Write Like A Pro: Refining Your Professional Stance

By Mary Andonian

This has been a busy year for you and your writing. So make time this holiday season to evaluate and refine your habits in order to make 2009 even more fruitful.

Clips: Do you have any? A clip is a copy of your published writing. It serves as a reference to your good work. You include clips (or offer to send them) in your proposal package. This is a prime opportunity to categorize your clips in a way that makes them readily accessible for future needs.

Online articles: Did you complete a year’s worth? Now is the time to create links to all of your past articles and list them on one handy page at your website. This creates a holistic picture of your written topic and makes for meaty content. It also serves as an easy way for a potential editor to view your clips.

Supplies: Take an inventory of your work space. Are you low on business cards? Need a new printer? Toner? Make sure to purchase these before the end of the year so you can write them off on your 2009 taxes.

Taxes: Are your records organized? Even if you didn’t make a cent this year, you can still take write-offs if you can prove you have been soliciting income from writing in 2008. Check with your tax advisor for details. Itemize your receipts and bank statements so you’ll be prepared at tax time next year. You’ll thank yourself come April.

Tax related: Do you have a business checking account? If not, consider opening a separate account just for your writing business. As you become more and more successful you’ll want to keep clean and detailed records of your transactions. Doing this today ensures a happy moment in April 2010.

Platform Building: What have you done this year to build your platform? Have you created a specific reading audience via website, blog, or newsletter? Taught a class at the local library? Volunteered for your writing association? Take stock in everything you did this year that lent credibility to you, the writer. Make a goal to add two or three things to the list in 2009. Attach rewards to each item you accomplish next year. (I’m thinking spa treatments.)

Finally, ask the tough question: Is this what I want to continue doing in 2009? Only you can determine that. It’s okay if you decide that writing isn’t for you. What’s important is that you do make a choice and stick to whatever path it is you choose. If that course is writing, then continue to take action steps that bring you closer to your goals. And by all means, proceed in peace.

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Mary Andonian is the agents and edtiors coordinator for the Willamette Writers Conference, one of the largest writers’ conferences in the United States. In past years, she was Co-chair and Program Coordinator. She just completed her second book, Bitsy’s Labyrinth. Contact Mary at maryandonianwwconference AT yahoo.com.

Write Like a Pro: Three Strategies to Get You Writing Again

By Mary Andonian

You’re chugging along, cranking out page after page of good prose, finding credible sources to quote, and flipping query letters into proposals.  And then, out of the blue, one of three things happen:

1. You advance your writing to the next stage and perhaps land a book deal or article acceptance.

2. Something outside of you takes you in a different direction (ailing parent or morning sickness comes to mind).

3. You simply hit a wall. You feel like you have nothing left to say.

Now what? You need a strategic plan for each scenario:

Option One: Book Deal or Article Acceptance

Congratulations! You’ve hit your stride. Strategy: Don’t take more than a few days off before you begin brewing the next big idea. I’ve made the mistake of getting sucked into the waiting game and wasted a lot of time. You want to feel like you’re always in the game, and ready for the next project. Keeping multiple balls in the air will prove you have what it takes to be a professional writer.

Option Two: Unforeseen Circumstances

Life happens. The death of a parent or the loss of your spouse’s job will require your undivided attention. Or maybe your daughter is getting married or you hit the Lotto. You may have been sidelined, but now you need to act. Strategy: Use your experiences to your advantage. The old adage, “write what you know” works well here. If you’re going through tough or fortunate times, keep a journal and capture lessons learned as you experience them. When the timing is right, incorporate these themes into new projects. Then, if your doctor mentions chemo, your attitude will shift from “why me?” to “how can I help someone else by sharing my experience?”

Option Three: I Have Nothing Left to Say

Maybe you don’t. For now. This is a legitimate place to be if you’re a writer. An instructor I know, Cynthia Whitcomb, speaks of three phases: the inspiration phase, where the ideas flow and you struggle to stay in reality while you consider the possibilities, the working phase, where you organize your thoughts, sit in the chair, and write; and finally the black abyss phase, where nothing comes to mind and you have nothing to write down. Our society dictates that we should constantly be creating or working, but that’s just hooey. The third phase is the rejuvenation you need to begin the cycle all over again. Strategy: Accept you’re in stage three and give yourself permission to put down the pen and just “be.” When the inspiration strikes again (and I promise you it will), you’ll know you’ve arrived full circle.

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Mary Andonian is the agents and edtiors coordinator for the Willamette Writers Conference, one of the largest writers’ conferences in the United States. In past years, she was Co-chair and Program Coordinator. She just completed her second book, Bitsy’s Labyrinth. Contact Mary at maryandonianwwconference AT yahoo.com.

