Articles in the Freelance Writing Category

Have you considered the linguistics of crafting a ‘great’ query as opposed to a ‘good enough’ effort when it comes to finding gigs? To be honest, I trusted my simple, basic wording factor: The straight to the point and in your face statistics of a few published clips, contact information, and ending my spill with the tried and true, “Thank You.” But, my lack-luster efforts to connect with editors and publishers on a more personable level usually lead to the proverbial ”sorry, but, at this time…” sort of deal.

My disappointment often led me to toss the piece entirely and move on to penning other less invasive work, for example, writing on my transitional blog or penning short-stories for my viewing pleasure only. In 2006, I began to write an online column geared toward women issues. My purpose for doing so were two-fold. I would use my life experiences to help encourage, inspire and motivate other women of a certain age to recognize and become impassioned about their passions that might be misplaced, or denied. The second reason was purely selfish, I admit.

I wanted to hone my skills and improve my chances for publication in this favored genre. I felt ready to tackle the great divide of growing my freelance writing business by scouring for paying clients while taking a sabbatical from my free column “Women In Transition” at Alumbo.com, which I still visit as a focal point and bridge to my purpose to inspire other women. I began to study the markets and apply myself more seriously to improving my chance at getting the gig in this and other areas. I also took a Marketing class.

The query to the editor of a nurse magazine several months ago, which resulted in landing my first official column, began differently than those first, flurried queries. I’ve learned some essential points for writing query letters if you’re serious about sealing the deal and signing on the dotted line.

Take a refresher class

Hone the basics of the query, your preferred genre or subject, or your field of interest. There are plenty reputable, seasoned writers who are willing to work with you. Jennifer Brown Banks of Pen And Prosper, Sonya Carmichael Jones of Marketing Buddha, Daniel Scocco of Daily Blog Tips, and Susan Johnston of The Urban Muse, are a few examples of accomplished folks in the business of writing who offer blogging and editing  tips, marketing know-how, and a slew of valuable online writing classes that serve to enhance your skills and help you land that elusive dream job.

Query to the right publication.

Do not send a query to an editor for sporting goods about making bread from scratch. Do your research, consider reading a few copies of the publication. Learn their style, theme, and focus. Be clear about the market before you pitch your query.

Be personable

There’s a difference between being personable and personal. Leave your personal issues at home, but, be friendly and approachable. The editor or publisher is obviously reading between the lines of your query and will either like you or not, depending largely upon how you represent yourself.

Answer the question: What’s in it for me?

You have to sell your wares. The only way to do this is to tell your buyer what benefit you offer them. What can you give them that is uniquely yours to give? Show them how your product topples the competition.

Master the art of the P.S.

I truly loved this concept from the online Marketing Buddha Class. I used the PS as an after thought in my query to the editor of the nurse magazine, inviting more info, clips, etc… Although P.S. seems like an afterthought, it’s actually an opportunity to put one final pitch in your query letter, a final resounding thought that will linger and be memorable.

I can’t say exactly what part of my query landed me the gig as a magazine columnist. I can only say these new techniques get me those blessed editor followups.

What have you learned about writing effective query letters?
I’d love to know your tips, too!

by Anna Miller

It’s a job that everyone wants to do, because they think it’s easy as pie and the perks are great – you can work from the comfort of your home, at schedules that suit your convenience, and all you need as investment are a computer, word processing software, a good Internet connection, and some creativity with words. But being a freelance writer, especially one who is successful, is not exactly a bed of roses. Yes, the job is great if you want to choose writing as a profession, but before you take to freelancing, here are a few things you must know:

1. Procrastination never pays

When you’re a freelancer and able to set your own schedules and work at your own pace, you tend to put work off when you’re caught up in other activities. You convince yourself that you have all the time in the world, and then when your deadline looms closer, you find yourself rushing to complete the work in the little time that you have. When you do this once too often, you could end up compromising the quality of your work and losing valuable clients in the bargain. So avoid procrastination, and if you feel yourself delaying work for some reason or the other, nip the habit in the bud.

