicing; they do get easier. I always start my article with the most interesting, important piece of information (unless I’m writing a blog post, which means I need to focus on SEO more than I would if it’s a print article).
Happy writing,
Laurie
Hey,
My name is jarod billingslea, and I’m just starting to blog. I’m good in writing, but I have a problem with introductory paragraphs. Do you have any advice about writing introductions?
Please respond.
Thanks!
Thanks for commenting here — I’ve emailed you directly.
Hello.
I’m interested in writing guest posts for your blog. What are the submission requirements?
Regards,
Charles
Hi!
I thought your site looks great. Been looking for sites like this for a long time now.
We run a very successful and thriving Payed To Click Advertising Network. We pay our members to view ads, and we get asked every day about how they can reinvest their money.
Imagine having access to these 22,000 members and the 200 new members that join Limited Bux everyday! Imagine being able to get hold of investors that are hungry for new investment ideas.
Yours,
Alexa
Hi Julie,
Sorry for taking so long to get back to you – I went on a Hawaiian vacation, and am a bit behind!
Regarding writing jobs, I recently wrote about getting the right education:
So Writers Need Degrees? Tips for Aspiring Writers
Yes, there are jobs for BAs in creative writing, but they’re rare! I think it’s better to get a more “practical” degree, because many writing jobs don’t require specific writing degrees.
Read the article — it’ll help, I think.
Regarding getting your kid’s book published — no it is NOT impossible! Yes, publishers are still publishing children’s books! But, it is difficult, and you need a great deal of perseverance and dedication….and a bit ‘o luck. I don’t know of any kids’ publishers, as that’s not my specialty. I suggest you try literary agents before approaching publishers directly.
I hope this helps, and wish you all the best.
Laurie
Hello. I’m a Mom of 4 who started back at school 2 yrs. ago working on nursing pre-req’s. I’m really wanting to move my degree to something else, I would love a degree in writing, art, social sciences or psychology. I was wondering what it takes to become a writer… a free lance, or a children’s book writer. That’s more of my passion, and if I could do it, get paid well for it, and work from home, I would love to try more than anything else. What kind of degree should I look for? If I couldn’t acquire a job in writing, what else could I do with the degree? I would prefer creative writing; is there an actual job I could do with a BA in creative writing? Also, I have some children’s books I would love to try to get published. I’ve heard it’s impossible to do unless you publish it yourself, and I don’t have the funds for this. Do you have any recommendations on publishers I could try? Thank you for any help!
Hi Tess,
Thanks — I’m so glad to meet you!
The $4,500 per month that I’m currently earning does include book sales. My ebook sales amount to more than $700 per month….which means my blogs earn in excess of $3,500 per month.
Also, I’m hiring bloggers for my newest blog, Working World. It’s a good way to web writing and WordPress experience….so if you’re interested, let me know! I do have a bit of a backlog of bloggers, but will be inviting more within the next couple of months.
Good luck, Tess…if I can do it, so can you!
Laurie
HI! I was excited to find your ebook, 75 ways to make money blogging via Angela’s review. I read your comment under that stated that you make 4500 a month blogging. I am really interested in getting your ebook but just had a question: Is that amount strictly from blogging, or does that include book sales? I understand that you dont assure that I would make that too, but if you make that from strictly blogging, I would love to follow your blue print! Thanks so much for your info!
Laurie,
I am a new writer, and looking to increase exposure for my technical book. I found a Billion dollar global company that is interested in using portions or chapters of the book for use in their white papers.
How do I arrive at a price to charge the company for the usage and republication of my work? I will get writing credit and final copy approval. They expect to create 6-10 white papers from my book and would like to have an exclusive deal with me for 1 year.
Obviously I am thrilled at this opportunity, but I do not know how to evaluate the worth of this arrangement. Currently I am only selling my book online via a POD service.
Thanks,
Justin
Hi Renee,
Great question; and yes, after 2 1/2 years, you’re definitely due for a raise! It doesn’t matter if what you do for a living — freelance writer or family physician — that’s long enough to prove your worth.
And, I think that’s what you need to keep in mind: you are WORTH a raise because you have experience. You’ve been a good employee for over two years, and that in itself makes you worthy. But, I encourage you to boost your self-confidence by focusing on your achievements and growth. What have you done right? Write it down. You probably won’t have to show your accomplishments to your editor, because it’ll show through your words and demeanor. Plus, I suspect he knows what kind of writer you are
Which brings me to your specific question…yes, I think email is a good way to go. Even if your editor didn’t prefer email, it gives him a chance to think about it, formulate a response, and see your reasons for requesting a raise.
