Professional Writers - Need your guidance

[Niki]

If I am not mistaken, there are folks here that write professionally. That's what I would like to do, but I am a little lost as to what my niche is and how to find that out. I know that I am good with non-technical, non-fiction and poetry. I think I could be a good candidate for copy writing. The comments my readers have offered are mostly along the lines of "feeling like I am right there with you as I read" and "make the technical topics so easy to understand". My literature professor and other peers have told me that I have a gift that I should not waste, but I have no clue what to do with it.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated. If you prefer to pm me, please feel free. I just need a little guidance. Thanks

[Jenn]

Not profi- never been paid- but internationally published ! What do you have to say? Is there a book in you? Why not write it and then wade through agents? Or do you think you'd be an asset to a newspaper? Or with articles/stories to a magazine? WHat do your teachers suggest when you ask them this?

[cowboy joe]

"Listen to your heart and the rest will follow..."

I'm not certain who gets the credit for the wonderful quote but the advice is priceless. My best advice is to write, then write some more, about everything and anything. Some topics will flow while others are akin to torture. A passion for the topic you choose will reflect in your words. Don’t worry about finding an audience as there are hundreds, if not thousands of magazines on the market covering almost every topic imaginable.

Jenn has a good point...articles and short stories are a wonderful way to break into the business. Editors, especially for smaller publications, will often offer invaluable, expert guidance. Second, shorted pieces have a higher likelihood of becoming published than a novel. There are several advantages here:
- quicker feedback – are readers interested in what I have to say? I’d hate to spend hour upon hour writing a novel only to find out that there are major flaws in my style or absolutely no interest in my work.
- personal gratification – nothing like seeing your name in print to bolster one’s confidence. It is much easier to be published in a magazine than to have a novel published. Who am I kidding? Chances of an unknown author obtaining a book deal are slim & none. Every novelist, including myself, has a stack of rejection notices. Most publishers will not even accept unsolicited manuscripts. My first book credit was a result of some of my previously published work.

If you haven’t done so, find & read the “2007 Writer’s Market’. I borrow a copy from the local library on occasion just to survey the market. The book provides tremendous insight into the publications, topics of interest, pay rates, etc. and is well worth the read.

Niki, above all else, keep writing! I expect that we’ll see your name in print one of these days…best of luck!

[Niki]

Thank you both for your comments and suggestions. I purchased Writer's Market a few years ago and, yes, it was a wealth of information. Rather overwhelming, but that was a long time ago and I was more easily intimidated back then I will get it again.

I have self-published two non-fiction books and have done quite well considering I lack knowledge in marketing. I stopped promoting them when mom passed last year, but I am ready to get back at it and make them available again. Other than that, I don't believe I am a novelist by nature. I would have to say that most of what I write without giving it any thought at all is .... gosh, I'm not even sure how to describe it. I pick a subject that strikes me at that moment and just let it flow. I write a lot about human nature, love and nature. I write analogies and love to re-write technical information and put it into a non-technical language. I would imagine I would be a good "For Dummies" author, but I don't have the expertise in certain areas that they require, just the ability to write. Because I seem to be able to tap into the senses, I think copy writing may be a good avenue. I am really quite good with erotica .... but but but lol gosh...it kind of conflicts with my spirituality. lol

I am currently attending college and going for my Marketing degree, so hopefully that will help open some doors. I know I also need to network, so I am keeping my eyes and ears open for other writers in the area.

Thank you again for the replies. CJ, I appreciate the vote of confidence. This is a scary, new venture.

[moonwolf]

Niki,
Copy writing might be your 'niche' if you like researching and finding words promoting a product or service for companies. That's what you get paid for. It's not fiction writing and it can have elements of technical writing to promote certain things. It may be that the ones making the big bucks off this are the ones that are promoting the copy writing promoting? LOL. I think it could be a market that takes a while, or a very lucky break, to get into.
As for other venues, it seems agents are a big thing to get writer's promoted. I guess to be 'out there' you also have to be 'known'. OTOH, why don't you just keep at submitting yourself to places like Reader's Digest and any of the other sources like Writer's Digest has listed. They may not pay big bucks. Even $50, or so for a published essay or article adds up, plus the benefit of having a cumulative portfolio of published material to use within your 'resume' to advance.

[Peacock]

I'm a copywriter. Pays very well!

Go here:

http://www.wellfedwriter.com

This should get you pointed in the right direction. If you're interested I can provide a much longer reading list.

