Writing Diary

[Smokering]

Heya, fellow literary bunnies!

I thought this thread could function as a slightly looser personal accountability/info-sharing version of the 30 Queries in 30 Days thread. I pretty much stopped querying halfway through last month because I needed time to write the articles themselves, and then I didn't have anywhere to record that I spent two hours tweaking an article. (Not sure why it's important for me to record that, exactly, but it is, so hush).

So if your aim is just to do something writing-related every day this month, come here and share your toils! It can include writing invoices for your articles, writing for permission to use photos for online articles, editing your Suite101 stuff, working on your novel or whatever.

Today is September 1, for me, so:

1st: Queried eco-type magazine about henna article.

[white_queen_22]

I love it
Especially since today I not only posted an article and blog to Suite101 but also contacted an organization about getting into a Controversies of Childbirth Conference in Dallas using a BellaOnline press pass, Sent out an overdue BellaOnline newsletter, Added photos to a couple articles, interlinked all my yellow flower gardening articles and stirred up more crap on the forum....erm...caught up on the forum posts. :-)

I'm nesting via my computer. *laughing*

Angela <><

[Smokering]

I'm nesting via my computer.

I miss the nesting instinct. So does my house... and as for my computer, it really needs some housecleaning and file-deleting and document reshuffling. Wanna come over?

Well, the eco magazine lady wrote back to say that by a freakish chance, she'd just written an article about henna herself, but did I have any more ideas? So I pitched another idea about water-only hair washing, and we shall see. It's similar to my Natural Haircare article, but more like taking one section of that article and expanding it. That'd be legal and all, right? I'd try not to plagiarise myself...

I also rang the editor of a general interest-type mag. She was a bit snippy, the way I've always (rather unfairly) imagined editors to be. She did give me her email address though, and a stern injunction to read the magazine before pitching my article, otherwise she would think I was Scum and spurn my query with her foot. Metaphorically, of course.

[evies_mom]

This is a fabulous idea, Smokering!

The manuscript for my book will be submitted tomorrow :, and I am looking forward to several new writing goals for the month.

- focus on S101 articles again. 2-3 per week possibly
- delve more into memoir writing via my journal
- finish reading Glatzer's book on freelancing
- write a tribute to my grandparents in honor of their 60th anniversary
- focus on spiritual reflections

[evies_mom]

She did give me her email address though, and a stern injunction to read the magazine before pitching my article, otherwise she would think I was Scum and spurn my query with her foot. Metaphorically, of course.

I love your sense of humor. You make me chuckle all the time.

[enfpintj]

Okay, I need some accountability. I keep setting word count goals for my novel, but i feel like I just keep avoiding it. I did write 3 pages, longhand today. I will try to do something every day. In my defense, most days I at least write some notes.

I wanted to finish it by my bday in nov. but now I feel I won't. We'll see.

[white_queen_22]

Instead of trying to write X number of pages - turn off the phone and look at the clock and commit to writing non-stop for ten minutes. Period. No excuses.

AT LEAST ten minutes.

I find once I get started and going I usually don't come up for air until several minutes (an hour? Two?) later and it's so much less pressure for me than "I must accomplish X". :-) It doesn't matter WHAT I accomplish as long as I write non-stop for ten minutes.

Less pressure = more accomplished. For me anyway.

It's worth a try, eh?

[enfpintj]

That's actually what I did yesterday to get the 3 pages. You're right, I think it is less pressure. It's just the first couple of minutes that seems so hard to start and keep going. thanks for the support. I have to figure out when I am going to write today.

do y'all write at the same time every day?

[Smokering]

I wrote a query today. It was for an article about twins--specifically, different types of twinning and the causes thereof, and debunking a few twin myths as well. (One of which will be 'Twins are always born by C-section', 'cause I'm a rebel like that). I queried a magazine which has published an article of mine before, but they've since rejected two or three ideas and this article is rather more ambitious in scope than the last, so we'll see.

