Query Letter Confessions...

I HAVE A CONFESSION TO MAKE...

The first query letter I ever sent out led to a writing assignment, but I have a confession to make about it. I stole it. Yes, you read that right. Stolen. Lifted. Five finger discount. And you know what? It worked wonders for me.

As a budding writer, I was eager and anxious to see my work in print. I wanted to be published, and I was willing to do whatever it took to get there. One day, as I was perusing a copy of the "Writer's Market", I came across the query letters that would eventually become mine. Now, when I say stolen, I mean that I took special care to analyze how the successful letters in the front of the book had been crafted. I read them over and over, until I had a good feel for their timing, rhythm and mechanics.

After doing so, I set out to write my own. As I wrote out the query, I made sure that the reading pace was the same as the others. I was careful to include all of the elements the others had - the hook, the pitch and the close all played out almost exactly as the others did. When it was finished, I could compare my own query letter with the ones in the book, and they looked exactly the same. Except, of course, that the subject was different.

When my query was complete, I carefully read it over to ensure that my spelling was good, and then pasted it into an email and sent it off. Several days later, I received the good news. The editor wanted to include my article in an upcoming issue of the magazine, and the rest is history. In my next pitch, with a few minor changes in the angle of the story I was pitching, I used the very same letter to sell yet another article to a different magazine. Since then, I have continued to use the same format in all of my query letters, with a rather high success rate.

If you are just starting out, I would strongly urge you to take the time to research the reasons behind successful query letters. Today, there is no shortage of examples available in various magazines, writer's books and on the Internet. To get you started, check out THIS ARTICLE by Moira Allen. She is an extremely successful writer and webmaster of Writing-World.com. In the article, she lays out several paragraphs of successful query letters, and explains why they work.

And don't be shy about copying the style, either. There is no sense in re-inventing the wheel, when those letters were successful for a reason. Steal their style. It works, I know!

THE "WET SPOT"...

This is probably going to sound weird, but I have taken to calling wherever I sit to write, the "wet spot". Why? It's simple, really. I have noticed that, for me, a good writing session is comparable to good sex. My girlfriend tells me I have a certain 'glow' after completing a long block of writing, and I even tend to follow my usual after-sex rituals. There's nothing like a cigarette to still the nerves after pouring your heart and soul out on paper, and I find myself taking smoke breaks between each article I write.

Now, I know smoking is bad for my health and, in all reality, it will probably be what kills me someday. Do not take this particular column to be my advice to you to start smoking, and don't think that I am saying you have to smoke in order to be a successful writer. I'm not. I am simply sharing some of my own thoughts & writing rituals with you. Let's say, for entertainment purposes only.

Anyhow, I have a couple of articles to write for Helium.com, so I am going to go grab a smoke, then get back to work. In the meantime, beware the wet spot, and enjoy the rest of this post.

NOTHING LIKE A LITTLE ROUTINE...

Everything I have read about successful blogging indicates that a little routine in the blogging experience is a good thing. Many of the bloggers I have talked to say that creating a routine helps the creativity, and gets you used to blogging regularly. Even though I tend to write whenever inspiration strikes (and more often when it doesn't), I have noticed that when it comes to blogging, I have developed somewhat of my own routine. This is what it looks like.

5 a.m. - The alarm goes off, and I stumble out of bed. After making a pot of coffee and breakfast (which usually consists of a bagel & cream cheese or a couple of chocolate toaster waffles) for my girlfriend and I myself, I see her off to work.

5:30 a.m. - I spend a little time looking over my research notes, check any websites & blogs to tie up loose ends, and get to the writing. Lately, this has meant posting here, writing an article or two for Helium, and then working on the various offline projects that are currently taking up my time. At present, I am working on several magazine articles and a couple of e-books. When November rolls around, I will also be spending some time working on my version of the Great American Novel for National Novel Writing Month. I will take breaks throughout the day to do a little laundry, change the cat litter and other miscellaneous household tasks. I have also been known to sneak in a catnap or two.

