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| What This Book Can Do for You | |
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| Basic Wisdom | |
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| Anyone who writes is a writer | |
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| Every writer starts out as a beginner | |
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| Some writers are born, but most of us are trained | |
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| Writing isn't inherently noble, painful, or glamorous | |
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| Writing is an act and a process, not a definition of who you are | |
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| The only way to discover whether you have writing talent is to write | |
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| There is no single "right" way to write | |
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| Nothing will teach you more about writing than the act of writing itself | |
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| Each writer builds their skills at their own rate of speed | |
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| You can safely ignore most of the "have to's" you've been taught about writing | |
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| Outfit yourself with a few basic reference volumes | |
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| To get the most out of writing, write what you would enjoy reading | |
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| Getting published isn't hard, but getting published in prominent places is | |
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| Being published doesn't make you a better writer or person | |
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| Beware of anyone who wants money from you to read, represent, or publish your work | |
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| Unless you're rich or have substantial savings, don't quit your job to become a freelance writer | |
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| Ask yourself honestly what you want to get out of writing. Then make that your goal | |
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| If you don't like what you're writing--or the act of writing in general--you can always stop | |
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| The Writing Process | |
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| Each person's writing process is unique | |
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| Discover the times, places, and circumstances that help you write at your best | |
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| Some writers find it very helpful to keep a journal or notebook | |
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| You can start work on a piece of writing almost anywhere--with an event, a person, a quotation, an image, an idea, a setting, or just about anything else | |
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| You don't have to know where your piece is going when you begin writing it | |
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| You don't have to write your piece in the same order in which people will ultimately read it | |
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| To help structure your piece or organize your ideas, try outlining or netlining | |
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| When you're not sure what word, phrase, or image to use, skip over it | |
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| Write more words than you need--then cut the excess later | |
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| Be willing to take risks and make mistakes | |
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| Ignore the perfectionist, the worrier, and the nitpicker inside your head | |
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| Virtually all writers need to revise and edit their work--often many times | |
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| Read your work aloud after each draft--and as you edit | |
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| Put your piece aside overnight before each round of revising or editing | |
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| The final decisions on writing, revising, editing, and publishing anything you've created are yours and yours alone | |
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| It's fine to work on more than one piece at a time | |
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| Some writers develop their own distinct style; others change their style from piece to piece | |
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| "Writer's block" has many different causes--and at least as many solutions | |
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| Never throw away anything you write | |
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| Building Your Writing Skills | |
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| Become familiar with some basic writing terms | |
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| Get in touch with what inspires you | |
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| Take time to meditate and ponder | |
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| Fantasize. Ask "What If?" | |
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| Show rather than tell | |
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| Involve your reader's senses | |
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| Write multiple variations, versions, or scenarios | |
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| Combine unexpected elements | |
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| Writing teachers, classes, and workshops range from wonderful to outright harmful | |
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| Get feedback on your writing from people you trust | |
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| Consider carefully what others have to say about your writing--but never let their comments overrule your own judgment | |
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| Follow your heart and gut | |
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| Let your writing find its own way | |
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| Making Money from your Writing | |
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| Understand the difference between a salaried writer, a contract writer, and a freelancer | |
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| It's possible to get rich by writing--but it doesn't happen often | |
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| There is far more money in writing for businesses and nonprofits than there is in writing for publication | |
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| Plan to start out small, then work your way up slowly | |
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| Most communication fields (publishing, film, TV, etc.) are moderately to highly dysfunctional | |
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| Nonfiction accounts for 95 percent of all published material, and 95 percent of all the money writers make | |
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| There are three ways to publish material in periodicals | |
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| Complete whatever pieces you desire, then submit them for publication | |
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| Pitch ideas for pieces to editors, then contract in advance to write them; and | |
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| Write whatever editors ask you to write, on assignment | |
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| Unless you're dealing with the film or TV industries, you don't have to worry about people stealing your work or ideas. If you are dealing with Hollywood, there is a way to protect yourself and your work | |
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| You don't need to register your work with the Copyright Office, or mail a copy to yourself, or print a copyright notice on it | |
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| Unless you become famous, expect to be rejected much or most of the time | |
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| It's quite simple to establish a pen name for yourself | |
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| If you're serious about marketing your writing, you must do your own thorough market research | |
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| Use Writer's Market as one place to begin your market research, but only as a beginning | |
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| Some of the best-paying publications--and some of the easiest ones to get published in--can't be found at any bookstore or newsstand | |
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| It's essential to send your work not only to the right publishers, but to the right editors as well | |
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| You may send the same manuscript to many different editors at once | |
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| Avoid sending query letters to editors, publishers, and producers | |
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| Most editors and producers will not give you much feedback on your work | |
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| When editors and producers do give you feedback, don't take it too seriously most of the time | |
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| Treat editors, producers, agents, and other media professionals like normal human beings | |
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| When an unexpected opportunity arises, don't be afraid to grab it | |
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| Virtually everything in a publishing contract is potentially negotiable | |
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| Don't be afraid to ask for what you want or need | |
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| Don't promise anything you can't deliver | |
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| Most published nonfiction books start out as book proposals | |
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| You don't need a literary agent unless you wish to sell a book, a full-length play, or material for major TV or film production | |
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| To get an agent, write a brief letter to twenty to twenty-five people selected from the resources listed in this chapter | |
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| Legitimate literary agents earn their money by selling writers' work and receiving a commission (usually 10-15 percent)--not through any other means | |
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| Many of the people who call themselves literary agents operate scams and schemes that can cost you money and do you harm | |
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| Don't waste your time entering lots of literary contests, particularly those with entry fees | |
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| Paying a "vanity press" to publish your book actually discourages bookstores from buying it | |
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| Self-publishing is a viable option only if you know your market, are good at promotion and publicity, and are willing to devote at least twenty hours a week to promoting and marketing your book | |
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| Be very wary of "copublishing" arrangements | |
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| Avoid sending your work to poetry anthologies that advertise for submissions | |
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| Plenty of jobs are available for writers and editors--but they're not easy to get | |
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| One of the best ways to land a writing or editing job is through an internship or assistant's position | |
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| The Writer's Life | |
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| Building a successful writing career requires skill, time, patience, perseverance, and flexibility. Being good at marketing helps, too | |
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| Your successes and failures as a writer will be half the result of your own effort, half the result of luck | |
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| Writing is by nature a solitary activity | |
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| Most freelance writers have at least one other job | |
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| Integrate your writing with the rest of your life. Don't neglect your family--or yourself--in favor of your writing | |
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| When you read something by a widely published writer and find yourself saying, "I can write better than that," you're probably right | |
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| It is up to you to decide how much to network, schmooze, and socialize with other writers | |
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| The opinions of any two writers, editors, or writing teachers will often differ | |
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| Expect some negative reviews, reactions, and opinions | |
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| When the going gets tough, reward yourself | |
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| There are real but limited benefits to joining writers' groups, centers, clubs, and organizations | |
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| There's something unique to you and your writing that's every bit as important as the ninety-nine other tips and guidelines in this book | |
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| Keep reminding yourself why you write and what you get out of writing | |
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| Enjoy yourself. The very best reason to write is for the pleasure of it | |
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| Useful Resources for Writers | |