I also sent off a 'Hey, what's going on?' letter to the editor who may or may not be accepting my cosleeping article. I'm nervous about itm so I thought I'd bite the bullet and say 'Oi' rather than waiting for weeks for her to get around to rejecting or accepting me. If she did take it and the other magazine says no, maybe I'll offer her the twins article too.

[white_queen_22]

Originally Posted by enfpintj

do y'all write at the same time every day?

Ha ha ha! I don't even get to PEE at the same time every day.
*wry grin*

[puddle]

Hi--jumping in! I've written 4 crappy queries so far, but haven't sent any off yet. I think I'll end up sending 3 of them this week... I probably won't get anywhere near 30 this month, but I'm actually pretty excited about the idea of sending even one.

[white_queen_22]

Originally Posted by puddle

Hi--jumping in! I've written 4 crappy queries so far, but haven't sent any off yet. I think I'll end up sending 3 of them this week... I probably won't get anywhere near 30 this month, but I'm actually pretty excited about the idea of sending even one.

Aboslutely! You won't sell an article you don't pitch! :-)

Feel free to post a query for help/advice or something.

Angela <><

[Smokering]

Ha ha ha! I don't even get to PEE at the same time every day.

Is one supposed to? I knew I was disorganised, but dayum.

Nagging pays off, apparently--the editor of my cosleeping article emailed back to say sorry, she'd been busy but she liked my article. Assuming the sub-editor likes it too, it sounds like it's been accepted! Which with any luck means they'll give me the go-ahead for my next article--the disappointing/traumatic births one. I hope so--quite apart from the money aspect, I'm interested in writing the article! Turns out my next-door-neighbor had a very traumatic birth with her eldest--PP haemmorhage and PTSD--so I could interview her. (Angela, I hope you're not reading this...).

[evies_mom]

Ok - my book has been submitted and is DONE!
I wrote an article at Suite and hope to keep them coming.
I've been doing some reading on freelance and how to write effective queries.

Smokering- If you need another interviewee on the disappointing births, I'd be glad to offer one. My first birth was a rail-roaded c/s. Can't even remember the first time I held or breastfed my baby, I was so doped. Second birth was a very healing natural VBAC though.

[puddle]

Congratulations Smokering and wtg Jenny!!

*

[rainbowmoon]

-query #4

-write & submit AC articles

-finish Bellaonline newsletter course, write 1 article for it and send out my first newsletter!

-research ideas for 2-3 Bella articles (to be written and submitted tomorrow)

-I also got a new job off treehugger writing content for a "green" social utility site (like facebook/myspace but with a very green slant) so just had a meeting with the developer. very excited about that and have a press release to go over now.

[evies_mom]

Originally Posted by puddle

Congratulations Smokering and wtg Jenny!!

I would love some feedback on this query:

When our mothers gave birth, they were expected to shut up and do what they were told. Today, with information increasingly accessible, women are taking a more active role in the birth process. There are several different ways to experience birth in Austin, and last month’s reintroduction of midwives at XXXXX Medical Center offers women one more option to consider.

My article “Choosing Your Birth: Birthing Options for Austin Women” will explore the various avenues available for the women of Central Texas to give birth. The article will discuss traditional hospital birth with an obstetrician, hospital birth attended by a midwife, birthing at a freestanding birth center, and midwife-assisted home birth. I will address who should consider each type of birth, the pros and cons of each, and an idea of what to expect in each situation. I will interview an Austin obstetrician, midwives, and mothers.

I am a proud Austin mother of one with a master’s degree in sociology.

I appreciate you taking the time to consider my idea, and I hope to speak with you soon!


Note: I plan to pitch this to a general interest local magazine for its health section which includes a couple of features each month. I have no real writing credits so that section is painfully sparse, but the editor is willing to work with new local writers (although it may be on spec).

Ok, well keep in mind that I have pitched a total of 2 queries ever in my life and that was just a few weeks ago. However, I have been reading a great deal about what makes a great query letter.

