Read Online You Are a Writer by Jeff Goins, Sarah Mae - Free Book Online

don’t write for the money.
    What’s that? You are writing for the money? Well, good luck with that.
    If passion isn’t what drives you, you may not have much tolerance for the pain, rejection, and disappointment of the writer’s life. If, however, you write because you have to — because you can’t imagine not doing it — then there may be hope for you yet.
    If you aren’t prepared for this arduous process, you had better go find an easier way to make a buck. Otherwise, it’ll be a rude awakening when you come in contact with your first picky editor. And trust me, he’s waiting for you. Red pen in hand.
    So it really doesn’t make much sense to write the article before you pitch the piece. Does it? I mean, you’re going to rewrite it anyway, right?
    Might as well get a guarantee they’re going to run the piece first (if you can).
    Better yet, get to know the editor’s preferences and style before beginning. It’ll save you a lot of work.
    Still, you’ll be tempted to do the exact opposite. Excitement over an idea will cause you to jump the gun and start writing.
    Avoid this temptation like the plague. It will steal hours, days, and months of your life — if not more.
    You will save a lot of time if you focus more on pitching than writing at the initial stages of a piece.
    Focus on building relationships with publishers, getting to know editors, and preparing to write the article. It will be worth the effort. Trust me.
    Step 4: Be Persistent
    Most publishers are bogged down by loads of submissions every day. They don’t have time to remember who I am or what I wrote three weeks ago. But that’s okay.
    Because it’s not on them to remember; it’s on me . If I care about my writing, I need to be the one keeping the piece at the forefront of the publisher’s mind.
    So, I do them a favor by following up regularly. I check in, ask if they need anything else, and see if they’re still interested. You should do the same.
    There is a relational part of this job of being a writer that you need to embrace — even if you’re the most introverted person in the world. Make email your friend. Find ways to work up the courage to network and introduce yourself to strangers. Depending on your personality, it can be very hard. But it’s also worth the awkwardness and discomfort.
    This is one of the secrets to prolific publishing: being connected with the right people at the right time.
    It’s not exactly fair and may not be what you signed up for, but it’s how the world works. Learn to live with it. Or stop complaining that your work doesn’t get published.
    There is no in-between.
    Think of it as the process you follow after interviewing for a job. You want to stay in the mix, and you don’t want to be forgotten. So you check in just to see how things are going.
    Same deal here.
    How to Follow Up with a Publisher
    When expecting to hear back on a submission, checking in weekly (as long as the publisher hasn’t told you not to) is a good way to stay at the forefront of the editor’s mind.
    A good way to not be annoying is to ask what they thought and offer to rewrite the piece, if necessary. Be cordial and polite, but don’t apologize, either.
    Let the editor know other publications may also be considering the piece (only do this if it’s true). This will put a little pressure on them to make a decision and let them know your work is in demand.
    You can also ask what their typical response time is. For most magazines, the standard is four to six weeks. Websites are often faster.
    If you don’t hear back in a month or so, they probably aren’t going to publish your piece. This is a general rule based on my experience. Always defer to the publisher’s submission process and guidelines. Every place is different.
    This is why it’s always good to have a few submissions going (for the same article). So that the publishers feel like they’re bidding on your work. (They are.)
    This is better than the alternative