Here’s an article I wrote about asking for more money, which may help…
How to Ask for More Money Writing
Remember that the worst that can happen is he says no…and you need to have a Plan B, just in case. I think it’s good to have a Plan B ready to go before you ask for a raise, and be ready to follow through with that plan. Not a threatening “If you don’t give me a raise, I’m quitting!”, but a quiet confidence that if he’s not prepared to pay you what you’re worth, you’re prepared to find places that are.
Those are just my thoughts! Let me know how it goes….
Laurie
My question is how to ask for an increase in pay.
I’ve been writing for my local newspaper for 2 1/2 yrs, at the same rate of $.25/word for the past 2 yrs. (I hope you didn’t just choke!) I live in Spokane, WA & the paper’s circulation is 75,000+ during wk, 100,000+ on Sundays & I write for a variety of sections as well as their various websites.
My editor is a very quiet guy who seems to prefer email (During the whole 2 1/2 yrs. I’ve only spoken to him twice on the phone & met him in person once due to a work necessity!).
I’ve read elsewhere that since our main form of communcation is email that it would be completely fine to ask for my raise that way. Do you agree? How formal does it need to be or should I stick fairly close to our standard mood of everyday email exchange?
I really appreciate the info on your website. Thx for all the great articles!
Renee Sande
Hi Wendy,
Congratulations on writing your children’s picture book! Well done.
As far as I know, it’s not necessary to put yourself down as the publisher. When I look at the self-published books on my shelf (sent by self-published authors), I see no identified publisher. There’s copyright and distribution information, but no publisher.
Yes, it seems like most books say where they’re printed. I don’t know if this is a requirement — it may depend on the country in which you’re selling the book. A small “Printed in China” wouldn’t hurt your sales or distribution, I wouldn’t think.
Writing World has several excellent articles on self and traditional publishing: http://www.writing-world.com/publish/index.shtml
Don’t forget to look into taxes on your US earnings (do you have to pay tax? Is there a sales tax on the book?), decide who has to pay the shipping charges (some self-publishers build it into the cost of their book, while others charge for shipping & handling), and put your expectations of your friend who is distributing your book in writing.
Good luck selling your books — what an exciting endeavor!
Laurie
Hello,
I have written a children’s picture book which I am planning to self publish. I have already applied for the copyrights for text and pictures, as well as the ISBN number and barcode. Now I need to complete the copyright page before the book is printed. I am not using a vanity publisher, and a friend of mine has agreed to be the distributor in the States. I have not registered as a company. I have two questions:
1) Do I put myself down as the publisher on the copyright page (or is this not necessary at all)?
2) Is the country of printing required on the copyright page? I have noticed most books include this.
(I am a U.S. citizen currently living in China, where my husband is working in an international school. We plan to print books here and ship them to a friend in the States who will distribute them for us.)
Thank you very much!!
Hello Janice,
Thanks for being here; I really appreciate your comments! Welcome.
Yes, my updates are free — just sign up in the left hand column, or at the end of any of the Quips and Tips blog posts.
When I said “writing about yourself is boring” — I meant ME writing about MYSELF is boring! Many people love to write about their experiences and lives, and their readers love it. So please, don’t hesitate to write your memoirs for your children. It’s a wonderful idea, and I know your kids will treasure it for years to come.
Hoping to see you around Quips and Tips more often,
Laurie
Hi Laurie You are an impressive information sharer, and I admire your generosity if sharing your knowledge. I honestly do not know how I ended up on the particular website you sponsor regarding writing – but WOW…I love to write and wrote professionally for many years within the fields of human services and education. So finding you was quite nice. I am unemployed and looking for a gainful and rewarding career challenge right now. Writing has been a thought. I would like to subscribe to your updates, etc. However, I am hoping they are free?
I am also creating a memory book for my grown children, but am worried that one of the quotes you cited stated that writing about yourself is boring. I do not think in this instance that wanting my children to know my life allows me to not write about myself…any suggestions. It is not meant to be dramatic or romantic,etc. Thanks, Janice R.
