Visionary Writers On Purpose Team Blog

Query Letters: Money in the Bank

I just received a new assignment to write a short piece that will accompany the Life On Purpose Self Test appearing in Science of Mind Magazine in February. (http://www.scienceofmind.com/)

This query has been in my 'vault' for awhile. I can't remember for sure but I think it was one that fellow VWOP team member, Marilyn Noble and I had worked on together.

Anyway, here's what I realized about query letters -- they are like CDs (Certificates of Deposit -- not the other kind of cd) -- they are money in the bank. Some of them have a shorter term to be cashed in and other have a longer term, but each time we write one we're putting money away in our vault. (Of course it helps to send them out in the world so the they can come to term.)

In fact, they are really better than CDs. With a CD you can only cash it in once, but a query letter has the potential to be cashed in multiple times. How's that for a Writing Nugget worth taking action on?

Fun Places to Visit

Here are a couple of fun sites to visit.  Writing, Clear and Simple is a great blog for picking up tips on grammar, structure and vocabulary.  The author claims it's a site for non-writers, but all of us can use a little help now and then.

Word Spy is an entertaining place to visit if you're looking for new words, made-up words or writing quotes.  I use it if I'm stuck as a place to play with writing prompts.  For example, use the word "sneakerization" in a sentence.  But you don't know what that word means?  That's okay, make something up, then go to Word Spy to find out the real meaning.  Isn't that more fun than staring at a blank screen?

Multiple Queries

Often when I'm sending a query letter to a magazine, I will send more than one idea in the same letter.  Other successful writers recommend sending only one article idea at a time.  "Why compete with yourself?"  is their argument.  Well, I'd much rather compete with myself than with other writers. 

I'd rather give an editor the choice of deciding which of my ideas to assign first, than have him decide to move right along to the next writer's query letter.

I've had good luck with multiple queries.  More than once I've had editors give me multiple assignments.  The best example of this was when I first started writing for Aspire.  I found out about them through the Journalism Forum on CompuServe and immediately contacted them through email.  I sent them three different ideas and they bought all three.  I admit my timing was very good.  For starters, the magazine was in the process of expanding from six issues a year to twelve, so they needed a lot more material.  Secondly, they had just killed an article they'd planned to run and needed a quick filler.  One of my ideas fit the bill.  But I wouldn't have had those results if I hadn't taken the initiative and sent them several ideas. 

Ten Ways to Develop Empowering Relationships with Editors, Part Two

2. VISUALIZE YOUR PERFECT EDITOR. The universal law of attraction says that the people and events, both good and bad, that pass through our lives are a direct result of where we concentrate our thoughts. Once you’ve developed a new and positive way to approach your relationships with editors, it’s time to focus on the kind of editors with whom you would like to collaborate, and then imagine what you could offer those editors to be of service.  Picture how working with them will advance your career while you help them create quality publications.

Action Steps: Make a list of the traits your perfect editor possesses. Include whatever is important to you, like respect for your work, someone who pays you on time, someone who calls you with your perfect assignments, or anything else that comes to your mind. Then, make a list of the things that you can offer an editor, like turning in assignments before the deadline, delivering the article that was assigned or consistently delivering excellent work. Post both lists in a prominent place so that you can see and reflect on them whenever you sit down to write.

Tomorrow:  Number 3 -- Focus Your Writing and Markets

Ten Ways to Develop Empowering Relationships with Editors

When you talk with other writers, you may notice that some of them have developed some nasty opinions about editors. They seem to think that, at best, editors are one of the headaches that go with writing for a living, and at worst, an enemy to be conquered. Yet, at the other end of the spectrum, you’ll find writers who have developed respectful and productive relationships with editors.  Have you noticed which of these writers appear to be the happiest and most successful?

Here are ten ways members of Visionary Writers on Purpose — a collaborative team of professional writers — have found to create powerful and empowering relationships with editors, and in the process bring new levels of enjoyment and success to their writing careers.

1. CREATE A NEW AND ENRICHING CONTEXT:  Think of a context like a coffee mug. When you pour liquid into it, the liquid takes the form of the mug. The same is true for relationships.  If your current context is "editors are the enemy" or "editors have all the power," your relationships will be adversarial and you'll be the victim. 

Action Steps: Develop a more positive way of regarding editors. Here are some to try on:

I can build mutually beneficial partnerships with editors, based on trust and respect.

My editors and I share certain characteristics – we want to be treated as professionals and as equals, and touch our readers.

A good editor will take my good work and make it even better.

Tomorrow:  Number 2 -- Visualize Your Perfect Editor