2. You must avoid distractions

When you work from home, there are numerous distractions to contend with – the television, your chores at home, children, visitors and family members taking up your time, and other diversions tend to take up your time if you’re not dedicated to work. And worst of all, the Internet is a very tempting and hard-to-avoid distraction if you work in an unsupervised environment and keep your own hours. Unless you make a concentrated effort to avoid distractions, you’re going to waste away the better part of the day.

3. Keeping commitments is important

A freelancer’s success is based on their regular clients perceive them – if they come across as writers who are always on schedule and continue to produce quality work time and again, it’s not going to be hard to find regular work. Unlike a regular job, a freelancer must work at getting each assignment, and the best way to establish themselves in the industry and gain regular gigs is to earn credibility as a responsible and skilled worker who honours commitments and also writes well.

4. Schedules help

Although you have the freedom to choose and set your own schedules when you work from home, it’s best to establish a regular schedule for work, just like those that are enforced in offices. This not only helps you avoid distractions but also reinforces to other people the fact that you’re working and should not be disturbed.

5. Maintaining connections is necessary

And finally, it’s important to stay connected to other people in the business and your clients so that you continue to get assignments on a regular basis. The best way to do this is to join forums for freelancers and also set up profiles on social networks through which you can connect to fellow professionals and potential clients. When you prove that you’re committed to your work, it’s easy to establish yourself as a successful freelance writer.

This guest post is contributed by Anna Miller, who writes on the topic of online degrees . She welcomes your comments at her email id: anna.miller009@gmail.com.

What are the most important things you think aspiring freelance writers should know?

This post is part of the Guest Post Giveaway at the blog Unready and Willing. If you think articles about writing or personal development (or personal development for writers) sounds like a good fit for your blog, please take a look at the Guest Post Giveaway page and see if any of the articles spark your interest.

You may be familiar with the phrase “Murder your Darlings.” This is the mantra repeated over and over again by teachers of the revision process. For many writers this is a painful ordeal that seems to take the life from a piece. Painful as it is, cutting out the parts that seem most precious to you is essential in polishing your work. Oftentimes when an editor will suggest that you cut a passage out of your story or novel, it’ll be one of your favorite sections–this is probably because you felt very good writing it. You were in the flow, and everything that fell onto the page just “felt right” to you. And now this editor wants you to cut it? To trash it as though it never existed? How could they be so cruel?

Is this the part of the writing process that you hate the most? Do hate the feeling that the passages that you had had so much pleasure writing will not see the light of day? I certainly did when I started out writing, but there are good reasons for cutting the fat. Although certain passages are beautifully written, they may do nothing to contribute to a story’s plot or give any insight to the characters. Exchanges of dialogue, though clever, may not really be important at all. The character that you snuck into chapter three was forced into the story just because you thought he or she was interesting. Lost in the flow of your writing, you might have spent two paragraphs describing a horse-carriage and not even know it. These passages simply don’t belong.

Instead of getting out your ax and murdering your darlings right then and there, however, why not consider dropping them off at the orphanage so that another story might be able to pick them up? Essentially you can create a database of written material that just didn’t make the cut for your other stories. Not only does this take some of the pain out of revision, but it also can give you a place to access characters, descriptions, and clever turns of phrases that simply didn’t fit in your other work. Whenever you feel writer’s block coming on, you can infuse some of the good stuff you didn’t use from your previous work into your new one.

To establish this orphanage, create a folder on your computer for your rescued darlings and then make sub-folders with names like “characters,” “descriptions,” “dialogues,” “settings,” and so on. Every time you cut a substantial part from your story, copy it and paste into a new document. Title the document in a way that you’ll be able to recognize it easily when you come back to it. Your “settings” folder would have documents titled “Roadside Cafe,” “African Village” and so on. The “Characters” folder could have documents with the character names, or just a short description like: “Nerdy Mobster” or, “Obsessive-Compulsive Stockbroker.”