Write Like a Pro: Back To School For Kids (And You!)

By Mary Andonian

You’ve purchased a gazillion school supplies, packed them in a paper grocery bag, and watched your child drag the crumpled mess up the road. As the yellow bus fades around the corner you breathe a huge sigh of relief: schedules have officially resumed for your kids and you.

An efficient schedule first requires a good Daily Planner. I prefer the familytime.mine mom’s organizer / 17-month calendar. It tracks against a school calendar so you can manage everything in one place.  Take it with you to the next soccer game and schedule in all your writing time between now and the end of the year.

Couple of things to look forward to: Chris Baty’s annual national novel writing month in November. Even if you only write nonfiction, you can still participate in this wonderful event. Also, if you can swing it, schedule a weekend writing retreat. I go on an annual retreat the weekend before Thanksgiving. If you’re like most moms, it’s your last reprieve before the frenzy that doesn’t let up until January 3rd.

Schedule a writing class. Why should your kids get all the intellectual stimulation? If you’re too busy to attend a workshop, consider online and correspondence course alternatives. Check out Writer’s Digest or Writers on the Rise (Christina Katz’s other popular eZine). Both have a slew of class offerings to choose from. (Can’t decide? You can always trust word-of-mouth.)

When my daughters were two and three, I signed up for a two-year Institute of Children’s Literature course.  This is one of the oldest, most respected courses for learning how to write for the children’s and teen markets. Regardless of which course you choose, the best ones are those that require you to submit your writing for evaluation. At some point you’re going to have to face criticism. Allow yourself to write poorly so you can move on to the next phase of your writing dream.

If you can’t afford a class, consider self-study. Purchase or borrow a few books to enhance your abilities. Some of my favorites: Julie Cameron’s The Artist Way; Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat (a screenwriting book that will help any writer of any genre); and Katharine Sands’ Making the Perfect Pitch (for when you are ready to sell the stuff you write in November).

I’m sure you know all about good books. Christina Katz’ Writer Mama no doubt led you to this column.

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Mary Andonian is the agents and edtiors coordinator for the Willamette Writers Conference, one of the largest writers’ conferences in the United States. In past years, she was Co-chair and Program Coordinator. She just completed her second book, Bitsy’s Labyrinth. Contact Mary at maryandonianwwconference AT yahoo.com.
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Write Like a Pro: How to Spend Summer Vacation

Mid-summer and your well-intentioned plans to launch a writing career have officially stalled. But it’s not because of a lack of talent or motivation; it’s because your kids are home on summer vacation.

What to do? First of all, we’re into July so you can kiss June goodbye and stop fretting over the “lost days.” Consider it a break before your next creative frenzy. The good news is that most publishers practically shut down during the summer months so you’re not alone in your pool time. The bad news is if you continue to slack, you’re at risk of losing any hard fought momentum you may have gained since spring.

Begin by organizing your workspace and materials. This is something you can do with the kids at your side. You can even pay them to be runners between your filing cabinet and the recycle bin. Kids love whiteboards. Have them help you make a project list on a whiteboard and then assign a “percentage complete” value next to each title. You’ll get a snapshot of where your writing is headed; they get a refresher in math that’s masked as “helping mommy.”

Do you like your neighbor and her children? Arrange a swap where you take all the kids one day, and then she takes them the next. When I was in a new moms’ group, we created laminated “Baby Bucks,” good for one hour of babysitting time apiece. We would use them like money and it created an equitable and efficient way of paying each other for services. I wrote many of my first essays this way.

Can you afford camp? Block out one week to send your kids and then make that time boot-camp week for your writing. I did this when I sent my girls to a local church summer preschool program. For one week I packed lunches for all of us and after dropping them off in their rooms, I retreated to another room in the church. At the end of the camp day, I walked over to their rooms and picked them up. I wrote the first forty pages of my first book that way. If you’re going to send your kids to camp, don’t use that time for running errands or cleaning house or even for the business side of writing. Just sit down and WRITE.

Summer is also a time of rejuvenation. Look back and see how far you’ve come at the calendar’s half-way point. Celebrate as a family any “win” you may have had, regardless of how small. I was elated when I found out I had taken “Honorable Mention” in Writers Digest’s annual writing competition. Then slather on the tanning lotion and keep at it.

Oh, and if you get a chance, go to a summer writer’s conference. I’ll be at the Willamette Writers this conference soaking up all the good advice and industry updates I can. If you’ll be in the Portland, Oregon-area, I hope to see you there.

