March Just Hit Send

Cleopatra Jones · Mar 9, 2010

Congrats to Amy Doodle!

Wildscribe - 10 queries! That's amazing! Is that for 10 different ideas/magazines?

Skyraven - thanks for the encouragement. I'm not really in competition with anyone; I just I was just wondering how I could be more efficient in getting my queries out. I read a few posts at FW, by the way, and liked it very much. Keep going!

WildScribe · Mar 9, 2010

Thanks Skyraven! I did some serious happy dancing.

CJ, I think I mentioned that the idea was the same, maybe slightly rewritten for each market. I might send 5-6 queries out with the same idea or a slight spin to different markets. Different mags, yes.

wyntermoon · Mar 9, 2010

AmyDoodle said:
Thanks! I'm so glad I hit send this time. (Wyntermoon gave me lots of motivation this year!)

Yeah, me and my big mouth reminding her to get it in on time. It could have been MINE! *facepalm*

Congratulations, Sugar!

Cleopatra Jones · Mar 9, 2010

Wildscribe - Oh, okay. Somehow I blew past that - roo busy thinking of the efficiency of sending out 10 queries, I guess! Very impressive. It's a technique that I might have to try....

Skyraven · Mar 10, 2010

@cleo - Thanks so much for visiting FW. No problem on the encouragement. We could all use it. As for efficiency and multiple queries, I'm at one a month because that's about all I can handle with a full-time job, part-time writing gig, and kiddo as well as my other extracurriculars. lol
@wildscribe - you're very welcome. I wonder if you could teach a class about article slanting. I'm hopeless at it and know that I could be doing more with my article ideas. Hmmm? What do you think?
I posted this week's Notable Quotable. A very good one for me. I also printed out guidelines for a local parenting market in my area and have an idea to pitch. I'm working on getting quotes now. Feel free to surf over to the story/research thread.

Shameless plea for help, I know. I also have a couple of article lined up for my parenting site. Managed to post twice last week. Gotta keep that going.

Later AWers.

WildScribe · Mar 10, 2010

Hi Skyraven, I'm not bad at it, but teach a class where?

Skyraven · Mar 10, 2010

You can do an email class. I'd take it.

cnbrath · Mar 10, 2010

Hi guys!

I had planned to do 15 DS articles a week. I'm behind. It is Wednesday night (ok, almost Thursday) of week two and I've done 16 full-price and a couple of little 3 dollar articles so far this month. Hopefully tonight I'll be able to finish two more - then squeeze out two or three tomorrow in-between gigs. It will move me a bit closer to my goal. That means that tomorrow I've got to get a few more under my belt and I'll definitely be working on Saturday and possibly Sunday to meet my goal.

I've been feeling discouraged because I'm having a hard time with concentration. Needing money is motivating me, plus my love of writing. I've got to make a certain amount this month. All of these are the main reasons why I'm not giving up.

I haven't done anything in terms of queries, but was thinking about trying to write for a couple of local community papers in the area. I was a tech writer for years, but always wanted to freelance. Freelancing is so difficult comparatively, but something inside of me just doesn't want to give up. One day, writing a lot of articles and queries is going to be very simple - but for now it is really hard since I've been out of practice.

Still trying to decide what to blog about. Want to set up the blog soon because I want to start applying to places in a month or so; I'm hoping that with my background (and samples) will be able to get me a couple of steady blogging gigs.

Cleopatra Jones · Mar 10, 2010

Hi CN - Welcome! I'm sorry that you're feeling discouraged. We've all been there. Funny, I'm just now working on a pitch about how writers can improve their concentration. It's all about making the mental switch from your everday self to being a writer. Try developing a little ritual that helps you make that switch. Good luck with meeting your goals!

Skyraven · Mar 11, 2010

Hi all. Cleo - great advice and a great article idea.

CN - What Cleo said. Transitioning from one mindset to another is always hard. Sometimes I need so much discipline just to make the switch from mom to writer to therapist.

You can do it.
I posted two articles this week so far at the examiner site and I have a bunch more to load up on. A lot of local events and things for parents to enjoy.

Found some writing gigs and still collecting research for my next query, which I hope to send out by next week.

Very happy writer here.

Skyraven · Mar 11, 2010

The writing bug bit me this week. I drafted three articles today for the parenting site, drafted (and scheduled) tomorrow's Fav Friday on The Freshman Writer, and am going to work on my pitch for another local parenting magazine. I feel like I'm on writing fire! lol

Cleopatra Jones · Mar 12, 2010

Go Skyraven! That's a nice feeling!

WildScribe · Mar 12, 2010

I have been a serious stress case lately, but I managed to send out a book review and a short story today, so wish me luck.

I also added up my open jobs and realized that I have EIGHT open articles for various magazines. Most have no deadline, so I have been putting them on the back burner, but the stress is adding up. Three of them are on short deadline and need to be finished now, but I think it is time to scoot some of the reminder to the front as well.

Skyraven · Mar 13, 2010

Wild - I know you're under pressure, but you can do it. Just slow yourself down a bit mentally and see what's in front of you. Take each article step by step. I know you can do it!

Cleo - It is a great feeling. Yesterday, I ended up feeling very full of toxic emotions so I journaled four about 10 - 15 minutes straight without stopping. I did it on my flashdrive at work so I was typing away. lol I needed that because I felt much lighter after that. I also went to bed early and got a good night's sleep. As for my other writing, I haven't done much since my last report. I was thinking of emailing the editor for the article I sent out last week, but decided against it. Maybe I'll check in next week to see if she received it. I don't want to be a pain in the rear. This weekend is about kiddo's birthday (9 years old tomorrow) so I may not work on anything at all. We'll see.