Personally I find that I tend not to use too many of my rescued darlings in my new work. It’s comforting, however, to know that they’ll always be there waiting should you ever need them.

Kenji Crosland is a creative writing major who, scared of becoming a starving artist, became a corporate headhunter in Tokyo. Since then he’s regained his sanity, quit his job, and now blogs about creating an ideal career at unreadyandwilling.com. He is also developing a web application that just might change the internet. Follow him on Twitter: @KenjiCrosland.

Have you ever cut a part of your story that you really wished you’d kept? What do you do with the darlings you cut? Have you used a character or scene that didn’t make the cut in one story for another? What kinds of safety nets do you use when editing and revising your work?

Anyone who’s worked in retail knows the adage, “The customer is always right.” That credo often makes retail workers cringe. I’ve worked in several bookstores and most people wouldn’t believe the customers we had to accept as being “right.”

I can cite hundreds of examples of abused return policies, mis-read signage where the customer received a discount anyway, and complaints where the customer was clearly wrong, but the manager made right. And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.

The policy is not an excuse to act as a doormat, but it provides a good guideline for knowing when to cut your losses. In other words, is the bad PR worth the money we’ll save by not making the customer happy?

The words “bad PR” make me think of the recent Southwest / Kevin Smith debacle. Director Kevin Smith was kicked off a plane for being “too heavy”, and escorted out of a seat he clearly fit in. He was right; Southwest was wrong. But even if it was a close call — even if he had to struggle to get that armrest down — Southwest would have been smart to let it pass. Smith had been a passenger on the airlines countless times previously, flying with no danger to himself, the other passengers, or the plane as a whole. Southwest, known as the friendly airlines, has spent years and millions of marketing dollars building a good reputation for itself. Was it really worth it not to let Kevin Smith — a customer with a powerful voice and a lot of social networking cache — just be right?

For Freelancers, Clients = Customers

When you are a freelance writer, your clients are your customers. What are some instances in which the client is “right”, even if it may not seem like it?

• When the editor changes your work in a way you may not approve of, but it is still factually and grammatically correct. Every editor has his own style, and publications typically fit the editor’s style. If the editor changes something, and it’s not how you would have written it, leave it alone. If you want to know the rationale, ask politely. But don’t argue.
• When the client changes his mind about what he wants, and expects you to do more work as a result. Unless it’s specifically written into your contract (and you should have one for this reason) that you charge for re-writes, you should do the work. The client will appreciate that you went the extra mile, and you’ll get return work. If the client makes a habit of changing his mind after the fact, you may want to consider ending the relationship.
• When you write to the client’s specifications, but the client just isn’t happy. I know a lot of writers disagree with me on this point, but I like to use this analogy: If I go to a hairdresser and I leave looking like Ronald McDonald, the hairdresser better fix it — for free. If I take my car to a mechanic and it’s not running well when I leave, I want him to make it right — at no charge. Doctors are probably the only professionals who can get away with not doing their job correctly the first time and then charge for repeat visits… but writers don’t have to live in fear of malpractice lawsuits, either.

Contracts Make it Clear
Again, the policy that the customer is always right isn’t designed to force professionals to act like doormats. Having a contract that clearly outlines what you will and won’t do for the given fee prevents misunderstandings, endless re-writes and wasted time. A contract helps ensure the client receives exactly what he paid for.

I don’t charge for rewrites and, in rare cases when a client is not happy, I will re-visit my work until it meets their specifications. I have many repeat clients, including editors I’ve worked with for more than 15 years.

If endless rewrites or complaints become a problem, I simply stop working for the client or publication. .. and I can count on one hand the number of times that has happened. In some cases, because clients know I will rewrite with a smile, whatever the circumstances, they offer to pay me for the additional work. Again, everyone is happy.

As writers, we are service professionals. The number one goal of a service professional is to provide good customer service. That’s at the heart of the “client is always right” philosophy.