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Mary Andonian is the agents and edtiors coordinator for the Willamette Writers Conference, one of the largest writers’ conferences in the United States. In past years, she was Co-chair and Program Coordinator. She just completed her second book, Bitsy’s Labyrinth. Contact Mary at maryandonianwwconference AT yahoo.com.

Write Like a Pro: Sell Yourself to an Agent or Editor

By Mary Andonian

You have two ways to sell yourself to an agent or editor: either mail your query letter to her (as I discussed last month) or approach her at a writers’ conference. Here’s how to make the most of your in-person sell.

First, dress to kill! Invest in a comfortable but savvy business outfit. You don’t want to go into a pitch session feeling self-conscious about your appearance. When I worked in the training and development field, my boss once said, “Ninety percent of making the sale involves dressing well, showing up on time, and smelling good.”

Next, bring that query packet you worked on with you to your pitch session. When you begin your pitch, have it sitting next to you on the table. You can even open it up and refer to some of its content if you’d like.

Your pitch should start with a statement about the book you’re proposing:

“My book is called [name of your book]. It’s a [short description that includes the section of the bookstore where your book will go].”

Describe a sample chapter. “For example, one of my chapters is about [give an example]. [Pose a question about your topic]? [Then answer it with info from your chapter].”

Next, tell them what’s unique and different about your book. You learn this by comparing your book to others in the same section of the bookstore. “[Give a short summary list of why your book is unique and different from what’s already in print].”

Then, explain why you’re the best person to write the book. “I have [xyz] years experience in [your book’s area of expertise]; first as a [tell how you got started], then as a [tell how far you’ve advanced in your field]. I’ve even [mention something unique about your experience].”

Answer questions. If you don’t have the answer you think they want, offer up a reason why you’re the right person to write the book.

Finally, close with an offer to send more. “I brought a proposal package.” (Refer to the lovely packet at your side.) “Would you like to take it with you, or may I mail it?” (Otherwise known as the assumptive close.)

Smile and shake hands. As casual as a writers’ conference may seem, you’ll stand out from the pack if you maintain a professional demeanor worthy of a Fortune 500 board meeting.
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Mary Andonian is the agents and edtiors coordinator for the Willamette Writers Conference, one of the largest writers’ conferences in the United States. In past years, she was Co-chair and Program Coordinator. She just completed her second book, Bitsy’s Labyrinth. Contact Mary at maryandonianwwconference AT yahoo.com.
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Write Like a Pro: Targeting Agents Online

By Mary Andonian

Ideally you want to meet the agent you hope to work with (so next month we’ll focus on writers conferences) but if you simply can’t swing a conference, then the Internet is your next best option.

Go to Amazon.com and search for books that are similar to yours. Find out which publishing houses are selling these books, then start Googling and see what happens. Do you think you have an Idiot Guide in you? Alpha Books puts those out. A quick Google search on “Alpha Books AGENT” yields a top result from a Publishers Marketplace Literary Agency entry for Robert (Bob) Diforio, D4EO Literary Agency. Bob handles a bunch of authors who write Idiot Guides. Bob could be a good agent to contact.

That took less than a few minutes to figure out. Spend an afternoon on the Internet and before long you’ll have a nice long list of people to query. Now dig a little deeper. Read everything you can online about your targeted agents and, based on your findings, prioritize your list. Make sure to check them out on the Preditors and Editors website (hosted by anotherrealm and invirtuo). This site dedicates itself to protecting writers from scammer agents and editors. For example, I just searched for Bob Diforio and found that he is RECOMMENDED. Cool. Now I can move on.

The next step is to develop a database of your qualified agents that includes their contact info, along with submission requirements. Make sure to follow these requirements to the letter. If they only want snail-mail, don’t e-mail them, even if their e-mail address is published. If you do query via snail mail, be sure to include a SASE. Keep a log of the dates you send out your queries as well as the responses.

NOTE: If you have $30 to spare, Pay for a one-year subscription to http://www.WritersMarket.com You’ll gain access to their search engine to find qualified agents and editors. You can also use their ready-made Submission Tracker for your database.

If an agent requests a full proposal, send it and then wait at least three weeks before following up. If they want a full manuscript, wait at least six weeks. Remember, agents receive hundreds of queries per day, so what will seem like a long wait for you will be a quick reply for them.