Oops — when I tweaked my blog, I accidently deleted a vital piece of code for this page, which turned off this comments section! Don’t be afraid to pick up where we left off in April, fellow scribes….feel free to ask questions about writing
Hi Belle,
Thanks for your request; I’ll email you directly. Let’s talk!
Hi Deb,
That’s great that your niece enjoys writing, and has such obvious talent! Unfortunately, I don’t know of any summer writing camps for kids….
You could contact the local library, continuing education programs, or recreation facilities. When I worked at a recreation facility, we ran a poetry camp for kids. I think your best bet is to start asking people in your immediate vicinity: teachers, librarians, recreation programmers, etc.
Good luck — I hope you find the right camp for your niece!
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
I’m looking for someone make sure my grammar is correct when I write my stories. Do you do that service? If not do you know someone who would, other than paying an editor.
Best Regards
Julie
Hello,
I’m interested in placing a promotional link on your page:
http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/
The link would be for a website which offers managed hosting.I don’t have the biggest budget, but hopefully there is a reasonable price we could arrange. Please let me know if you’re interested, and if not thanks for your time.
Thanks!
Belle Parker
My question is do you know of educational programs or summer camps for young writers.My niece now 10 shows a love for writing and talant.Her most resent was story about homeless dogs,and about people who get dogs and them turn them into a kill shelters when they are not wanted any more.Her teacher told her mom she has talant.I noticed when she was about6 or 7.Do you have any info.We live s e PA.
Lisa,
Here’s the link to the article about monetizing your blog…please feel free to ask questions or make comments…
Yes, Writers Can Make Money Blogging! 10 Tips for Monetizing Your Blog
I hope it helps!
Laurie
Excellent, Laurie! I do look forward to the article!
Thanks and all best,
Lisa
Lisa,
Thanks for your email; it’s great to hear from you!
I’m so glad you asked about monetizing your blog: I’m teaching a course about it at Simon Fraser University in May, and I’ve been asked to speak about it at two upcoming conferences before May 7….and I haven’t had a chance to create a formal “10 Ways to Monetize Your Blog” workshop, talk, or class syllabus! It’s been weighing on my mind, too…I have tons of advice, but no formal structure yet.
So your request is perfect timing…I’ll write an article about blogging for money by this Saturday, and will post the link here.
Happy writing and blogging — and thanks for your kind words!
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
I *love* getting your Quips & Tips; you provide so much valuable information in such a professional yet personal manner.
In a recent post about being on a blogging panel you rightly said that it is seen as gauche to talk about money, and yet I see it as part of the practical reality to being a freelancer.
Would you share some tips here or in a post about the best way to go about monetizing a blog? I’m wondering what sort of methods there are, what readership is needed before a blog becomes profitable, etc.
Kindest regards,
Lisa
Thanks Laurie! I am starting to feel empowered already.
-Morgan
Hi again Morgan,
If the link to the article didn’t work, please try it again — I made a mistake the first time I inserted it!
To try it again, go directly to the Ask a Question page (if you tried it from your email subscription).
L.
Hi Morgan,
Glad you stopped in — and congratulations on leaving Corporate America! Very exciting
Your questions are invaluable and incredibly important for new writers, so I answered them in a blog post. Here’s the link – if this creates more questions, please ask away!
Starting a Magazine Writing Career – How to Earn Money as a Freelancer
I hope this answers your questions, and look forward to seeing you again here on Quips and Tips…
Regards — and thanks for asking these questions,
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
First, thanks for sharing! I have learned so much in the few days since I discovered your site. Prior to discovering your site, I was wandering about scatter brained and utterly frustrated.
Thank you for shedding light on several hot-topics every writer should know about.
I have a few quick questions for you…
I recently left Corporate America to return to school full-time to get my masters degree and follow my dreams of becoming a full-time freelance writer. Things are moving along slowly. I do not have a clue what I am doing. I am a little nervous about not having a degree, posting my CV on my website etc. etc. Oh, the posting of my CV issue – I don’t haven’t finished my degree and it’s driving me insane to the point I don’t want to write….sigh.
Question: Do you think having a degree is necessary for a freelance writer to have.
I am told that I am a good writer; and I have had work published before….but…I do not feel like being ‘good’ is good enough, and I also question whether I am competitive ‘enough.’
It all goes back to me not having my degree yet. Moving along..
Question: I would like to pitch an article idea to a magazine. Their submission guidelines do not mention payment – what is the proper or standard way to go about finding this out?