What are some instances in which you’ve accepted a client being “right” because it wasn’t going to hurt you, even if you didn’t agree? When have you had to put your foot down?

Freelance writers quickly create a massive to-do list for themselves when growing their writing business. After all, there is so much to do! Promoting our writing, sending queries, marketing, and networking on Twitter, let alone actually writing. Add in household chores and real life matters and it all becomes completely overwhelming.

How to Put the First Thing First

Where do you begin to tackle your to-do list? How do you really know what matters most, and what can be left by the wayside? Does it really matter what order you put things in, as long as you get things done?

When I find myself wondering what to do first, I try to step outside of my current circumstances. I have literally become swamped with all of my goals, projects, and dreams, and cannot wade through the mire on my own.

Become Your Own Adviser

Imagine that a good friend of yours came to you for advice. She has so many projects, to-do’s, and deadlines, that she doesn’t know where to begin. The longer it takes her to make a decision, the more difficult it will be to meet all her business needs.

What advice would you give her? If you’re anything like me, you might suggest that she pair up her deadlines with all the actions necessary to meet those deadlines, and schedule them throughout the upcoming days to get the job done.

Put that loving, friendly advice to work on your own stifling schedule. Look over all of your tasks with a caring, yet objective eye. Pretend that you were making up such a schedule for a friend, not for yourself.

How to Objectively Prioritize Your Writing

If you were writing a to-do list for a friend, you wouldn’t pile up forty tasks in one afternoon, would you? Yet we effectively do it to ourselves all the time. We put so much pressure on ourselves to succeed, that we smother ourselves and our creativity in the process.

Actual writing time should always have a writer’s highest priority. It may be scheduled first in the day, or during the writer’s peak working times. Writing for clients can be organized by deadline, including false deadlines if you think you are going to encounter roadblocks.

Personal projects also go high on the list, and ought to have their own deadlines so you don’t fall too far behind. Writing what you love is critical for a healthy and happy writer! Also, many personal writing projects can pay off monetarily in the long run, such as books or websites.

Queries, marketing, promotions, and the like can be done in the off hours, when our writing streak has begun to wind down. You can make vital connections while relaxing and Twittering away. Of course, you may want to write those queries when you can still string two words together, and give yourself some leeway time so you can proofread it before hitting send.

Real life tasks are a different breed altogether. You have to deal with others’ hours of operation, your availability, and coordinating with your family. Often, your best writing time has to be shoved aside to get your son to soccer practice on time. As long as you are aware of when these tasks have to be done, you can make concessions in the rest of your schedule.

Review Your Objective Writing Priorities

Before you commit to any of the above tasks, look at the schedule you have set for yourself. Is this a realistic to-do list, one you are able to keep? Would you expect a friend or colleague to work this hard on a daily basis?

If not, rework your priorities yet again. Make sure there are adequate breaks for meals, relaxation, and the inevitable interruptions. Once you find a workable schedule for your writing projects, life will flow a lot more smoothly.

Can you look at your writing priorities with an objective eye? Do you need the outside influence of a friend or mentor to set your business straight? Share your prioritization methods!

Photo Credit: Redvers

I may be overly sensitive to “hard topics”. I remember getting scolded by my high school newspaper advisor for using the headline “Death of a Writer”, when a bestselling author died. “You always use the person’s name, his age, and the verb ‘dies.’ That’s it. Don’t be clever. Someone died, it’s solemn and serious.”

Got that? As a timid tenth grader looking to absorb every bit of news writing knowledge I could, I sure did.

Most writers face a circumstance where they have to write a difficult piece. Whether it’s coverage of a national or international disaster, an obituary for a loved one, or a local tragedy for your hometown paper, these assignments are never easy. But they are only as hard as we decide they have to be.

I recently covered a fire that ravaged one of the elementary schools where my husband works, burning the school to the ground. This made me think about the editorial I wrote for a school music education publication shortly after 9-11. The obituaries I’ve written. My story featuring the Columbine High School band director after the shooting.

