Step One

I spent quite awhile compiling some writer's guidelines for various publications. Getting started as a writer is not easy. Did you know some magazines can sit on your article after they accepted it for up to a year? That is a whole year waiting to be paid, because you normally don't get paid until they publish it. :P Of course, this is completely contingent on if they liked your article at all. Since most of them don't give you any idea of what they want beyond a vague description of what they normally publish, you get to try and read their minds about what they want. Start gathering resources, organizing an article, and then you can send them a query letter. If they like your query letter, you get to finish the article and send it to them. They may still reject your article. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at this point. I think I need to take a break and paint for awhile. After writing all day for work, my brain needs a little rest anyway.

I will make this work, no matter what.

Here We Go!

I have been writing professionally as a ghostwriter for websites for two years now. I think it is time to start towards the next level. This year I am focusing on doing more. So far, I have had an article published in the Winter 2009 issue of Midwifery Today. This is a great step for me, both as a writer and as someone who has a profound interest in pregnancy and birth. While I am very happy to see my name listed in their table of contents and see my article title on the cover (yay!), I am going to work on getting paying work.

2010 will see me working towards this goal. I have several steps ahead of me. First, I need a current Writer's Market. Next I need to scope out possible magazines I can write for that will pay for my work. I have a nonfiction book or two rattling around in my head. So... all that is left is to get started. Want to come along for the ride?