Question: Is it typical for a freelance writer to negotiate their rates with magazines etc.?
Question: How do you determine what you should charge for your work?
Thanks so much. I absolutely love your site by the way!
Best Regards,
Morgan
Dear Amy,
Thanks for your great questions!
I think email query letters are THE way to go — unless, of course, the magazine or publisher only accepts mailed query letters. But most publications and publishers accept email, so yes…it’s fine.
Here’s an article that might help:
Example of a Query Letter for Unpublished Writers
And, it’s totally appropriate to tell a source exactly what you said: you’re pitching the article idea to magazines and you’re just gathering preliminary information. Tell them you’ll keep them posted. You don’t need a ton of information to write a successful query letter — just enough to whet the editor’s appetite and prove that you can write the article because you have access to sources.
Here’s an article about interviewing sources, for after you’ve won the assignment and are writing the article:
10 Tips for Interviewing Sources for Articles
I hope this helps, and that you let me know when you’ve sold your first few articles
Happy pitching,
Laurie
Hi Laurie:
First of all, I am hoping this is the right place to submit a question rather than to respond to a previous post. If not, my apologies.
I have two questions:
1) What is your opinion on emailing query letters?
2) How do you approach sources for a story when you don’t yet have a magazine interested in your article? Do you just say I am a freelance writer and hope they don’t ask any questions? Is it OK to say (which would be true in my case) I am a new freelance writer and don’t yet have a magazine that has accepted the story, but I am planning on pitching it to XX…
Thank you,
Amy
Thank you for the links, Laura. I’m on it!
I hereby dub you ‘The Writing Tips Diva’. I’ll stay in touch.
Angela aka Fitness-Diva-Knows
Hi Angela,
Yes, there’s a difference between an editorial perspective of your writing versus the rose-colored glasses of friends of family! But, the more writing you do makes you a better writer, so blogging does sharpen your writing skills. You ARE improving with each post you write
Here are links to info about query letters:
How to Write Query Letters for Magazine Articles
Sample of a Successful Query Letter to Reader’s Digest
Example of a Query Letter for Unpublished Writers
And within each article are links to more articles, so you should find lots to work with!
Feel free to ask questions or make comments on any of the articles….let me know how things go…
Happy writing,
Laurie
Thank you for your response, Laurie.
I think because almost all of my writing to date has been geared toward creating content for my website, and the only feedback I get is from friends and loved ones (they are so supportive and not critical), I’m a little unsure of the quality of my writing from an editors point of view. I’d be happy to have the links for some sample pitch letters! I appreciate your sharing.
Angela aka Fitness-Diva-Knows
Hi Angela,
It sounds like you’ve found an interesting niche — especially with a “diva” attitude! Fun
I’m not quite sure I understand what you mean about having your writing skills evaluated. If you want to look into additional writing opportunities, you don’t need to undergo an evaluation — you need only apply for writing jobs or pitch to editors!
If you need sample pitch letters, I’d be happy to share some links here. THe freelance magazine writing market is a bit competitive, but I know there are editors assigning work to new writers.
I encourage you to focus on finding writing opportunities in your health and fitness niche, and don’t worry too much about your writing skills. That said, if your writing skills need work, then take a writing course or read books on writing — I listed several great ones in the middle column of this page.
I hope this helps — and wish you all the best in your writing career!
Laurie
Dear Laurie,
I am a ‘newbie’ webmaster and my niche is women’s health and fitness advice and motivation. Content writing hasn’t come easy (I have a day job,as well as some challenging life issues),but I actually LIKE it. I have a voice or a persona that I’ve been developing for the site, a ‘diva’ attitude, so to speak. The writing has been therapeutic at times, helping to block out the ‘stuff’ going on in and around me. My question to you is: How do I go about having my writing (skills?????) evaluated. I want to investigate additional writing opportunities as my hearing impairment is hindering my ability to continue working in a noisey gym environment. And, at age 57 and a half, maybe I don’t want to spend as much time in the gym with the young’uns. I thank you for any comments and suggestions you have to offer.
Dear Don,
I apologize for not responding sooner; the Christmas holidays have eaten up all my time and energy!
Regarding your questions — you don’t need an agent to sell your articles to magazines. If, however, you want to put all your articles into a book, then you’d need a literary agent.