How did I handle all of these? I don’t think the stories were particularly challenging, but they required tact and grace and, perhaps even more so than other topics, the right words. What else should you keep in mind when you write about tragic topics?

Reach for the heart with storytelling and details. Facts are fine, but tragic stories give us rich opportunities to really reach our readers’ hearts. If you can find the perfect anecdote, share it. Don’t be afraid to get personal, as long as you do so with tact, grace and sensitivity.

Use humor tactfully. One anecdote from the weeks following September 11, 2001, stands out in my mind. I went to the local Starbucks with my editorial assistant a few days after the towers fell, and we got in line behind a woman who was complaining loudly that she wanted a refund. She was giving the barrista a hard time and — being regulars there — our hearts went out to him. Her problem? Her latte didn’t have enough foam. For those who know coffee, cappuccino has plentiful foam. A latte does not. The story struck me and my friend as so funny, I used it as the basis for my editorial, to segue into talking about what is really important in life.

Get the facts right. People are hypersensitive in times of tragedy (just think about latte lady). They will notice if you write a beautiful story but get a fact or two wrong. Additionally, rumors and misinformation fly during disasters. Check to make sure names are spelled correctly and take nothing for granted. Fact check everything.

Make sure you have something to say. After the hurricanes in Haiti, a lot of bloggers capitalized on the popularity of the keyword with articles that loosely tied into the hurricanes. If you have something significant and unique to say about a global or local tragedy, write about it. But don’t look for a tie-in just to capitalize on keyword searches. It’s the cyber-equivalent of going to a funeral to pick up girls.

Use the opportunity to do good. When I covered the fire at South Bay Elementary School for Long Island Exchange, I wanted to spotlight local businesses who were helping. I also wanted to do what I could myself by spreading the word but, as the business and technology columnist, I had to find the right angle. Long Island Exchange is a locally-targeted website, and the fire has been big news for more than a week here on Long Island. I wanted to make sure the story had relevance for my readers and I felt it was important to include a call to action. The school is collecting donations of books, school supplies and, most importantly, cash or gift cards, to help their re-building efforts and to continue teaching in the interim. That was the point I wanted to make.

All the “hard” stories I’ve written have had a specific purpose — a statement that aimed to change people’s perspectives or to help them in a similar situation. When I wrote about September 11, I wanted people to slow down and appreciate what they had (even if all they had was a latte with no foam). When I wrote about Columbine, I did so with the clear intention of showing music teachers their role in helping students get through difficult times. When I write obituaries, I aim to evoke good memories about the deceased.

Knowing why you’re covering a topic is the key. When your intentions are pure, your passion and sincerity shows. As the Bible notes, our words can move mountains. Use them –and choose them — with care.

I’ll leave you with two quotes that are good to remember when you tackle tough topics.

South Bay Elementary School fire photograph by T.J. Allcot
Visiting Grave photograph by Marcus Lindström

by Laura Cross

Book industry insiders estimate that ghostwriters author 60% to 80% of books published each year. And with book ghostwriting fees range from $10,000 to $100,000 per project — $10,000 being the very low end and $100,000 usually paid to more established writers (“celebrity” ghostwriters earn $250,000+ per book) – more and more freelance writers are discovering that authoring books as a “hidden writer” or collaborator can be a viable and lucrative career.

Here are three secrets to help you create a successful career as a book ghostwriter:

1. Learn How To Capture The Client’s Voice

The ability to capture and convey the client’s voice is an essential component for a successful career as a ghostwriter. Being able to effectively structure content and manage a project are also necessary skills for ghosting, but the ability to mimic the client’s speaking style and make it come alive on paper is the skill that will land you recurring, high-paying projects. Carefully listen to the client during your interviews and conversations (and review any available audio – videos, podcasts, etc. – as well previously published material written by the client) to learn how he or she structures sentences. Listen for specific phrases, word patterns, vocabulary choices, and tone, texture, and energy – and then practice recreating it until your words and the client’s words blend seamlessly.