Given what I have read I am wondering if you might do better with a different lead.

Options might be to use a story to paint a picture. (I've since learned this is called a Zimmerman lead). Rope the editor in my writing a poignant, yet concise picture of a mother empowered from her birthing experience, or do the reverse - a cold, institutional story of a mother stripped of any autonomy over her birth. The personal aspect will hook the editor, plus give you some time to show off your writing skills beyond the mundane facts.

You could also do a one liner statistic lead - perhaps something stating the percentage of women who think they should be in primary control of the decision making process of their birth. I know that's upwards of seventy percent so it would show that it is relevant to readers.

Or a question lead - If you could choose... would you? Or Do women have the right to choose....? I would suggest that one question to be a one-liner as well. Have it stand out. Let the editor think about the answer.

Your second paragraph I think (again, understand that I really am regurgitating what I have been reading and that my experience is pretty much a big fat goose egg), might be a bit more concise and read better with a few tweaks (and this is off the top of my head):

“Choosing Your Birth: Birthing Options for Austin Women” will explore the various birthing avenues available for the women of Central Texas. The article will compare and contrast traditional hospital birth with an obstetrician, hospital birth attended by a midwife, birthing at a freestanding birth center, and midwife-assisted home birth. Readers will walk away understanding the pros and cons of each of those birthing options and how to determine which option is best for their situation. An Austin obstetrician, midwives, and mothers will offer their insights and expand on what to expect for each circumstance.

If you could toss in a relevent quote or fact that might further enhance the paragraph.

I am sure that Smokering and Diane could give you better advice. So take what I said with a grain of salt.

Best of luck!

[puddle]

Thanks for the ideas, Jenny! That was really helpful. Since I have sent out a total of zero queries, you have tons more experience than me.

[Smokering]

Sounds like a pretty good query to me. I like how you added in the bit about 'last month's reintroduction of midwives'--that lets the editor know your story is topical and will ring bells for the reader. Which is great. I agree with Jenny that the opening could be a bit more dynamic, though. Something along the lines of a story might be good, like:

"Tears rolled down Cynthia's face as she panted through a contraction. 'I don't want a C-section', she begged. Her mother, Diana, was sympathetic but firm. 'The doctor knows what's best, sweetie', she said. 'I had C-sections with all of you, and it turned out for the best'."

Or:

"Diana was bewildered as she saw her daughter discussing her birth plan with the obstetrical team. 'When I had Cynthia, the doctor knocked me out and I didn't see the baby till she was four hours old', she said. 'Now the girls seem to be in charge. I wish we'd had the option to say no to drugs in the old days."

Only less weedy than that. And, obviously, true--I just made that up, but you should really try to get quotes from someone 'real'!

Jenny: Thanks for the offer! I'll talk about it with the editor--I suspect she'd prefer me to interview Kiwi mothers to keep the tone local, which is a shame in a way. I asked Mum which of her homeschooling buddies had had traumatic births and she gave me a list! Unfortunately there's one girl, my age, who I'd love to interview (emergency C-section due to fetal heart decels; she was crying and begging them not to do it, and apparently is still quite upset about it); but it's such a near experience for her that I don't want to barge in and make her feel worse, KWIM? The interview would have to be done by December 1, so I think I'll give her a few more months and then inquire tactfully through her MIL (Mum's friend, lovely lady) whether she thinks S. would be up to an interview. Most of the women on the list had their traumatic births years ago, so a fresher perspective would be great--but at the same time, I don't want to further traumatise S! It's sticky. I mean, ideally the interview could be a cathartic healing opportunity, in which her trauma was taken seriously and not dismissed; but I'm hardly a qualified therapist, and I don't want to screw it up and make her feel like Exhibit A. You know?

[zinemama]

Get book proposal to my agent in less than a week.

(How do I love thee, September 8th, first day of kindergarten...)