Somewhere between 3 p.m. & 4 p.m. - My girlfriend gets home from work, and we get to spend a little time together. That time is usually spent watching a few episodes of Tivo'd House Hunters, Grey's Anatomy, Men in Trees, and House, M.D. You know, the good stuff. Although my girlfriend has tried getting me to watch Desperate Housewives, I have thus far been able to resist.

9 p.m.'ish - After tucking my girlfriend into bed, I venture back to the computer, and begin making preparations for the next day's work. For me, that means writing up my blog post schedule, writing and answering emails, researching new markets and seeking out any other information I need for the following day's writing activities. Sometimes I get started on the next day's writing, but usually I am worn out and ready for bed before I finish research.

11:30 p.m. - 12 a.m. - I crawl into bed and fall asleep thinking about the writing I will be doing the next day. I find that, after a night's sleep, I often come up with new ideas or angles I had missed the night before. I also tend to find spots in my writing or research from the day before that could use filling in.

Now, it's your turn. Have you found yourself falling into a routine when writing or blogging? Take some time to write about it. If you post it on a blog, let me know about it so I can link back to it here in a future post.

#1 AGAIN...

My latest article on Helium, "8 Tips for Keeping Your Online Payments Safe", quickly shot up to the #1 position yesterday, and has put me just one point behind the current first place writer in this week's Computers & Technology category contest. Now I could write another article and hope that it ranks high enough for me to win first place, but the contest ends Monday night, and I would run the risk of the article not having enough time to get ranked high enough to earn the required points.

In this case, I think I am going to follow another strategy. Instead of writing another article, I am going to stop where I am at for this particular contest, and hope the leader decides to write another article or three. If he does, and they fail to rank high enough to earn points, he runs the risk of actually losing some of the points he currently has. Instead, I am going to make my first stab at the Helium marketplace, and see if my writing has what it takes to make the cut for the publishers currently advertising for needed articles. While the pay is nothing to note, it will keep me working towards my original Helium goal, which was to have fun and keep my writing skills sharp.

Again, time will tell. The next contest starts Tuesday night, and this time around, I am going to write more than my usual number of articles. Instead of writing six articles for the contest, which has been my average, I am going to attempt to double that figure. Perhaps that will lead to a first place win. In addition, I am going to begin work on a series of articles that will discuss my Helium successes a little more, and detail what I believe has led to those successes. Stay tuned for that!

Until next time...

John Chow on Blogging...

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, JOHN CHOW...

The name John Chow has become synonymous with making serious money blogging. His blog, John Chow dot Com, is one of the first stops for anyone wanting to learn how to make money with their own blogs today. As such, it is my pleasure to present the following interview, which I had the pleasure of conducting with Mr. Chow via email.

The Writing Geek: What is the biggest mistake most beginner bloggers make?

John Chow: Thinking they’re going to get rich by blogging. Very few blogs make good money but they get all the attention so many people think blogging and money come easy. It doesn’t.

TWG: Aside from making money, what satisfaction do you get from blogging?

JC: The community that blogs create. It’s great to get feedback and talk to readers and other bloggers. That is better than money really. You can build some really good friendships by blogging.

TWG: If you had the chance to go back in time a year, what would you do differently/the same?

JC: I would have spun John Chow dot Com off as a separate blog about making money so I could keep it as a personal blog with no ads.

TWG: What is the best piece of advice you can offer a blogger?

JC: Have fun and enjoy the experience. The money will come later.

TWG: Aside from John Chow dot Com, what are your top three favorite blogs?

JC: Autoblog.com, Problogger.net and TechCrunch.com.

TWG: You've been elected president of the blogosphere. What is your first move?

JC: Ban Google.

TWG: What is/are your predictions for blogging over the next ten years?

JC: I can’t see 10 years into the future. Your guess is as good as mine.