2. Position Yourself As One Of The Experts In Your Niche

Are you the go-to writer for women’s fitness and health? Do you mostly write narrative essays or opinion pieces? Are you the how-to article guy or the relationship advice guru? Are you a freelance writer with a background in accounting or experience in social media? Ghostwriters who specialize in specific genres (such as memoir, finance and investing, or women’s issues) tend to be more successful than those who generalize. Capitalize on your experience and expertise by focusing your ghostwriting in one to three areas of specialization. Use your portfolio and online presence (website, blog, social media profiles and interactions) to establish and build your platform. Consistently deliver quality content and exceptional customer service to solidify and maintain your status.

3. Connect With Literary Agents

Literary agents are one of the best referral sources for quality ghostwriting projects. Many experts, business leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians, actors, television celebrities, sports figures, chefs, doctors, professors, gurus, and media-darlings-of-the-moment, lack the necessary skills to write a compelling book. Literary agents need to match their clients with professional ghostwriters or collaborators. Connecting with literary agents, and growing and nurturing those relationships over time, is an invaluable element to a successful ghostwriting career. (You can download a free chapter on “Finding and Selecting an Agent” from my book The Complete Guide To Hiring A Literary Agent at GetALiteraryAgent.com)

Laura Cross is an author, screenwriter, ghostwriter, freelance book editor, and writing coach specializing in nonfiction books and script adaptation (book-to-film projects). She writes two popular blogs, NonfictionInk.com and AboutAScreenplay.com, and teaches online writing workshops.

Laura’s latest book is The Complete Guide To Hiring A Literary Agent: Everything You Need To Know To Become Successfully Published. You can download a free chapter, view the book trailer, read the full table of contents, and purchase the Book in electronic format at GetALiteraryAgent.com.

Have you every considered ghost writing? Are you in the process of finding a literary agent? Laura joins us today on her blog tour. You’re invited to ask questions in the comments. What would you like to know?

by Melissa Hart

Ten years ago, when I began writing short humorous essays in earnest, I received a phone call from an editor at Woman’s Day. I’d sent her an 800-word piece about how my great-aunts purchased the front of a crazy-quilt at a thrift store, sewed a velvet backing on it and proceeded to exhibit it at county fairs, winning blue ribbons and cash prizes for a handicraft they’d contributed to only marginally. The New York editor struck me as elegantly brusque. “We’d like to publish your essay,” she said. “Will two thousand be acceptable?”

“Words?” I asked, already considering how to lengthen the piece.

She sighed with the world-weary patience of Manhattan confronting a country-mouse. “Dollars,” she said.

Thus I realized that an essay–penned in an hour over a mocha at my favorite coffeehouse and then revised in another hour a week later–could earn me a month’s income. Since then, I’ve sold short humorous essays to The Washington Post, The Advocate, The Chronicle of Higher Education, High Country News, and numerous other publications in a process that requires a quick burst of focused energy, a dedication to equally swift and relentless revision, and an understanding of the numerous magazines and newspapers that publish this genre.

But a few years ago, when my husband and I decided to adopt a toddler, I believed my writing career was over. I didn’t know how I could possibly concentrate while learning to care for a child. Finances mandated my continued work as a journalism teacher at the University of Oregon and a memoir teacher for U.C. Berkeley’s online extension program. Deeply in love with my husband, I wanted to remain devoted to hiking and traveling with him and our new daughter.

“There’s just no time to write!”

I wailed this to our long-suffering counselor at Eugene’s Artists’ Counseling Service. Peggy merely laughed and took out her giant pad of paper and a purple pen. “We’re going to break down each day into chunks,” she told my husband and me, pre-adoption. “You’ll see that Melissa gets several blocks of time each week to write, and Jonathan gets the same amount to devote to his photography.”

In theory, she was right. We looked at her seven-column grid and saw how we might structure each day so that we could spend time with our daughter, time with each other, write and/or photograph for a reasonable number of hours, and retain our day jobs. In actuality, once our daughter came home, I cringed at the thought of leaving her, even for two hours, to engage in something as indulgent as writing essays.