I suggest pitching your articles to magazines that focus on retired people and baby boomers. AARP has a magazine, I think — and Eldr.com was open to pitches some time ago. You might also try Reader’s Digest, or any publication that you enjoy reading. If you like reading a magazine, you might be the perfect writer for it!
I hope this helps — let me know how it goes. And if you need info about pitching to magazines, let me know and I’ll post some links here.
All best,
Laurie
12-16-09
Dea Laurie:
Interesting info, but I’m a hard nut to crack. I’m over 75-years-old, a Korea War Veteran, 56 years married, father of eight, grandfather of 11, and currently an award-winning writer.
For the past several years I’ve won first place ribbons for entries in local “Veterans Creative Arts” competitions, including gold medals in the nationals.
My writing consists of short, approximately 500-word, mostly humorous stuff, such as the national gold medal winner at this year’s ceremony entitled, “How To Avoid Waiting In Lines.”
Presently I have a dozen award-winning, never-before-published, 100% original articles, and am seeking a way to get paid for them.
In addition, I have a recent, urgent, serious feature (777 words), that I believe is relevant, timely, and newsworthy. It’s entitled, “AMERICA’S MONETARY REALITY.”
Question is, how do I get my stuff to market? Should I get an agent? Where? Who? Any ideas?
Bless you for your help!
–Don M.
Hi Laurie,
Congratulations on closing in on your book deal – that’s very exciting.
Great tip on what to write back to a rejection, I’d pop a “thanks for the reply” e-mail, but a “sorry that didn’t work, what about this” is a far superior idea.
My book(s) have taken a back seat to my blog, which has a life, voice, personality and wardrobe of its own now. It seems to be a new genre as far as I can tell, so I’m tagging it The Internet’s 1st Blog-Com, part blog, part sitcom.
Have you seen anything out there like this? I write humorous interviews with ordinary people, in out of the ordinary lives–and believe me, after I dig around, they’re all out of the ordinary!
Question: what community would you suggest I become involved with? I’m active in the writing community nearby and via twitter, but blogging seems to be ‘informational’ –which this is, the guts of it is real– but the flow is all comedic dialog.
Help! Writing is about being involved in a community, but I sense I’m missing out on either the comedic or interviewing side. What’s your thought?
Thanks, Kristi
Hi! I enjoy gleaning little bits of information from your site and others, but I feel like I’m missing something. I was wondering if you could take pity on a struggling free-lance writer and review my sites and make some suggestions?
I have three sites – my main site is http://www.321learn.net I have built it up fairly well and get more than 50% google traffic, with 10 subscribers. Topping just over 100 visits a day.
My second site gets about the same traffic even though it is much smaller and newer and I have 3 subscribers: http://www.myclssroommanagement.com
My third site is just starting to pick up traffic, and is very new with no subscribers yet: http://www.myhomeschoolguide.com
I am almost to the point of reaching google ads payout each month and have failed miserably at affiliate links and have all but removed them from my sites. And I get few to no comments (probably due to the lack of subscribers).
I have tested and retested google ad placement and color schemes, and have tested layout until I found one that seemed to boost income and increase pageviews. Seems like you and many others I read are so successful and while I try to emulate as much as I can, I feel like I am spinning my wheels.
Thanks for taking pity on me, any suggestions are welcome!
Hi Jana,
Thanks for your comment! I’m not sure what a “hot link” is…but if you mean a link exchange, then I’d be happy to check out your site and possibly include it in my Writing Blogs & Websites page.
All best,
Laurie
Hi Lori
I just discovered your site and would like to recommend it to my students. Could you do a ‘hot link’ to mine, please? I think you’d enjoy it!!
Cheers – Jana
Hi Rhys,
That’s one of the most difficult parts of being a writer — finding great ideas for feature articles!
I can’t tell you what to write about, but here’s an article about recognizing a great idea. You’ll need to brainstorm your own ideas, based on your interests, resources, available experts, sources, lifestyle, environment, etc.
10 Tips for Recognizing Great Article Ideas
Good luck with your article!
Laurie
Hey there Laurie,
I’m currently in high school and need a good idea for a feature article (between 1000 and 2000 words)
Thanks ^_^
Hi Ali,
I hope you’re all caught up on your sleep!
The short answer to your question about editors stealing writers’ book ideas: no, they don’t! When you submit a query letter or book proposal, the chances are .01% that the editor will steal it (or thereabouts — though I’m sure it has happened. It’s just not likely).