My sincerest thanks to John for allowing me the honor of his presence on my blog! This is the start of a new feature here on The Writing Geek, and I will have quite a few more blogger interviews over the coming weeks. Will yours be next? Drop me a line if you would like to be interviewed!

IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT, MOM...

As a youngster, I can remember getting in trouble quite a bit. I'm not sure whether I had a knack for finding it, or it had a knack for finding me. All I know is that I found myself being lectured quite a bit. Inevitably, those lectures would always seem to end with my Mom asking, "What do you have to say for yourself?"

Today, I'm all grown up (well, almost) and find myself deep in my career as a writer. I don't know that I would have ever gone down this path without Mom's dedication to that question. So, it is with a grateful smile that I dedicate today's post to you, Mom. Thanks for pointing me in the "write" direction.

Now, here is your challenge: Looking back on your own childhood, can you remember any influence your parents, grandparents or other role models may have had that caused you to become a writer? Take a moment to write about it, and post it on your blog if you have one. If you let me know about it, I will make a collection of links to other responses right here in a future post.

THE HELIUM.COM ARTICLES...

I was rather pleased to receive an email from Barbara W. at Helium yesterday, notifying me that my article on Company Blogs and their Value for Public Relations (currently rated #1 of 11 articles) was being featured on the Helium.com front page! I had hoped this would mean that the revenues generated by that article would jump somewhat, but alas, it has only served to generate a few extra pennies. On the other hand, I did get to see my byline displayed prominantly for the entire day, as many others would!

On the subject of Helium, my latest article, "8 Tips for Keeping Your Online Payments Safe" is now live, and ranked #4 of 6 articles. If past article performance is any indication, I expect this rating will improve fairly quickly. Of the 12 articles I have posted thus far, 7 are rated #1 of multiple articles. I take this to mean that either my articles are exceptionally good, or the ones they are going up against are exceptionally bad. I kind of doubt the latter, however, as I have watched my articles go up against some decent writing. There have been exceptions, but for the most part, Helium.com writers seem to take quite a bit of pride in their work.

My article postings this week have also had another effect. Last time I checked, they have once again landed me in the top three positions (currently 2nd place) in the writing contest this week, for the 'Computers & Technology' category. Here's to hoping I can make the #1 spot this week. Wish me luck!

The "Five W's"...

THE "FIVE W'S"...

Every writer knows (or should know) about the "five w's", right? Who, what, when, where & why - the basics of any good story whether it be fiction or non-fiction. But in all reality, how many writers have taken those "five w's" and applied them to themselves?

Here's the challenge: Take the "five w" questions below, spend a few minutes thinking about each, and then write out your answers. If you have a blog, make it a blog post as I am doing below. If you let me know about your blog post, I will link to it in a future post here.

C'mon, it'll be fun...

My "Five W's"

• WHY do I write? Because I can, and I can do it well. My knack for writing is part luck, and part hard work. For some reason, I have never had a problem saying what I want to say, whether in writing or verbally. The interesting part is that the majority of my writing sounds like me when I talk. This is where the hard work comes in. I have spent the better part of my writing career focused on making sure that I write like I talk. Of course, I polish it up a little, dropping the bad grammar I tend to use in everyday conversation. Writing "What up, yo?" or "You got no reason to be hatin'!" doesn't make for very good writing. Unless, of course, it is something a character I am writing might say. Then it is perfectly acceptable.

• WHAT do I write about? Everything and anything I can find to write about. Normally, I try to stick with the convential writing wisdom, "Write what you know". But the fact is that I have written plenty of pieces on things I know nothing about. That is the beauty of fiction. If there is something I don't know that I absolutely must in order to write about it, there is always the Internet. Thank god for Google! It also helps to have an opinion, and those that know me best know that I am VERY opinionated. About a lot of things. Otherwise, I try to let loose with personal diary style writing. Like my blog header says, "Nothing is sacred." While this has gotten me into trouble from time to time (like the time I wrote about my ex-wife, and her penchant for farting in her sleep), I find it to be cathartic and an all around enjoyable experience. I know I have reached "The Zone" when I begin writing and the words pour out. I don't care about sentence structure or spelling. I just let loose. Usually that is where I find my best writing.