[Niki]

Thank you so much! You guys are the best! Please feel free to overwhelm me with as much info as you feel like giving

[anniew]

My suggestion would be to first, do some local reporting...some think it's boring, but attending meetings often gives you more topics to write about than you have time for (local politics, elections, environmental issues, state agency problems, local business concerns, etc.).
Second. Look at your state/region and see what makes it tick. My area is mostly agriculture, bluestone quarrying and forestry. Use those areas to submit to trade publications. I wrote for all three industries for awhile and while I had some background in agriculture (plant sciences, not animal sciences, but there is overlap...soils, disease, growing, etc...yet I get asked to cover dairy and other livestock events), but not the other two.
Third, double/triple sell articles. If you are doing a local story on an ag feature, for instance, sell it to a local newspaper, plus a second one that isn't a major competitor for the same readership (but some overlapping often works), and to a trade publication or two.
When I see an event scheduled, I usually query all of my contacts that don't overlap and if 2, 3, or 4 want a story, I can make $150-$300 plus on the one story. You may need to re-write it, but you've got all the information. On occasion, I've made more than $600 by writing for a trade publication, then after they published, it was sold to a second one with different readership, and finally to a local paper or two. Line these things up BEFORE you go to the time and expense of doing the article.
I can't emphasize that if you go this route...reporting...you must sell to more than one market to make it feasible and profitable, unless you get an "in" with a big paying contact. It is not for everyone, but if you have an interest in a particular industry, organization, cause, etc. you can use that to get started.
If you can bring technical info to the layman in terms he can explain, that is a gift which you can use to propel your goals, not only because you can explain it to the man on the street, but also because you can look at an unfamiliar subject and ask enough questions to make your write-up credible. I know that if I don't understand something, I surely can't explain it to others!
Hope this helps, and if you'd like more info., PM me...maybe with specific questions.
Now I'm off to cover a press conference on an ag topic that an organization has paid me to cover for them so they can get their stuff in 2-3 ag papers that don't pay me, plus I'll write it up for another ag paper, plus for the local paper. It should be an interesting afternoon and the pay will be worth it.
Ann

[The Paw]

There is a living to be made as a plain language consultant. Many organizations need to have someone either write, review or edit their material to ensure it is in language the average person can understand. The beauty of this kind of work, is that you do not necessarily need background knowledge of the subject matter, as the whole point is to communicate the information to people without that knowledge.

Also, re the self-publishing angle, I had occasion to check out cafepress.com a few years ago. They are an on-line service that serves as a storefront for artists, writers, and anyone with content. You focus on creating and then promoting your product via url, and they collect the cash (for a fee of course). I am sure there are other similar services as well, this is just one that I came across.

[Niki]

Thank you all for your reponses. What a wealth of information here! I have ordered Writer's Market 2007 as a start and will spend some more time digesting the information here and formulating a plan of attack. Thanks again!! Feel free to keep the great ideas coming!

I have never heard of a "plain language consultant"...time to do a google search

[Niki]

Originally Posted by Jenn

Not profi- never been paid- but internationally published ! What do you have to say? Is there a book in you? Why not write it and then wade through agents? Or do you think you'd be an asset to a newspaper? Or with articles/stories to a magazine? WHat do your teachers suggest when you ask them this?

Jenn, I totally missed your last question. My Professor encouraged me to submit some of my stuff to the college's literary magazine. He told me that they needed me to raise the bar. It was quite a compliment! Anyway, the accepted 3 of the four that I submitted...the fourth was a little..umm...racy lol So I was not surprised it was not accepted. That's as far as the conversation has gone, but every week in class he makes favorable comments on my writing and is just encouraging. He is teaching critical reading, so I'm not sure he can help much beyond that, but I definitely need to find someone at the college to talk with.

[jimarh]

I agree with the person who said 'there is nothing like seeing your name in print'. Besides, it is satisfying to create something written for others to enjoy or find useful.
I write fiction (have three books published and the editor is waiting on my next to be out soon) but I cannot do technical information books. I admire someone who can. My genre is making up stories.
You should go with what 'feels right' to you and you like doing.
I encourage you to jump in there and go for it. Why not? Nothing ventured; nothing gained as the saying goes.
Good luck!!

[Peacock]

Originally Posted by jimarh

I agree with the person who said 'there is nothing like seeing your name in print'.

Yeah, it was fun to see my name above those published articles. But truly, the only place I care about seeing my "name in print" is on a big fat paycheck!

[clovis]

I am writing a how to guide on a specific home improvement repair. I will self publish this guide, and retail it myself. I am guessing about 50 pages.

Where do I go for editing the tech stuff....to make sure it flows correctly for the average homeowner? Can the same person do copy editing, as well?

Thanks so much!!!!!
Clove

[Niki]

Originally Posted by clovis

I am writing a how to guide on a specific home improvement repair. I will self publish this guide, and retail it myself. I am guessing about 50 pages.

Where do I go for editing the tech stuff....to make sure it flows correctly for the average homeowner? Can the same person do copy editing, as well?

Thanks so much!!!!!
Clove

It sounds like you need a plain language consultant. I will edit it for you

[DixyDoodle]

Can I ask: what is a good software program to buy that sets up everything for you? I have written several articles before (sorry, nothing very exciting as of yet, just boring things like medical documents for a local business journal) and just send them in "email form" to the editor. I know you can get software that will set everything up as if you are writing a novel, that which will set up your chapters, indents, glossary, footnotes, etc.

I find trying to work with my Word program (there is another program, can't recall the name of it, but equally annoying) here to be a royal pain and too frustrating for my old mind to comprehend. A program that is easy to set up would be ideal for me. Any suggestions?

I, too, have toyed with the idea of writing a novel or ten! No time here as of yet, but it would be nice to have the program ready to go and waiting. I could always write little snippets here and there if nothing else.

DD