WildScribe · Mar 13, 2010

Made a list of everything I need to do. Prioritized it. Emailed a couple of people. Demanded (and got!) a slightly higher pay rate for the insane amount of work I have been doing on this article set. Researched a potential interviewee.

This weekend I need to write one article and call a couple of people (probably leave messages on their voicemail since it is weekend, but I still have to try.) Doing well.

How are you guys doing on your goals this month?

cnbrath · Mar 13, 2010

Wildscribe - glad to hear that you got higher pay!!! Congratulations. And I'm glad to hear that you were able to make your list; that always helps clarify things for me too.
Cleopatra and Skyraven - thanks for the encouragement. I'm trying to make the switch but it is difficult. I changed my schedule at work so that I can write for 4 to 5 hours at a time each day. I'm hoping this will help me - especially if I'm consistent with this each day.

I'll try to remember to check in tomorrow. My goal original goal was to have 30 done by Sunday, but if I have 27, I'll be ok with that. I'm behind on my query goal ... I've got to review Making a Living as a Freelance Writer again ...

WildScribe · Mar 14, 2010

The Renegade Writer is also a really good one.

Good luck on keeping those writing hours solid, but don't forget to take breaks. A short break every 90 minutes actually increases productivity.

cnbrath · Mar 15, 2010

Thanks WildScribe. I'll definitely try to work in breaks. I've finished 23 articles so far this month (well, technically 25, but two are tips so they really don't count). Seven short of my goal of 30 thus far, but I can write tomorrow morning AND tomorrow night so I'll keep plugging away. I can't believe the month is half over. Also, I've done the research for three more articles and have an outline for the last two so hopefully the next five will go fairly quickly. If I write four articles a day, five days next week, I will be close to being caught up - so my monthly goal is still within reach!

Found a blog I'm thinking about applying for ... still haven't done anything about other queries yet though ...

Cleopatra Jones · Mar 15, 2010

Hi everyone-

CN- that's pretty good! Sounds like your monthly goal is definitely within reach.

Wildscribe - good on you to ask for (and receive) a higher pay. No small feat in this
economy.

Skyraven- Good work getting all of your feelings/angst out through journaling. Writing always helps me purge, too. And happy birthday to your kid! Bet you can't believe that you have a 9 year old. My oldest son will be 3 in July and even though he's still little, I can't believe how fast his babyhood is passing.

As for me, last week was interesting. I met my DS goals (5 per week), interviewed a couple of people for a query, but didn't manage to get the actual query out. But, on the flip side, I followed up on a query that I sent a month ago, and received a positive response! The editor said that he liked the idea and asked whether I thought it was a good idea for the Oct./Nov. issue of the magazine. I told him, I thought it worked better for Dec./Jan., but that Oct./Nov. could work too. I haven't heard back from him, so I hope that I haven't put him off. (I had to be honest, right? I mean, it would have worked OK for Oct/Nov but the topic is more appropriate for a winter issue). Anyway, I also heard back from an anthology I'd submitted an essay to, saying that my essay had made it to the final selection round. So, yay for positive responses! I just hope that in the end, these articles/essays will make it to print!

WildScribe · Mar 15, 2010

Congrats CJ and cnbrath!

I got an email over the weekend from a friend of mine. She is giving up a steady blogging gig, and since I have subbed for her on this blog before (while she was on a vacation), she wanted to know if I would be interested in it. I've been recommended to the editors, so all I have to do now is wait for the response. Steady money would be very nice. The money freelancing for magazines is good, but so irregular.

ravenlea · Mar 15, 2010

morning all. I've slacked off a bit the last couple days. My dog disappeared Wednesday night and there has been no sign of her. It's got me pretty depressed, but I am trying to keep positive and get back to work today. I have a few things I need to work on and get out, so that's my plan for the afternoon.

Cleopatra Jones · Mar 15, 2010

I'm so sorry that your dog is missing ravenlea. You are right to keep positive - once a friend's dog went missing and showed up inexplicably three weeks later. I hope your dog turns up much sooner than that!

WildScribe · Mar 15, 2010

Thinking good thoughts for you Ravenlea. I hope your dog shows up again soon.

AmyDoodle · Mar 15, 2010

Blog post up. Why don't they ask anything I know on Jeopardy? Where's the category on introductory participial phrases? Geez.

Skyraven · Mar 15, 2010

@ravenlea - Hang in there honey. Hugs! Staying positive is good to do during difficult times like these.
@Cj, Wild and Cleo - Way to go on all of those goals! Woohoo!
@Amy - I wonder why I can answer a few questions on there. Sometimes I get everything wrong. lol
As for me, I drafted three articles to post on Examiner and posted at FW today. I found a gig that I'd like to apply for, so we'll see. I'm also thinking of following up with a query I sent March 4. I have the editorial assistant following me (and vice versa) on Twitter. Thought of sending a quick DM about it. Also thought about sending an email as a follow-up. The waiting is killing me. Anyway, I have that other pitch to work on, but it may turn into a winter time pitch. So I'm reviewing the guidelines. Nothing about how long it will take to hear back from them. Then again, I haven't done anything on this. But, came up with another idea for the first site. lol Reading breeds more ideas. Been jouraling a whole lot and now thinking of adding a mommy blog to this list. Just for my memories of my adventures with kiddo.

March Just Hit Send

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