“Love, it’s your work.” My husband handed me my notebook. “Go get a mocha. All you have to do is produce a rough draft.”

I knew he was right. Reluctantly, I walked down to my favorite coffeehouse and sat there for an hour, staring dismally at the blank pages. I returned home an hour early. “Performance anxiety,” I explained.

After several false starts, I did begin to find my rhythm as a writer and mother, thanks to my practice in writing short essays. Now, I can whip out a rough draft between university classes. If I wake early, I sit up in bed and reach for my notebook and pen. If my daughter’s at preschool and I find myself inspired by a current event or trend or family memory, I sit down at the computer even if I have a stack of papers to grade, bills to pay, and the kitchen floor to mop.

I’m learning to view the chapters of my memoir-in-progress in the same manner as I approach short essays; I just have to remember that the chapters, longer and sometimes more literary, require multiple revisions.

These days, I receive enough editorial acceptance to keep up my confidence. But money earned from my essays and memoir represents a secondary reward. My husband is right–writing is my work, and I love the process of crafting essays and books almost as much as I adore my family.

It’s difficult to juggle my roles as wife and mother, teacher and writer. Sometimes, I collapse in exhaustion. I tell myself during those down-times that I could let the writing go . . . but then what would I be teaching my daughter?

Early Sunday mornings, she pads out to the living room to find me bent over my computer, much as my mother used to bend over the short stories composed on an electric typewriter. I hope that the sight of me writing–even if the dishes sit unwashed and the windows need scrubbing–will inspire my daughter to dedicate herself to a passion that, along with beloved family members and friends, makes life worth living.

Melissa Hart is a journalism teacher at the University of Oregon, and a memoir writing teacher for U.C. Berkeley’s online extension program. Her new memoir, Gringa: A Contradictory Girlhood (Seal Press, 2009), is a coming-of-age story about growing up white, heterosexual and boring in multicultural Los Angeles with a lesbian mom, a brother with Down syndrome, and a deep desire to be a Latina.

The Oregonian notes, “Hart, who teaches writing at the University of Oregon, has crafted a well-balanced tale that forgoes blame in favor of poignancy.”

Booklist says, ” “LGBT families and immigrant kids will want it for the honesty, humor, and love. Every lively chapter ends with a detailed recipe that mixes food and feelings.”

Kirkus Reviews says of Gringa, “”The book is filled with detailed conversations and particulars of dress, mannerisms and facial expressions that give it the feeling of a novel. A quirky narrative of artfully reconstructed memories.”

Okay, I admit it, I am absolutely passionate about writing! From poetry at age three to yellow legal pads full of screenplays and short stories, I was a pretty prolific writer at a young age! Words have always been my favorite plaything, and crafting them into a cohesive piece is a satisfying way to spend an afternoon – and a lifetime!

However, not all writing strikes excitement into the depths of your heart. Let’s face it, highly technical writing can be dry and lifeless, and it takes a special breed of writer to get excited about articles stuffed with SEO keywords. Many assignments that will cross your path won’t breech your wealth of knowledge or interest.

Stoke Your Writing Passion

How to keep the writing fires burning? Like any loving relationship, tending to your writing passion requires tenderness and care. Trudging through one incredibly dull writing project after another will snuff out the last smoldering remains of your writing passion! Yet we all have to accept some uninspiring writing assignments once in awhile. Even the flame of writing passion that burns brightly at the beginning of the best writing projects can grow dim over time.