I’ve written a couple articles on that very topic — here are the links:
Should You Talk About Your Article or Book Ideas?
and
Do Writers or Editors Steal Article Ideas?
I hope these articles reassure you.
And, I think it’s exciting that your book idea is keeping you up at night, and I encourage you to write up a proposal, polish it, and start sending it to agents or publshers!
Good luck and happy writing — and stay in touch!
Laurie
Just realized I forgot to say thank you! (maybe the lack of sleep is starting to kick in). Any advice about the pitching process would be much appreciated!
Ali
Hi Lori,
I am having a sleepless night because my ideas will not stop brewing. As a senior in college worrying about my future and my failed job applications in the finance sector, it’s not hard to imagine why. I have an idea for a book, but am wondering about the pitching process. How do I ensure that my idea will not be stolen? Is it a gamble? or is there some sort of protection process?
Side note: I go to Colgate University in upstate New York and am wavering on my decision on whether to work in the US next year (many visa complications for long-term employment). I find it ironic that I stumbled upon your blog through random google chance since I am from Vancouver Island. I feel as though I have had a real-life epiphany and have finally realized the solution to my cross-border dilemma: writers know no bounds.
Hi Dale,
With your extensive experience, it sounds like you should be teaching journalists how to ask radio and TV interview questions — not the other way around! On the job experience can be more valuable than formal training.
Regarding training for interview questions: I suggest looking at the universities, colleges, and community colleges in your area. Some may have a journalism program, and offer classes in radio, print, and TV questions for reporters. Other may offer the interviewing portion of a larger class — it depends on the size of the journalism program at the university or college.
Rather than taking a formal course, I suggest marketing yourself as an expert. You’ve already put in the time and earned your stripes! I don’t know offhand who hires people to write interview questions, but I suspect the busier reporters, TV anchors, journalists, etc don’t have time to write their own. And that’s where you come in. You’d need to dig around to learn how to find those jobs — I think networking would be extremely helpful in landing a job like that.
Regarding pay: a professional writer can earn more than $50 per hour, depending on experience.
I hope this helps a little! Good luck…
Laurie
I began as a newspaper journalist and bylined columnist at age 15. Later I became the director and writer for my husband’s 2 hour daily, five days a week TV show, at age 21.
While I also wrote many of the questions for the TV interviews my husband asked of celebrities, I never studied how to do it.
For the past eight plus years I’ve been dooing background research and writing questions for radio and TV interviews, pro bono for a friend who is the host and executive producer.
I am frequently complimented on the work I do by both the producers and the guests.
My questions are these: I would like to know what resources there are for formal training for writing questions for radio and TV interviews? And what would the pay range be for this type of work.
This is my first time visiting your website and it appears to be quite helpful.
Thank you,
Dale
Hi Jedidiah,
Here’s a link to an article about joining on online writing group:
3 Tips for Joining an Online Writing Group
I hope it helps! If not, let me know…and I’ll see what I can dig up…
Laurie
please how can i get a link to joining a writing group?
Hi Amber,
Acknowleding a rejection of your query letter is fine….but I don’t usually do it.
I don’t think there’s a right or wrong way to respond when editors send rejection e-mails (except to blast the editor for not recognizing a brilliant article idea!). But, I try to send editors as few “extra” emails as possible.
That said, a quick “thanks for considering my article idea” can be a nice way to build a relationship with an editor!
Here’s my favorite way to go about it: do a combination thank you/new article idea. So, I’ll send a different pitch within 3-5 days of receiving the rejection, and I’ll lead with something like “thanks for considering X idea, sorry it didn’t meet your needs. How about this instead?”
This way, you get your “thank you” and your reminder in without emailing too often, and you get another pitch out there.
Ultimately, I encourage you to go with your gut feeling. If acknowledging an editor’s rejection feels right to you, then do it! Follow your instincts, my friend.
Great question — thanks for asking it, Amber!
Laurie
Hi Laurie – I’m wondering what the best way is to respond to a rejection of your query letter?
Should you just write back and say, “OK, thanks for getting back to me”. Or is there a professional way to remind them that you’re open to writing other articles for them?
Thanks,
Amber
Angela,
Yes, magazines often take a long time to pay (what a pain) — but 7 months is way, way too long! That’s outrageous.
Yes, I’d call. When I’m serious about getting paid because I’ve been waiting for months, I also copy my requests for payment to everyone I know at the magazine: the accounting department, the senior editor, the publisher, other editors at the magazine. You may not have all those options — sometimes you only have one contact at the magazine — but I’ve found it to be an effective way to get a response.