If you receive a rejection, enter the rejection date in your database and quickly move on to the next name. Try to keep three queries out at a time so you always feel like you’re in the game. Just remember to let the others know when you’ve signed with an agency. Not only is it good manners, it’s a great feeling to tell an agent, “Thank you for your consideration, but I’ve just signed with XYZ agency.”
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Mary Andonian is the agents and edtiors coordinator for the Willamette Writers Conference, one of the largest writers’ conferences in the United States. In past years, she was Co-chair and Program Coordinator. She just completed her second book, Bitsy’s Labyrinth. Contact Mary at maryandonianwwconference AT yahoo.com.

Write Like a Pro: Your Image on Paper—The Query Letter

By Mary Andonian

If you want to make a good impression on editors every time, you’ll want to master the fine art of the query letter. The query letter is simply your pitch in print. It’s what you’d say to your editor if you had her cornered for two minutes at a writers’ conference. (But try not to do it in the bathroom. They really hate that.)

Before your salutation, you’ll address your editor in the upper left corner. If you don’t have a specific name, you’re not ready to query yet. For example, do NOT call him “Acquisitions Editor” or “Senior Editor.” Instead, go on-line to Writers Market and research the publications you’re targeting. Find out who’s buying the materials you write, and address your query to this person. Be sure to spell her name correctly.

Salutations are addressed to Mr. or Ms., never by a first name unless you know this person and have done business with him in the past.

Your opening paragraph should establish common ground. Who referred you and/or why are you writing? Name your piece in your opening. Ex: Christina Katz suggested I contact you regarding my proposed book, Sell Yourself a Writing Career: 100 Sales Strategies That Will Help You Sell your Next Book.

Your next one or two paragraphs offer important details. What is your book idea and what section would it live in at the bookstore ? Compare and contrast your books to others currently on the hit list.

Explain why you’re the best person to write your book. Describe your platform. What is your previous publication experience? How does your reading audience find you? Website? Blog? Online class or conference workshop? The editor will want to know if you are qualified, and this is the paragraph where you prove it.

Close with an offer to send more. Thank your editor for considering your query. Remember to print your contact information on your stationery, especially your e-mail address.

Finally, don’t forget the most important item in your query package, if requested in the guidelines: The SASE (self addressed, stamped envelope).

Bonus: Use the Forever stamp on your SASE so your editor won’t have to add postage after the obligatory USPS rate change in May. She’ll appreciate your efforts to make her job that much easier.

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Mary Andonian is the agents and edtiors coordinator for the Willamette Writers Conference, one of the largest writers’ conferences in the United States. In past years, she was Co-chair and Program Coordinator. She just completed her second book, Bitsy’s Labyrinth. Contact Mary at maryandonianwwconference AT yahoo.com.

Write Like a Pro: Creating Professional Materials

You’re meeting your potential client for the first time. Or maybe you’re pitching your proposal to an editor at a writers’ conference. What to bring? In both situations, you’ll want to arm yourself with professional materials you can use throughout your conversation and leave behind after the meeting. These printed materials represent who you are as a writer, so make them count!

Staples: Business Cards identifying you as a writer, your printed bio on high quality, ultra white (107+ euro bright or better) paper, two pocket portfolios, and 2 x 4 white labels.

Print your proposal title in the center of your label, and adhere it to the front of your two pocket portfolio. On the inside, affix your business card in the die-cut holder, provided. Your cards should include your name, address, phone, and email. You may also include a title, such as Freelance Writer, or Principal (if you own your own writing consulting service, for example). Your card should not include any titles from your past life vocation.

Tucked inside the left pocket should be your bio. It should be a summary of your writing achievements, not a chronological list of every job you ever held or irrelevant degrees and associations. If it’s iffy, show how the degree can translate into the writing world: “I have an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing, a skill set that might come in handy after my book has sold.”

If you’re fortunate enough to have clips, or past writing credits, include it with your bio or as a stand-alone sheet behind your bio page. Your rate sheet can also go here.

In the right pocket should be your proposal information, on top, your proposal letter; behind it, your book summary.

Your proposal letter should be printed on your “letterhead.” Take the time to create a word template that contains your contact info in the footer section. Consider formatting the font differently than Times New Roman to make it stand out from your query (or proposal) text.

Your book summary is a paragraph-by-paragraph summary of your proposed book chapters. As a “newbie,” you’ll need to prove to an editor that you’ve thought your book through to its final chapter.

Since the query letter is probably the most important item in your portfolio, we’ll devote the entire April column to this subject. In the meantime, get your supplies, prep your label, bio, and letterhead, and I’ll see you next month!
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Mary Andonian is the agents and edtiors coordinator for the Willamette Writers Conference, one of the largest writers’ conferences in the United States. In past years, she was Co-chair and Program Coordinator. She just completed her second book, Bitsy’s Labyrinth. Contact Mary at maryandonianwwconference AT yahoo.com.