• WHEN do I write? I have been known to write at all hours of the day and night. When inspiration strikes, that is when I write. When inspiration is being a sonofagun and fails to make an appearance, I sit down and force it out. This may happen at two o'clock in the morning (as it is right now) or as the sun sets. It can be a pain to deal with sometimes, particularly when the writing bug hits right in the middle of House, M.D. or Big Brother. Nonetheless, I go with it. I also find it helpful to sit down and write at least a rough sketch whenever a new idea comes to mind. I have also been known to start writing before bed, only to finish the piece when I get up in the morning.

• WHERE do I write? In the beginning of my writing career, I would write anywhere I could find enough space for my notebook or journal. Usually it was in a corner of the lunchroom on breaks at work, sitting in my car or at the kitchen table. When I started writing with a computer, I was pretty much tied down to the nearest desktop, whether it was at home or at work. With the purchase of my laptop, I found I could write anywhere, and I do mean ANYWHERE. A warm laptop goes a long way in keeping the legs warm while you sit on the toilet.

• WHO do I write for? In general terms, anyone that will read what I write. I am not one of those writers who needs a personal journal that stays under lock and key in the underwear drawer to keep anyone from reading it. I LOVE knowing that anyone in the world can read my latest rant, or about the latest article I am working on, or the aforementioned sleep farting episodes. Of course, this is when I write for me. Otherwise, I focus on my audience when writing non-fiction pieces, and in particular, the editor of whatever publication I happen to be writing for. After all, the ultimate goal there is the check at the end of the assignment.

So, there it is. My "Five W's". I hope completing this exercise will give you the enjoyment that it has given me. If nothing else, you will certainly understand a little more about yourself as a writer, and this information will undoubtedly be useful to you later on in your own writing career. If you do this exercise and post it on your blog, take a moment to let me know about it in the comments section, or drop me a line at wvfreelancer@gmail.com. I will be sure to link to your "Five W's" in a future post right here on The Writing Geek.

MORE COOL BLOGGING LINKS AND OTHER GEEKYNESS...

Obviously, my blog is still somewhat new and, although I am not completely new to blogging and most certainly not to writing, I have been taking extra care to research the blogging issue as fully as possible. I am also trying out various techniques throughout the blog and hope to improve as time goes on. During my research, I have come across so much information in the form of useful websites and other blogs, and I want to continue sharing them with you here.

Performancing.com has a great new post by Raj Dash called "41 Reasons Why Your Blog Probably Sucks". Not only did I find the article itself interesting, but from a writer's standpoint, I would urge you to take particular note of the headline. Raj does an excellent job of grabbing the reader by the throat (or in this case, perhaps the balls...) and demanding attention. Especially from a relatively new blogger such as myself. Kudos to you, Raj. I look forward to more.

Speaking of newbie bloggers, be sure to check out Preblogging.com - the guide to blogging for bloggers who aren't quite probloggers. It has some excellent articles on getting started in blogging and, in particular, making money from blogging. In addition, PreBlogging blogger Becky S. has provided us with the "5 Step Guide" to getting started in blogging. Just good stuff!

THEY DIDN'T ACCEPT OUR BID...

On a personal note, we heard back from the real estate agent today. Apparently the sellers didn't like our offer. They turned it down without even considering a counter-offer. While it sucks, I guess I have to look at it as an opportunity. As of tomorrow, my girlfriend and I will once again be burning up the shoe leather in search of the perfect place for us to start our lives together. We do have another house which we have already looked at that we are strongly considering placing an offer on. We'll see how that goes. As the saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens, right?

Until next time...