Starting a Freelance Writing Career
(or Thoughts About Taking the Plunge)
BY MICHELE ACOSTA
Nike's ad has taken on new
meaning for me of late; "Just do it!" runs through my mind
like a mantra. Although my dreams have nothing to do with
athletic shoes and little to do with athletics (unless you
count the long list of ideas I have developed which revolve
around my sons and their activities), I have spent a long time
avoiding the one thing I've always wanted to do - write.
Writing has actually been a
part of my work life for a very long time. I've written and
edited in the business world. I've taught writing to high
school students. I've written countless lesson plans,
activities, etc. I have never tried to get any of my work
published, until now.
Making the decision to write
for a living was actually one of the most difficult obstacles
I needed to overcome. ("Overcome" is probably too strong. I am
still scared to death that I won't be able to pay my
mortgage.) I never doubted my ability to write, but I did
doubt my ability to write for a living. My former employer
helped me make the decision by firing me. (They actually
called it a reduction in force, or RIF for short.) After
avoiding the application process for weeks, then staring at an
online application for close to an hour, I finally had to come
to terms with myself and my goals for the future.
While I love teaching, I am
tired of the politics that accompany teaching. I can't face it
any more. I need to pay my bills and be financially
responsible, but part of raising my children involves being a
role model. I don't want them to be afraid to take a risk that
could help them realize their dreams because they watched
their mother play it safe.
Having said that, I must admit
that my new found bravery faltered when I wrote two checks
totaling $1,100.00 for two children to play travel soccer next
year. Nevertheless, I developed a game face and hid my fears
from everyone. I even fooled myself for a while. As the school
year ended, my colleagues began asking me about my plans for
the fall. I answered - with confidence that I only partially
felt - that I planned to write. After repeating this statement
to the tenth person, I began to feel somewhat guilty. After
all, I was making it sound as if it were a done deal, when I
really had barely started. I had a bunch of "how to" articles
stacked in my home office that were conflicting and sometimes
confusing. I had not even read some of the articles yet.
Many of my well wishers
countered with questions that unintentionally poked holes in
my game face. "Write what?" they asked. "For whom?" they
asked. The answers to their questions involved explaining the
vast quantities of research through which I had only recently
begun to sift. I felt my courage failing because I could not
adequately explain the process I was only beginning to
understand myself. That insidious self-doubt began to erode my
courage.
But I persevered. As I plodded
through articles about query letters, marketing skills, and
copyright I began to see opportunity in the mountains of
material.
That opportunity belongs to
the writer who can stick it out. As I delve into some of the
markets listed online and read about their requirements, I now
think: "I can do that!" A torrent of ideas spouts out of me as
I work, as I sleep, as I drive car pool. I have several pieces
started, a myriad of sticky notes hanging from shelves in my
office, and a legal pad with several pages of notes. My game
face is back and for the first time it is supported with real
confidence.
Looking back on the those
first weeks and months, I realize what I have accomplished. I
have taken the first step - I made the decision to write for a
living. I have learned that writing query letters is the
standard and expected practice for pitching ideas to potential
markets. I have learned what information should be included in
a query letter. I have learned that Writer's Market is the
best place to find those markets.
I am now taking the next step:
I'm looking for appropriate markets and writing query letters
to pitch my ideas. We'll see...
Copyright © 2004 The Writing
Tutor & Michele R. Acosta
Michele R. Acosta is a writer,
a former English teacher, and the mother of three boys. She
spends her time writing and teaching others to write. Visit
her site,
The Writing Tutor, for other writing and educational
resources for young authors, teachers, and parents.
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