I also suggest making contact every 2-3 days until you get a response. Be a squeaky wheel. One of my slow-paying magazines always, always pays up….but I have to nag them to death to do it. I’ve stopped writing for them — despite the editor’s request for pitches! It’s not worth it to write for them. They pay well and I love the magazine, but the aggravation is not worth it.
Good luck — and let me know how it goes!
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
Can you offer some advice on a writerly issue?
A big US magazine bought an article from me last August but I have not been paid yet. They emailed in November to ask for my bank details for the cheque but since then, nothing. I know it’s not unusual to wait a LONG time to get magazine payments, but what troubles me is that my emails to the editor with follow ups have not had any response.
Do you think I should call, or just wait it out? I have heard of a lot of writers just being told ‘I know we said we would use the article, but sorry, we can’t afford it anymore’. No kill fee, or anything.
Warm regards,
Angela
Great question, April — and welcome to the hard part of the writing world!
One thing’s for sure: all writers are different. Don’t fall into the “if I want to be a successful writer, I should…” — because there are few single definitions of how writers should be or what they should love about the craft! We’re all different, we’re all on different journeys, and different things are difficult for each of us.
Most writers struggle with SOME aspect of writing, whether it’s the boring detail work, keeping up with invoices for freelancers, writing dialogue, or writing strong query letters to agents.
So just because it’s hard, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be doing it!
To get past your reluctance, struggle, or dislike you need the dreaded D-word: discipline. Here are two articles I’ve written about that:
5 Tips for Increasing Your Writing Discipline
http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/quoted-writers/5-tips-for-increasing-your-writing-discipline/
Top 10 Tips for Lazy Writes
http://theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting/quoted-writers/top-10-tips-for-lazy-writers-how-to-increase-your-writing-discipline/
I’ve also written articles on achieving your writing goals and tips for staying motivated to write — because discipline and motivation are key to being a successful writer! And, many writers (even published authors) struggle with SOMETHING.
Don’t give up yet. Just because you’re drawn to or passionate about writing, doesn’t mean it’ll be a walk in the park!
And — maybe writing isn’t for you at this point in your life. It’s hard to say whether you need the self-discipline to just break through the boring parts, or if you’re meant to love writing as a reader. I have a friend who loves listening to writers, reading about writing, talking about writing…but she’s not writing. Maybe she will someday, maybe not.
I hope this helps, and I look forward to hearing what you think here — or one of those articles
Laurie
Hi Laurie,
I am a newbie writer – right now fiction, but that could easily shift into something else given time and a maturing into the field. The problem I’m having is this:
I have all these interesting story ideas… but when it comes to actually creating a storyline, I lose steam. It’s almost like I don’t want to know the ending… I’m so used to wanting to be surprised as a reader (or movie watcher) that sitting down and plotting a story feels anticlimactic.
It’s like I’m peeking behind the curtain, seeing the Wizard, and not liking him very much. I don’t know how to get beyond the (I hate to say this) boredom factor of the detail work: creating character bios and background, world building/ setting, and as I mentioned the story arc itself. I feel so STUPID… a writer is supposed to love the details, isn’t she?
It makes me question whether I actually should be a writer… except that I love to write. I just wonder if it’s fiction? I’d really like to at least try to write a book or novella or SOMETHING before I throw in the towel. There’s definitely a push inside me to do this… an indefinable, energetic pull that has nothing to do with logic or the barriers created by my mind.
So essentially, to sum it up – how do I get past my dislike of being the wizard, controlling all the strings (and special effects?). Have you even heard of this kind of barrier in writers before? This is basically one reason “The Secret” and other “manifest your reality” paradigms make me feel nauseous, lol. I don’t want to know my future… I guess I like going with the flow way too much to manipulate my reality. Unfortunately, this leads to being stymied in my literary attempts.
Any insight would be appreciated… this may be too weird to comment on, so I understand if you don’t know where to go with it…
Thanks,
April
(p.s. I am having no problem writing my blog… but that doesn’t involve foreshadowing, creating echoes and mirrors, inventing scintillating characters, etc…. lol).
[...] prepared to put in a lot of time. I just added my Ask a Question button to all four of my blogs – and it took almost four hours! I couldn’t believe it; it was [...]