Write Like a Pro: Constructing Your “Look” On-line

By Mary Andonian

Take this mini-quiz: Google your name. How many records on the first page of results are about you? I am fortunate. My name is unique, so the very first record that shows up when I Google my name is my website. Your job this month is to find a way for your web content to show up on the first page of a Google search.

What if your name is Mary Smith? A quick Google search yielded Mary Smith as a: painter, novel character, landscape architect, and police officer, all at the top of page one! If you have a common name, try including your middle name in your professional signature, or create a unique business name that will put you at the top of a web search. Just make sure to include it on your letterhead and business cards.

This can be accomplished any number of ways. If you’re lucky, you can affiliate yourself with a hit E-zine, like The Writer Mama or Writers on the Rise. These E-zines use technology that “tags” your name so it will be one of the first results in a web search. I don’t completely understand how it works, but I certainly reap the benefits.

If you’re not a contributing columnist, you can accomplish the same feat by being the master of your own domain via website or blogging. According to this morning’s edition of The Oregonian, I live in one of the most blog-friendly places in the United States! To learn more about blogging, visit www.wordpress.com, www.blogger.com or www.typepad.com. These blogging sites will walk you through the set up process.

You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on expensive software like Adobe’s Dream Weaver or Contribute to build and maintain a website, (although if you’re technically savvy, they can prove to be invaluable tools). Instead, you can create a free Yahoo account and use one of their templates to create your own “shingle.” Purchase a domain name (your name, preferably), select a basic site, and get typing!

No matter what strategy you choose, creating a professional web presence has advantages. An editor can glean more information from your website or blog than a one-page query letter. Your query letter can point to your website or blog, allowing an editor to see the expanded version of your bio or read your clips in their entirety. But please don’t fill your site with an endless array of cute family photos and whimsical musings about your pet cat. Your site should define you as a serious writer. Unless you are writing about family life, try to keep your site as professional as possible.

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Mary Andonian is the agents and edtiors coordinator for the Willamette Writers Conference, one of the largest writers’ conferences in the United States. In past years, she was Co-chair and Program Coordinator. She just completed her second book, Bitsy’s Labyrinth. Contact Mary at maryandonianwwconference AT yahoo.com.

Write Like a Pro: New Year, Professional You

By Mary Andonian

Is this is the year you’ve decided to take the plunge and become a professional writer? Maybe you already work full time at something that pays the bills but doesn’t fulfill you. Or perhaps you work overtime at home, raising kids and keeping house.

Regardless of your present circumstances, if you have decided to devote time to your writing passion and want to earn money doing it, then congratulations! We’re going to give you some tips on how to make your dreams a reality.

How do you feel about your decision? Do you believe you can soon be a professional writer? Before you can become a writer on the outside, you must first believe in yourself on the inside. Try the following to develop your inner writer’s self esteem:

When asked your profession, tell them you’re a writer. It doesn’t matter that you’re a full time litigation lawyer, a baker, or a homemaker. From now on, when prodded, say “I’m a freelance writer,” or even “I’m an aspiring author.” The “aspiring” tag will let them know you’re on your way to your goal, but are claiming the journey just the same.Label yourself as a writer in print. Create business cards that identify you as a freelance writer. It’s a small investment that will yield big results toward creating your new professional writing identity. You can purchase quality business cards online for under $20. My favorite place to shop: http://www.vistaprint.com

Create a signature block in your e-mail address that classifies your business. For example, I use a yahoo mail address that presents my signature block as the agents and editors coordinator for the Willamette Writers Association. I use another address for personal use, and yet another for my writing services. It’s simple to edit, and creates instant legitimacy.

Finally, do little things to remind yourself that you mean it. The first year I decided to seriously work on a book, I changed my cell phone title to say “I am a writer.” No one viewed it but me, but it was a small reminder that made me smile every time I noticed it.

Creating your professional image is an inside job first. If you don’t take yourself seriously, how will anybody else? And when you’re feeling insecure about whether or not you deserve to pursue your dream of becoming a writer, consider what my brother Randy shared with me many moons ago, before I was about to interview for a much desired job: “Mary, if anyone before you has ever performed this job, regardless of their abilities, why not you?

People have been making a living at writing for many years. Why not you?

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Mary Andonian is the agents and edtiors coordinator for the Willamette Writers Conference, one of the largest writers’ conferences in the United States. In past years, she was Co-chair and Program Coordinator. She just completed her second book, Bitsy’s Labyrinth. Contact Mary at maryandonianwwconference AT yahoo.com.