ALT-8 Freelance Writing Advice and Encouragement
Plan ahead and set goals that are reachable. Write a letter to yourself that includes your successes of the past and goals for the nest year. Here is one example:
Dear Me:
During the past year you have completed a 12 lesson writing course from Long Ridge Writers School. Congratulations. That you acted on a desire you have had, but knew you didn't have the skills and knowledge specifically required to write fiction and nonfiction which would focus on financial income through publishers.
In the past 6 weeks, your article, Fear Imprisons the Hearts of Children was reviewed and accepted online, a site the presented the article in an excellent layout. One of your articles was accepted and you have already received payment of 50-cents per word. It will appear in Gardening HOW-TO in the March-April issue. And, you have been asked to submit 2 "go ahead" articles for Northwest Travel magazine. Your success has been applauded by your instructor, a professionally successful writer. Way to go!
You have made an excellent choice to submit your fiction and nonfiction to Writing.com and the site has taught you, through other writers, how to improve your skills in the craft of writing. Yes, you have received excellent comments pls careful reviews to assist you in improving your work. You made a wise and courageous decision by sharing your articles, true stories and fiction. That you write from your heart your own experiences, or those of others, touches your readers and they share your feelings and the experiences with you.
Now it is time to set some goals that will guide your progress for the coming year. If you fail to determine specific, measurable goals and plans, you will not have a consistent record of sucess. To bring clarity to that statement, review how the President has failed in the Iraq war. His problem: he did not know what goal would indicate success, therefore, he has predictably changed his stated goals so much that he has failed to be understood nor successful.
Don't let the same thing happened in the new career that you have begun since your retirement from a successful career. Remember, you wrote newsletters, newsmagazines, grant proposals and numerous other types of material in your 35-years professional career. Now, you have the opportunity for success, including financial success, in this new career. Don't forget, Grandma Moses was just 2 years older than you are now when she began painting.
Now, write your plan with measurable outcomes for success.
MY GOAL AND OBJECTIVES FOR WRITING SUCCESSFULLY DURING THE COMING YEAR
Overall Goal: To write effectively, both fiction and nonfiction, as an author and take every action required to gain financial success-earn $6,000-plus during 2007.
Objectives:Continue to submit writings to sites online.Submit new 5 new pieces each monthObjective: Maintain ongoing knowledge of the market for my work.Be informed about potential markets and their readers.Purchase a catalog that lists magazine markets.Study the material and maintain records potential markets.Determine 3 appropriate magazine sources per piece.Objective: Consistently interact with appropriate magazine editors.Follow magazine and editor guidelines forbmissions.Follow the guidelines for submitting to editors.Prepare 8 quality queries per month.Send queries per guidelines by mail or email.Follow up within a reasonable period per guidelines.After receiving a response from editor say thank you.Objective: Write and quality pieces continuouslyList 3 new ideas each weekWrite 6 hours each dayReview, rewrite, review grammar, rewrite.Conduct 1 interview monthly for an article.Keep facts and information accurate.Objective: Increase skills and knowledge of the craft of writing.Take 1 writing course or workshop. Join a regional or state Writers Group.Read and study 1 book each month.Objective: Expand skills beyond articles and stories.Learn how to write a book: how-to or novelAttend a workshop or take a class writie essays & op-ed.Select a topic or story line for a book.I know that if you are to succeed in a financially-successful career, you must follow your plan, write, and believe in yourself. In your professional writing career, follow what you have learned. This new career during your 69th year is not for an organization or person-it is yours alone. Make it a great journey.
Yours Truly,
Me