Here are some of the hottest (!) tips to stoke your love of writing to new heights:

• Schedule your writing first. Start your writing day off right by working on your favorite type of writing first. It stretches those early morning creative muscles and the inspiration can spread to your other writing projects throughout the day. Do you have a budding novel that you don’t have much time to write? A quick 30 minutes will jumpstart your writing day and bring steady progress as well.
• Alternate between dull and exciting writing. Dragging through a mundane piece? Take a break and switch off to something more lively. Even if you need to complete the harder project immediately, it won’t get done quickly if you’re scraping the bottom of your creativity. Working on an engaging piece can get the pen or keyboard moving, and you can switch back to your higher priority (but less lovely) writing when you are ready.
• Remember why you love writing. Do you love crafting interesting characters? Make your real life subjects come alive in your non-fiction writing, by learning what motivates them and how they are changing the world. Can you describe anything with clarity and attention to detail? Transfer your exposition talents to mundane topics, to capture your audience’s attention. Your writing passion can carry over to all forms of writing, with a little creativity.

With time and attention, your writing passion can be sustained throughout your writing career. Don’t let the writing doldrums get you down! All of our writing deserves our best effort, and the rewards of a passionate relationship with our writing can last a lifetime.

How do you keep the writing home fires burning? What area of writing really excites you? Share your love of writing here!

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Feng Shui consultants, sleep experts and probably many psychologists advise against working in the same place you sleep. It’s not a good idea, they say, to bring workday stress  into your sanctuary.

Until this year, I agreed. No computers in the bedroom. No television. No exercise equipment. (Experts say these highly-charged items also inhibit relaxation.) Not even a reference book. I did keep a pen and notepad near the bed for jotting down story ideas or recording dreams, but that was as far as I went.

Until this year. Some minor health problems that led to intense exhaustion by about 7 PM, a toddler who doesn’t sleep through the night, and a cold winter convinced me that the coziest place to work might just be in bed.

I’d put my daughter to sleep by 9, pull on my cozy, warm, fuzzy pajamas, and climb under the covers with my laptop. Now, my health problems are gone. But my daughter still wakes up every 3 to 6 hours and, to be frank, it’s February and still damn cold. On certain nights, the weight of my down comforter just looks too appealing to pass up. At this moment, for instance, I’m writing this from the comfort of my bed.

“Every Day is Casual Friday”

Don’t get me wrong. I don’t lounge around all day, and I don’t recommend that for any freelance writer. A few years ago, I was a big proponent of “looking the part.” I’d shower and dress for work everyday, the same as I would in an office. Granted, I’ve always worked in casual industries where daily attire consists of blue jeans, sneakers and a free t-shirt from a trade show. Seriously, the bosses couldn’t institute casual Friday because we’d all wear bathing suits to work. Or towels. Or worse. “Dressing up” meant a t-shirt without an advertiser’s logo on it.

So I basically continued dressing the part of “hip young magazine editor” when I became a full-time freelance writer and work-at-home mom. I still feel more productive when both me and my daughter are showered and dressed (complete with shoes) before lunchtime. If I’m doing a phone interview, I put on make-up. Really. Looking “together” makes me feel “together.”

I feel the same way about my workspace. I like my desk clean. I can ignore the three-week old toast crumbs under the couch and the fruit punch spilled on the DVD remote, as long as my desk is organized. It’s almost as if I can block the rest of my environment out when I’m at my work space.

Business Owner by Day, Writer by Night

Knowing this, you’d think I’d be the type of person who found it anathema to work in pajamas in my bed. But I don’t. I’m not sure why, but without my task list, calendar, and reference books in front of me, I feel more focused. I can write as if the only thing I have to do is the article I’m writing at this moment.

Like the cozy exclusivity of the bedroom, itself, which shuts out the rest of the world, writing in bed makes me forget about everything except what I’m doing at that moment. I don’t concern myself with social networking, chatting, or phone calls. By this time of night, business hours are long done, and I get to (ironically) work on my favorite aspect of freelance writing: the writing.

I couldn’t imagine conducting an interview from my bed (or even in my pajamas). Freelance writing is a business, and when I’m dealing with the business aspects, I act and dress like a businessperson. But I’m glad I can carve out this quiet time to pursue the part I love most about being a writer.

Your Thoughts?

Readers, where do you stand on this debate? Do you “get dressed” for work? Does it make you more productive? Do you ever write in bed, or some other place that people might find strange?